Gods Holy Mind Touching Matters Moral, Tract 1 · Part 16
Now to the opening of the words of this petition, Forgiue vsus our debts, as we forgiue our debters.
Quest. What are we to vnderstand by the word Debts, in this Petition?
Answ. Trespasses or sinnes, of what nature, kind or qualitie soeuer they be, sinnes Originall and Actuall,Mar. 11.25.26. Luk. 11.4. Coloss. 11.13. both the want of that holinesse and puritie that ought to be in vsus, and the staine and corruption of our nature, and eueryevery alteration, and the least declining from the Law of God, in thought, word, and deed.
Quest. Why are trespasses or sinnes called Debts?Mat. 18.32. to the end.
Answ. By way of similitude and resemblance, because they make vsus debters vntounto God.
Quest. How doe our sinnes make vsus debters vntounto God?
Answer. Not in themselues as aberrations from the Law of God, and breaches of it, for we owe not sinne to God, that is not the thing we are bound to yeeld vntounto him; we are bound by the Law of God to yeeld the contrarie (namely) obedience: but in respect of punishment which wee are bound to vndergoe for our sinnes,Deut. 27.26. cited Galat. 3.10. Ezech. 18.4. Rom. 6.23. Iam. 2.10. and satisfaction due to Gods iustice for the offence of our sinnes. For as a debt amongst men binds the debter, either to make satisfaction, or to suffer the penaltie of the Law, as to goe to prison, and such like: So our sinnes binde vsus, either to satisfie Gods iustice, or else to suffer the punishment due to vsus for them, which is the curse of God, death and damnation: so are our sinnes debts, and make vsus debters to God.
Quest. What are wee to vnderstand by the word forgiue, in this petition?
Answ. The acquitting and setting of vsus free from the guiltinesse of sinne, and from the punishment which by reason of sinne, we hauehave made our selues liable vntounto: and the accepting of vsus, and vsing of vsus, as if we had neuer offended by our sinnes.
Quest. How come we to bee acquitted, and set free from the guiltinesse of sinne, and from the punishment, which by reason of sinne, wee hauehave made our selues liable to?
Answ. Only by the death and passion of Christ Iesus; God vouchsafing to accept his death and passion,Isai. 53.5. Rom. 4.25. 1 Pet. 1.18.19. for full payment and satisfaction to his Iustice for our sinnes, and for the merit of the death of Christ our suretie; freely and fully discharging vsus from the guilt and punishment of our sinnes: and esteeming our sinnes as no sinnes, or as if they had neuer bin.
Obiection If Christ hath satisfied for our sins, if it bee for the merit of his death, that God doth discharge vsus from the guilt and punishment of them: then it seemes that God doth not freely forgiue vsus our sinnes.
Quest. How is this to be answered?
Answ. Thus; in regard of Christ, the forgiuenesse of our sinnes is not free;Rom. 3.24. Ephes. 1.7. he hath paid the full ransome for our sins: but in respect of vsus, it is eueryevery way free, wee conferring no merit thereto, nor any way purchasing it: it is the meere free grace and merciemercy of God, that our sinnes are forgiuen.
Quest. Are we to vnderstand, vnderunder the word forgiue in this petition, only the acquitting and freeing vsus from the guiltinesse of sinne, and from the punishment which is due to vsus for the same?
Answ. No; not only that, but our whole iustification in the sight of God;1 Cor. 1.30. 2 Cor. 5.21. Philip. 3.8.9. wee are to vnderstand vnderunder the word forgiue in this petition, not only freedome from the guiltinesse and punishment due to sinne; but also acceptation of vsus as iust in the sight of God, and worthy of life eternall by imputation of Christ his righteousnesse.
Obiection. Those whom God once iustifieth and forgiueth their sins, he neuer remembers sinne against them. It seemes then needlesse for iustified persons thus to pray, Forgiue vsus our trespasses or sinnes.
Quest. How is this to be answered?
