Forty-Five Sermons Upon Psalm 130, Sermon 8
SERMON VIII.
Pſalm 130. Verſe 4. But there is forgivenneſs with thee, that thou mayeſt be feared.
AFter that I had ſpoken to this godly man his humbling ſenſe, and fight of the deſert of Sin, in the third verſe. I have begun to ſpeak to this remedy of pardoning mercy with God, upon which he layeth hold; and I took up the words in that General Note, That there is pardoning mercy in God for Sin, and that is the only refuge for ſinners, ſenſible of the burden of ſin, and of the deſert of ſin; and told you, that I have a purpoſe, (if the Lord will) to proſecute this Point, in the reſolution of ſeveral Queſtions, which yet may be reduced to a few General Heads, Which were hinted at. That which now I am upon is, the conſideration of that that is pardoned, Sin, Iniquity, or Tranſgreſſion, where I ſpoke to one particular; that all Mankind have ſinned, and done that which will need a pardon. They have iniquities, even the moſt godly which makes them, when they are ſenſible of them, to look upon it as good news to hear of pardon, That which I further propoſed to be ſpoken to, was, 1. That, as all have ſinned, ſo ſin is a crime, a debt, a burden, that men ſtand in need to rid their hands of. 2. That ſin is a debt that man cannot ſatisfie, but muſt have it done away by Remiſſion, it muſt conſequently follow, That the unpardoned Man is in a woful plight. And 3. That if this be a Debt, that can only be done away by Pardon, then to a ſenſible man, this will be the chiefeſt of good news, That there is forgivenneſs with God.
As to the Firſt of theſe, and the Second in Order, propoſed to be ſpoken to on this Branch, when it is granted, that all have ſinned, the ſtupid and carleſs will look lightly upon it, wherefore it is to be conſidered in the next place, what ſin is to the right diſcerner, it's a crime, which, ſince he cannot expiat, hath need of pardon; It's a debt, which, ſince he cannot ſatisfie, hath need of forgivenneſs. This imports, that to be lying under the burden of ſin, is no light matter, to a man that knows his caſe through ſin. I ſhall take notice of the Notion, under which ſin is expreſsed, Luk. 11.4. with Matth. 6.12. Where ſin is called our Debt, I ſhal no inſiſt here to clear, that every mans ſin is his own Debt, contracted by himſelf, in his own Perſon, or in the common Root Adam; and that he hath not others to blame for it, Though as Adam did lay over his ſin on the Woman, which God gave him, ſo is every one ready to do, yet when God and the Sinner reckons, he will find, that he muſt reckon for his Sin, by himſelf, or by a Surety; but waving that, that ſin is called a Debt, it is not to be underſtood, that Man is oblidged to ſin, for Obedience is that which is required, and which we are oblidged to pay to God, but what is imported in this metaphor, I ſhall lay open before you in theſe four.
1. A man that is adebted, and not fulfilling his Bond, is lyable to the Law, ſo the Law of God is an hand-writting againſt ſinful man, oblidging him, either to do his Duty, or to ſatisfie Juſtice for his Fault, or if he cannot do that, and there be no other remedy, to undergo everlaſting puniſhment in hell.
2. The Debt is heightned by this, that all the means offered to Man, of directions, threatnings, promiſes, opportunities, power, and abilitie, to do good in the time, and ſtation, he lives in, Gifts, and qualifications for that end, and Talents, for the not improvement of which, he becomes Debtor to God, and his ſin is hightned thereby.
3. As ſin reſembleth a Debt, ſo it is a Debt above all other debts, a man under the debt of Sin, is in a more dreadful plight, than any under other debt; he may be able to pay it, and though he be broken, he may come up again; But a man under the debt of ſin, can never pay; again a man under debt, if he cannot pay, he can ſhift his Creditor; But for a man under the debt of ſin, there is no ſhifting of God his Creditor, Pſal. 139. Whither ſhall he go from his ſpirit? Or whither ſhall he flee …rom his preſence! Again, though a man be under debt, and not able to ſhift his Creditor, yet his Creditor is not always in a readineſs to attach him, though he be in his view, becauſe he is not in a legal capacity to reach him; But we are in God's reverence every moment. Again, other Debt reaches the Body only, this Debt of Sin reaches the Soul alſo. And to add no more, other Debt may reach a man with inconveniences in his Life, but when he is dead his Debt is payed. But the puniſhment of this Debt reaches a man chiefly after this Life: all theſe clear, that Sin is a Debt above all other Debts.
