The Truly Blessed Man, Part 1 · Section 7
A Pardoned Man is one without Guile.
DOCTRINE VI.
THE Pardoned Man is one in whoſe Spirit there is no Guile. It was obſerved in opening of the Text, that theſe laſt words of it, are put for the evidence of ſuch a perſon, whoſe happineſs is deſcribed from his pardoned ſtate: or a Characteriſtical note by which a man may know himſelf to be ſuch an one. Pardon of ſin, in a Theological ſenſe, properly refers to the great benefit of Justification: for though, among men… is one thing to Juſtifie a perſon, and another thing to pardon him: a man is then only Juſtified at a Civil Bar, when he is legally found innocent, or not Guilty of the Crime he was Indicted for; whereas a pardon ſuppoſeth the man to have been found Guilty, and a Sentence accordingly to have paſt upon him to ſuffer according to the Law; and then the ſupream power doth, upon prerogative, acquit him from the Sentence, and ſet him at liberty, without any ſatisfaction given for the Crime: whereas God, in pardoning the Sinner, looks upon him in his Surety, at whoſe hands his Juſtice hath received Satisfaction, and accordingly acquits him Judicially, as, 2 Cor. 5. 21. And ſo the Juſtice, as well as the Mercy of God doth herein diſplay it ſelf, 1 Joh. 1. 9. It is true, if we look upon the man in himſelf, and with reference to the Covenant of Works, ſo it is a pardon; for the Law hath found him Guilty, and condemned him. Such is the condition of every one in his natural ſtate; and in that regard there is an act of free forgiveneſs paſſeth upon him, who hath done nothing himſelf to obtain it, and ſo the wonderful grace of God herein appears. But look upon him in Chriſt, as he was indented for in the Covenant of Redemption, and is put into him under the Covenant of Grace, ſo the ſatisfactory Obedience of Chriſt is reputed as his, and on this trial he is ſound without iniquity, i. e Imputatively; and hereupon is acquitted: and that is a Juſtification, and belongs to … as one eſſential part of it: and ſo is that to be underſtood, Numb. 23 21. Now, though there be a wonderful change of ſtate that paſſeth upon the man in Juſtification; for in it he paſſeth from Condemnation, and is adjudged to an Eternal Kingdom; yet, becauſe it is meerly Relative, … hath not in it ſelf a ſelf-evidence, but muſt be diſcovered ſome other way; and becauſe it do… not paſs upon all men, ſince the greater pa…t o… mankind will fall under Condemnation: Nor indeed are the Elect Juſtified as Elected, but when the New Covenant is ratified with them; nor ca… they know their Election till they can diſcen… their Juſtification; it therefore concerns ever one to be inquiſitive after this; and becauſe it is no… made known by Immediate Revelation, but by co… comitant Effects, enquiry is to be made after them… and therefore we have one of them laid before … in our Text and Doctrine. Here then three things may be enquired into;
1. What is to be underſtood by one in whoſe Spirit there is no Guile?
2. Whether this have any influence into our pardon or Juſtification?
3. What evidence this gives to confirm us in the knowledge and belief of our being pardoned and juſtified? Of theſe in order.
1. What is to be underſtood by one in whoſe Spirit there is no Guile?
A. This manner of expreſſion is uſed in the Scriptures more than once, as a Periphraſis of a Godly man: So, Joh. 1. 47. Rev. 14. 5. The word [Guile] ſignifies Fraud or Deceit; but is uſed equivocally, Sometimes in a good, ſometimes in a bad ſenſe. There is an honeſt Craft, 2 Cor. 12. 16. and there is a diſhoneſt one, which is pointed at in our Text: and there are many things in which this Guile is practiſed; there is Guile in mens words, ſuch is Flattery, Pſal 12. 2, 3. and Lying to deceive, Mic. 6. 12. And there is Guile in mens carriages, when they pretend Friendſhip, and yet lye in wait, Pſal. 55. 21. And there is Guile in a Profeſſion of Religion, 2 Tim. 3. 5. But the root of all this lies at the heart, the falſeneſs whereof puts men upon theſe Guileful practiſes: Hence Guile is in the word of God uſed for Hypocriſy; and to be without Guile for Sincerity: And when this is referred to the Spirit or Soul, it intends that there is an inward principle of it in the man which influenceth into his Life and Converſation; and this points us to that Sanctification that is wrought in the man at Converſion. But for a more particular opening of this, obſerve theſe things.