Answ. This: iustified persons whose sinnes are already forgiuen, doe not in vsing this petition, aske that God would iustifie them; but they aske continuance of Gods grace, that his mercifull pardon may be to them a gift without repentance, and that he would bee pleased to continue that his fauour to them: and withall they aske, that God would manifest and make knowne to their hearts and consciences, the daily forgiuenesse of their sins, by a new application of pardon for new sinnes daily committed; and would more and more strengthen their assurance of the pardon of their sinnes, and so make them feele true peace of conscience, and true ioy in assurance of his louelove to them in Christ. Thus Dauid being iustified, prayed Psal. 51. whol. Thus Paul, intreated the Saints (though they had truly repented at their conuersion) to be reconciled to God. 2 Cor. 5.20.
Quest. What is meant by the word (vsus) in this petition?
Answ. Both our selues and others also, yet liuing on earth,Luk. 23.34. Act. 7.60. that belong to Gods election; whether already called, or yet vncalled, yea though they be our enemies.
Quest. What are wee to vnderstand by these words (Our debters) in this Petition?
Answ. Not such as are indebted to vsus by some ciuill couenant, or by lawfull bargayning,Leuit. 19.13. Psal. 15.3. 1 Cor. 6.8. Coloss. 3.18. and do… owe vntounto vsus money or money worth; but such as hauehave offered or done vsus some iniurie or wrong, bringing detriment or hurt to vsus in our bodies or goods or good names.
Quest. How are such as hauehave offered or done to vsus some iniurie or wrong, bringing detriment or hurt to vsus in our bodies, goods, or good names, our debters?
Answ. Both in respect of satisfaction or amends, which in equitie ought to be made, for the iniurie or wrong offered or done: & also in respect of that punishment which the wrong offered or done, iustly deserues.
Quest. How then doe we forgiue such as hauehave offered or done vsus some iniurie or wrong, and in that respect are our debters?
Answ. Not by remitting the iniurie or wrong they hauehave offered or done to vsus, as it is properly sinne and transgression of the Morall Law of God; for so the remission of it belongs only to the Lord, and none can forgiue sinne but God only: Luke. 5.21. but by remitting either the satisfaction and amends which ought to bee made for that iniurie or wrong, or the punishm…n… which that wrong offered or done to vsus, iustly deserues, or both: and by remitting all reuenge for that iniurie or wrong,Leuit. 19.18. Pro. 19.11. Rom. 12.19. Coloss. 3.13. in not requiting euill for euill, nor returning punishment for it in way of requitall; either by thought, word or deede; not carrying in vsus any hatred or purpose of reuenge for it.
Quest. Can wee at all times remit the punishment which the wrong offered or done to vsus, iustly deserues?
Answ. No: in some case of offence or wrong offered or done to vsus we cannot: as when the offence or wrong tends not only to our hurt in particular, but also to the publike hurt: and the qualitie of the offence done is such, as if hee bee suffered to escape vnpunished,Deut. 19.19.20 Iosh. 7.24.25. Rom. 13.4. the Common wealth is in danger to suffer much detriment, for then were the state of Magistracie vnlawfull, whose Office is to punish offenders.
Some other particular questions.
Quest. May we not in some cases of offence, or wrong offered or done to vsus, seeke and vse the helpe of the Magistrate for redresse of those offences or wrongs?
Answ. Yes, in some cases wee may: as when the iniurie or wrong is dangerous to our liues,Act. 23.17. Act. 25.11. or to our estates; our liues are vniustly sought by some, or our estates are in danger to be ouerthrowne by them: we may then lawfully seeke and vse the helpe of the Magistrate, for our succour and defence: yet so as we then carry not in vsus any lust, or the least desire of reuenge; for that were to make the Magistrate an instrument of our malice.
Question. May a man lawfully vse this petition, and yet commence a suite of Law, and bee plaintife against another in a manifest iniurie or wrong offered or done to him, touching his Land or goods, thereby to recouer his right, and to obtaine satisfaction or no?
