The Truly Blessed Man, Part 1 · Section 6
Pardon conſiſts in the Non-Imputation of Sin.
DOCTRINE V.
PArdon conſists properly in the Non-Imputation, … the taking off the Imputation of Sin. This is the third expreſſion in our Text, by which this forgiveneſs is illuſtrated, viz. Sin is not imputed; and there are two things go in to make this Non-Imputation to amount to a pardon.
1. The man was under Guilt before this … paſt upon him. When Sin is not Imputable, th… Non-Imputation of it is not forgiveneſs, for h… had nothing to be forgiven him, being a righteous perſon.
2. That this Guilt be taken off, that he cea… to be a Guilty perſon in the account of the Law… and of the Judge. Hence then we may for th… clearing up of this Truth, enquire,
1. What is meant by the Imputation of Sin?
2. In what reſpect all mankind are by nature und… this Imputation?
3. What is the ſtate of thoſe who are under t… Imputation?
4. How this Imputation comes to be taken off fr… ſinful men?
1. What is meant by the Imputation of ſin?
A. We obſerved, that the word in our Text is often uſed for reckoning, or charging to ones account, or making a man a debtor for a thing. Man is by ſin become a Debtor to the Juſtice of God, and that expects ſatisfaction of him, and accordingly chargeth it to his ſcore, that it may call him to an account about it: hence in the Imputation of ſin; there are theſe things to be conſidered.
1. That Sin is reckoned to the perſon. Here lies the foundation of it, and hence it is called the Imputation of Sin, becauſe all that follows, flows from it; and hence it is to be obſerved, that this Imputation being a Forenſical act, if the Sin may any way be faſtned on the man as his, ſo that he ſtands related to it as his own, whether he himſelf hath actually committed it or no, yet it is juſtly imputed to him: David did not with his own hand ſlay Uriah, but yet the Sin is made his, 2 Sam. 12. 9. ſo, if a man owes nothing on a Debt firſtly contracted by him, yet if he owes it by Suretiſhip, it is legally imputed to him.
2. Hence the Guilt of it is charged upon him; and indeed, theſe two are inſeparable in the Law; for looking upon the man as under it, it is impoſſible that he ſhould be charged with Sin, but he muſt be reputed Guilty by it: that hath connected the prohibition and the threatning inſeparably; it hath ſaid, He that Sins ſhall dy; and it cannot go back from it. Now the Charge of Guilt is nothing elſe but the aſſuring of the man, that he is by Sin become a Subject of Death; ſo ſaith the Law, Ezek. 18 4. and a righteous God looks upon ſuch a man, and reckons him bound over to dy.
3. Hereupon the Law rigorouſly demands its ſatisfaction of him; the Law is ratified by the Law-giver, and he will give it its claim, and is reſolved that it ſhall not ſuffer loſs in a tittle, Mat. 5. 28. It ſaith, I find this man to be under the charge of ſin, and ſo to be Guilty, and I demand Juſtice upon him: and its mouth cannot be ſtopt till it hath its demands anſwered: it is reſolved it will have its penniworths out of the perſon, before it hath done with him.
4. Hereby he is obnoxious to ſuffer all the penalties of the Law, in purſuit of this charge; th… Imputation makes him a priſoner of Juſtice, and liable to the execution of the threatning: hence ſaid to be in danger, Mat. 5. 22. the word ſignifieth, one that is held in, and kept faſt, as one that is impriſoned: this execution being the deſign of, and that in which the Imputation is to determine. Imputation claps an arreſt upon the man, which wi… be proſecuted, till Juſtice hath obtained all its demands of him.
2. In what reſpect all mankind by nature are und… this Imputation?
A. That all are ſo, is every where aſſerted i… Scripture; and is evident, becauſe the penalti… properly belonging to ſin are fallen upon them a… See Rom. 5. 12. 14. 1 Cor. 15. 22. If all are Sinners, then ſin is imputable to all, and if they a… dead by it, it hath ſurely been imputed. Certainly that Sin which hath killed a whole world, is imputed to them, how elſe had they died by it? it includes old and young, perſons of underſtanding, and Infants, whoſoever deſcends from Adam by natural generation, and hath a reaſonable Soul. Now there is a threefold reſpect in which ſin comes to be imputable to mankind, and that righteouſly.