1. That in the beſt of Gods Children here, there is a Body of Death remaining. We have Paul himſelf crying out by reaſon of it, Rom. 7. 24. And what elſe is intended by this, but the relicks or remains of the Sinful Corruption, which the nature of man is defiled with by the Apoſtaſy? It is that Sinfulneſs in our nature, which hath in it a repugnancy to the Law of God, and cannot yield ſubjection to it, Rom. 8. 7. And therefore is always Warring againſt the Law in the Mind, Chap. 7. 23. And for any meer man, in this Life, to exempt himſelf from it, is counted a daring piece of impudence, Prov. 20. 9. Hence that Hypotheſis, 1 Joh. 1. 8. If we ſay we have no Sin, we deceive our ſelves: And that poſitive Concluſion, Eccl. 7. 20. There is not a juſt man upon earth, that doeth good, and ſinneth not.
2. That in this Body of Death, there is a remaining Sinful Guile. It is therefore called a Body, becauſe there is every branch or member of carnal Concupiſcence in it: for, though the whole of it be mortifyed in Sanctification, yet there is no member of it is wholly deſtroyed, but remains, though not in its reigning power; and there is no luſt but a Child of God ſhall find the ſtirring of … in him, if he warily obſerve himſelf. Now this Guile is one of thoſe Luſts, or rather a quality of them all; and all men bring it with them into the World, riveted to their corrupt nature, Pſal. 58. 4. On which account we have that aſſertion of the Prophet, Jer. 17 9. The Heart is deceitful above all things.
3. That this Guile doth too often wofully break forth in the Lives of Gods people. And this is a ſufficient evidence that it is there, for if they had none, they would never diſcover any: but how often doth it appear to others? And though it many times acts cloſely and indiſcernibly to the world, yet they themſelves might obſerve it, if they would be acquainted at home. Do not good men ſometimes act deceitfully in their treating with others? Did not David wofully lye and diſſemble to Ahimeleoh at Nob? 1 Sam. 21. And to Achiſh, Chap 23. Yea he was almoſt gotten into a way of it, whence he prayes againſt it, Pſal. 119 29. And how much of Hypocriſy is a ſenſible Believer acquainted with in himſelf, attending on his beſt duties? How many wry glances, and ſiniſter aims in his prayers, and hearing, and whole Converſation? Whence elſe is it that he is ſo often at a loſs what to judge of himſelf as to any thing he doth?
4. In the work of Converſation there is a new nature put into the man. The man that is here ſaid to be without Guile, is to be ſuppoſed a true Convert, for there is nothing elſe but Guile in an Unconverted man; he is wholly acted by a De…ved Heart which perverts him. Iſa. 44 20. But when God comes to Convert a Sinner to himſelf, he then makes a powerful and thorough Change in him, 2 Cor. 5. 17. This is that which is called the New Man, in oppoſition to natural Corruption, which is called the Old man, Eph. 4. 22, 24. This is called the New Heart, which God hath ſaid he will give to men in this work, Ezek. 36. 26. And what elſe is the New Nature, but a body of Sanctifying Graces, infuſed into the man, by which he is Regenerated, or born again?
5. In this new nature there is no Guile at all. The new Creature is altogether void of Sinful Hypocriſy, it hath nothing in it but what is pure, and ſincere, and without Guile. We read, 1 Joh. 3. 9… Whoſoever is born of God doth not commit ſin. i. e. According to his new nature, or the new principle that is infuſed into him: and it muſt need appear to be ſincere, and not Hypocritical, from the Conſideration of the Original of it, and that is from God; it is therefore ſaid to be Born of him, 1 Joh. 5. 4. And Born from above, Joh. 3. 3. And of the Spirit, Verſ. 6. And is called the Divine Nature, 2 Pet. 1. 4. It never conſents to, much leſs contrives any deceit or cheat, but is always upright in the exertings of it ſelf. And therefore every Converted man, ſo far as he is renewed, ſo far is he altogether without Guile. As Guile is a quality adhering to every Luſt, ſo integrity is no leſs to every Grace of the Spirit, that is in the Children of God: their Faith is Unfeigned, 1 Tim. 1. 5. And their Love is without Diſſimulation, Rom. 12. 9. And ſuch are all the Graces which flow from theſe two, which are the root Graces in a Child of God.
