The Practical Believer, Chapter 10
CHAP. X. Of the Forgiveness of Sins.
The Contents.
What Sin is. Of wilful sins. Of sins of Ignorance, Surreption, Passion. Forgiveness of sin, is the Release of its Punishment. When Eternal Punishments are remitted, Present and Temporal are often exacted. What is the Time of Relaxing these Punishments. Remission of all sins, but Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost. And wilful Apostacy from Christianity. Wilful sins forgiven, when we Repent, and forgive others. Sins of Ignorance and inadvertence, upon our Charity to others. This forgiveness outwardly dispensed in Baptism. The Eucharist. And Sacerdotal Absolution. The Power of the Keys lies in Retaining as well as Absolving, which ought to beget a just dread of Excommunication. What is meant by our Forgiving sins. What use we are to make of the Forgiveness of sins.
Quest. WHat is the Tenth Article of the Creed?
Answ. I Believe the Forgiveness of Sins.
Quest. What is Sin?
Answ. The Breach of a Commandment, or a Transgression of some Law of God, committing what his Law forbids, or omitting what it injoins us. Sin is the Transgession of the Law, 1 Joh. 3. 4. And all the Laws of God, which we transgress in sinning against him, are contain'd in Holy Scripture.
Quest. Then we never offend God, nor shall suffer for any thing, but what the Scripture has forbid, and against which we can produce some Law out of it?
Answ. No; for Sin is not imputed, where there is no Law, Rom. 5. 13. And it must always be a Law that worketh Wrath, i. e. makes us liable to suffer it, For where there is no Law, there is no Transgression, Rom. 4. 15. The strength of sin is the Law, saith the Apostle, 1 Cor. 15. 56. and the Law enter'd, e're sin did abound, Rom. 5. 20.
Quest. To prove any thing Sinless and Lawful then, it is not necessary to produce a Law, or Example for it, since a Law commanding it, would render it not barely Lawful, but necessary; but it is enough, that there be no Law against it?
Answ. Very right; for till a Law forbids a thing, there is no sin in it.
Quest. What is a Wilful Sin?
Answ. A Sin against Knowledge, or, doing what we know to be displeasing to God. And this, either, when we are aware of the Evil, at the Time we commit it; or should have been so, but that we have accustomed our selves to it, which makes us sin without observing that we do so.
Quest. If a Man by custom brings himself to Swear, or Lye, or the like, without thinking of it, his Sin you say say is wilful, for all he doth not bethink himself in committing it?
Answ. No doubt of it; for he wilfully contracted this Custom and Habit, which is so far from being an excuse for his Sin, that it is one of the greatest aggravations of it. The Habit of Sin, is called the Law of sin, Rom. 7. 23. and the Body of Death, ver. 24.
Quest. What if a man has such a mind to a Sin, that he will not see it, but checks and stifles all Thoughts that would arise in his mind against it? Nay, perhaps endeavours to deceive himself, and come to a Persuasion, that there is no Fault, or, it may be, some Praise in it?
Answ. He is a wilful Offender indeed, because his own Will makes him ignorant, as it did the Pharisees and other Jews, who were wilfully Blind, Mat. 13. 15.
Quest. When is a wilful Sin against Conscience?
Answ. When 'tis acted against the present checks of our own minds, and under Fears and Relentings.
Quest. And when is a Sin against Conscience, called Deliberate, which, I suppose, is a higher pitch of Wilfulness?
Answ. When 'tis committed after Fears and Debates, and we consider'd and disputed with our selves for some time, whether to do it or no, before we ventur'd on it.
Quest. What is a sin of Ignorance?
Answ. When we do an Evil thing, not knowing it to be a sin, nor seeing its sinfulness.
Quest. Doth Ignorance excuse any Offences?
Answ. Yes, when men are not ignorant through culpable Neglects, nor blinded by wicked Lusts. For in this ease 'tis said, Christ can have compassion on the Ignorant, and Erroneous, Heb. 5. 2. But when they have no mind to see a Thing, nor care to find it out, that Ignorance is faulty, because chargeable on their own wills.
Quest. What say you, when their Judgments are resolv'd on the wrong side, and they act under Erroneous Opinions? Are they not excusable in any Actions, so long as they only follow their Conscience?
