The Truly Blessed Man, Part 1 · Section 2
A Pardoned Man, is a Bleſſed Man.
DOCTRINE I.
A Pardoned Man, is a Bleſſed Man; That perſon who hath obtained at the hand of God a Remiſſion of his ſins, is poſſeſſed of true …elicity; a ſtate of forgiveneſs, is a ſtate of real …appineſs. I might here ſpend ſome time in en…uiring into the nature of Pardon; but that will …llow to be diſtinctly conſidered afterwards; …ere therefore let it be only in general obſerved, …at pardon properly conſiſts in the removal of the …uilt of ſin from the ſinful creature. It ever ſuppo…eth guilt ariſing from ſin, with which the man …as juſtly charged, and by which he was under … Sentence of Condemnation. When this Sen…nce is taken off, and the perſon is acquitted, …en he is ſaid to be pardoned. It is therefore … act of authority, done by one who hath pow… to apply it; and that is no other but God; …ey ſaid the truth in Theſi, Mark 2. 7. Who can …rgive ſins but God only? only their charge …as falſe, becauſe Chriſt was God; and being conſtituted by his Father to be Judge of all the World, he had this authority, verſe 10. But th… which I here deſign, is only to clear up the truth of the Doctrine, by eſſaying to diſcover the great bleſſedneſs of ſuch an one as is pardoned: only obſerving, that their whole bleſſedneſs doth no… conſiſt in this; it being a collection of man… things together, that are requiſite to the making one compleatly happy; but this is one of them… and inſeparable from the reſt; and doth alſo communicate to the man that which is truly hap… pifying.
There are two heads to which we may refe… the demonſtration of this truth.
1. The evil and miſery which this pardo… frees the man from, declares him to be happ… Happineſs and Miſery are directly contrary each … other: that therefore which removes this fro… the man, reſtores him to that again: now th… pardon hath a main ſtroak here. How this r… moves it, will be conſidered hereafter; we no… only conſider the things that it delivers the m… from, and they are not only ſeeming, but re… and great miſeries; it therefore muſt needs be… real and great felicity. Here then,
1. It takes off the Condemnation of the L… which was fallen on the Sinner; all manki… were for ſin, condemned by the Law of Go… we read therefore of unbelievers, that they … condemned already, Joh. 3. 18. and this condem… tion was according to the tenour of the La… Gen. 2. 17. Thou ſhalt ſurely dy. This Senten… is paſt by God on the whole race of fallen men; & every unpardoned ſinner abides under it; & every ſort of death is contained in it; and what a fearful thing is it to ſtand condemned? how miſerable is ſuch an one? but as ſoon as the pardon comes, the Condemnation ceaſeth, Rom. 8. 1. and if it never comes, it is impoſſible for the man to ſcape the Execution of it; he cannot break priſon; the Law muſt take place: but this ſtops the mouth of the Law, and that nothing elſe can do.
2. It pacifieth the Anger of God which was out againſt him. Sinners are under the influence of it, and expoſed to feel its terrible impreſſions continually; we read in, Pſal. 7. 11. God is angry with the wicked every day; and this proceeds from his Holineſs, which being ſo ſet againſt Sin, Heb. 1. 13. makes Sinners, who are under the Guilt of Sin, the objects of his diſpleaſure; and it is a dreadful miſery to be under the anger of God, Pſal. 76. 7. Who may ſtand in thy ſight when once thou art angry? but when a pardon comes, that anger is laid aſide; and it brings the teſtimony of …t. God in applying of forgiveneſs, ſhews himſelf to be atoned: and how happy did he reckon himſelf on the conſideration of this benefit? Iſa. 12. 1. all the miſeries of the creature are the effects of Gods diſpleaſure, how muſt they then ceaſe upon his being reconciled.