And I ſhall add 4. That Sin may well be compared to a Debt on this account, that Sinners while they fall upon a right method of ſeeking pardon, they much reſemble an ill Debtor; an ill debtor deſires not to hear of his accounts, far leſs to ſit down and caſt them up; ſo it is with theſe ill Debtors, they put the ill day far away. They cannot hear of a day of compt and reckoning, nor to ſit down and examine what they are owing, and what is it that engadges a Man, either to eſſay to be an Athieſt, (I ſay eſſay to be one, for he will never be one in earneſt) or turn Voluptuous, and drown himſelf in ſenſual pleaſures, but to hold down the eye of his Conſcience, that would call him to compt and reckon. Again, when an ill Debtor is brought to think upon his accounts; how aſhamed and afraid may he be, not knowing when he ſhall be ſeiſed upon, turned out of all he hath, and put in Priſon. And though impenitent ſinners will not let it light, that they have any fears, yet their Conſciences can bear them Witneſs to many over-caſtings of heart, upon apprehenſion of what may be the cloſe of their Courſe. Again ill Debtors are full of dilators, ſhifts, and delayes, they will promiſe fair, but will not perform; and ſo it is with ſinners, that are not thinking on Repentance, in order to Pardon. They will take fair in hand, many have that much good Nature, Civility, or Policy to take with a reproof, and ſay, they will mend, and repent, they will caſt off the courſe they are in, and do better, but all theſe are dilators, to give the Creditor fair weather, without ſatisfaction. And further, to add no more, an ill Debitor loves not his Creditor, yea often hates him; and though impenitent ſinners dare not ſay, they do not love God, yet what ſpightful and hateful thoughts do often riſe up in their hearts againſt God? Why? they cannot get this done, and that done, but they muſt be accounted ſinners, and cited to appear before the Judgment Seat of God, to undergo a ſentence of puniſhment, and is that good thus to repay him ſo, becauſe he craveth this Debt? All theſe Reſemblances, contribute to make it out, that man is a Debtor, and ſin is a debt, that he cannot ſatisfie. Are they not fools then, that make a ſport at Sin? (as Solomon ſays, Prov. 14.9.) Fools make a mock at ſin; but they would ſport at leaſure, if they conſidered what a debt this debt of ſin is. Men in their right wits, have ſo ſmarted under it, and the conſequences of it, that their hearts have been ſmitten, and withered as graſs, and they have forgotten to eat their bread. Pſal. 102.4. They have had no ſoundneſs in their fleſh, becauſe of Gods anger, nor reſt in their bones, becauſe of their ſins. Their iniquities have been a burden too heavy for them, their wounds have stinked, and been corrupt becauſe of their fooliſhneſs. Pſal. 38.3, &c. And where art thou that art lying under that Debt, and never thinks of putting it off? Certainly thou muſt be under a diſtraction.
And this leads me to the third Thing in Order, that I propoſed to be ſpoken to, that is, That ſin being a great Debt, and a debt we cannot ſatisfie, a man lying under it, if he be ſenſible of it, will look upon it, as the ſadeſt poſture and plight he can be in. Sin will be a moſt heavy burden to a ſenſible man; and I ſhall in ſhort make it out, in a five-fold reſpect, what a woful plight an un-pardoned criminal and debtor is in.
1. An un-pardoned Man is a dead Man, a gone man, as the Lord tells Abimilech, Gen. 20.3. Behold, thou art but a deadman, for the woman which thou haſt taken, for ſhe is another mans wife. Every unpardoned man is a dead man, he is like a condemned Malefactor, the ſentence is pronounced upon him, the day of his death is appointed, though he eat, and drink, and ſleep, he is reckoned a dead man.