Answ. No; except their Conscience Errs so pitiably, as to be reasonably qualified for excuse. The Jews followed their Consciences, when they crucified Christ, Act. 3. 17. and 1 Cor. 2. 8. but yet God esteemed them wicked Murderers, Act. 7. 52. Paul verily thought, that he ought to Persecute the Church, Act. 26. 9. But in that he declares, he was the greatest of sinners, 1 Tim. 1. 13, 15. The times are coming, saith our Lord, that they who kill you, will think therein they do God service, Joh. 16. 2. But yet God would take vengeance on them, for the Blood of these Righteous Persons, Mat. 23. 35. 'Tis no sufficient warranty in what a Man doth, that he follows his Conscience, except he take care to have a right Conscience, or when 'tis wrong, it err only through misfortunes, not out of a wilful Neglect, a wicked Lust, or an unteachable Temper.
Quest. What is a Sin of inadvertence?
Answ. When in the general we know a thing to be a sin, but are not free at the time of acting it, to consider, and reflect upon its sinfulness. This generally happens, because we do the evil suddenly, e're we can bethink our selves, whence they are called sins of Surreption, i. e. which steal upon us unawares, and sins of Surprise. And thus it falls out, in the many sudden envious, lustful, repining, or otherwise ill thoughts, or Desires; the beginnings of Anger, the rash Words and Censures, Good People are Guilty of. All which, till they can come to observe them, if then they are careful to check and Repress them, are pitiable inadvertences and surprises, which, because we are all apt daily to fall into more or less, are call'd sins of Daily incursion.
Quest. What think you of sins of Passion, when either mens own Consciences, or other Friendly Monitors, tell them they are doing ill, but they go on notwithstanding, because Passion is strong, and Lust, or Anger, hurries them away, being very high in them?
Answ. These are not perfectly wilful, because, when their Passions are at such height, their Wills are captivated, and have little Power over them for that time. But they are punishable, as wilful sins are, because it is Mens voluntary Fault, if they do not mortifie all such inordinate Passion; and they that belong to Christ, must not suffer Passion to arise so high, that it can captivate and reign in them. They that are Christ's, have Crucified the Flesh, with the Affections, or Passsions, and Lusts, Gal. 5. 24.
Quest. From what you have said, I perceive what Sin is: but what is meant by the Forgiveness of it?
Answ. A Release of the Punishment, which is due to it. For then God forgives a sin, when he acquits Men of the Punishment of it. And because this is a passing over sins, as if they had never been, and taking no notice of them: it is called covering sins, and not imputing them, Rom. 4. 7, 8.
Quest. What are the Punishments due to Sin?
Answ. Death, and Diseases, and all the Miseries of this World. But especially the Eternal Torments of Hell Fire in the next.
Quest. The Eternal Pains of Hell, must needs be acquitted, when a Sinner is pardon'd. For we can never think any sin pardon'd, whilst the Sinner is eternally suffering for it. But when the everlasting Punishments of the other Life are released, are all the Temporal Inflictions in this Life struck off too?
Answ. No, for Death is the Wages of sin; and that still is all Mens Portion. AndRom. 6. 23. when Men by their sins have greatly dishonoured God, or given great Scandal unto others, to manifest the justice of his Providence, God oft-times here chastiseth them by present Judgments, yea, even after they have Repented, and he has thereupon remitted to them all eternal Pains. Thus, when Nathan told Penitent David, that God seeing his Repentance, had put away his sin, so that as to the last account, he would be acquitted: Yet, because thereby he had given occasion to the Enemies of God to Blaspheme, he should be punished here, and the Child should die for it, 2 Sam. 12. 13, 14. And at Corinth, several of those who on the score of their Repentance, should not be condemned with the Wicked World at last: Yet, for their Scandalous Prophanations of the Lords Supper, were sickly, and weak, and fell asleep at present. 1 Cor. 11. 30, 32. And the Man of God from Judah, being pitiably seduced by a Dissembling Prophet, without any thing that appears of an Evil intent, and having first faithfully, and boldly declared God's Message against Jeroboam's Altar, we may reasonably hope, was mercifully spared as to the other World. But yet here God met him by the way, and devoured him by a Lion, for yielding to a Seducer, to eat Bread against the Word of the Lord, 1 King. 13. And this ought mightily to restrain us all, from acting any great dishonour to God, or crying Offences, for which God may judge us in our Persons, Estates, or Families, in this World, when upon our true Repentance, he acquits us in the next. Penitence is not so good a Preservative against the sting of these, as innocence is. For such Offences do always justly expose us to Temporal Calamities, and sometimes make it necessary for us that we should be severely corrected in this World. Which consideration ought to restrain all, that regard either their own, or their Families welfare in this World, from ever being guilty of them.