3. It diſchargeth them from the Curſe. There … a Curſe contained in the Law-Condemnation that …s paſt upon the Sinner; and it belongs to all that are under the Law, Gal. 3. 10. and this is … miſerable condition. Beſides the things contained in it referring to another world, which wi… fall under an after conſideration, let us here obſerve, that in this life it is very fearful: and tha… obſervable on a double account. There is … Curſe on all their Bleſſings. They do enjoy many favours in this life, through the benignity o… God, but there is a Curſe upon them all; an… that not only to remove them, but to harm the… in the very enjoyment: hence that, Deut. 28. 1… &c. and we have ſuch an expreſſion, Mal. 2. … I will curſe your bleſſings, yea I have curſed them … ready; every thing doth them hurt; all tends t… their diſadvantage, Their Table is a ſnare, &c. Pſal. 6… 22. Whereas they that are pardoned, have th… Curſe removed from them; this is a benefit promiſed in, Rev. 22. 3. There ſhall be no more Curſ… and this flows from forgiveneſs. There is … Curſe alſo in their Afflictions, and that is … which puts the bitterneſs into them. All th… Afflictions that come upon Unpardoned Sinners, are the Executions of the Sentence … the Law, and are diſpenſed by God as a Judg… We read, in Eccleſ. 5. 17. He hath much ſorr… and wrath with his Sickneſs; in all this there … a ſignification of vengeance, and they come … tell men what they are to expect. But, th… the pardoned man may meet with afflictio… and ſore trials, yet the bitterneſs is taken o… becauſe they are, though oftentimes the fr… of anger, yet of love too, Heb. 12. 6. they a… not the beginning of ſorrows, but to prevent greater, 1 Cor. 11. 32. and they ſhall do them no hurt, but good, Rom. 8. 28.
4. It ſtops the mouths of all accuſers, and makes void all their charges. We have that demand of the Apoſtle, Rom. 8. 33. Who ſhall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect? it is God that Justifieth; an unpardoned ſinner is liable to the clamour of every accuſer; and whenſoever his Sin is charged upon him by his own Conſcience, and the terrors of the Lord are ſet before him, he hath nothing to ſupport himſelf with, but is liable to all horror and deſpair, being conſcious of his Guilt, and the Wrath that is out againſt him. But it is not ſo with him that is pardoned: When his own heart … him, that he hath been ſuch a Sinner, and …n endeavours to terrify him with the moſt …ful repreſentations of Sin, and the Law, and … Wrath of God, and would fain diſtreſs him …withal, he hath his pardon to ſhew, Signed … Sealed by the Spirit of God: ſo that he can … of his ſins with deepeſt abaſement, and ſoul …ling thoughts, and yet not be terrified with …, 2 Cor. 7. 11.
It takes away the terrours of the Grave. It … not indeed prevent the death of Gods peo…ut it takes off the horror of it. Death is … the King of Terrours, and well may it be ſo … unpardoned Sinner, for it is his paſport in…dleſs miſeries: and a dreadful thing it is, to … expectation of dying, and horribly afraid to dy, as the awakened Sinner is, under ſuch an apprehenſion; and the very reaſon is, becauſe he is not forgiven: But this man is here alſo ſafe, we read, Rom. 8. 10. The body is dead by reaſon o… ſin, but the Spirit is life, becauſe of righteouſneſs; an… this is his conſolation under the apprehenſio… of his great Change. What could Paul ſay… 2 Cor. 5. 1. and how willingly could Job liv… waiting for his Change! Job 14. 14. this is it tha… unſtings death, 1 Cor. 15. 55.
6. It quencheth the fire of Hell. The Unpardoned Sinner is going to Everlaſting Burnings… the Curſe is dragging him to the place where th… Worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched; the… endleſs plagues are prepared on purpoſe for him… and without a pardon, there is no eſcaping … them; the doom is paſt upon him, and there … no other way for the averſion of it, but this, an… this is a miſery which exceeds our preſent comprehenſion; and the expectation of it is treme… dous, i… is a fearful looking for Judgment, and fi… indignation, Heb. 10. 27. But where a pardon … beſtowed, this Execution is ſtopt, and the Se… tence which adjudged him to it is reverſed, a… he can now meditate of theſe terrible thi… with a ſedate mind; and improve this medit… on to the raiſing of his ſoul to the more admition at the wonderful kindneſs of God, in giv… him a delivery from theſe torments; and is … this happineſs indeed? is not he beyond queſt… a bleſſed man, who is thus freed from all th… miſeries? this is the lot of every one that is … doned.
