Forty-Five Sermons Upon Psalm 130, Sermon 11
SERMON XI.
Pſalm 130. Verſe 4. But there is forgivenneſs with thee,—
I Am now inſiſting upon the refuge to which the man abaſed with the conſcience of ſin betaketh himſelf: who, when he hath reflected upon Gods proceedings in ſtrict Juſtice, according to the tenor of the Covenant of Works with ſinners, and who, when he hath found, that, if God ſhould thus mark iniquity, none, even the moſt godly ſhould be able to ſtand, he ſubjoyns this, as a bleſt aftergain in mans deplorable caſe. But forgivenneſs is with thee; In proſecution of this great truth, that there is pardoning-mercy with God, to be a relief for Self-condemned ſinners, I have ſpoken to two of the five heads that I propoſed to be ſpoken to upon it. 1. I have ſpoken to the Conſideration of that which is pardoned, that is Iniquity, Sin or Tranſgreſſion, or call it by what name ye will. 2. I have ſpoken to the Conſideration of the Author of Pardon, who it is that pardons ſin, and whatever hand Miniſters have in this, or what ever hand private perſons have in it, in remitting injuries done to them, yet the Text determins God ſtill to be the principal Creditor; it's with thee, (ſays he) It's with thee alone that forgivenneſs is. I entered upon the 3d thing, I propoſed to be ſpoken to, which is the main thing in thing purpoſe, that is to inquire after the nature of this pardon, what this forgivenneſs of ſin, which is with God imports, and after a brief touch upon ſome paſſages of Scripture, whereby pardon of ſin is expreſſed, I proceeded negatively, to tell you what it is not, where I ſhew that pardon of ſin is not to be confounded with mens forgetting of ſin, and taking a pardon to themſelves; as alſo, that ſin is not to be lightly looked on, as a thing that God lightly paſſes by, when he pardons it, for he pardons none but upon ſatisfaction made to his Juſtice, by ſinners ſurety; likewiſe, that pardon of ſin is not to be confounded with Gods forbearing, or not inflicting puniſhment for it for a time, for they may be long forborn, who yet may be unpardoned, and whoſe forbearance is no ſign of Divine Approbation. Further it was cleared, that the pardoning of particular ſinners, and their reſtoring in favour, is not to be confounded with a National pardon, conferred on a Nation, whom he may pardon, and yet puniſh. And laſtly, it was cautioned and cleared, that we ſhould not confound the pardon of ſin, with the removal of ſin, in the pollution of it; for though God ſtrike at the guilt and power of ſin, both together, yet whereas pardon of ſin is attained before Death, ſome filthineſs of Sin will remain in the pardoned Sinner, as long as he is in this life, and pardon of Sin may conſiſt with the ſight of the filthineſs of Sin, for which the Sinner is abaſed before God daily.
And this leads me poſitively to point out what pardon of Sin imports: all that I ſhall ſay to it in general, before I break in to tell you more particularly what it is, ſhall be this ye ſhall diſtinguiſh in Sin theſe two. There is in Sin a blot or pollution of the Soul and a defaceing of God's Image thereby And there is in Sin a guilt, that is, an offence done to God, by the violating of his Law, whereby the Sinner becomes obnoxious to the puniſhment that He hath threatned in his Law. Theſe two are clearly diſtinguiſhable among men, a child running in a puddle, pollute… himſelf, and by ſo doing, he becomes guilty of tranſgreſſing his Parents command, and is lyable to their correction, or puniſhment. Now as to theſe two, the guilt and the blot of Sin, there are diverſe and diſtinct Operations of God converſant about them; for as the blot of Sin begins to be ſtricken at, in Regeneration, ſo that work is carried on by Piece-meal in Sanctification, till Sanctification be perfected, and end in Glorification. Regeneration and Sanctification are the Acts of God, converſant about the Blot and Filthineſs of Sin, but pardon of Sin takes not away the beeing, nor the Filthineſs of Sin, as Antinomians ſay, but it takes away the guilt of Sin, and the guilt of Sin being pardoned, the Sinner is delivered from the Puniſhment that his guilt deſerves, and this is alſo diſtinguiſhable among Men; for a perſon having committed an enormous crime, that crime continues ſtill a filthy thing, and evidences a naughty diſpoſition, yet when that crime is pardoned, the man that committed it loſes not their favour, againſt whom it was committed, and is freed from the puniſhment that it deſerves. So a Child that hath puddled himſelf in a mire, ſuppoſe the Parents forgive the offence, the filth that he hath got in the mire ſticks to him ſtill, till it be waſhed away another way. So I ſay, pardon of ſin takes not away the filthineſs of ſin, but the guilt of ſin. And this I mention not meerly for ſpeculation, and information of the Judgment, but it ſays ſomething for their Advantage and Encouragement, who in the ſenſe of ſin are flying to Chriſt for pardon, that they be not ſcarred by the pollution of ſin, from relying on him, for the pardon of guilt. A tender Soul, ſo long as it finds the blot of ſin, it will readily doubt if the guilt of ſin be taken away▪ but if we take up pardon Scripturally, the guilt of ſin is done away by pardon, though the