Quest. When are these punishments relaxed, and what is the time of Pardon?
Answ. The solemn, full, and irreversible declaration of it, is at the Day of judgement. But before that, God pardons the sins of good Men in this life, giving them a general pardon of all sins in Baptism, and of all particular Failures afterwards, as they repent of them. So on David's repentance, for the matter of Uriah, Nathan told him, God had put away his Sin, 2 Sam. 12. 13.
Quest. Is this forgiveness in this World perfect, and irreversible, so that when once any sins are struck off, they are never more placed to account?
Answ. No; but limited, and suspended on Terms, viz. mens perseverance in repentance; for, if after their pardon they fall off, and relapse into the same wickedness, they shall be unpardon'd all again, and stand accountable for all former Transgressions. If the Righteous man turn from his Righteousness, to iniquity, saith God in Ezekiel, all the Righteousness he hath done, shall not be mention'd to him, but in his Sins that he hath sinn'd, shall he dye, Ezek. 18. 24. & 33. 12, 13. And when the Debtor, to whom his Lord had pardon'd all his great Sums, had render'd himself unworthy of that grace, by his merciless usage of a small Debtor among his fellow Servants, his incensed Lord cancel'd the Pardon, and exacted all the dispunged Accounts. And so, says Christ, will my Heavenly Father do with you in like case, Mat. 18. 24, 27, 30, 34, 35.
Quest. Do we believe the forgiveness of all Sins?
Answ. Yes; except the Sin against the Holy Ghost, and willful Apostacy from the Faith of Christ, for which there is no forgiveness.
Quest. I have seen already, that there is no Pardon for Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost. But is there none also, for willful Apostacy from Christianity?
Answ. No; for if we sin willfully, i. e. by willful Apostacy, after we have received the knowledge of the Truth, there remains no more Sacrifice for Sin, i. e. Christ's Sacrifice is not designed to expiate such offence, Heb. 10. 26.
Quest. Is that Sinning willfully, willful Apostacy from Christianity?
Answ. Yes. For these Sinners, saith the Apostle, tread under foot the Son of God, i. e. affirm Christ to be still in the Grave, not risen from the Dead; and count the blood of the Covenant, or Christ's Blood, an unholy Thing, i. e. as the Blood of a Malefactor, and say it was justly shed; and do despite to the Spirit of Grace, i. e. despite the Holy Ghost, which confirm'd Christianity, and reject all his Miracles as Satanical delusions, v. 29. So that these Sinners were plainly Apostates, who ceased to own, and had begun to accuse Christ, as the Jews and Heathens did. And the same Apostacy St. Paul speaks of in another place, when he tells us, if Christians fall away, i. e. from their Christianity, whereby they Crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, or joyn in Condemning him with his Crucifiers, it is impossible to renew them again unto repentance, Heb. 6. 4, 5, 6.
Quest. But all other Sins you say, we may believe, and trust to have the pardon of?
Answ. Yes; thro' the merits of Christ, and the mercy of God. So Christ Commissions his Apostles, to Preach Repentance, and Remission of Sins, to all Nations, Luk. 24. 47. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, and he is the Propitiation for our Sins, 1 Joh. 2. 1, 2. And all manner of Sin and Blasphemy, shall be forgiven unto men, but that against the Holy Ghost, which shall never be forgiven, Mat. 12. 31.
Quest. You would have no Sinners then to despair of Mercy, or think their Sins greater, than Christ's merits, or God's grace, and too big to be forgiven?
