The Catechizing of Families, Chapter 29
CHAP. XXIX. And forgive us our Trespasses, as we forgive them that Trespass against us. (Or, as we forgive our Debtors.)
Qu. 1. WHy is this made the fifth Petition, or the second of the second part?
A. Because it is for the second thing we Personally need. Our Lives and Natural being supposed, we next need Deliverance from the Guilt and Punishment, which we have contracted. Else to be Men, will be worse to us than to be Toads or Serpents.aPsal. 32. 1, 2, 3.
Q. 2. What doth this Petition imply?
A. 1. That we are all Sinners, and have deserved punishment, and are already fallen under some degree of it.bRom. 3, throughout.
2. That God hath given us a Saviour who died for our Sins, and is our Ransom and Advocate with the Father:
And, 3. That God is a gracious pardoning God, and dealeth not with us on the terms of rigorous Justice according to the Law of Innocency: But hath brought us under the Redeemers Covenant of Grace, which giveth Pardon to all penitent Believers: So that sin is both pardonable, and conditionally pardoned to us all.c1 Ioh. 2. 1, 2. Ioh. 3. 16. Psal. 130. 4. Act. 5. 31. & 13. 38. Act. 26. 18.
Q. 3. What then are the presupposed things which we pray not for?
A. 1. We pray not that God may be Good and Love it self, or a merciful God: for this is presupposed. 2. We pray not that he would send a Saviour into the World, to fulfill all Righteousness, and die for Sin, and that his Merit and Sacrifice may procure a Conditional Universal Pardon and Gift of Life, viz. to all that will repent and believe. For all this is done already.dLuke 23. 34, Mat. 9. 6. Mat. 12. 31, 32.
Q. 4. Is it to the Father only, or also to the Son tha… we pray for Pardon?
A. To the Father primarily; and to the Son as Glorified; for now the Father without him judgeth no Man, but hath committed all Judgment to the Son, Ioh. 5. 22. But when Christ made this Prayer, he was not yet Glorified, nor in full possession of his Power. (e)
Q. 5. What Sin is it, whose forgiveness we pray for?
A. All sin, upon the Conditions of pardon made by Christ; that is, for the pardon of all Sin to true penitent Believers. Therefore we pray not for any pardon of the final non-performance of the condition, that is, to finally impenitent Unbelievers.fLuke. 15. 3, 5.
Q. 6. Sin cannot hurt God: what need then is there of forgiveness?
A. It can wrong him by breaking his Laws, and rejecting his moral government, though it hurt him not: And he will right himself.
Q. 6. What is forgiving Sin?
A. It is by tender Mercy, on the account of Christ's Merits, Satisfaction and Intercession, to forgive the guilt of Sin as it maketh us the due subjects of punishment, and to forgive the punishment of sin, as due by that guilt and the Law of God, so as not to inflict it on us.gCol. 2. 13. Iam. 5. 15. Mat. 18. 27. 32. Luke 7. 42, 43. Rom. 6. 21, 23. 1 Cor. 15. 22.
Q. 7. What punishment doth God forgive?
A. Not all: For the first Sentence of Corporal punishment and death is inflicted. But he forgiveth the Everlasting punishment to all true Believers, and so much of the temporal, both Corporal and Spiritual, as his Grace doth fit us to receive the pardon of: and so he turneth Temporal correcting punishments to our good.hPsal. 103. 3. 1 Ioh. 1. 9.
Q. 8. Doth he not pardon all Sin at once, at our Conversion?
A. Yes: All that is past: for no other is sin. But not by a perfect Pardon.
Q. 9. Why must we pray for Pardon then every day?
A. 1. Because the Pardon of old Sins is but begun, and not fully perfect, till all the punishment be ceased: And that is not, till all sin, and unholiness, and all the evil effects of sin be ceased. No nor till the Day of Resurrection▪ and Judgment have overcome the last Enemy Death, and finally Justified us.i1 Cor. 11. 30, 31, 32. Mat. 18. 27. Psal. 85. 2, 3, 4, &c. Luke 6. 37. Iam. 5. 15.
2. Because we daily renew our sins, by omission and commission, and though the foundation of our Pardon be laid in our Regeneration, that it may be actual and full for following sins, we must have renewed Repentance, Faith and Prayer.
Q. 10. God is not changeable, to forgive to day what he forgave not yester day: What then is his forgiving Sin?
A. The unchangeable God changeth the Case of Man: And, 1. By his Law of Grace, forgiveth penitent Believers who were unpardoned in their impenitence and unbelief: And, 2. By his Executive Providence he taketh off and preventeth punishments both of Sense and Loss, and so forgiveth.
Q. 11. How can we pray for pardon to others, when we know not whether they be penitent Believers, capable of Pardon?
A. 1. We pray as Members of Christ's Body for our selves, and all that are his Members, that is, penitent Believers.
2. For others we pray that God would give them Faith, Repentance and Forgiveness: As Christ prayed, Father forgiv them, for they know not what they do; that is, Qualifie them for Pardon, and then pardon them: Or give them Repentance and Forgiveness.
Q. 12. Why say we, [as we forgive them that trespass against us?
A. To signifie that we have this necessary qualification for forgiveness; God will not forgive us fully till we can forgive others: And to signifie our Obligation to forgive: And as an Argument to God to forgive us, when he hath given us Hearts to forgive others: But not as the Measure of God's forgiving us: For he forgiveth us more freely and fully than we can forgive others.kMat. 6. 14, 15. & 18. 35. Mar. 11. 25, 26.
Q. 13. Are we bound absolutely to forgive all Men?
A. No: But as they are capable of it. 1 We have no power to forgive wrongs against God. 2. Nor against our Superiours, or other Men, or the Common-wealth or Church, further than God Authori…eth any Man by Office. 3. A Magistrate must forgive sins as to Corporal punishment, no further than God alloweth him, and as will stand with the true design of Government, and the common good. And a Pastor no further than will stand with the good of the Church: And a Father no further than will stand with the good of the Family: And so of others. 4. An Enemy that remaineth such, and is wicked, must be forgiven by private Men, so far as that we must desire and endeavour their good, and seek no revenge: But not so far as to be trusted as a familiar or bosom Friend. 5. A Friend that offended and returneth to his Fidelity, must be forgiven and trusted as a Friend, according to the Evidence of his Repentance and Sincerity, and no further.
The rest about forgiveness is opened in the Exposition of that Article in the Creed [The forgiveness of …ns:] Still remembring that all forgiveness is by God's Mercy, through Christs Merits, Sacrifice and Intercession.