1. When it is actually and perſonally committed by the man. I name this firſt, becauſe it is moſt plain and accountable. Sin is properly a Moral Tranſgreſſion, and ſuppoſeth a Law againſt which the tranſgreſſion is: and to actual ſin it is requiſite that it be done by a reaſonable creature, capable of acting as a cauſe by counſel: this therefore is not imputable to Infants, for, though they have a reaſonable Soul in them, yet it is not in a preſent capacity of exerciſing that reaſon; which want ſeems not to be a fruit of ſin, but a condition of nature, and had not man fallen, it would in all likelihood have been ſo; it is therefore ſaid of thoſe that dy in their Infancy, That they have not ſinned after the ſimilitude of Adams Tranſgreſſion, Rom. …5. 14. Though how ſoon they diſcover their natural corruption is lamentably to be obſerved; however this extends to all men without exception, that arrive to any uſe of their reaſon; how actual ſin will be charged on meer naturals, I cannot graſp, though the want of the uſe of reaſon be a puniſhment of Adams ſin; yet this utterly obſtructs the rational acting of ſuch an one, for that he cannot diſcern between good and evil. But there is none that ever had the uſe of reaſon, but hath abuſed it by ſinning againſt God, and that both by ſins of Omiſſion and Commiſſion: he hath thought, ſpoken, done otherwiſe than the Law requires; we have a natural man characterized, Rom. 3. 10. &c. And none are exempted from it, we are told, Pſal. 58. 3. They go aſtray as ſoon as they are born, ſpeaking lies; i. e. they are ſet that way, and it breaks out as ſoon as they are capable, though in ſome more notoriouſly than in others. Now there is no difficulty in telling how actual ſin ſhould be imputable to the perſon committing it; for, if all owe Obedience to the Law, their neglect of, or doing any thing contrary to it, cannot but render them Guilty.
2. When the nature is corrupted by the inherency of Original Sin. That there is ſuch a thing as the ſin of nature is evident from the word of God; it is called Concupiſcence or Luſt, Jam. 1. 14. Indwelling Sin; Rom. 7. 17. Sin that is alwayes preſent. Verſe 21. The Fleſh, Joh. 3. 6. The body of ſin. Rom. 6. 6. Of Death, 7. 24. The Law in the members, v. 23. The body of the Sins of the fleſh, Col 2. 11. The Old man, Eph. 4. 23. Now all theſe point to the root or fountain from which actual Sin proceeds, and therefore muſt intend ſomething divers from it; hence we read of Luſt Conceived, and Sin the iſſue of it, Jam. 1. 15. Now this Sin is in all Adams Poſterity, born after the ordinary courſe of nature; even Infants, and Naturals too: it is therefore uſually called Our Birth Sin, and Our Conception Sin, according to, Pſal. 51. 5. And it derives from the corrupt fountain from whence we all proceed. Adam defiled himſelf, loſt the Image of God, contracted the Image of Sin, and then he Propagated it, Gen. 5. 2. And how ſhould it be otherwiſe? for Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? Job 14. 4. And though this be in one ſence a puniſhment fallen upon us for the firſt Tranſgreſſion, yet in it ſelf it is really Sin; it is a Sinful ſtate that we are in by it; the Definition of ſin belongs to it, it is Anomy, 1 Joh. 3. 4. Mans nature by it doth not anſwer the Law of Creation. And that it is imputed is evident, becauſe it is an Image for which God deſpiſeth man, Pſal. 73. 20. It is that which they Dy for, Rom. 5. 14. Pſal. 137. ult. It is certainly in them, and therefore may be charged on them, and the Righteouſneſs of their being found Guilty by reaſon of it, will one day he made good by him who is Judge of all: mean while the foundation of the equity of it is laid in that which follows: Hence,
3. In reſpect of the Relation which they bear to Adams firſt Tranſgreſſion. That our firſt Parents became Guilty by their eating the forbidden fruit, is beyond diſpute: God had a Sovereign Authority to Command, and they owed him entire Obedience: the Sin it ſelf was great, being a Violation of the Sacrament of the Covenant, and ſo the whole Law was tranſgreſſed by it: and that they dyed juſtly none can rationally doubt. But we are given to underſtand that they drew their whole Poſterity into the ſame Condemnation with themſelves, and this is clear from, Rom. 5. 12, 17, 18, 19. Hence, though they were not actually in being, yet that Sin is imputed to them as theirs, and here upon they ſuffer penally for it: their being born in Sin, and unto miſery is a proper reſultancy from it. Verſe 12. The equity of which Imputation is, in that God tranſacted with Adam at firſt as a Publick Perſon, in whom he would have all to ſtand or fall: he therefore repreſented his whole Progeny, as a King doth his people, as a Father his Family: So that all Humanity being contracted in our firſt Parents, humane nature became Guilty in and with them, as it was naturally derivable from them.