Answ. No, by no means. For Christ, by his most precious death, has gain'd a full Pardon for the greatest Sins, and sends out his Apostles to Proclaim it to the greatest Sinners. David was guilty of Adultery▪ and Murder; Paul was a cruel and bloody Persecutor, and Blasphemer; Peter was perjuriously false, and denyed his Master. But †2 Sam. 12, 13. 1 Tim. 1. 13 16. Mat. 26. 70.all these were forgiven, and none need, or must despair, as if, when they Repent, God had not pardon enough in store.
Quest. These, indeed, are instances of the greatest sins. But is there forgiveness for them, when they are committed with the most aggravating Circumstances?
Answ. Yes. For David's Murder, and Adultery, was with much †2 Sam. 11.deliberation and contrivance, and against so many struglings and reluctances, that thereby he became almost quite *Ps. 51. 10, 11.hardned, and of a seared Conscience. And Peter's denyal, was repeated several times, and those †Luk. 22. 56, 58, 59.considerably distant, to allow space enough for remorse, and that too with false Oaths, and bitter imprecations. But both these obtain'd mercy, on their true repentance.
Quest. You say on true Repentance. Is all this forgiveness then, upon some Terms and Conditions?
Answ. Yes; for God's grants of grace are, as in consideration of Christs Sacrifice, so also of our Faith and Repentance. And therefore neither to Infidels, nor impenitent Persons.
Quest. Upon what terms must we believe God will forgive us any willful Sins?
Answ. When we repent of them, and forgive others.
Quest. Will he not pardon them, 'till we repent and amend them?
Answ. No; for to all the willful Sinners of the World, the Apostles were to Preach Repentance, and Remission of Sins. And of these 'tis said, he that confesses, and forsakes his Sins, shall find mercy, Prov. 28. 13.
Quest. But when we have repented, and left these Sins, will he not forgive us still, unless we forgive others, that have trespass'd against us?
Answ. No; there is no forgiveness, neither for impenitent, nor uncharitable Persons. For if ye forgive men their Trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their Trespasses, neither will your Heavenly Father forgive you, Mat. 6. 14, 15. And therefore when we pray for forgiveness, our Lord allows us to do it only upon these terms. Forgive us our Trespasses, as we forgive them that Trespass against us.
Quest. What if we have wronged any Persons? is it not enough towards forgiveness to do so no more?
Answ. No, it is not; but withal, we must make Restitution and amends, for the wrong we have done already. If thou bring thy Gift to the Altar, and there remembrest thy Brother hath ought against thee; leave there thy Gift before the Altar, and go thy way, first be reconciled to thy Brother, and then come, and offer thy Gift, Mat. 5. 23, 24.
Quest. I see we must hope to have forgiveness of our Sins of willfulness, and also of our Sins of Passion, which you shew'd to be of like guilt with them, only upon our true Repentance, and amendment of them. But upon what terms, shall our▪slips of ignorance, and inadvertence be pardon'd, since they are never perfectly amended, but hang about us more or less, as long as we are in this World?
Answ. Upon our great Charity to other men, especially to their Souls, in endeavouring their Conversion, and Salvation. And therefore that St. Peter recommends above all other Virtues, and for this Reason. Above all things, have fervent Charity among your selves, for Charity shall cover the multitude of Sins, 1 Pet. 4. 8. And if any of you err, and one convert him, let him know, that he, who converts a Sinner from the Error of his way, shall save a Soul from Death, and shall hide a Multitude of sins, Jam. 5. 19, 20.
Quest. For whose sake doth Almighty God allow us all this Benefit of Forgiveness?
Answ. For Jesus Christ's, who, as you have seen, dyed for our Sins, and gave his blood a Ransom, to purchase for us all this Pardon of them. He is set forth a propitiation for the remission of Sins that are pass'd, thro' Faith in his Blood, Rom. 3. 25. And then for his sake we shall receive all this mercy, when, with the dispositions before express'd, in his Name we devoutly pray to God for it.
Quest. By the promises of the Gospel, I see this forgiveness is assured to all Christians, upon the terms you have described. But is it in any Signs, and Tokens, outwardly dispensed to them?
