The Substance of Christian Religion, Lecture 51
The one and fifty Lords day. On the fifth Petition of the Lords Prayer:
Forgive us our debts, &c.
THe following Petitions, treats of the removing of spiritual evill, or sin: And sin is two ways removed; either 1. by forgiveness of sin committed; or 2. by preservation from sin, that it be not committed: The first is the substance of the fifth Petition; the last of the sixth and last: In the fifth the Petition is proposed, and then afterwards it is confirmed. In the Petition because sins are chiefly considered, as to their adjoyned guilt: therefore 1. they are under that notion by a metaphor, or simily marked out to us, and declared, when they are called debts: The reason of the simily or metaphor is, because by the law and justice, we are bound to God, to give him intire obedience; and for omission of any part, or point of this whole or intire obedience, we were bound to undergo the punishment or penalty of the curse of the law. Sins therefore are called debts. 1▪ Because of the want of that obedience▪ in them, which we owed to God. 2 Because they did bring with them an obligation of undergoing those punishments.
Now of both these debts the forgiveness is sought for; that is, the removing of our guiltinesse, that we contracted by our sins; and by consequence justification and adoption. The argument whereby this petition is enforced, is taken partly from the place of like things; because from our forgiveness and mercy to others, we must expect the forgiveness and mercy of God; and partly from the place of unlikenesse, or of that from the less to the more; in this, or such … Syllogisme: If we, who scarce have a drop, or small resemblance of that mercy, that is in God, do yet forgive men their offences, whereby they have offended us; then much more will God forgive us our offences out of his infinite mercy, that we have done against him: but the first is true; and therefore the latter also. This argument is thus expounded, Luke 11. 4. This petition hath its dependance rrom all the foregoing, as a means whereby way is made for the obtaining of them; because God of his mercy forgiving us our sins, by so doing removes the hinderance of his grace and blessing, whereby other things are obtained; and so he gives us all good things that we want, or desire. It is expresly coupled to the next foregoing petition, by the conjunction and, which was not used in the former petitions; because the three former petitions were so nere allied, that of themselves they depended one upon another, by a natural connextion and consequence; and the fourth did upon the last of the cther three, by that kindlinesse of connexion, that the well-being of the whole, or person, for the better exercising of its duties and actions well, hath on the well-being of a very necessary and essential part of it self. But this petition, and that fourth, are of farre different kindes, and have not so direct and immediate a connexion in the nature of the things; but that they required to be coupled together by such a grammatical conjunction, and.
Doct. 1. Our sins are the heaviest of all evills.
This is hence gathered, in that we are taught to pray for the removal of this evill absolutely, and of none other.
Reas 1. Because they are most opposite to the chief good; that is, unto the image and holinesse of God, as they may be partaken of by us, to our felicity; and so some way to God himself. Whose will, as much as in us lay, we have violated.
Reas. 2. Because they spoyl us of our greatest perfection.
Reas. 3. Because they beget unto us the greatest miseries.
Use, Of Direction, that having a right esteem of our sins, we may the more abhor them, and all other evill that comes by them.
Doct. 1. Sin…s bring with them an obligation of the greatest debt.
It is hence gathered, that they are here called debts.
Reas. 1. Because the Law of God bindes sinners to suffer paines, and that no common ones, but of the wrath and curse of God.
Reas. 2. Because this debt is such, that for it, we can never be able to satisfy God. For whatsoever sinners do, it rather augments, than diminisheth the nature, or account of the debt.
Reas. 3 Because the justice of God exacting so rigorous a discharge of this debt for sinners, is still upon them, and is as it were perpetually threatening condemnation to them in their owne consciences.
Use. Of Admonition, that neither by a mad kind of secureness, or secure and careless madness, we neglect these so heavy debts; but go about this by all meanes, that we may be set free from them.
Doct. 3. The mercy of God in Christ is sufficient to forgive and remit all our debts.
This is hence gathered, in that we are here taught to this end to fly to the forgiving mercy of God.
Reas. 1. Because God is not onelyonly a just Judge, but also a mercifull Father, as is in the preface of this prayer.
Reas. 2. Because God according to his infinite wisedome hath so ordered things in Christ, that he can with safety to his justice, of his free mercy forgive us our sins.
Reas. 3. Because this mercy being infinite, farre surpasseth our sins, though in themselves they be horrible.
Use▪ Of Exhortation, that with all our hearts we fly to this mercy, and rest in it, and on it.
Doct. 4. Unto remission of sins, together with …aith, is required a confession of them, and repentance or a change of minde and amendment.
This followes from the nature of the petition.
Reas. 1▪ Because none can earnestly desire the blotting out of his sins, unless he both confess and also hate and detest them.
Reas. 2. Because otherwise he can by no meanes rightly magnify the mercy of God, whereunto he flies; but rather goes about to prostitute it, and make it a Pander or Baud to his sins.
Reas. 3. Because without these, none is fitted for receiving comfort from the mercy of God in remission of his sins.
Use, Of Reproof, against such as presume on the mercy of God, though they never thus seriously repent of their sins, nor can be brought to confess or acknowledge their cruell dispositious to men.
Doct. 5. Mercy and love to our brethren, is a signe of the mercy and love of God to our selves.
From these words; As we forgive our debtors.
Reas. 1. Because the mercy and love of God shed abroad in our hearts, begets mercy in us to our bretheren, as heat begets heat.
Reas. 2. Because this mercy and love towards men, is for its conformity thereto, and suitableness to it, a special condition of obtaining the mercy of God; and so is declared to be tied to it, Mat. 6. 14. If ye forgive men their trespasses, your Father also that is in Heaven; will forgive you.
Reas. 3. Because this forgiving of all injuries and wrongs done to us, by others, is taken of the special and free mercy of God communicated unto us; and this grace is the effect of Gods mercy forgiving us our sins.
Use▪ Of Admonition, that we deceive not our selves, and promise to our selves the mercy of God, whilst we nourish in our own hearts hatred and ran…our against our brethren.