Christs Eternal Existence, Sermon 1
SERM. I.
COL. 1.14.
In whom we have redemption through his blood even the forgiveness of sins.
THE Apostle in the former verse, had spoken of our slavery and bondage to Satan, from which Christ came to deliver us; now because sin is the cause of it, he cometh to speak of our Redemption from sin: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins. Here is
I. The Author.
II. The Benefit.
III. The Price.
The Point is this.
Doct. That one Principal part of our Redemption by Christ is remission of sins. Here I shall shew you,
1. What remission of sins is.
2. The Nature of Redemption.
3. That Remission of Sins is a part, and a principal part of it.
1. What Remission of Sins is. Both terms must be explained, what sin is, and what is the forgiveness of sin.
For the first. Sin is a violation of the Law of the Eternal and Living God. 1 Ioh. 3.4. Whosoever committeth sin, transgresseth also the law, for sin is the transgression of the law. God is the Law-giver, who hath given a righteous Law to his Subjects, under the dreadful penalty of a Curse. In his Law there are two things; the Precept and the Sanction: The precept is the Rule of our duty, which sheweth what we must do, or not do. The Sanction or penalty sheweth what God will do, or might justly do, if he should deal with us according to the Merit of our Actions: Accordingly in sin, there is the Fault and the Guilt.
(1.) The Fault. That man who is Gods subject, and so many ways obliged to him by his benefits, instead of keeping this Law should break it upon light Terms, and swerve from the Rule of his duty, being carried away by his own ill disposed will, and base Lusts. It is a great and heinous offence, for which he becometh obnoxious to the Judgment of God.
(2.) The Guilt: which is a liableness to punishment, and that not ordinary punishment, but the vengeance of the eternal God, who every moment may break in upon us. Where there is sin, there will be guilt; and where there is guilt, there will be punishment, unless we be pardoned and God looseneth the Chains wherewith we be bound.
Secondly, Forgiveness of Sin, is a dissolving the obligation to punishment, or a freedom in Gods way and method, from all the sad and woful Consequences of sin. Understand it rightly.
1. 'Tis not a disanulling the Act, as it is a natural Action; such a fact we did, or omitted to do; Factum, infactum fieri nequit: That which is done, cannot be undone. And therefore though it be said, Ier. 50.20. The iniquity of Iacob shall be sought after, and the sins of Iudah, and they shall not be found; for I will pardon them whom I reserve. Yet that must not be understood as if God would abolish the Action, and make it, as if it had never been, for that is impossible. But he would pass by, and overlook it as to punishment.
2. Nor is it abolished as a faulty or criminal Action, contrary to the Law of God, the sins we have committed are sins still, such actions as the Law condemneth. Forgiveness is not the making of a fault to be no fault; an accused person may be vindicated as Innocent, but if he be pardoned, he is pardoned as an offender. He is not reputed as one that never culpably omitted any duty, or committed any sin, but his fault is forgiven upon such termes as our offended Governour pleaseth. I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and forgive all their sins, Heb. 8.12. They are pardoned as sins.
3. Nor is the merit of the sinful Act lessened: In it self it deserveth condemnation to punishment. Merito operis, it is in its self damnable, but quoad eventum, Rom. 8.1. There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Iesus, &c. Because the grace of the Gospel dischargeth us from it, we must still own our selves deserving the wrath of God, which maketh for our constant Humiliation and admiration of grace: So that he that is pardoned, still deserveth punishment.
4. It remaineth therefore that forgiveness of sin, is a dissolving the obligation to punishment, or passing by the fault, so as it shall not rise up in Judgement against us to our confusion or destruction: The fault is the sinners Act, the punishment the Judges, which he may forbear on certain Termes stated in the Law of Grace. He passeth by the fault so far, that it shall not be a ground of punishment to us. I prove it
1. From the nature of the thing: For there is such a Relation between the fault and the guilt, the sin and the punishment, that the one cannot be without the other: There can be no punishment without a preceding fault and crime: Therefore if the Judge will not impute the fault, there must needs be an immunity from punishment, for the cause being taken away, the effect ceaseth; and the sin committed by us, is the Meritorious cause of punishment. If God will cover that, and overlook it, then forgiveness is a dissolving the obligation to punishment.