blot of ſin remain: I confeſs the blot of ſin, muſt not remain unmourned for, it muſt not remain unſubdued, or without an endeavour to ſubdue it, yet it may remain, when the guilt and violation of the Law of God by Sin, is pardoned, and paſt, that ſin may be near thy ſight in the blot and pollution, which pardon hath put far off, as to the guilt of it. Jer. 50.20. [In thoſe days and in that time (ſaith the Lord) the iniquity of Iſrael ſhall be ſought, and there ſhall be none, and the ſin of Judah, and they ſhall not be found, Why? For I'le pardon them whom I reſerve,] only let me add that, that thou who grips to the pardon of guilt, when yet thou finds the blot of ſin remaining, and art mourning for it, remember that pardon muſt not be only a ſimple exemption from puniſhment, but that it is only a Reſtitution into his Favour, whom thou haſt offended. Thy pardon muſt not be an Abſalom's pardon, that brought him back to Jeruſalem, but he ſaw not the King's face. Thou muſt not ſatisfie thy ſelf with that, but thou muſt be accepted, and come into favour, that was David's prayer, Pſal. 51.8. [Make me to hear joy and gladneſs, that the bones which thou haſt broken may rejoyce, and verſe 12. Caſt me not away from thy preſence, and take not thine holy Spirit from me, reſtore to me the joy of thy ſalvation, and uphold me by thy free Spirit.] But of this I will have occaſion to ſpeak in the progreſs, therefore I leave it.
And having given you this general Notion of Pardon, I ſhall proceed to batter it out a little, for the clearing of four Queſtions 1. How the guilt of ſin can be ſeparated from the blot of ſin, and the ſinner pardoned. 2. Whether in pardon the obligation to puniſhment be ſo taken off, as the pardoned man falleth under no Chaſtiſement for ſin. 3. Whether the real paſſing of Pardon be one in the Court of Heaven, with that which is in the Court of Conſcience, or if the truth of pardon depends on the intimation of it to our hearts. 4. Whether, what the Lord pardons, He pardons Irrevocably, or whether upon the Contracting of new guilt, the former pardon be made void to the pardoned man; Theſe four Queſtions I ſhall touch upon as briefly as I can, and ſure I am, theſe of you, whoſe plight anchor pardon of ſin is, ye will not weary to hear them ſpoken unto.
For the Firſt, Having ſaid, that the pardon of ſin takes away the guilt of ſin, while the blot of ſin remains; It's a Queſtion how that can be, ſeing theſe two are inſeparable, it's (as we ſay) propitum quarto modo, an eſſential property of ſin, that it draws under guilt, and makes the ſinner lyable to puniſhment, and it's as abſurd to ſay, that ſin can be without guilt, as to ſay, fire can be without heat, or the Sun without Light, guilt being as inſeparable a property of ſin, as heat is to fire, or Light to the Sun: But for Anſwer, this diſtinction will clear it, diſtinguiſh betwixt guilt it ſelf, and the reſult of that guilt on the perſon ſinning, as alſo betwixt Gods offence, and diſpleaſure at ſin, and his offence and diſpleaſure at the ſinner; hence, if we conſider guilt in it ſelf, it is inſeparable from ſin, there is no pardon that God gives unto the ſinner, that takes away the deſert that ſin hath in it ſelf of the wrath of God. But if we conſider guilt, as it reſults upon the perſon ſinning, and brings him under the laſh of God's diſpleaſure, in that reſpect, guilt may be ſeparat from ſin. Sin cannot be ſin, if it bring no guilt with it, yet the pardoning of ſin brings freedom from the actual obligation of the ſinner to puniſhment. Sin hath that evil with it, that it deſerves wrath, but a free pardon Suſpends that ill deſerving, that it doth not take effect againſt a ſinner that is fled to Jeſus Chriſt: I may illuſtrat it by a ſimilitude of a maſſie Hammer that is lift up, and falls down by an Engine, and cruſhes that which is under it, and a ſtrong hand holding it up, and keeping it up, that it never falls down, it's as inſeparable from ſin, to deſerve everlaſting Wrath, as it's inſeparable from a ponderous weight falling down to cruſh that which it falls on, but pardon keeps up that weight of deſerved Wrath, that it falls not down to cruſh them that are fled to Chriſt; and this alſo ſerves not only for Information of the Judgment, but to meet with another caſe incident to the People of God, who, when they are fled to Chriſt for refuge, they not only meet with the Pollution and Blot of ſin, but with the guilt and ill-deſerving of ſin, which troubles them, who being ſenſible of Sin, and aſſaying to cloſe with pardon, when they look to the dreadful Rod of Iron, that they know their ſins deſerve, they cannot get pardon of ſin cloſed with. That's a ſtrong temptation to a tender walker, to ſtand a back; but in this caſe, we would diſtinguiſh betwixt what we deſerve, and the execution of it, a pardoned Sinner would remember, that it commends Gods free Grace in pardoning Sin, that whatever his ill-deſerving be, he will not get that which he deſerves, God will not give him according to his deſerving. And though the Man fled to Jeſus Chriſt, may be dayly humbled with the ſight of the pollution, and deſert of ſin, yet he may be comforted in the free Grace of God, that his ill-deſerving ſhall never take effect to his prejudice.