2. An unpardoned man is capable of no good thing, Iſai. 59, 1.2. Behold, the Lords hand is not ſhortned, that it cannot ſave, neither is his ear heavy, that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have ſeparated betwixt you and your God, and your ſins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. And Jer. 5.25. Your iniquities have turned away theſe things, and your ſins have withholden good things from you. They have turned away the good things ye had, and have withholden other good things from coming to you; ſo that the unpardoned man is capable of no good, and all the good that he gets, is but a ſnare to him. The good things he hath, are feeding, and fatting him to deſtruction.
3. An unpardoned man is in a woful plight, becauſe, all that he doth, till his perſon be reconciled, and taken into favour with God, how good ſoever it be in it ſelf, is ſin, and an abomination to God; He may do many good turns, that are good upon the matter, but would ye have the Scriptures verdict of them, as they come from him: read Prov. 15.18. Prov. 21.4. and 28.9. The ſacrifice of the wicked is an abomination, the plow…ng of the wicked is ſin; He that turns away his ear from hearing of the Law, even his prayer ſhall be abomination; Whence it is clear, all the good that an unpardoned man does is ſin.
4. An unpardoned man is in a pitiful plight, becauſe to him there is no comfortable bearing of trouble, but where the pardon of ſin is, it ſuſtains a man under trouble, and makes him bear it cheerfully; Men that never trouble themſelves to repent, and ſeek pardon, they had need of much fair weather, for unpardoned guilt will have a dreadful Eccho in a ſtorm to them. Of the pardoned man it's ſaid, Iſai. 33.34. The inhabitant ſhall not ſay, I am ſick, for the people that dwell therein ſhall be forgiven their iniquities. A man's being forgiven his iniquity, will make him forget that he is ſick, and will make him bear trouble comfortably, which an unpardoned man cannot get done.
And 5 an unpardoned man is in a woful plight, becauſe death will have a terrible aſpect upon him; To the pardoned man, death is a friend, a Meſſenger ſent to call him home, a Chariot ſent to carry him to heaven; but to the unpardoned man, death is the King of Terrors, the wages and curſed fruit of ſin; O! the ſweet ſight of Chriſt, and of pardon, that meets the pardoned man at Death, and Judgment, ſomewhat whereof is hinted in theſe Words, Acts 3.19.26. Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your ſins may be blotted out, when the times of refreſhing ſhall come from the preſence of the Lord, and he ſhall ſend Jeſus Christ, who before was preached unto you. But O! what a dreadful lying down, and riſing out of the Grave, will the unpardoned man have; So ye have heard, that as all have ſinned, ſo ſin is a Debt, that hath need of pardon, the non-forgiveneſs whereof, puts, and keeps a man in a moſt wofull condition, and being ſo,
I proceed to the 4th, and laſt thing, I propoſed to be ſpoken to here, that is, that ſin being a debt, and ſuch a debt, as can only be taken away by pardon and forgivenneſs, then it might be good news, the chiefeſt of good news to the man ſenſible of ſin, that iniquity will be forgiven; That there is forgivenneſs with God, and this is it in the Text, for verſe 3. he ſayeth, If thou, Lord, shouldeſt mark iniquity, Who can ſtand. But verſe 4. Forgivenneſs is with thee. That is it ye have, Mat. 9.2. Son be of good chear, thy ſins be forgiven thee. Now for this Pardon, the nature of it, and the terms upon which it is attained, it will come in, in the own proper place to be ſpoken to. Here, I am upon conſideration of the thing remitted, and that that I ſhall pitch upon is, That there is a remiſſion of ſin attainable by ſinners in the due order. It's a bleſſed Article of our Creed, the remiſſion of ſins. When I ſpoke of the remiſſion of ſin, I ſpoke of the remiſſion of all ſins, great and ſmall, in their nature and number. There is forgivenneſs with God, for iniquities. I confeſs there is an exception made, Math. 12.31, 32. All manner of ſin and blaſphemy, shall be forgiven unto men, but the blasphemy againſt the holy Ghoſt, shall not be forgiven, Heb. 10.26. They that ſin afer they have received the knowledge ef the truth, there remaineth no more ſacrifice for ſin. And 1 John. 5.1. There is a ſin unto death; But the ſin againſt the holy Ghoſt, needs not trouble the ſenſible ſinner, that would fain have pardon. It is true, it ſhould warn all to beware of malicious ſinning againſt light, and having ſinned, to beware of running away from God, but the ſenſible ſinner, that is ſeeking peace, and pardon, needs not to be afraid of it. That ſin is therefore irremiſſible, becauſe the ſinner comes not to ſeek pardon, but if thou haſt the ſenſe of ſin, and if it be thy deſire, and endeavour to repent, and to have pardon, it is an evidence, that thy ſin is not that unpardonable ſin.