2. From the common Rule of speaking used among men; for surely the Scripture speaketh intelligibly. Now in the common way of speaking, he cannot be said to forgive or remit a fault, that exacteth the whole punishment of it. How can a Magistrate be said to forgive an offender, when the offender beareth the punishment, which the Law determineth? And what do men pray for to God, when they pray for the forgiveness of sins, but that they may be exempted from the punishment which they have deserved.
3. It would seem to impeach the Justice and Mercy of God, if he should exact the punishment where he hath pardoned the offence. His Iustice, to flatter men with hopes of remitting the Debt, where he requireth the payment. His Mercy, in making such fair offers of Reconciliation, when still liable to his vindictive Justice; there may be indeed effects of his Fatherly Anger, but not of his vindictive wrath.
4. The Phrases, and way of speaking in Scripture by which forgiveness of sin is set forth, shew, God doth blot out our sins; Psal. 51.2. Wash me throughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. And cover them; Psal. 32.1. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. To cast them behind his back; Isa. 38.17. Thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back. And cast them into the bottom of the Sea; Micah 7.19. Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depth of the Sea. To remember them no more; Ier. 31.34. I …ill forgive their iniquity, and I will remember the…r sin no more. By such emphatical Metaphors doth it express Gods free and full forgiveness, if we seriously enter into his Peace: And do clearly shew, that if God punisheth sins, he doth remember them; if he avenge them, he imputeth them; if they are brought into the Judgement against us, they are not covered; if he searcheth after them, he doth not cast them behind his back: If he bringeth them into light, he doth not cast them into the depths of the Sea: Much more if he punish us for them.
Secondly, The Nature of Redemption.
What is Redemption by the blood of Christ?
In opening it to you, I shall prove six things.
1. A Captivity or Bondage.
2. That from thence we are freed by a Ransom, or Price paid.
3. That none but Christ was fit to give this Ransom.
4. That nothing performed by Christ was sufficient, till he layed down his life.
5. That thence there is a liberty resulting to us.
6. That we do not actually partake of the benefit of this Ransom, till we be in Christ.
1. Our being Redeemed, supposeth a Captivity and Bondage: All men in their unrenewed Estate are slaves to sin and Satan, and subject to the Wrath of God: That we are slaves to Sin, appeareth by Scripture and Experience; Titus 3.3. Serving divers lusts and pleasures. Ioh. 8.34. Whosoever committeth sin, is the servant of sin. Men imagin a life spent in vanity and pleasure, to be a very good life; it were so, if Liberty were to be determined by doing what we list, rather than what we ought. But since it is not, Experience sheweth that they are convinced of their brutish satisfactions as mean and base, yet they cannot leave them, for that true, and solid happiness offered by Christ: Now as they are under sin, so they are under Satan, who worketh in the children of disobedience, Eph. 2.2. and hath a great power over wicked men in the world, who fall to his share, as the Executioner of Gods Curse, and are taken captive by him at his Will and Pleasure, 2 Tim. 2.26. This is the woful captivity and servitude of carnal men, that they fall as a ready prey into the mouth of the roaring Lion: Now for this they are liable to the Curse and Wrath of God: Therefore called children of wrath even as others, Eph. 2.3. that is, obnoxious to his righteous displeasure and punishment: Thus were we lost in our selves under Sin, Satan, and the Wrath of God, from which we could no way free our selves, and if Grace had not opened a way for us to escape what should we have done?
2. To recover us, there was a price to be paid by way of Ransom to God. We are not delivered from this bondage by prayer or intreaty, nor by strong hand or meer force, nor yet by the sole condescension and pity of the injured party, without seeking reparation of the wrong done; but by the payment of a sufficient price, and just satisfaction to provoked Justice. This Price was not payed indeed to Satan who detaineth souls in slavery as a rigid usurping Tyrant, or merciless Gaoler; (from him indeed we are delivered by force) but the price was paid to God. Man had not sinned against Satan, but against God, to whom it belongeth to condemn or absolve: And God being satisfied, Satan hath no power over us, but is put out of office. As the Executioner hath nothing to do, when the Judge and Law is satisfied. Now that Redemption implyeth the paying of a price is clear, because the word importeth it, and the Scripture often uses this Metaphor, Matth. 20.28. The son of man came not to be ministred unto, but to minister; and to give his life a ransom for many. 1 Tim. 2: 6. Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. Redemption in the general, is a recovery out of our lost estate. God could have saved men by the Grace of Confirmation, but he chose rather by the Grace of Redemption. This recovery was not by a forcible rescue, but by a Ransom. Christ in recovering his people out of their lost estate, is sometimes set forth as a Lamb, sometimes as a Lion: In dealing with God, we consider him as the Lamb slain, Rev. 5.5, 6. In dealing with Satan, and the Enemies of our salvation, he doth as a Lion recover the Prey. But why was a Ransom necessary? Because God had made a former Covenant, which was not to be quit and wholly made void, but upon valuable consideration, least his Justice, Wisdom, Holiness, Veracity, Authority should fall to the ground.