3. What is the state of thoſe that are under the Imputation?
A. In one word, it is a ſtate of Condemnation. We read, Joh. 3. 18. He that believes not, is Condemned already: By which we are given to underſtand how it is with all men by nature: all the World… ſtand Condemned before God, and there is not on… clear of it, till by Faith in Chriſt they come to receive a diſcharge. Now they come under this Condemnation, by the Imputation of Sin to them: for Condemnation hath a reſpect to puniſhment, and that always preſumes a fault that hath merited it: and hence, in a fair proceſs, the fault is firſt charged and proved, and there-upon the Sentence paſſeth. Now this muſt needs be a miſerable ſtate, if we Conſider,
1. That if God impute Sin to any, he will condemn them for it; the Righteouſneſs of God as a Lawgiver and Judge calls for this. God cannot be…d Iniquity in any, without deteſtation of it, Hab. 1. 13. And the Sanction of the Law, by which …e teſtifyeth this deteſtation of his, is that which …e hath bound himſelf unto. As therefore God will charge none but Guilty Sinners, and ſuch as …e will convince of Sin and Guilt, ſo he will doom …em accordingly, for in this his Relative Juſtice …anifeſts it ſelf.
2. That if God do thus condemn, he will pro…eed to Execution according to it. He will be as …ood as his Word, and the Condemned Sinner ſhall …nd it ſo to his coſt. God ſaith as he meaneth, …nd will therefore do as he ſaith. When God had …aſt a fearful doom upon Saul for his diſobedience, …e find what a Seal he clapt upon that Sentence, … Sam. 15. 29. The ſtrength of Iſrael will not ly or …pent. True, there is room at preſent, under the Goſpel, to have the Sentence reverſed by a free …ardon; but if this be neglected, and the perſon …mes thus to the bar of Juſtice at laſt, he muſt … the Execution.
3. The puniſhment of Sin is tremendous. It is … fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. …b. 10. 31. In this puniſhment God will make … known how hateful a thing to him Sin is, and …e will do it by the fearfulneſs of it: hence theſe …enalties are ſet forth in the word of God after … formidable manner. God intends in it to ſhew … wrath, and make his power known, Rom. 9. 22. …heſe penalties are expreſſed as intolerable, Ezek. …2. 14.
4. How this Imputation comes to be taken off from Sinful men?
A. In Sum, it is done by the Tranſlation of it from the account of the Sinner, to the account of Chriſt. There is no other way in which it can be done conſiſtent with the Juſtice of God: and in this way… it may be, and is done for all that are pardoned. Of this we may take this ſhort account.
1. That whereſoever Sin is Imputed, the Law requires ſatisfaction of the perſon to whom it … Imputed. This is evident by the nature of imputation, according as hath been explained: for where God reckons Sin to a man, he gives th… Law Credit againſt him for it, and makes hi… a Debtor to the Law; now the Law being a R… of Juſtice, is rigorous, and exacts all its debts: … will not ſtop its mouth, till compleatly ſatisfye… Math. 5. 18. So that it holds the man faſt by vertue of this Imputation.
