The Catechizing of Families, Chapter 20
CHAP. XX. The Forgiveness of Sins.
Qu. 1. VVHat is the dependance of this Articl… on the former?
A. It is part of the description of the Effects of Christs Redemption, and the Holy Ghost's application of it: His Regeneration maketh us Members o… the Holy Catholick Church, where we must live in the Communion of Saints, and therewith we receive the Forgiveness of sins: The same Sacrament of Baptis… signifying and exhibiting both, as washing us from the Filth or Power of sin, and from the guilt of punishment.a1 Ioh. 1. 9.
Q. 2. What is the Forgiveness of Sin?
A. It is God's acquitting us from the deserved punishment.bMat. 9. 2, 5, 6, 7. Mar… 2. 7, 10.
Q. 3. How doth God do this?
A. By three several Acts which are three Degrees of Pardon: The first is, by his Covenant-gift, Promise, or Law of Grace, by whic… as his Instrument or Act of Oblivion, he dissolveth the Obligation to punishment which we were under, and giveth us Lawful-Right to Impu…ity, so that neither punishment by Sense or by Loss shall be our Due.cPsal. 32. 1, 2. & 85. 2. Luke 5. 20. & 7. 48, 50. Iam. 5. 15. Eph. 4. 32. Heb. 1. 3. 2 Cor. 5. 18, 19. Psal. 130. 4.
The second Act is by his Sentence as a Judge pronouncing us forgiven, and Justifying this our Right against all that is or can be said against it.
The third Act is by his Execution, actually delivering us from deserved punishment of loss and sense.dAct. 5. 31. & 13. 38. & 26. 18.
Q. 4. Doth not God forgive us the Guilt of the fault as well as the Dueness of Punishment?
A. Yes: for th…se are all one in several Words: To forgive the sin, and to acquit from Dueness of punishment for that sin, are the same thing. God doth not Repute or Judge us to be such as never sinned; for that were to judge fasly: Nor doth he judge that our sin is not related to us as the Actors, for that's impossible: Nor doth he judge that our sin did not deserve punishment: But only that the deserved punishment is forgiven for the Merits of Christ's Righteousness and Sacrifice.
Q. 5. Is not Iustification and Forgiveness of Sin all One?
A. To be Justified: 1. Sometimes signifieth to be Made Iust and Iustifiable in Iudgment: And then it sometimes includeth both the Gift of Saving Faith and Repentance, and the Gift of Pardon, and of Right to Life Everlasting: And sometime it presupposeth Faith and Repentance given, and signifieth the annexed Gift of Pardon and Life.
2. Sometime it signifieth Gods Justifying us by his Sentence in Judgment which containeth both the justifying of our Right to Impunity and Salvation, and the Justifying our Faith and Holiness as sincere, which are the Conditions of our Right.eIsa. 53. 11. & 45. 25. 1 Cor. 6. 11. Tit. 3. 5, 7. Rev. 22. 12. Rom. 4. 2, 5. & 2. 13. & 3. 20. Gal. 2. 16, 17. Rom. 8. 33. Iam. 2. 21, 24.
3. And sometimes to Justifie us, is to use us as just Men. And as long as we understand the Matter thus signified by Pardoning and Justifying, we must not strive about words so variously used.fIsa. 50. 8. 1 King. 8. 32. Deut. 25. 1. Isa. 5. 2. 3.
Q. 6. But if Christ's perfect Righteousness Habitual and Actual, be Our own Righteousness by God's Imputation, how can we need a Pardon of Sin, when we were perfectly obedient in Christ?
A. We could not possibly be pardoned as Sinners, if God reputed us to have fulfilled all Righteousness in Christ, and so to be no Sinners: Therefore it is no such Imputation that must be affirmed. But God justly reputeth Christ's Holiness, and Righteousness, active and passive, dignified by his Divinity to be fully Meritorious of our Pardon, Justification and Salvation. And so it is Ours and Imputed as the true Meritorious Cause of our Righteousness, which consisteth in our Right to Pardon and Salvation.gRom. 3. 22, 25, 26. Gal. 3. 6. Rom. 4. 5, 9, 22. & 5. 17, 18, 19. & 6. 13, 16, 18. & 8. 4, 10.
Q. 7. Is Pardon perfect in this Life, and all punishment remitted at Once?
A. No: 1. The punishment denounced in God's Sentence of Eve and Adam is not wholly forgiven: The Curse on the Ground, the Womans Sorrows, the pain and stroke of Death. 2. Temporal correcting punishments are not all forgiven. 3. Some measure of Sin is penally permitted in us. 4. The want of more Holiness and help of Gods Spirit and Communion with God, is to all of us a fore punishment. 5. The Permission of many Temptations from Devils and Men, are punishments, specially when they prevail to hainous sinning. 6. To be so long kept out of Heaven, and to lie after in the Grave, are punishments. Sure few Men believe that Pardon is here perfect, that feel any of these. 7. And it is not perfect till we are Justified before the World, and put in possession of Salvation: That's the perfect Pardon.hI think no Man that felt what I feel at the writing of this in my Flesh, and for my Friends, can possibly think that Pardon is perfect in this Life. Iam. 5. 15. Luke 6. 37. Mat. 12. 31. Ios. 24. 19. Mat. 6. 12, 14. … King. 23. 26, 27. Mat. 18. 32.