1. The Honour of his governing Justice was to be secured and freed from any blemish, that the awe of God might be kept up in the World; Rom. 3.5, 6. And Gen. 18.25. That be far from thee, to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: shall not the judge of all the earth do right? If God should absolutely pardon without satisfaction equivalent for the wrong done, how should God else be known and reverenced as the Just and Holy Governour of the World? Therefore, Rom. 3.25, 26. 'tis said, whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God: To declare I say at this time his righteousness; that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Iesus.
2. His Wisdom: The Law was not given by God in jest, but in the greatest earnest that ever Law was given: Now if the Law should be recalled without any more ado, the Law-giver would run the hazard of Levity, Mutability and Imprudence in constituting so solemne a Transaction to no purpose. Paul was troubled when forced to retract his Word, 2 Cor. 1.17, 18. that his word should be yea to day, and nay to Morrow: Therefore when God had said, Thus I will govern the World, he was not to part with the Law upon light Termes.
3. His Holy Nature would not permit it. There needed some way to be found out, to signifie his purest Holiness, his hatred and detestation of sin, and that it should not be pardoned without some markes of his displeasure. His soul hates the wicked, and the righteous God loveth Righteousness, Psal. 11.6.
4. His Authority. It would be a derogation from the Authority of his Law, if it might be broken, and there be no more ado about it. Now that all the World might know, that it is a dangerous thing to transgress his Laws and might hear and fear, and do no more presumptuously, God appointed this course, that the penalty of his Law should be executed upon our surety, when he undertook our Reconciliation with God, Gal. 4.4.
5. The Veracity and Truth of God. It bindeth the Truth of God which sinners are apt to question; Gen. 3.5. Hath God said? And Deut. 29.19, 20. We look upon the Threatnings of the Law as a vain Scare-crow, therefore for the Terror and warning of sinners for the future, God would not release his Wrath, nor release us from the power of Sin and Satan, which was the consequent of it, without a price and valuable compensation.
Thirdly, None was sit to give this ransom but Jesus Christ, who was God man: he was man to undertake it in our name, and God to perform it in his own strength: a man that he might be made under the Law, and humbled even to the death of the Cross for our sakes, and all this was elevated beyond the worth of created actions and sufferings by the divine nature which was in him, which perfumed his humanity and all done by it, and in it. This put the stamp upon the mettal, and made it current Coin, imposed an infinite value upon his finite obedience and sufferings. By taking humane Nature a price was put into his hands to lay down for us, Heb. 10.15. and His divine Nature made it sufficient and responsible, for it was the Blood of God, Acts 20.28. Feed the Church of God, which he hath purchased with his own Blood. And Heb. 9.13. For if the Blood of Bulls and Goats, and the ashes of an Heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifyeth to the purifying of the Flesh; how much more shall the Blood of Christ who through the spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your Conscience from dead works to serve the Living God. It was that Flesh and Blood which was assumed into the unity of his person; as a slip or branch grafted into a stock is the branch of the stock, and the fruit of it is the fruit of the stock. A naked Creature without this Union, could not have satisfied the Justice of God for us: This made his blood a precious blood, and his obedience a precious obedience. In short God-man the Son of God, and the Son of Adam, was he that Redeemed us. So in short there were different parties to be dealt with before the fruit of Redemption could be obtained. God, Satan, Man; God was an Enemy that could not be overcome but must be reconciled; Satan was a usurper and was to be vanquished with a strong hand; Man was unable and unwilling to look after the fruits of Redemption, and our obstinacy and unbelief could onelyonly be overcome by the Spirit of Christ.