2. That in Chriſts Sufferings there was a ſufficiency to make this ſatisfaction. This was neceſſ… rily prerequiſite, elſe it could not have anſwere… the demand of the Law for us. For, though … be not therefore our Satisfaction, becauſe there w… ſuch a ſufficiency in it, Gods acceptance of it bei… free; yet if it could not have anſwered the La… in all its demands, it could not have been cap… ble of Gods acceptance on this account: there w… therefore enough in it to do this. Chriſt Suffere… the whole Eſſence of the penalties that were du… to us for ſin; he bore the whole weight of th… Wrath of God; He was made Sin, 2 Cor. 5. 2… And A Curſe, Gal. 3. 13. And the Excellency of …s perſon, being Divine, put that Value upon his …fferings, that rendered them equivalent to the …fferings of all his people: it was the blood of God …at was ſhed, Act. 20. 28.
3. That it is conſiſtent with Gods Juſtice, to ac…pt of this Satisfaction on the Sinners account. …rue, the caſe is Criminal; the Sinner himſelf …ſerves to dy, and if God had ſaid he ſhall dy, …d no other for him, it had been very juſt: …t yet it is no wrong either to his Holineſs or …tice to ſay, I will accept of the Sufferings of …riſt for the Sinner. If there were nothing … to be ſaid for this than that God hath …ually ſo done, this ought to be enough to ſtop … mouths, for the Judge of the World can do no…g but what is right. But it is acknowledged …ong men, that a Prince may, if he will, although … may chuſe whether he will take another for … offender by exchange, if he freely offers …ſelf: however, God is not bound to the Laws …ch men are.
4. That God did, by an act of Sovereignty, ac…t of Chriſt for this end. This is evident in the …lation of the New Covenant, in which we are …d that there was ſuch a thing: and all our hopes … Salvation by that Covenant, are built on this …dation; for we are Saved by Chriſt, we are …refore acquainted with a Covenant of Redemption, … which the New-Covenant of Grace is founded; … which God the Father indented with his Son … this account, and made him a promiſe in reſpect to it, that upon his Satisfaction the Vertu… of it ſhould derive to them for whom it was, Iſ… 53. 10. And Chriſt dyed for this end, Gal. 2. 2… Yea he was made under the Law, that ſo it mig… exact this of him, in order to our being Redeem… from it, Gal. 4. 4, 5. And hence all the penalti… he underwent are ſaid to be on the account … Our Sins, Iſa. 53. 4. And this acceptance was an a… of Divine Sovereignty; God acted as a Lo… in it.
5. That Chriſt in theſe Sufferings bare th… relations to his Elect, which rendred them ſa… factory for them; he did all in their ſtead, a… that it might be effectual, he took ſuch Relat… that rendred it ſo in the account of Gods Juſ… Now there were two relations that he bare, wh… comprize in them all that can be required in … regard.
1. Of a Surety; this is expreſſed, Heb. 7. … Now a Surety is one that is bound with or … another, to reſpond for him, in caſe he him… fails: and when it refers to caſes criminal, … becomes liable to ſuffer for the principal offend… and upon his ſo ſuffering, the Law is ſatisfie… and he for whom he ſuffered is releaſed; for … Law requires double ſatisfaction in the ſame ca… and therefore if the Law take its ſatisfaction … the Surety, it exempts the offender himſelf; … there is yet more, viz.
2. Of a Common perſon or repreſentati… which will yet be a clearer diſcovery of the fuln… of the ſatisfaction. We therefore have a para… made between Chriſt and Adam, 1 Cor. 15. 22. And Adam is ſaid to be a figure of Chriſt, Rom. 5. 14. Now Adam ſtood as a publick perſon, repreſenting his Seed; and ſo doth Chriſt repreſent …is: hence as Adams tranſgreſſion was influenti… …o the undoing of his Seed, ſo Chriſt's ſatisfaction is no leſs to the making or repairing of his. …erſe 18.