But that I may make ſomething of this, I ſhall deduce it in two or three Branches. The firſt whereof ſhal be,
1. That ſmall ſins need Pardon.
2. That groſs ſins are Pardonable.
3. A word to the conſideration of the perſons whoſe ſins are pardonable.
1. The ſmalleſt of ſins needs a pardon, we are not (as Papiſts would charge us) Stoicks, who affect a parity and equality of all ſins; we grant there are different degrees of ſins, and different degrees of puniſhment, A beating with many stripes, and a beating with few ſtripes, Luke. 12.47, 48. But yet when we aſſert this difference, we dare not with them aſſert venial ſins, that deſerves not everlaſting Wrath without repentance, and fleeing to Chriſt for refuge, ſure the Apoſtle tells us. Rom, 6.23, The wages of ſin is death. What death? look to the oppoſition, and it will clear it, but the gift of God is eternal life; if the Gift of God be eternal life, the wages of ſin muſt be eternal death, & that he ſayes it of ſin indefinitly, it's equivalent to an univerſal, the wages of ſin is death, ſo that they muſt take away the nature of ſin, from theſe ſins they call Venial, or grant the wages thereof is death, and likewiſe, Mat. 12.36. Chriſt tells, that Every idle word that men ſpeak, they shall give account thereof in the day of Judgment; And an idle word might ſeem a ſmall ſin; well then, if the ſmalleſt ſin needs a pardon, look that we do not practically make a diſtinction of mortal and venial ſins, even groſs men, if they fall into groſs out-breakings, it will affect them ſomewhat, when they do not heed their ordinary eſcapes. Godly perſons alſo are culpable here, a ſcandalous ſin will affect them, and ſo it ſhould, but how little are they affected with wanderings of mind in holy duties, idle words and thoughts, habitual diſtance from God, and is not that a practical diſtinguiſhing of ſin: It is true, none can, in repentance, diſtinctly overtake all their failings, for Pſal. 19.12. Who can underſtand his errors? Yet we ought to do what we can, to overtake them, and if we cannot overtake them, be at Gods Foot-ſtool with them, mourning over them in the bulk.
But 2. as the ſmalleſt of ſins needs a pardon, ſo the …roſſeſt of ſins are pardonable in the due order, There is forgivenneſs with him for iniquities, as in the Text, and Iſai. 55.7. Let the wicked forſake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God, for he will aboundantly pardon. He will pardon greateſt ſins in their nature and kind, and hence David ſaith, Pſal. 25.11. Pardon mine iniquity, for it is great. And Iſai. 1.18. The Lord ſayes, Come now, and let us reaſon together, though your ſins be as ſcarlet, they shall be white as ſnow, though they be red as crimſon, they shall be as wool. And theſe great ſins are pardonable in the due order, whether they be done in ignorance, as Paul's perſecution was, 1 Tim. 1.13. I was a blaſphemer, a perſecutor, and injurious, but I obtained mercy, becauſe I did it ignorantly, in unbelief. Or whether they be committed through the power of temptation, even againſt light, as Peter's threefold denyal of his Maſter was, yet not being malicious it's pardoned. Again as great ſins for nature and kind, are pardonable, ſo great ſins for the multitude and number of them, when they are like a cloud, and a thick cloud, he will blot them out. Iſai. 44.22. I have blotted out as a thick cloud thy tranſgreſſions and ſins. And that word, Iſai. 55.7. He will aboundantly pardon, In the original it is, he will multiply to pardon one and moe, a multitude of them, and Pſal. 40.11, 12. David pleads for mercy for innumerable evils; for iniquities that are moe than the hairs of his head. And as God pardons great ſins for kind, and many for number, ſo frequent relapſing in theſe ſins, (which I may ſpeak to afterward) Jer. 3.1. She that hath played the harlot with many lovers, is allowed to return. And he that bade Peter, Mat. 18.22. Forgive his brother, not only ſeven, but ſeventy times, will