Fourthly, Nothing performed by Christ could be a sufficient ransom for this end unless he had crowned all his other actions and sufferings, by laying down his life and undergoing a bloody and violent death. This was the compleating and crowning act. Partly to answer the Types of the Law, wherein no Remission was represented without a bloody sacrifice. Partly from the nature of the thing, and the fulness of the satisfaction required untill all that was finished, Iohn 8.20. death was that which was threatned to sin, death was that which was feared by the sinner. Many ignorant people will say the least drop of Christs blood was enough to save a thousand Worlds, if so his circumcision had been enough without his death, but Christ is not glorified but lessened by such expressions. Surely his death was necessary or God would never have appointed it, his bloody death suited with Gods design. Gods design was to carry on our recovery in such a way as might make sin more hateful, and obedience more acceptable to us. 1. Sin more hateful by his Agonies, Blood, Shame, death, no less remedy would serve the turn, to procure the pardon and destruction of it, Rom. 8.3. By sin he condemned sin in the flesh, that is by a sin offering. God shewed a great example of his wrath against all sin by punishing sin in the flesh of Christ, his design was for ever to leave a brand upon it, and to furnish us with a powerful mortifying argument against it, by the sin-offering and ransom for souls. Surely it is no small matter for which the Son of God must dye! At Golgotha, sin was seen in its own colours. There he shewed how much he hateth it, and loveth purity.
Secondly, To commend obedience: Christs suffering death for the sin of man at the command of his Father, was the noblest piece of Service, and the highest degree of Obedience that ever could be performed to God; beyond any thing that can be done by Men or Angels. There was in it so much love to God, Pity to Man, so much Self-denial, so much Humility and Patience, and so much Resignation of himself to God, who appointed him to be the Redeemer and Surety of Man, to do this office for him, as cannot be parallel'd. The great thing in it was obedience; Rom. 5.14. By the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. So 'Phil. 2.7. God was not delighted in mere blood, but in blood offered in obedience. All his former actions together with his Death and Sufferings make but one intire Act of eminent obedience; but his painful and cursed death so willingly and readily undergone, was the crowning Act. The formal reason of the merit, was that Christ came to fulfil the will of God; by which will we are sanctified. Heb. 10.10. therefore his death was necessary.
Fifthly, From this Ransom and act of Obedience, there is a Liberty resulting unto us, for the redeemed are let go, when the ransom is paid. Now this Liberty is a freedom from sin that we may become the Servants of God, Rom. 6.22. Being made free from sin ye became servants of righteousness. Christ came not to free us from the duty of the Law, but the penalty and Curse thereof; to free us from the duty of the Law, is to promote the Devils Interest. No, he freed us from the Wrath of God that we may serve him chearfully, to establish Gods Interest upon surer and more comfortable Terms, to restore us to Gods favour and service: To Gods favour by the pardon of sin, to his service by writing his Laws on our Hearts and Minds. Sometimes our Redemption from the Curse is spoken of, Gal. 3.13. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law being made a curse for us. Sometimes our Redemption from Sin. Tit. 2.14. Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity. And so by consequence from the power of the devil, which is built on the curse of the Law, and reign of Sin. Satans power over us doth flow from the sentence of the condemnation pronounced by the Law against sinners, and consists in that dominion sin hath obtained over them: If the curse of the Law be disanulled, and the power of sin broken, he is spoiled of his Power, Col. 2.14, 15. Blotting out the hand-writing of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross. And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly triumphing over them.
Sixthly, That we are not partakers of this Liberty, nor of the benefit of this Ransom, till we are in him, and united to him by Faith; for the Text saith, in whom we have redemption by his blood. Certainly we must be turned from Satan to God, before we are capable of receiving the forgiveness of sins; Acts 26.18. We do not actually partake of the priviledges of Christs Kingdom, till we be first his Subjects: Who hath delivered us from the power of Satan, and hath translated us in the kingdom of his dear Son; in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins. Christ and his people are an opposite state to the Devil and his Instruments: while we are under the opposite power, we belong not to Christ; and the priviledges of his Kingdom belong not to us: but as soon as we are translated, and put into another estate, then we have the first priviledge, remission of sins. Look as in the fall, there was sin before guilt; so in our reparation, there must be conversion, Renovation, or Repentance, before Remission: We are first effectually called or sanctified, and then justified and glorified. Mans recovery to God is in the same method in which he fell from him. It is first brought about by a new nature, and communication of life from Christ. He regenerateth, that he may pardon, and he pardoneth that he may farther sanctifie, and make us everlastingly happy.