6. Hence this pardon of ſin removes our Guilt …o Chriſt's account, and his Righteouſneſs to ours: …his is fully expreſt, in 2. Cor. 5. 21. He was made … for us, that we might be made the Righteouſneſs of God through him; i. e. Our ſin was charged on …im, and his Satisfaction went for it, and his Righteouſneſs was reckoned to us, and ſo became …rs: and this is done by Imputation. Nor can … be in any other way; it muſt be ours either Relatively, or Inherently; Inherently it cannot be, …either can Chriſt be the real Sinner, nor can his …ufferings, which in perſon ſuffered, be ſuffered …ſonally by us; but by this tranſaction it beco…eth ſo by Imputation.
7. This is done upon our believing in Chriſt; …ey that talk of an Eternal Juſtification, forget to …ſtinguiſh between a purpoſe, a purchaſe, and the …pplication of it to us, which are not to be con…nded. It was purpoſed from Eternity, ſettled … the Covenant of Suretiſhip; it was purchaſed …hen Chriſt ſuffered in our ſtead, and confirmed … him in his Reſurrection, Rom. 4. 25. but it is …erred on us, and this tranſlation actually made, … our believing in Chriſt, Rom. 3. 22, 24. and when it cometh to this, then ſin is no more imputed … us; and now, and not till now is the man … pardoned man.
USE I. For Information, in a few pa… ticulars.
1. Learn hence, that forgiveneſs of ſin is … act of free Grace. It doth not ſay, the man … whom there is no ſin, but to whom God imput… it not; it ſuppoſeth that there is ſin, and th… God might impute it if he would, and why do… he not? true, it is upon Chriſt's account, ſo th… it is not free to him, but purchaſed by him: … in reſpect of us, there is no merit of ours in th… caſe, the Pſalmiſt ſaith, Pſal. 130. 3, 4. If th… Lord, ſhouldeſt mark iniquity, &c. but for Chri… ſake he will not ſo do; though the man h… been guilty of never ſo many ſins, yet he will … lay any of them to his charge. Juſtice lets … its action againſt him, and diſchargeth him fro… the arreſt that was laid upon him; and this … done through Chriſt, 2 Cor. 5. 18. needs th… muſt it be free grace: Well might the Apoſt… ſay, Rom. 3. 24. Juſtified freely by his Grace, thr… the Redemption that is in Jeſus Chriſt.
2. Hence we have a clear diſcovery of t… bleſſedneſs of a pardoned man; well might t… Pſalmiſt put that remark upon ſuch an one; … indeed one eſſential part of the miſery of Sinn… is, that they are under the Imputation of Si… Whence ariſeth their obnoxiouſneſs to the F… Indignation of God, which by this Non-Imputati… they are delivered from; by this the Wrath of God paſſeth from them; and if God will not charge it, their ſin can never bring them into Condemnation; let them have committed never ſo many or great ſins, they can do them no hurt on …his account; they are thus put out of all danger of hell, and the miſeries of that place; and ſurely …e is an happy man.
3. Learn hence the neceſſity of Chriſt's paſſive Obedience, in order to our forgiveneſs. If he had not ſuffered, we could not have been pardoned: for ſuch is our relation to the Law of Juſtice, …hat if once we have contracted Guilt to our ſelves, …here is a Law Imputation of it to us: and to the …aking that off again, nothing leſs can be neceſſa…y than that the Law be anſwered; and that re…res ſatisfaction, and will not take up without …. Nor was there any to be found that was able … give in this ſatisfaction for us, but the Son of God in our nature: if he had not done it, no …ther could; ſo that we muſt have remained un…r the charge, how then could God have been …ſt, and yet Juſtifie us? Rom. 3. 26 to him then …re we to acknowledge this wonderful benefit.
4. This tells us that forgiveneſs ſhould not …ke away, but encreaſe our ſelf loathing. When God cometh to forgive us, he finds us Sinners, …ſe we ſhould not need forgiveneſs; and in for…ving he doth not take away the being of the … he forgives, or make us inherently righteous, …ough together with it he ever Sanctifies us; but …thdraws the Imputation from it; but ſtill there is the vileneſs and odiouſneſs of it lying before us, and it is not leſs odious, becauſe God will not impute it; but the conſideration of this rich favour ſhould make us to abominate it ſo much the more, as it did Paul, Rom. 7.