Answ. Yes; both in the Holy Sacraments, and in Sacerdotal Absolution. Which ways of ministring this forgiveness, as well as the forgiveness it self, are noted in some Ancient Creeds: This Article being thus profess'd in St. †Ep. ad Januar. &c. & Ep. ad Magnum. Ep. 69, 70. Ed. Oxon.Cyprian's Form at Baptism, I believe the Remission of Sins by the Church.
Quest. Is this forgiveness dispensed to us in the Sacrament of Baptism?
Answ. Yes; and that most amply, the water of Baptism washing off the stain of all former Sins. Be Baptized, and wash away thy Sins, said Ananias to Saul, Acts 22. 16. Repent, and be Baptized for the Remission of Sins, said St. Peter to the Jews, Acts 2. 38. And he hath saved us by the Laver of Regeneration, i. e. the water of Baptism, and the renewing of the Holy Ghost, Tit. 3 5. So that whateve pollutions men had before upon them, if they come to Baptism, with true Faith and Repentance, they are thereby made clean again.
Quest. Is it also dispensed in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper?
Answ. Yes; if after the Baptismal cleansing, they relapse, and contract new guilt, in that they are admitted to renew the same Covenant of Grace again, and seal the Pardon of it. For therein Christ gives us his own Blood, which, as he says particularly, was shed for the Remission of Sins, Mat. 26. 28. He entertains us there at his own Table, which is an open profession to all worthy comers, that he is reconciled to them, and receives them again as Friends. And therefore, when any Baptized Christians are startled, and terrified with the Conscience of their Sins, let them repair to that Holy Sacrament, to seal, and assure the forgiveness of them. But let them come with Faith, and Repentance, and Reconciliation to their Brethren; which, as I said, are the Terms of our being Forgiven. For the Holy Sacraments dispense this forgiveness to none, but such as worthily receive them, and those they do cleanse from all former Pollutions.
Quest. Is there also a dispensation of this Pardon, in Priestly Absolution?
Answ. Yes, for therein Christ has authoriz'd his Ministers, that act in his place and stead, to pronounce the Sentence of Pardon upon all true Penitents, and bid them expect, that what they regularly thus declare on Earth, in his Soveraign Court in Heaven he will make good. He breathed on them, and said, receive ye the Holy Ghost. Whose soever Sins ye remit, they are remitted; and whose soever Sins ye retain, they are retained, Joh. 20. 22, 23. And therefore when a true Penitent hears his Pardon solemnly pronounced, by an Officer, whom God has deputed and Commission'd for it, he may quiet his heart, as one whose case is judged, and firmly hope God will pronounce the same at the last Judgment. But this, I say, he must do only after true Repentance. For 'tis only the Ministry of Reconciliation, saith St. Paul, which God hath committed unto us, 2 Cor. 5. 18. but the direction, and ratification of it, he has reserved to himself; and then only ratifies what his Ministers do, when they pronounce according to his own Rules and Orders. So that if the Priest pronounce by mistake, and absolve the impenitent, God will judge right, tho' he judge wrong, and Condemn at last, whom he had before erroneously absolved in his Judgment.
Quest. Christ says, what they retain, shall be retained; as well, as what they remit, shall be remitted. Ought not that to beget in all Christians, a great dread of Excommunication, and Reverence for Church-Censures?
Answ. Yes, questionless, when they proceed upon just Cause; for then Christ will maintain the Honour of his Deputies, and make good their sentence. He that heareth you, heareth me, and he that despiseth you despiseth me, Luke 10. 16. If any Offender will not hear the Church, let him be unto thee as an Heathen man, and a Publican, Mat. 18. 17. In these Acts, what his Ministers do Regularly, and according to his Direction, they do it as representing him, by vertue of his Commission and Authority, which, having given, to be sure he will stand by. And accordingly St. Paul, and the Church-Governours at Corinth under him, exercising their Power by virtue of Christ's Commission, Declares, that both in binding, and relaxing or forgiving, he acted with the Power, and in the Person or place of Christ, 1 Cor. 5. 4, 5. and 2 Cor. 2. 10.
Quest. Do all Censures of the Church then, where the Truth is on its side, cut men off, as from the Church, which is his Body, so from Jesus Christ, who is the Head of it?