Thirdly, That remission of sins is a part, and a principal part of Redemption.
I. How is it a part or fruit of Redemption?
I Answer, Redemption is taken either for the Impetration, or Application.
1. The Impetration or laying down the price, that was done by Christ upon the Cross. So it is said, Heb. 9.12. Christ by his own blood obtained eternal redemption for us. Then was God propitiated, the deadly blow given to the Kingdom and Power of the Devil, and the Merit and Ransom interposed, by the virtue of which we are pardoned; the obtained redemption and remission of sins is a fruit flowing from it, and depending upon it as an effect upon the cause.
2. The Scripture considers Redemption in its Application. Besides laying down the price there is an actual deliverance and freedom by virtue of that price. This is either begun or compleat: The compleat redemption, or freedom from sin and misery is that which the Godly shall enjoy at the last day. Rom. 8.23. We which have the first fruits of the spirit, even we our selves groan within our selves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. Eph. 4.30. Grieve not the holy spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Eph. 1.14. In whom also after ye believed ye were sealed with that spirit of promise which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession. The inchoate, or begun deliverance, is that measure of deliverance, which believers enjoy now by Faith; which consists of two parts; Iustification and Sanctification. Sanctification, 1. Pet. 1.18. Tit. 2.14. Who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purifie unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works. When we are free from the power and weight of sin. Iustification; so it is in the Text, and Eph. 1.7. When sin is freely pardoned, and our debt cancelled, and we are delivered from evil and wrath to come.
II. As it is a part, so it is a principal part. This will appear, if you consider the evil we are freed from.
As 1. The power of the Devil is destroyed: All the advantage which he hath against us is as we are sinners, guilty sinners before God: For we are put into his hands when we have forfeited the protection of our righteous Lord; but forgiveness of sins gives us a release from him, Acts 26.18. When Christ came to procure it, he destroyed the devils Power; when we are converted we are interessed in the priviledge.
2. The reign of sin is broken: for sanctifying Grace is inseparable from pardoning Grace; yea, I will venture to say, that the gift of the sanctifying Spirit is a part of our pardon, executed and applyed for a part of the punishment of sin was spiritual death, or the loss of Gods Image; Col. 2.13. He hath quickned you together with Christ having forgiven all your trespasses. When God pardoneth, he sanctifieth and createth us anew, that we may be fit for his service; so that we are renewed by the Spirit, as well as recovered out of the s…ares of the devil.
3. We are eased of tormenting fears in a great measure. Man can have no firm peace and comfort in his own soul, while sin remaineth upon him, our case is dangerous, whether we be sensible of it or no; because our condition is not to be valued by our sense and feeling, but by the sentence of the Law of God, which we have broken and violated; if there be any difference in the case, the more insensible we are, the more miserable: The generality of men indeed are senseless and careless, put far away the evil day from them, and so make light work of reconciling themselves to God, but are they the more safe for this? No, if they will dance about the brink of Hell, and go merrily to their execution, it argues not their safety, but their stupidness: The thoughts of danger is put off when the thing it self is not put away; but if they be serious they cannot be without trouble. Rom. 1.32. Knowing the judgement of God, they conclude that they that do such things are worthy of death. The very light of Nature will revive many unquiet thoughts within them. The justice of the supream Governour of the World will still be dreadful to them, whose law they have broken, and whose wrath they have justly deserved. They may lull the soul asleep by the stupifying potion of carnal Delights, and while Conscience is asleep, please themselves with stoln waters, and bread eaten in secret, which is soon disturbed by a few serious and sober thoughts of the world to come. God is offended, and what peace can they have?
4. Death is unstinged. That's the usual time when Convictions grow to the height, and the stings of an awakened Conscience begin to be felt, 1 Cor. 15.28. Then the thoughts of Death and Judgement to come, are very terrible to them: and men begin to see what it is to bear their own sins, and how happy they are, who are sure of a pardon.