Now becauſe this is a great Point, and folk that are in earneſt about the pardon of ſin, when they are fled unto Chriſt for pardon, they may have many a ſad thought about the pollution and deſert of Sin. The tender walker will, no doubt ſay, I am a vile body, I have that which deſerves everlaſting wrath, nay that, that God will purſue to root out, though he doth not look on us as an enemy: Becauſe that may be ground of many doubts about this matter, touching the pardon of ſin, I ſhall deſire you to take notice of ſome Scriptural expreſſions, that are very full and ſatisfactory for pardon, notwithſtanding of the pollution of ſin, and the deſert of ſin; and in following this, I would deſire you to take a look of theſe two, one is, how the Scripture declares, that pardoned ſin is looked on by the Creditor (to wit God)? And another is, how it ſtands with the pardoned man?
For the Firſt, whatever thou feel who art fled to Chriſt for pardon, yet O how fully and ſatisfactory doth the Scripture ſpeak to thy pardon; I dare not fall on all the Scriptural expreſſions that hold it forth, but ſhall briefly touch on ſome of them in theſe four ſteps. And 1. The Scripture tells, that pardoned ſin is a blotted out ſin, Pſal 51.9. Blot out all mine iniquities: and Iſai. 44.22. I have blotted out as a thick cloud thy tranſgreſſions, and as a cloud thy ſins. It is an alluſion to a man that deletes or blots out of his Compt-book, that which is either payed or forgiven: and hence this phraſe tells, that pardoned ſin is a debt, that will never be craved nor called for; it is a debt, that God the principal Creditor hath given over, and will no more call for, ſeing it is blotted out. But 2. Becauſe it might be ſupponed that a debt delete in a Compt-book, may be looked on and read, though not to crave the debt, yet to waken reſentments. Therefore the Scripture goes a further length in the pardon of ſin, and tells that pardoned ſin is not only blotted out, that it cannot be gotten read, but it is c…vered and hid out of Gods ſight, Pſal. 32.1. Ble…ſt is the man whoſe tranſgreſſion is forgiven, whoſe ſin is covered. Numb. 23.21. He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, nor hath be ſeen perverſneſs in Iſrael. It is not only blotted out, but it is covered, and ſo covered, as is not ſeen to be purſued with the puniſhment it deſerves; and here, the Scripture is very copious to expreſs how ſin is covered, as that he caſts pardoned ſins behind his back, or over his ſhoulders (to ſpeak ſo) that they ſhall be no more in his view, Iſai. 38.17. Thou haſt caſt all my ſins behind thy back, ſaith Iſaiah. And becauſe a man may turn about and ſee that which is behind his back, therefore pardoned ſin is ſaid to be ſo covered, that (as it is Mic. 7.19.) it is ſaid to be caſt not in the ſhallow places, but in the depths of the ſea: And ye uſe to ſay of a thing that is loſt irrecoverably, it is as tint as it were in the Sea-bottom. But further, becauſe though a thing be in the depth of the Sea, it may be dived after, and ſought out; therefore it is added in that fore-cited place, Jer. 50.20. The iniquity of Iſrael ſhall be ſought for, and there ſhall be none; and the ſin of Judah, and they ſhall not be found: So that the pardon of ſin, covers ſin, takes it out of Gods ſight, and puts it in the depths of the Sea, that though it be ſought for, it ſhall not be found. But 3ly. If there remain any doubt, how it can be, but the Omniſcient God muſt ſee ſin, and ſeeing it, muſt be angry at it; therefore the Scripture gives a further account of the fulneſs of pardon, that it hides God's Face from it; as David prays, Pſal. 51.9. Hide thy face from my ſins; and it is a notable word, Mic. 7.18. That God paſſes by, or over-pardons tranſgreſſions, Who is a God like unto thee, that pardons iniquity, and paſſeth by the tranſgreſſion of the remnant of his heritage; though he be an Omniſcient God to ſee ſin, yet when ſin is pardoned, he will, (as we uſe to ſay) ſee, and not ſee, he will ſee, and misken, as he that paſſes by that which might irritat him, he will not ſet his Face in that art; ſo deals the Lord with pardoned ſins in his people. But 4ly, Whereas ye have a curſed diſtinction of forgiving, but not forgetting of injuries, and temptations may be ready to uſe, and ſay, that though