Q. 8. But some say that Chastisements are no punishments?
A. They are not Damning destructive punishments: but they are Chastising punishments: For they are evil to Nature inflicted by Fatherly Correcting Iustice for Sin.
Q. 9. Is that an Evil which alwayes bringeth greater Good?
A. It is no such Evil as Sinners should repine at. But ask any of that Opinion, under the Stone, o… other tormenting Disease, or if he must die as a Malefactor, whether it be not a Natural evil? If there be no Evil in it, why doth he groan under it? Why doth he pray against it? Or use Physick or other remedies? Why is he offended at those that hurt him? Had he not rather have his Holiness and Salvation without torment, Prisons, &c. than with them.
2. But it is not true, that all the punishments of such as are saved make them better: some are permitted to fall into hainous Sin, and to decline in their Faith, Love and Obedience, and to die worse than once they were; and so to have a less Degree of Glory, whe… they have been hurtful Scandals in the World. And is there no harm in all this? Nothing is perfect i… this imperfect World.i2 Sam. 7. 14. Psal. 73. 14. & 1…8. 18. 1 Cor. 11. 32. Ier. 31. 18. Heb. 12. 8, 9, 10. 2 Cor. 2… 6. Lam. 3. 39. Iob▪ 31. 11. Am. 3. 2. Ma… 16. 23.
Q. 10. But how is Christ's Merits and Satisfaction perfect then?
A. That's perfect which is perfectly fitted to it's use: It was not a use that Christ ever intended to Pardon all temporal Correcting punishment, no… to make each Believer perfect the first hour. Th… our greatest Sins should go unpunished is againe Christs will and Kingly Government, and the Natur… of his Salvation: And his Righteousness and Satisfaction are not intended against himself.kPhil. 3. 12, 13. 1 Pet. 5. 10. 1 Cor. 13. 10. 2 Cor. 7. …. Prov. 8. 36. 1 Ioh. 1. 8. & 5. 17.
Q. 11. What sins are pardoned? Is it all, or but some?
A. All sin is pardoned (though the Pardon be not perfect at first) to all true penitent Believers. But final Impenitence, unbelief and unholiness never had a Pardon purchased or offered: But that which is not final is forgiven: Yea, no sin is actually forgiven as to the everlasting punishment to final Impenitents and Unbelievers.lMat. 12. 32. Ex. 34. 6, 7. Luk. 13. 3, 5. Ioh. …. 16. Mark 16. 16.
Q. 12. Are sins pardoned before they are committed?
A. If you call the meer purpose or purchase a Pardon unfitly, or if you speak but of the General Act of Oblivion, which pardoneth all Men on Condition that they penitently and believingly accept it, so sins to come are pardoned: But (not to strive about words) no one hath any actual proper Pardon for any sin before it is commited: for it's no sin, and so no pardoned sin.mMat. 18. 32. 2 Cor. 5. …9. Mat. 6. 12.
Q. 13. When is it that sin is pardoned?
A. God's purpose is Eternal: The conditional Pardon was made when the Covenant of Grace was made: Some Degrees of punishment God remitteth by common and preparatory Grace. But saving Pardon none receive (at Age) till they Believe, nor are they Justified.nHeb. 1. 3. Ioh. 3. 16, 18, 25. Rom. 4. 2. & 5. 1.
Q. 14. Why do we pray for Pardon daily, when sin is already pardoned?
A. 1. I told you sin is not pardoned when it is no sin; we sin daily and therefore must have daily pardon: And this also proveth that Pardon and Justification are not perfect before Death, because there are more sins still to be pardoned. 2. And we pray for the Continuance of the Pardon we have, and for removal of punishments.
Q. 15. Is this the meaning of this Article, that [I believe that my own sins are actually forgiven] as a Divine Revealation?
A. The meaning is, 1. That by Christ a certain Degree of punishment is taken off from all Mankind, and they are not dealt with according to the rigor of the Law of Innocent Nature. 2. And that a conditional Pardon is given to all in the new Covenant so far as it is revealed. 3. And that this Pardon becometh actual to every one when he penitently and believingly consenteth to the (Baptismal) Covenant with Christ. o2 Sam. 12. 12, 13. Psal. 50. & 32.4. And that this Pardon is offered to me as well as others, and shall be mine if I be a sincere Believer; This is all that the Article containeth▪ 5. But while I profess to Believe, it is supposed that I hope I do it sincerely, and therefore have some hope that I am pardoned. 6. But because a Man may sincerely believe, and yet doubt of the sincerity, and God hath no where said in Scripture that I or you are Sincere Believers, or are pardoned; therefore to believe this is no Divine Faith save by participation, nor is it profest by all that profess the Creed. But it is an Effect of two Acts, 1. Of our Faith, 2. And of the Conscience of our sincerity in Believing: It is a Conclusion that all should labour to make sure, though it be not the proper sence of the Article.