2. The priviledges which flow from, or attend upon this pardon, do no leſs declare the bleſſedneſs of ſuch an one; theſe have not the ſhadow, but the ſubſtance of felicity in them. Pardon of Sin brings with it all the benefits of Chriſt; forgiveneſs derives to us through him, as may after be particularly evidenced, it is from the Imputation of his Righteouſneſs; and ſo it derives to us by Faith, with which we accept of, and cloſe in with his perſon: and if he be once ours, all his benefits are ſo too; for they are inſeparable, 1 Cor. 1. 30. if God makes him ours, he makes him all to us: and by vertue of that, all bleſſedneſs is made ours. Hence,
1. They that are pardoned are Juſtified. There are two things that belong to the Juſtification of … Sinner, and this is one of them: their ſins are …orgiven, and they are adjudged righteous, and …heſe are never parted; for, where God pardon…th ſin, there he imputeth Righteouſneſs, and hence the man comes to be Juſtified, ſo the A…oſtle argueth, Rom. 4. 6, 7. and certainly, he …at is Juſtified is bleſſed: for indeed, as all mi…ery is rooted in Condemnation, ſo all felicity …ows from Juſtification: the Apoſtle therefore …ts them together, Rom. 8. 30. Whom he hath …uſtified, them he hath Glorified.
2. Pardon of Sin layeth the foundation for … Peace in the Soul. Unpardoned Sinners have … peace at all. Iſa. 57. ult. They indeed ſometimes …ry peace, peace, to themſelves, but it is ungrounded. Whereas there is all ſolid peace comes in with forgiveneſs; peace with God, Rom. 5. 1. He … now reconciled, and the man may appeal t… him, and he will not be a conſuming fire t… him; he hath now the free liberty of acceſs to th… Throne of Grace with boldneſs, and to put up h… requeſts without terror. He hath peace at hom… in his own Conſcience: The Wicked's Conſcien… is like a raging Sea, always tumbling and toſſing… but there is a calm and quiet in the Conſcien… of a pardoned one, Conſcience is now his frien… and ceaſeth to accuſe; and it puts a confidence … him, 1 Pet. 3 20. Yea it teſtifyeth for him, an… ſo gives him matter of rejoycing, 2 Cor. 1. 1… and he hath peace with the Creatures; they a… armed in Gods Controverſie, and the condem… ed ſinner may expect every one to be his Exec… tioner; but there is a league between this m… and the Creatures, Job 5. 23, 24.
3. They that are pardoned are alſo Adopte… this therefore is mentioned as one great deſi… of Chriſt's Redemption, Gal. 4. 5. That we mig… receive the Adoption of Sons; hence we have the… both joyned together as concomitant bleſſin… Eph. 1. 4, 5. and this is a felicity which ſurmou… our conception; the Apoſtle ſpeaks of it as… thing out bidding all expreſſions, 1 Joh. 3. 1. … love of God appearing in it is incomparab… and they who are entituled to, and poſſeſſed … ſuch love, cannot but be in an happy conditio… How is it poſſible that a Child of God ſhould be m… rable?
4. They are hereupon made great heirs; … is inferred from the former, Rom. 8. 17. If Sons, then heirs, heirs of God; and theſe two are put together, as being conſequent one upon the other, Acts 26. 18. To receive forgiveneſs of ſins, and an inheritance, &c. and who can tell what are thoſe glorious things are contained in this Inheritance? they are things which eye hath not ſeen, &c. ſurely the portion which Chriſt hath purchaſed and laid in to be beſtowed on the Children of God, is ſufficient to make them happy for ever; they that are owners of it cannot poſſibly want for any thing that may give them compleat ſatisfaction, and anſwer their moſt enlarged cravings to the uttermoſt.