6. The New Nature ſets it ſelf againſt the Guile of the Law in the members, in a Child of God. It doth not only exert none it ſelf, nor conſent to that which the Corrupt part is acting, but it diſſents from, and withſtands it. There is the Luſting of the Spirit mentioned, Gal. 5. 17. And there are two things wherein it diſcovers this.
1. In the Reluctancy of it againſt the Corrupt part in us, ſeeking to ſuppreſs and prevent it. So far as Grace is active in the heart of a Child of God, when it meets with a Temptation to Guile or Hypocriſy, it Reſiſts it, bears its Teſtimony againſt it; influenceth the Conſcience according to … preſent activity, ſo as to endeavour to Arm … againſt that part in him, which is eager and violent for it: and this Paul deſigns in, Rom. 7. When he ſpeaks of the Good he would do, and the Evil he would not do. And doubtleſs, many a time, by the help of the Spirit of God, he gets the Victory, overcomes the Temptation, and rejects the Motion with abhorrence.
2. In the Repentance which it brings the man to afterwards. Sometimes the Law of the Members is too ſubtile and ſtrong, and leads the man Captive, and he is drawn into Diſſimulation, as Peter and Barnabas were, Gal. 2. 12. &c. The deceitfulneſs of his worſer part impoſeth upon him, and he plays the Fool; but as his Grace had no hand in it, but was meerly overborn; ſo it recruits again, and what it could not prevent by withſtanding, it clears it ſelf of, by Repentance. The Godly ſorrow, bitter mourning, ſelf-abhorrence and mortification he applies to it, witneſſeth for him, 2 Cor. 7. 11. And this belongs to that Spiritual warfare, with which the Goſpel acquaints us.
7. That God, in the New Covenant, values us according to this New Nature. It is true, the Corruption within us, is Originally our own, and we have reaſon to bewail it as long as we Live… and it gives the Believer a world of grief and moleſtation. And when we neglect our Graces, and allow or nouriſh our Corruptions, God, as a Father is angry, and Corrects us for it: but however, God looks upon his People according to their Grace. This is the New-Creature, and they are judge ſuch who have it in them. And where there … this warfare againſt Corruption, and Grace exerciſed in Reſiſtance and Repentance, God is pleaſe… to accept of us; and though he Charge the oth… upon our Concupiſcence, and will Mortify it … us, yet he Chargeth it not ſo upon the perſon, … to put him out of his Favour for it. And on th… account it is, that Paul dares to put it off from himſelf to his Sin, Rom. 7. 16, 17.
8. Hence ſuch an one is, in a Goſpel eſteem… one in whom is no Guile. Who,
1. Hath been Regenerated by the Spirit … God, and ſo hath a principle of ſaving Grace … him. A Godly man, and one without Guile ſou… the ſame thing in Scripture language: he is therefore ſo called, Context, verſe 6. for by vertue … ſuch a ſaving change, the man comes to have … Right Spirit in him, as it is called, Pſal. 51. 10.
2. Hereupon he cordially and ſincerely propounds the Glory of God as his laſt end, in … whole courſe. Though he may miſs it in the application in many things, yet this is the general ſcope of his life, and he ſtudieth it daily; this is the great concern that lies upon him, 1 Cor. 10. 3. And this is the natural inclination of the new nature in us: for it was put into us to enable us to Glorify God, and hath therefore in it a tendency … the end it was Created for, and accordingly …rompts us hereunto.
3. Hence he abhors every thing in him that …raws to the contrary. He finds enough and too much in himſelf which is moleſting of him, and ſometimes wofully too hard for him; but he is …ieved at it, carries it about as his burden, and …ies out by reaſon of it; yea he is vile in his …wn eyes on this account, as he, Job 41. 5. accounts it his miſery, that he is ſo unhappily chained to it.
4. Hereupon he lives in the practice of the mortification of this deceitfulneſs. As he doth not allow it, ſo he cannot be quiet for it, but ſeeks to have it deſtroyed. We are commanded to mortify the luſts in us, Col. 3. 5. and he makes it his …uſineſs to do ſo, he fights againſt it, he brings it to the Croſs of Chriſt to be crucified, he prays …rd againſt it, Pſal. 119. 29. he hates it, v. 128. Such an one, in Gods gracious account is one in whoſe Spirit is no Guile.