Answ. All those do, which are passed for such sins or errors, as are Damnable by the Tenor of Christ's own Laws. For then, they only speak the Language of Christ's own Rules, and, as †Apolog. c. 39.Tertullian says, are a true anticipation, or Fore-hand Draught of the great Judgment. And when his Officers only pronounce, and say after him; there is no doubt, but he will confirm what they have pronounced in his Name.
Quest. But from what you have formerly discoursed, I perceive that some things in Religon, being against the Prime, and Fundamental Doctrines, are so Damnable in themselves, as not to be capable of any Favour or Allowances. And that others, being only against inferior Truths, are Damnable only as accompanied with an Evil Mind, but capable withal of being incurred under Pardonable circumstances. Now in these last Points, many Persons, that mean well, and serve Christ sincerely, in the main and essentials of a Christian, may yet be unhappily mislead into wrong Opinions, or Practices. And if for their fixedness, and obstinacy in these, they happen to be cast out of any Church; do you think they are always cut off from Christ too, and that he will Finally Anathematise, and condemn them in his Sentence?
Answ. No. For the Church, as all humane Judges, being unable to see into Mens Hearts, give sentence in these cases, according to outward Actions. But Christ in his judgment of them, looks also at the mind and heart of the Actors: Rateing exactly, not only the Punishableness of the Offences; but also the Degrees of voluntary and involuntary, which makes a Pardonableness or Punishableness of the Offenders. And making these Allowances on such scores, as fall not under their Notice; 'tis reasonable to believe, he will still own and receive several compassionably mislead, who are cast out on these accounts by the Churches Censures.
Quest. This validity and effect of Church-Censures, you say, is when they proceed according to Christ's own Rules, and upon just cause. But if they bind where the Gospel says they should loose, and Excommunicate against Reason; I suppose those Censures are meer Scare-crows, that may serve to make a show, but bring no hurt with them?
Answ. Very true. Blessed are ye, says our Saviour, when Men shall separate you from their Company, and expunge or cast out your Name as evil, for the Son of Mans sake: for so persecuted their Fathers the Prophets. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy, for your Reward is great in Heaven, Luk. 6. 22, 23. If good Christians are Excommunicated in any Church, for not going against the Scriptures, and complying with it in ill things, as poor Protestants are by the Romish Church, they lose nothing thereby with God, who will not ratifie a wrong sentence, but will increase their Reward, for having bravely suffer'd in his Cause.
Quest. By what you have said, I see how God forgives Sins. But when they are committed against us, we are bid to forgive them too, and that, as we our selves hope to be forgiven. I pray you what doth that imply?
Answ. Not our remitting Future punishments, which lye at God's mercy, not in ours. Nor always that we sit still, without offering to defend our selves, when we are assaulted; or to seek redress, when we are injured. But only that we bear no malice to them in our hearts, and if the case require Redress, that we seek it not in Spiteful ways, and that, beside the Reparation of our own Wrong, we aim not at our Adversary's Prejudice, nor seek his hurt afterwards, nor Pray to God, or to the Magistrate for vengeance, as the Jews might to ease an angry mind, when we are able to do no more against him our selves.
Quest. What use must we make of this Belief, of the Forgiveness of Sins?
Answ. Admire the mercy of God, who can forgive such Profligate, and Provoking Offenders. And the wonderful love of Jesus Christ, who could dye to procure this Forgiveness, for his utter Enemies. And not despair of mercy, but stedfastly hope there is place of Pardon after any of our sins. And above all, to shew true Repentance, and forgive others, and perform all those things, which are the condition and Terms of Forgiveness, thereby to secure it to our selves.
Quest. And when we are once forgiven, may we embolden our selves, from God's readiness to forgive, to Repeat our sins?
Answ. No, by no means. Shall we continue in Sin, that Grace may abound in pardoning? God forbid, Rom. 6. 1, 2. Now thou art made whole, sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon thee, said our Saviour, Joh. 5. 14. Such ingratitude, and abuse of Grace, is not only most provoking to the Spirit, and tempts him to withdraw from us: and calls down from God heavier, and surer Punishments: But also it brings in force against us all the old scores, which were all struck off, as I said, only on presumption of our Perseverance in repenting of them.