5. They are made to enjoy intimate Communion with God. Being reconciled, they are now heavens favourites, and the Great God condeſcends to have fellowſhip with them; what ſaith …he? 1 Joh. 1. 3. Truly our fellowſhip is with God the Father, and with his Son Jeſus Chriſt; and who are they but ſuch, and all ſuch whoſe ſins are forgiven? it was ſin that made the wall of ſeparation between God and them, Iſa. 59. 2. but now the wall is pulled down, and God delights in, and dwells with them, Iſa. 57. 15. and needs muſt …hat ſoul be in a bleſſed ſtate, that hath ſuch in…imate Communion with the fountain of all bleſ…ings and bleſſedneſs.
6. They are ſafe from all danger; they are …ut of the reach of harm; their ſtate is ſecure; …f God once pardon, he will never condemn again: if they are once in his love, they ſhall never be put out of it more; when they once are numbred among Children, they ſhall never be diſinherited; nothing ſhall be able to ſeparate them from Gods love, Rom. 8. 38, 39. God may be angry with them, but he will not reject them: i… he afflict them, it ſhall be for their good, but hi… kindneſs he will never take away, Pſal. 89. 34, &c. every pardoned one may without fear, challenge… that priviledge, 1 Pet. 1. 5. To be kept by the power of God, through faith unto Salvation.
7. Their preſent joyes are truly happifying… There is that Conſolation flowing down to th… Soul from the ſenſe and apprehenſion of pardon… which is raviſhing; and none can tell what it i… but he that hath it: a ſtranger cannot intermedd… with it. There is ſomething like it in a Condemned Malefactor, when at the place of Exec… tion, terrified and amazed at the apprehenſion … inſtant death, a pardon is ſent him, and he … diſcharged; well might our Saviour preface th… happy ſentence, with ſuch an encouragemen… Mat. 9. 2. Be of good cheer, thy ſins are forgive… 'tis joy unſpeakable and full of glory; and is n… this bleſſedneſs?
8. The pardoned ſinner, ſhall without dou… be made a glorious Saint in Heaven. Where G… begins with forgiveneſs, he will end with Glor… cation. It was the Salvation of Sinners that Chr… came to bring about, 1 Tim. 1. 15. and it was … Save them from their ſins that he was made a J… ſus, Mat. 1. 21. the firſt ſtep of this Salvation … when he ſaves them from Condemnation by p… doning them; and the laſt is to follow in due time, which is done by beſtowing eternal ſalvation upon them; he is therefore ſaid to be the Author of it, Heb. 5. 9. and if it be ſo, ſhall we not pronounce pardoned men, bleſſed men?
USE I. Let this then ſerve to awaken all of us to ſeek after this pardon. There is in all a natural deſire to be happy: but alas! what unhappy courſes are the moſt taking to obtain it? but here you are pointed to a way that will not fail, if duly attended; be then perſwaded to follow this Rule; and to move you, conſider.
1. There is a pardon to be had; this comfortable news is brought to us in the Goſpel: we are told that there is forgiveneſs with God, Pſal. 130. 4. yea it is one of the titles that he aſſumes to himſelf in the Scriptures, Exod. 34. 7. Forgiving iniquity, tranſgreſſion and ſin; and for this is he celebrated, that he is forward to apply it, Pſal. 86. 5. ready to forgive; and there is full evidence for this; for,
1. Jeſus Chriſt hath purchaſed it; he came for that very end, and he hath accompliſhed it; there was more done for the making way for the pardon of ſin, than in the making of the World. When Juſtice had condemned the Sinner to dy, and there was no deliverance to be had, but by ſatisfaction made to it, and there was none that could make that ſatisfaction but a Divine Perſon, God ſpared not his own Son, but gave him for us; when there was no other offering that could expiate this guilt, he delivered him for our offences, Rom. 4. ult. 2 Cor. 5. 21. and he hath paid the Redemption price; and now God may be both juſt and juſtify. Here lay the neceſſity of Chriſt coming and dying, becauſe ſinners could not be ſaved, unleſs pardoned; and they could not be pardoned unleſs the Law were ſatisfied; this was the one thing that made his coming neceſſary; and in coming he hath done it to effect, ſo that he is able to ſave to the uttermost, Heb. 7. 25.