2. Whether this have any influence into our pardon, … Juſtification?
A. There is occaſion to make this enquiry here, becauſe the diſputes about it, which began from the firſt planting of the Churches by the Apoſtles, are not yet at an end; nor do Papiſts only continue to maintain their Doctrine of merit, and the confounding of Juſtification with Sanctification, but there are others, who call themſelves Proteſtants, and are not willing to be counted Arminian neither; who go about to depreciate the fre… Grace of God in pardoning and juſtifying of us who, whiles they aſcribe all to Chriſt as the meritorious cauſe, yet find the matter of our Juſtification in us, which they would have to be o… Sanctification, and New Obedience, our faith and Repentance, and Holineſs: and they make the… not only neceſſarily concomitant, but an eſſent… part of our Juſtification. Give me leave then … clear up this matter, and ſhew the miſtake of ſuch an opinion in the following Concluſions.
1. That Juſtification and Sanctification are t… diſtinct benefits flowing to us from Chriſt. However vain men have confounded them, yet … Scripture ſpeaks of them as divers priviledges o… from the other, ſo 1 Cor. 1. 30. Chriſt indeed … made both Righteouſneſs and Sanctification to us, b… they are two things, and applied to us after … different manner. We are Juſtified relatively; … are Sanctified really; we are Juſtified by Imputa… on, we are Sanctified by Infuſion; Juſtification is … Garment thrown over us, Sanctification is by a new principle put into us; Juſtification is a Change in … ſtate, Sanctification is a Change in our nature; … the one we are made legally innocent, in the oth… we are made inherently holy; hence the one … ſaid to be an Act, and the other is called a Wo… by our Divines: becauſe the one paſſeth upon us Declaratively; whereas the other operates in us Effectually.
2. That both of theſe derive to us from the ſame fountain of free grace. Mans whole Salvation doth ſo, Eph. 2. 8. and both of theſe do appertain to it; that Juſtification is a fruit of meer Grace, we are plainly aſſured, Rom. 3. 24. And hence pardon is to be ſought of God, or for his own name ſake, Pſal. 25. 11. And our Sanctification hath the ſame original too, for it is a product of his meer good pleaſure, Jam. 1. 18. Grace therefore, which is the ſame thing, is given of God, Pſal. 84. 11. God ows neither of them to us, we have no way obliged him to beſtow them upon us rather than others. We have nothing but Sin, and Guilt, and pollution cleaving to us in our natural ſtate, when God comes to pardon and purifie us; quickning is beſtowed on them that were the Children of wrath, Eph. 2. 1, 3. How then ſhould our Sanctification, or being without Guile, poſſibly contribute any thing to our Juſtification or Pardon?
3. That they are both of them applied together in or upon our Effectual Vocation. They are contemporaries: for though Divines do allow them an order in the handling of them, and an order of nature, and accordingly give the priority to Juſtification; yet there is no diſtance of time between the one and the other, by their acknowledgment; and they are reckoned as benefits joyntly flowing from our Effectual Calling; and indeed it is in Regeneration, that we pa… from death to life; there it is that we are quickned… and there is a double life that we paſs to, according to the double death that paſt upon us: we were dead in the Law, by the Condemnation denounced on us, but now we are made to live by a pardon, in which we are Juſtified; and we we… dead in treſpaſſes and ſins, ſpiritually, and now w… are made to live to Holineſs by a new inſpiration … and if we are no ſooner Sanctified than Juſtified how can our Sanctification afford any matter for our Juſtification?
4. That becauſe pardon belongs to Juſtification… hence it muſt needs have a reſpect to a Righteouſneſs from whence it proceeds. We have already taken notice of the difference between mens pardoning a Criminal, and Gods forgiving a Sinner: their pardon is not a Juſtification, … his is; theirs proceeds from meer mercy, his from mercy tempered with Juſtice; theirs is entirely prerogative, but his hath a reſpect to a Law … which he muſt be juſt in it, Rom. 3. 26. and th… refers not to his Soveraign Justice barely, which … nothing elſe but his Supremacy, but his Relative Juſtice, as he is Law giver, and hath conſtitute… a way of procedure with his Creature. In th… therefore there muſt be a Righteouſneſs regard… by him, to which he hath an eye in the very pardoning of the Sinner, and that Righteouſneſs muſt be ſuch as will anſwer it, ſo that mercy and truth may meet together, &c. Pſal. 85. 10.