5. This ſhews us whence the Conſolation o… Gods people flows, under the ſenſe of all their ſins. What is the reaſon why a Guilty Sinner… under the awakenings of Conſcience, and diſcoveries of Sin, is terrified, and ready to ſink into deſpair, going up and down as one amazed… when a Child of God ſees and knows as mu… by himſelf, as many and as great ſins that he ha… committed, and yet can look upon them, thoug… not without deep ſelf-abaſement, yet with a gre… deal of conſolation and triumph? Why the o… ſees not the ſin only, but the Imputation to… whereas this man can ſay, that God doth not imp… his ſins, and ſo his Soul is comforted on that account.
6. See here the reaſon why ſuch as have bee… great Sinners, and are pardoned, do abound i… their love to Jeſus Chriſt; there are none that ar… more carried forth with ardent affections to him… or more engaged to do or ſuffer for him; our Saviour gives the reaſon of it, Luk. 7. 47. who ever more engaged in ſetting forth the riches … Grace than Paul? 1 Tim. 1. 15, 16. and why … but becauſe ſuch an one ſees that his debt and forfeiture was very great, he was Ten thouſa… Talents in arrears, his ſcore was formidable, … it is all croſt, there is not one that ſtands on the Account book againſt him.
USE II. Let this be to Exhort us all to ſeek after forgiveneſs; and one would think it ſhould be enough to put us all upon it to ſee this ſecured: For Conſider,
1. Till your Sins are forgiven, they are imputed. All the Sin, the Guilt whereof derives to any of the Children of men, ſtands out againſt them, …ill a pardon removes it, by taking away the Imputation: his whole account abides on record, and …s not croſſed.
2. Your danger by this is very great. You cannot anſwer the Juſtice of God for one of theſe Sins, and what an innumerable Company of them … there? So that you go in continual hazard of …eing laid up by Juſtice, and proſecuted for them, …nd then what a woful condition are you in? Our Saviour therefore adviſeth, Luk. 12. 48, 49.
3. When once you are pardoned, there is no more …putation, that paſſeth oft with it. As God ſeeth …o Sin, ſo he will charge none: he ſaith of every …ne whom he forgiveth, that none of his Iniquities …all be remembred againſt him.
4. Hence now you may look upon your ſelves, …ea, your ſins, without dread. This takes away …e ground of terrours, becauſe it blots out the …and writing that was againſt you. If, when the …ooks are opened, there is nothing there to be …en, but it hath the lines of Chriſt's Blood …oſſing it, or his Satisfaction and Payment charged on the other ſide, all is ſafe and well: And for help, remember,
1. Your ſins muſt be imputed ſome where. The Juſtice of God requires this.
2 Jeſus Chriſt hath enough in his Satisfaction to anſwer for them, and ſo to remove the Imputation to his ſcore: there is nothing wanting i… his Righteouſneſs to anſwer all.
3 He offers it to you to be made yours. Th… is the deſign of the Goſpel treaty, to propo… Chriſt to Sinners; and that is one thing in it, … be their Righteouſneſs, 1 Cor. 1. 30. And what … this for, but that he may diſcharge the Debt … Imputation for them?
4. If you would have it, you muſt go to Ch… and believe in him for it. It comes in by believing; and Chriſt is the author of that faith, it m… be fetched from him; none but Believers … ſhare in this Imputation of his Obedience. Co… then to him, wait on him, ſeek him to cure y… of your Unbelief, and give you faith.
5. And you muſt renounce all your other dependencies. If you rely on a righteouſneſs … your own, that will never do; Juſtice is not ſat… fyed with it; it cannot anſwer the Law for yo… Come then with your ſins, and confeſs your inſ… ficiency, addreſs free grace, put up that petitio… Pſal. 25. 11. For they name ſake, Oh Lord, pard… mine iniquity, ſo ſhall the Imputation of Sin, cea… and you be made bleſſed.