2. God freely offers this pardon where the Goſpel cometh. He invites the children of men to come to him that they may be forgiven; he proclaims pardon to the world, and bids them ſeek it of him, and maketh large promiſes to them that ſo do, of beſtowing it on them; that is one great argument that he uſeth, when he bids men to ſeek after him, Iſa. 1. 18. 55. 7. Ezek. 18. 30. and elſewhere plentifully; yea, he is grieved when men will not come to him for it. It is the great provocation under the Goſpel, that Chriſt and his Salvation are neglected: and he hath put it in the directory of prayer, and made it one petition that he hath put into our mouth… Mat. 6. 12. Forgive us our debts; and ſuch as have ſought it, have readily obtained it, Contex… Verſe 5.
2. There is never an one of us but doth inf… nitely need it; there is no doing without one fo… the children of men: it is therefore the greate… concern that lies upon us; the firſt thing w… have to ſeek after; for,
1. We are all Sinners. This is the natural ſtate in which all men are at firſt: the fall hath brought it upon the whole race. We are Sinners by Imputation; the great Tranſgreſſion which our firſt Parents perpetrated, when they ſtood as publick Perſons, is become ours, and we ſtand condemned for it. Rom. 5. 12. The defilement of nature is upon us all, that Original, in dwelling Sin, which hath depraved all our faculties and powers, and filled them with the habits of perverſneſs. Pſal. 58. 4. & 51. 5. And we have committed innumerable Actual Sins Gen. 8. 21. So that there is a woful deal of matter for pardon in every one of us; for it is Sin that makes us to need forgiveneſs.
2. We are hereby under Guilt. Guilt is an inſeparable companion of ſin, according to the tenour of the Law-Covenant; ſo that as long as we are under that, we ſtand guilty. The Law dooms every ſinner to dy for every the leaſt tranſgreſſion of it, and Guilt is the Obligation lying on him to ſuffer the ſame. Guilt is a Priſon in which the ſinner is ſhut up for puniſhment, and he cannot break out of it; its bars and bolts are too ſtrong: and we are told that all the world are guilty before God. Rom 3. 19. i. e. ſo long as they abide under the Law.
3. There are fearful miſeries await us, by reaſon of this Guilt. Guilt holds us under the Curſe, and that is a tremendous thing: all the miſeries of this life, and all the ſorrows of hell are contained in it. We read of a fearful great Roll, and it was Written within and without: and what were the contents of it? why it was the Curſe, Zech. 5. begin. No tongue can expreſs, no heart conceive, the wretchedneſs of that man who muſt undergo all that is written in it: and yet this is the guilty ſinners portion, and, whiles guilty, he cannot eſcape it.
4. There is no avoiding theſe miſeries without a pardon: that, and only that can remove our Guilt. We cannot make ſatisfaction; it is vain to hope or attempt it; Thouſands of Rams, &c. ſignify nothing here, nor can we any way fly from it, becauſe our Guilt keeps us cloſe priſoners, and will drag us before the great Tribunal: forgiveneſs is the one way to have it taken off; and that is the thing we want. Try all other courſes, and they will deceive you; but get a pardon, and your buſineſs is done; miſs of that, and you are undone. There lies all the hope of a ſinner. Dan. 9. 9. To the Lord belong mercies and forgiveneſſes. It is as much as your Lives, yea your Souls are worth, that you obtain it: be not then careleſs about this one thing, leſt you rue it for ever.