5. That this Righteouſneſs can be no other b… that perfect Righteouſneſs which was required in the Covenant of Works. God did in the Firſt Covenant, that was made with man in our firſt Parents, conſtitute the Rule of Righteouſneſs between him and man; and to that Rule it was that the promiſes and threatnings were annexed; and hence the procedure of Gods Relative Juſtice with man, muſt be according to the tenour of that; when therefore God comes to pardon and juſtifie a Sinner, that is the Righteouſneſs he proceeds upon: the queſtion is, may this be done, and the honour of the Law be ſalved? and the reſolution of it is, that if there be a Righteouſneſs to be preſented for the perſon, that will fully anſwer the demand of the Law, and may be accepted as his, there will be no injury done to the Law; but if not, it will ſuffer by it. If it bate but a jot or tittle, it is ſo far a loſer, and for that reaſon our Saviour aſſures us that it ſhall not, Mat. 5. 18.
6. That the moſt eminent ſincerity of the Children of God, doth not amount to ſuch a Righteouſneſs. And if this be ſo, here is reaſon enough to deny it to be the meritorious or material cauſe of pardon and Juſtification; for, if it were perfect, it could not merit for us a pardon, becauſe we owe it: but if it be imperfect, it cannot be reputed a Righteouſneſs at all, with reſpect to the Law-Covenant. It is certain, that the Righteouſneſs which that required was ſuch as is without the leaſt flaw or defect, and we ſee how ſtraitly man was obliged, if he hoped to Eſcape the Curſe of it, Gal. 3. 10. One failure ſpoils it, and makes it become Unrighteouſneſs. Now all our Sanctification at preſent is imperfect, and hath mixtures of Sinful defilement adhering to it. It is a Ragged thing, Iſa. 64. 6. Jam. 5. 2. When we are moſt without Guile, there is a mixture of Guile; ſo that the holieſt o… men have dreaded, and deprecated a rigorous Law procedure with them, as knowing that they could not ſtand it, Pſal. 130. 3. & 143. 2. It is an act of Gods rich Grace to accept of the beſt and moſt ſincere duties that we do; and if there were n… a Christ in whom they are accepted, it would not be… there is a pardon that muſt be continued and applyed to them, elſe we had no hope: the Defilement of the Holy things of Gods Iſrael muſt be expiated.
7 That the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt doth alone anſwer this. This doth, and none elſe can: this is the Righteouſneſs of God, viz. of Gods providing… and of him who was God; it was perfect in … ſelf, it anſwered all the Laws demands, it complied with both the Sanctions of it, it gave the Juſtice of God the greateſt ſatisfaction that could be: he did all that the Law required, and ſuffered all which that threatned in caſe of ſin: it was ſuch a righteouſneſs as no other but the Son of God in our nature could offer; and hence our pardon can be influenced by no other but this, nor can the matter of our Juſtification be any thing elſe, becauſe nothing elſe can ſtand for us.
8. That the Commendation and Reward which Chriſt will give to the Holineſs of his people at the Great Day, belongs not to their Juſtification, but their Glorification. There will be ſuch a thing, Math. 25. 34. &c. But all this is done after their Juſtification, and when they are in a ſtate of Grace and Favour, and under the priviledges and promiſes of the New Covenant. Now, in that New Covenant, although there be no worthineſs in us, and all our duties are but our duty, and we Unprofitable, Luk. 17. 10. Yet our Father, who by his Spirit worketh our works in us, and giveth us the Grace to Live without Guile, and to Serve him in uprightneſs of Heart, accepts of his own works in us, gives us the Commendation of them, and beſtows a reward upon us, to let us know, that our labour hath not been in vain; yet it is not a reward of Debt, …ut of Grace. Hence that obſervable difference, Rom. 6. 23. The wages of Sin is Death, but the gift of God is Eternal Life, through Jeſus Chriſt our Lord: But this and ſuch like Scriptures are abuſively applyed to our Juſtification: for that proceeds according to the Rule ſet down by God in his Law, being anſwered by a Surety for us; whereas Glorification is another thing, and is beſtowed on ſuch as were before Pardoned and Sanctified, and made meet for the inheritance, Rom. 8. 30.
3. What evidence our being without Guile giveth, … confirm us in the belief and knowledge of our being …ardoned or Juſtifyed?