in the ſenſe that I have been ſpeaking of, pardoned ſins be blotted out, covered, put out of ſight, paſſed by, or over, that the Lord will not take notice of pardoned iniquities, to puniſh them; yet he may remember them by way of grudge againſt the pardoned perſon, the Scripture ſecures us againſt the fear of that, and tells us, that pardoned iniquities are not remembred. Iſai 43.25. I even I am he that blotteth out thy tranſgreſſions for mi…e own ſake and will not remember thy ſins; and Jer. 31.34. with the paralel place, Heb. 8. in the New Covenant it is ſaid, I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their ſins no more; I will remember it judicially no more, to call them to an account for the ſin I have pardoned. So that ſins being pardoned, they ſhall be as if they had not been committed, as if they were everlaſtingly forgotten, no more to be remembred: ſo much for theſe expreſſions ſhewing how pardoned ſin is looked upon in reference to God, to which many mo might be added, and O what a full and ſatisfactory ground do they afford, that pardon of ſin is no complement, but a real ſecurity, and firm ground of confidence; when God hath ſaid all this who are they who looking on the pollution, or deſert of ſin, will take pardon of ſin for a complement, and not look on it as a ſolid ſecurity.
And this will be further clear, if in the ſecond place we conſider how it ſtands with the pardoned man; for ye may ſay to me, much hath been ſaid for God, and of the fulneſs of his pardon, and that it is a real Security to the pardoned man; but I find it not ſo with my caſe: Therefore I ſhall in a few words hint, how it ſtands with thee; Thou who art a pardoned ſinner may find much ſin and preſſures of guilt at thy door, and lying near thy Conſcience, but the Scripture tells us, that it is otherways with thee than thou apprehends, Pſal. 103.12. So far as the eaſt is from the weſt, ſo far hath he removed our tranſgreſſions from us; That which thy fears and doubts apprehends lying at thy door, and to be as an heavy burden upon thy back ſinking thee, a pardon removes from thee, as far as the Eaſt is from the Weſt, as far as one thing can be removed from another, as the proverbial Speech imports. Thou thinks thy ſelf to be in a woful and wretched condition, but the Scripture determines thee to be bl…ſt. Pſal. 31.1, 2. Bleſſed is he whoſe tranſgreſſion is forgiven &c. Thou may be crying out, O wretched man, who ſhall deliver me! But the Scripture tells thee, thou art happy, and ought to thank God through Chriſt, Rora. 7.24, 25. Thou mayeſt be drooping, notwithſtanding thou art fled unto Chriſt for pardon; but the Scripture-language of pardon is another thing, Mat. 5.2. Son, be of good chear, thy ſins are forgiven thee. The power and pollution of ſin may make thee droop, but the pardon of ſin may make thee drink and forget thy miſery, and remember thy poverty no more. Thy other ſores and difficulties may ſtick to thee and preſs thee down; but if thou read the pardon of ſin rightly, thou may ſay as Iſai. 33.24. The inhabitant ſhall not ſay, I am ſick, why? the people that dwell therein ſhall be forgiven their iniquity; ſince I am pardoned, what can all me, what can dare at me, or trouble me, ſince I am forgiven of my ſin? In a word, the Scripture declares, That have what thou will, or want what thou will, though thou ſhould complain, loving kindneſſes are wanting, thou haſt not theſe proofs of love thou wont to receive, yet thou wants not an admirable proof of love that haſt pardon; hence is that Exclamation, Mic. 7.18. Who is a God like unto, that pardoneth iniquity? Others may ſay, who is a God like thee in working wonders, when thou brought thy people out of Egypt? But as for me, I will ſay, Who is a God like thee in pardoning ſin? Thus if we take the Scripture-verdict of pardon of ſin, as well in reference to the pardoned man, as in reſpect of God; we will find that pardon is a ſure foundation of confidence, and it is ſo excellent a Character, that if we could heed it, believe it, and improve it, to the quickning of us to run and ſecure pardon in the right method (whereof we may hear) we ſhould find, that we have here a Treaſure hid in this Field, Chriſt, a pardoner of iniquity, lying in the boſom of this mercy. Lord bleſs what ye have heard.