Q. 16. Seeing all true Believers are at first justified and pardoned as to the Everlasting punishment, doth it not follow that all God's Children have afterward none but temporal chastisement to be forgiven?
A. 1. I told you that sin is not forgiven even to stated Believers, before it is committed; and when it is committed the qualifying Condition must be found in us: And though our first true Faith and Repentance qualifie us for the Pardon of all Sin past, yet when more is committed more is required in us to our Pardon, that is, that we renew Repentance and Faith as far as Sin is known, and that we beg Pardon and forgive others. 2. Yet the future punishment is not so much unforgiven to the Faithful as to others, before renewed Repentance: For they have the main qualification, and want but an act for which they are habituated, and have God's Spirit to assist them. 3. And though Sins unknown which are ordinary infirmities, are forgiven without express particular Repentance, yet in order of nature, the Desert of punishment goeth before the forgiveness: The very Law of Nature maketh durable punishment due to durable Souls, till the dueness be remitted by forgiveness.pPsal. 32. & 25. & 51. Mat. 18. 32. Mat. 6. 14, 15. 1 Ioh. 1. 9. Act. 8. 22.
Q. 17. Is my sin forgiven, as long as I believe it not forgiven?
A. If you believe not that God is a merciful pardoning God, and Christ a pardoning Saviour, whose Sacrifice and Merits are sufficient, and God's Promise of Pardon to the Penitent Believer is true, and to be trusted, you are not pardoned: But if you believe this, and consent to Christ's pardoning Covenant, you are pardoned, though you doubt of your own forgiveness.
Q. 18. How may I be sure that I am forgiven?
A. The everlasting punishment is forgiven, when you are one that God by his Covenant pardoneth, and that is, when by true Faith and Repentance you Consent to the Covenant Terms, and give up your self to God, as your God and Saviour, and Sanctifier. And when temporal punishments are remitted in Soul or Body, experience of their removal may tell you.qIoh. 3. 16. Rom. 10. 14.
Q. 19. What keepeth up doubts of forgiveness of Sin?
A. 1. Ignorance of the Terms of the pardoning Covenant. 2. And ignorance of our Selves, and our own Sincerity. 3. Especially renewing our guilt by Sin, and being so defective in our Repentance and other Grace, as that we cannot be sure of our Sincerity: Above all when frequent sinning after Promises make us not credible to our selves.
Q. 20. But is not the Cure of a doubting Soul, to Believe, though he find no Evidence in himself, and that because he is commanded to believe, and so believing will be his Evidence?
A. Believing is a word that signifieth divers Acts: As I told you, It is every Mans duty to believe Gods Mercy, and Christ's Redemption and Sufficiency, and the truth of the conditional Promise, rMar. 3. 28. Act. 5. 31.and to Accept Pardon as Offered on the Terms of that Promise; and then not to cherish doubts of his Sincerity: But it is not every Mans duty to Believe that he is sincere, or that his Sin is pardoned: Else most should be bound to believe an Untruth that it may after become true. Presumption destroyeth far more than Despair. For an ungodly impenitent Person to believe that he is godly, and justified by Christ, is to believe himself who is a Lyar, and not to believe Christ; yea it is to believe himself against Christ, who saith the contrary.
Q. 21. What is the use of this Article of the Forgiveness of Sin?
A. The Use is exceeding great: not to embolden us in sin because it is pardonable; nor to delay Repentance and forsaking sin; For that were to cast away Pardon by Contempt: But, 1. to shew us what a merciful God we serve. 2. And what a Mercy it is to have a Redeemer, sIer. 31. 34. & 36. 3. Luk. 7. 12, 13. Act. 26. 18. Eph. 1. 7. Col. 1. 14.and a Pardoning Saviour. 3. And what a Comfort to be under a Pardoning Covenant of Grace. 4. And it tells us that the review of the sins of our unregenerate State, though they must keep us humble, should yet be still used to raise our Hearts to joyful thankfulness to God, for the Grace of a Redeemer. 5. And it should keep us from despair and discouragment in all our weaknesses, while we have the Evidence of daily Pardon. 6. Yea it should make us hate Sin the more, which is against so good a God. 7. We may come with reveren… boldness to God, in Meditation, Prayer and Sacraments, when we know that Sin is pardoned. 8. And we may taste the Sweetness of all our Mercies, whe… the doubt of our forgiveness doth not embitter them▪ 9. And we may much the easilier bear all Afflictions, when the everlasting punishment is forgiven. 10. An… we may die when God calls us without horrour, whe… we believe that we are pardoned through Christ: nothing but Sin can hurt or endanger us, at Christs Tribunal: when that is forgiven, and there is no Condemnation to us being in Christ, how joyfully may we think of his appearing! 11. What Peace of Conscience may we have continually, while we can say that … our Sins are forgiven us: For as Psal. 32. 1. An… blessed are they whose Transgression is forgiven, whose Sin is covered, to whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose Spirit there is no guile.