A. That Juſtification and Sanctification are …ynt benefits flowing from Effectual Vocation, hath been already obſerved: Hence that which gives evidence to our calling, will do ſo to all the fruits that derive from it; for Chriſt and his benefits go together, and in our calling the Covenant is made between him and us, and we are united to him, and he becometh ours; and … Juſtification, Adoption, &c. are ours. Now one way to know our calling, is by the things that accompany Salvation, Heb. 6. 9. i. e. By the fruits, i… us that infallibly follow upon true Converſion… and thoſe fruits that are evidential are ſpecially to be ſought for in Sanctification. For, though Juſtification and Adoption are benefits beſtowed immediately upon Vocation, yet, being Relative… they are not ſelf evidential, but muſt be proved by ſomething that is inherent in us. It is true, in Juſtification we are at Peace with God, Rom. 5. … And thence flows peace in our own Conſcience… but there is a falſe peace that ſome pleaſe themſelves withal; and we muſt therefore ſeek … that which will witneſs ours to be true, for which we muſt look further. And in our Adoption … Receive the Spirit of Adoption, enabling us to call God Father, Rom. 8. 15. But yet there are thoſe who pretend to this, and are indeed of their Father t… Devil, Joh. 8. 43, 44. We muſt therefore enqui… whether it be indeed the Spirit of God that be… eth witneſs in us; and for this alſo we muſt … ſomething in us to evidence it; and where ſhould we ſeek for this but in our Sanctification? For … for our Glorification, that is a reſultancy from th… three former, and we muſt by them be eſtabliſh… in a firm belief and comfortable expectation of it; and if the proof of the two former muſt be by our Sanctification, the clearing up of this muſt be ſo too, Heb. 12. 14. Holineſs, without which no man ſhall ſee God. As therefore the beſt way to make it appear to the charitable perſwaſion of others, that we are in a good and ſafe ſtate, is by an Holy Converſation, and without Guile; ſo the Apoſtle argues, 1 Theſ. 1. 4, 5. 2 Theſ. 1. 3. So it is a neceſſary Medium by which we may know our ſelves to be ſo, to be able to find in our ſelves ſuch things as evidence that we are really ſuch as we ſeem to be. The Evidence then of our Pardoned State from our being without Guile, ariſeth from the inſeparable connexion there is between theſe two: and hence it amounts to an infallible Demonſtration. So that if the premiſes be true, the concluſion muſt needs follow. Now the Connexion in the firſt Propoſition is the ſtrongeſt that can be; form it which way we will, and it …bides true, and reciprocally ſo. Now the ground of the certainty of this Connexion will be made clear in the following Concluſions.
1. All thoſe, and none but thoſe that are Converted are forgiven. Converſion is the firſt ſaving gift that God beſtows on any of the Children of men; this is the primary deſign of the Goſpel Diſpenſations, Acts 26. 18. When God comes to purſue his Eternal Purpoſe to any one, he then Converts him, Jer. 31. 3. In which Converſion …e gives men Faith and Repentance, and then a Pardon; Acts 5. 31. It is in Converſion that a quickning principle is put into men, and before that they are Dead, Eph. 2. 1. Dead legally, and dead ſpiritually: but as ſoon as that comes in, they are now Alive to God; unto which life this pardon doth appertain; and as this priviledge is entailed on Converſion, ſo it is reſtrained to it, and no impenitent Sinners partake in it, they are in a ſtate of Condemnation, Mat. 18. 3. Joh. 3. 36.
2. In this Converſion, in and with which forgiveneſs is applied, there is wrought an univerſal Change in the man. When God Converts a Sinner, by turning him from his ſin to himſelf, he doth it not by force or violent conſtraint, but cauſeth him to be ſpontaneous in it, Pſal. 110. … Now the will of the natural man, is in it ſelf violently and unperſwadably ſet againſt this turning to God, being a lump of Enmity, Rom. 8. 7. Th… then it may be drawn to conſent, it muſt have … New principle put into it; and becauſe the Will … a power in a cauſe by counſel, it requires that the Underſtanding be alſo rectified, which is filled with crooked principles, Call good evil, &c. and cannot do other ſo long as it remains in its carnality… Iſa. 44 20. The New Convert is therefore ſa… to be a New Creature, and all in him to be New… 2 Cor. 5. 17. And what is it wherein this change conſiſts, whereby he is new made, but thoſe ſanctifying graces that are infuſed into him, and diſfuſed through the whole man? Eph. 4. 24. Such a diſcovery then muſt needs witneſs to the ma… that he is pardoned, becauſe it witneſſeth the Converſion that is an inſeparable companion of forgiveneſs.