5. The obligation to Eternal punishment ceases: Pardon is dissolving and loosing that obligation. Now the punishment is exceeding great; Hell and damnation are no vain Scare-crows. Eternity makes every thing truly great! the poena damni, an everlasting separation from the comfortable presence of the Lord, Matth. 25.41. Go ye cursed. Luk. 13.27. Depart ye workers of iniquity. When God turned Adam out of Paradise his case was very sad, but God took care of him in his Exile, made him Coats of skin, gave him a day of Patience, afterwards promised the seed of the woman, who should recover the lapsed estate of mankind, intimated hopes of a better Paradise. That estate therefore is nothing comparable to this, for now man is stripped of all his comforts, sent into an endless state of Misery, whence there is no hopes of ever changing his condition. So for the poena sensus, the pain, Mark 9.44. Where their worm never dieth and their fire is never quenched. The worm, is the worm of Conscience, reflecting on past folly and disobedience. See here a man may run away from the rebukes of Conscience by many shifts; sleeping, sporting, distracting his Mind with a clutter of business; but there, not a thought free, but is always thinking of slighted means, abused mercies, wasted time, the offenses done to a merciful God, and the curse wherein they have involved themselves: the fire is the wrath of God, or these unknown pains that shall be inflicted on body and soul, which must needs be great when we fall into the hands of the living God! If a little mitigation, a drop to cool your Tongue, be thought a great matter, oh what a blessedness is it, to be freed from so great an evil! Perhaps you coldly entertain the offer of a pardon now, but then to be freed from wrath to come, oh blessed Jesus! 1 Thes. 1.10.
2. The good depending on it, Luk. 1.77. To give us the knowledge of salvation by the remission of sins. Eternal life dependeth on it, for you are not capable of enjoying God, till his wrath be appeased. As all evil was introduced by sin, so all happiness by pardon. This is an initial blessing, which maketh way for the rest.
VSE.
Of Exhortation: To perswade you to seek after this benefit: All of us once needed it, and the best of us till we are wholly freed from sin, still need it.
1. We all of us once needed it; for we are not onelyonly criminal persons liable to condemnation, but actually condemned in the sentence of Gods law, Ioh. 3.18. He that believeth not is condemned already. Now should not a condemned man make means to be pardoned, and should not we accept of Gods terms especially when there is but the slender thred of a frail life between us and execution? He that securely continues in his sins, despiseth both the curse of the Law, and the grace of the Gospel. Oh consider, nothing but a pardon will serve the turn, not forbearance on Gods part, not forgetfulness on yours.
1. Not forbearance of the punishment on Gods part: God may be angry with us, while he doth not actually strike, as the Psalmist saith, Psal. 7.11, 12, 13. God is angry with the wicked every day, if he turn not, he will whet his sword. He hath bent his bow and will make it ready. God who is a righteous Judge, will not dispense with the offences of wicked men, by which he is continually affronted and provoked: though in the day of his patience he doth for a while spare, yet he is ready to deal with them cominus, hand to hand; for he is sharpening his sword, eminus at a distance, for he is bending his bow. The Arrow is upon the string, and how soon he may let it fly we cannot tell. We are never safe till we turn to him, and enter into his Peace, and so the obligation to punishment be dissolved.
2. On our part; our senseless forgetfulness will do us no good. Carnal men mind not things which relate to God, or the happiness of their immortal Souls, but they are not happy that feel least troubles, but they that have least cause. A benummed Conscience cannot challenge this blessedness, they put off the thoughts of that which God hath neither forgiven nor covered; and so do but skin the wound, till it festers and rancle into a dangerous sore; our best course is to see we be justified and pardoned.
2. The best of us still need it, partly because though we be justified, and our state be changed, yet renewed sins need a new pardon. We are still sinning against God, either we are omiting good, or committing evil, what will we do if we be not forgiven? renewed sins call for renewed repentance: We do not need another Redeemer, or another Covenant, or another Conversion, yet we do need renewed Pardon. Partly, because our final sentence of pardon is not yet passed, nor shall be passed till the last Judgment, Act. 3.19. Repent ye therefore and be converted, that your sins maybe blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. We are now pardoned and justified constitutively by the tenour of the New Covenant, and there by description. The sincerity of our Faith and Repentance is not presently evident; it is possible, but difficult to know that we are sincere penitent Believers; but at last when our pardon is actually pronounced by our Judges mouth sitting on the Throne, then all is clear, evident, plain and open. And partly because daily infirmities call for daily repentance. We do not carry our selves with that gravity and watchfulness, but that we need to cry for pardon every day.