much more do ſo, to his penitent People, renewing their repentance: But when I ſay he will pardon great ſins, I would have it well applyed. It is not to embolden any body to ſin, thou that ſo improves this Doctrine, does turn the grace of God into wantonneſs; and thou that ventures on ſin, becauſe God is merciful, to pardon great, and many ſins, and thinks thou may take a whelps fill of ſin, and then go and repent, and get mercy, (the woful ſhift that many follow) O! remember that Repentance is not in thine own hand; nay, I will ſay more, thou bears a ſad evidence of one that will never get the grace to Repent; but that abuſe of this doctrine being laid aſide, ye ſhall (while I am upon the explication of this great Article of Faith,) take a word or two of Inference, in the by. And 1. It may be great encouragement to ſenſible ſinners, thou who art ſenſible of thy ſins, thy Dyvour-bill of great and many ſins, if thou come in the right order, needs not keep thee back, thy deſire to come and repent, and ſeek pardon, tells that thou art not guilty of that unpardonable ſin, and therefore ſtand not a back for ſcarlet and crimſon coloured ſins, nor for relapſing in theſe ſins, There is forgivenneſs with God for thoſe iniquities; and that ye may grip the better to this when it is intimate, that God is ſuch a pardoner of ſin, ye would look to the infinit price of the Son of God, whereby he purchaſed pardon, and upon which pardon of ſin is founded, and ye would look to that infinite and ſuperabounding grace in God, inclining him to pardon; and when theſe two are laid together, & well conſidered, all thy doubts about pardon, will amount to this, whether thy iniquities, or Chriſt's death, thy abounding ſin, or Gods ſuperabounding Grace, will carry it? And reaſon will determine it in favours of Chriſts purchaſe, and the ſuper-aboundant Grace of God.
2. Let me leave this as a Witneſs againſt ſlighters of this offer of pardon, I believe there are many engadged as the Jews were, Jer. 2.25. Who ſaid, There is no hope, no, for we have loved ſtrangers, and after them we will go; The matter is paſt redding. There is little appearance that ever we will do well, and therefore we mind not to do well. But here is a Witneſs laid at thy door, whatever thy condition be, God and thou art yet in tryſting terms, and thou haſt the offer of Pardon upon Repentance, and turning to him, art thou as mad, as the man that had the legion of Devils, Mark 5.9. will thou employ Chriſt, he can cure thee; Though thou were like Mary Magdalen, out of whom Chriſt caſt ſeven devils, Luk. 8.2. He can caſt them out, and ſet thee down a worſhipper of him at his feet. Thy ſcarlet and crimſon coloured ſins, he can make white as the ſnow or wool. Thy ſcattered affections, as the wind, he can fix upon the nail faſtened upon the ſure place, if thou wilt come and reaſon with him, thou ſhalt find him as good as his Word, and ſhall not this be a Witneſs againſt ſlighters of pardoning Grace, that ſuch profligat wretches, runnaways, and backſliders; are within the reach of pardoning mercy, and there is a Royal Proclamation made of it, wherein it is offered unto them▪ and yet they ſlighted it. All the wrath of Sinai ſhall not be ſo terrible to ſuch, as this will be one day, that in the Name of Chriſt, we proclaimed pardon to you, providing ye ſeek it in the right order, and look how ye will anſwer the Lamb ſitting down on his tribunal of Majeſty.
I thought to have ſpoken to the perſons, who they are that are pardoned, and that they may call God Father, who ſeek pardon, and how that it ſecluds not the vileſt of ſinners upon repentance, and how it makes againſt the Novatian error, that thruſts repentance out of the Church; And to that caſe of godly men their relapſing in ſins, they have repented of, and whether ſuch be pardonable, but the time having cut me ſhort, I ſhall forbear to break in upon theſe for the time. The Lord bleſſe for Chriſts ſake, what ye have been hearing.