Answ. Hee may lawfully doe it, so as it bee with due obseruation of such things as ought to bee obserued in the doing of it.
Quest. What are those things?
2 King. 8.6. Deut. 20.10.11.12.Answ. These; that it bee in a matter of waight and speciall importance, not on eueryevery trifling occasion; and that it bee after all other meanes tried and vsed: as helpe of friends and neighbours to arbitrate and compound the matter,1 Cor. 6.5.6.7. 1 Cor. 13.4.5. if it may bee, vsing Lawe in the last place, and as the last remedie: and that it bee without all hatred or desire of reuenge: for a man may bee an aduersarie to another, and not his enemie: and hee may retaine love and bee an other mans aduersarie: but so hee cannot and bee his enemie.
Quest. What is meant by the word (as) in this petition, Forgiue vsus our debts, as we forgiue our debters?
Answ. The word (as) in this petition, doth not signifie or note out, either the measure of our forgiuenesse, or the manner how we forgiue other: as if wee did desire that God would forgiue vsus in the same manner that wee forgiue others, or so much as wee forgiue others: for our forgiuenesse is mingled with much corruption, and want of merciemercy: but it doth only note the very act of forgiuenesse, and the certaine truth of our forgiuing of others: as if we should say, Lord forgiue vsus, as we doe certainely and truly forgiue others.
Obiection. Luke. 11.4. It is said, Forgiue vsus our sinnes, for euen wee forgiue eueryevery man that is indebted to vsus. Therefore it seemes that our forgiuing others, is the cause for which God is moued to forgiue vsus, so say the Papists.
Quest. How is this to be answered?
Answ. Thus; the word (For) doth not in that place implie the cause, but the signe or effect; that our forgiuing of others, it is a signe that God doth freely forgiue vsus: or an effect of Gods forgiuing vsus, assuring vsus that God hath forgiuen vsus: we feeling our selues disposed by grace, & ready to forgiue other, it is a signe we are such persons to whom Gods forgiueness belongs: & we thereby come to know more surely that God hath forgiuen vsus. Luk. 7.47. The womans louelove was not a cause of great forgiuenesse, but a fruite and signe of Gods forgiuenesse: as Psalm. 86.2. Dauid being mercyfull, was not a cause of Gods preseruation of him, but a signe that God would prese…ue him. So our forgiuing others is no cause why God should forgiue vsus; but a signe that that wee are such to whom Gods forgiuenesse belongs, as Mat. 5.7. Nehem 5 19.
Quest. Why hath this petition a speciall argument particularly ioyned to it, and no other?
Mat. 6.14.15.Answ. Because Christ would thereby signifie to vsus, the weakenesse of our faith touching the pardon of our sins, and thereby also shew vsus, how we may best strengthen our weaknesse by forgiuing of others.
Quest. What is then the summe of this petition, Forgiue vsus our debts, as we forgiue our debters?
Answ. This; that the Lord would be pleased to accept the death, and passion of Christ Iesus, as a full payment and satisfaction, for all our sinnes, both originall and actuall; and for the sinnes of all his elect on the earth; and for the merit of his death,Isai. 43.25. Isai. 44.22. Mat. 1.21. Mat. 11.28. Rom. 5.9. would freely and fully acquit vsus and set vsus free from the guiltinesse of all our sinnes, and from the punishment due to vsus for them; and would also accept vsus as iust in his sight, & as worthy of eternall life, for the merit of Christ his righteousnes imputed to vsus; and hauing already iustified vsus, that hee would continue his grace and fauour to vsus; and also make knowne to our hearts and soules the daily forgiuenesse of all our sinnes, by a new application of pardon of new sinnes daily committed; and would more & more strengthen our assurance of the pardoning of our sinnes, and so make vsus feele true peace of conscience, and true ioy in the assurance of his louelove to vsus in Christ. And that this the Lord would doe as certainely and truly as we forgiue others, who hauehave offered or done vsus wrong, in respect of our bodies, goods or good names.