5. Obtain forgiveneſs, and you have all ſecured to you that is needful to make you happy for ever. Get this, and all will come with it: without it you can have nothing elſe. Chriſt will not beſtow his Adoption, and his Grace, and his Glory upon an unpardoned ſinner: but when he gives a pardon, he will give every thing elſe. Why then do men ſit ſtill, & neglect this great buſineſs? Can you find any thing elſe of equal moment? is there any other buſineſs comparably neceſſary to this? be not then careleſs about it, but ſet your ſelves to ſeek it.
Directions how to do ſo, will fall under a fol…wing Doctrine; only be not ſlight about it; …ive your ſelves no reſt, till you have gotten a par…on ſigned and ſealed. Bleſs God who hath told …ou of it, and go to him for it in the Name of Chriſt, ask that faith of him by which you may …ceive it, and be made happy by it.
USE. II. Let this put us all upon the Trial …f our ſtate, Whether we are indeed pardoned. …nd I know no queſtion more ſolemn and weigh…, that any of us hath to put to our own Soul, …an this, Am I a pardoned one? are my ſins forgiven? …th God blotted out my Tranſgreſſions? And, except …en be dead aſleep in a Lethargy of carnal ſecu…ty, one would think, they could not live at any …ſt, till they had gotten a comfortable reſolution …f this queſtion; till they had a ſupporting hope, …ilt upon a good foundation? Can we think of …e Judgments of God to which we are expoſed? …an we meditate on the day of Death which we …e haſtning unto, and know not how ſoon it will …er take us? Can we have any comfortable …oughts of the day of Judgment which is haſtning, …here all that are found out of Chriſt, and ſo …ithout a pardon, will be adjudged to everlaſting …iſeries, and yet not know how we are laid in …r ſuch a day? Let us then be ſollicitous about …is matter, and be often bringing our ſelves to the …icteſt Rules of Trial which the word of God affords us, and of which we may ſhortly have an account. Believe it, the reſolution of this caſe of Conſcience, will make amends for all the pains that we can be at in ſeeking after it.
USE. III. Let it be for a word of Conſolati… to all ſuch as are pardoned. Are all ſuch bleſſe… men? how ſhould the apprehenſion of this comfort our hearts? and certainly, if we do not fin… more ſweetneſs in it, than in all that is delight f… in this world, we never felt the burden of Gu… thereby, and may well queſtion whether we a… forgiven or no. Are you delivered from wra… to come, and can any thing elſe damp your joy… is not here enough to ballance, yea to ſwallow … all other ſorrows whatſoever? And that you ma… ſuitably expreſs this joy of yours, take theſe tw… words of direction.
1. Bleſs God for this wonderful gift. This … none of the leaſt of the arguments which the Pſ… miſt uſeth to ſtir up his Soul to bleſs God, in, Pſ… 103. 3. Who forgiveth all thine iniquities. And the… is abundant matter of thankfulneſs in it, wheth… we conſider the free benignity which it diſcove… God owed it not to us; he hath not indulg… every one with it; and we did no more to obt… it than they; he not only offered it to us, b… drew us to accept it: he gave his only Son to p… cure it for us; and he ſent his Spirit into o… hearts to apply it to us: or if we conſider … greatneſs of the benefit it ſelf, which is unco… ceivable. And can we ſufficiently admire, & bl… …?
2. Let us ſtudy to live as becomes pardoned …es. What manner of Converſation ought we to …ad in the world, to whom God hath given his …e forgiveneſs? Shall we not loath Sin more, by …e conſideration of the great pardon that is given …? Shall we not abſtain from it with the more …re and abhorrence, by conſidering what it coſt …e Son of God to procure a Remiſſion of it for …? Shall we not make it our conſtant care and …deavour to pleaſe and ſerve that God who hath …alt ſo bountifully with us? Shall we not love …m who hath ſo loved us? And if we do indeed …ve him, according to this obligation, it will cer…inly make us willing and unwearied, in ſeeking … expreſs this love ſuitably, in dayly Dying unto …n, and Living unto Holineſs, and purſuing of this … our days.