3. God, deſigning his own Glory in forgiving the Sinner, doth it in ſuch a way, as may be in all reſpects anſwerable. Gods laſt end in all his works is his own Glory; that there are deſigns of love and good will to the Creature in many of theſe works, is beyond queſtion; but theſe are ſubordinated, and ever refer to that as their higheſt aim, and are accordingly ſo regulated as to advance it in the accompliſhment of them: So that though God intends the Sinners Salvation when he Juſtifieth him, and therefore together with forgiveneſs, he entituleth him to the Kingdom; yet there are ſeveral Attributes that are concerned in this affair, every of which muſt have its luſtre herein: and as his rich grace and mercy are in this exalted gloriouſly; and as his Juſtice muſt be ſecured from wrong, yea and triumph in it; ſo there is his Holineſs here to be diſplayed, for God will be Holy in all his doings, Pſal. 145. 17. Now the Holineſs of God hath a ſpecial concern here, in the manifeſtation of the hatred he bears to ſin, notwithſtanding the love he bears to the perſon whom he pardons; and if God ſhould forgive the Sinner, and yet not take away his Guile, or purge him from his ſin, and overturn the Dominion of it, he would ſeem not only to love the perſon, but approve of his iniquity, contrary to, Hab. 1. 13. On this account, wicked men, who for the preſent eſcape puniſhment think ſo, Pſal. 50. 21. And therefore to vindicate his holineſs, wherever he pardons ſin, he ſubdues it: they go together, Mic. 7. 19.
4. Pardon of Sin is a New-Covenant Bleſſing, in which there is a perfect Reconciliation made between God and the perſon forgiven. God often ſpeaks of a Covenant that he will make with his people, and we are told what are the benefits of it, Iſa. 55. 3. The ſure mercies of David; i. e. all the good that Chriſt hath purchaſed for them, whereof this is one, and is expreſly mentioned, Jer. 31. 33, 34. Now ſin had made a breach between God and us; and when God forgives and Juſtifies the Sinner, he thereby ſignifieth that he is atoned; and the Reconciliation is mutual, 2 Cor. 5. 19, 20. And there is no proſpect of a Reconciliation, either on Gods part, or the Sinners, ſo long as ſin remaineth in its power, and he is not Sanctified; this is the abominable thing that he beteth, Jer. 44. 4. It is that which made the Separation, Iſa. 59. 2. How then ſhould he hold amity with one that hath nothing elſe in him? Pſal. 5. 4, 5. It is ſin that hath filled the Carnal mind with enmity, Rom. 8. 7. Till then he is Sanctified, and his Guile ſubdued, he cannot poſſibly be reconciled to God, and ſo the New-Covenant cannot be plighted, without which he is not forgiven.
5. Jeſus Chriſt Redeemed us for his Service. Forgiveneſs of ſin is a fruit of Chriſt's purchaſe, he Bought it for us, 1 Tim. 2. 6. And in the Application of a pardon, the Redemption of Chriſt is applied to us; and where any one part of it is applied, the whole is ſo; for Chriſt cannot loſe any part of the deſign of this great work; and we are aſſured that he Sought in it a people to Serve him, which is promiſed to him as a fruit of it, Pſal. 22. 30. We are therefore told that it was for this, Tit. 2. 14. And his people are ſaid to be Redeemed from their Iniquities, Pſal. 130. 8. And from their vain Converſation, 1 Pet. 1. 18. And the ſtrongeſt argument to oblige us to Holineſs is fetcht from this conſideration, 1 Cor. 6. 19, 20. Now as long as Sin reigns in the man he is the Servant of Sin, during which he cannot Serve the Lord Chriſt: he muſt then be made free from it in order to his attaining this end, Rom. 6. compare verſe 20. with 22. It is ſincere Service, and without Guile that he expects, and by which he is honoured: and becauſe Chriſt will have Service from every pardoned one, he with his pardon, puts into him a new principle, which makes him upright.
6. Pardon or Juſtification is in order to Glorification. They are Connected, Rom. 8. 30. So long as the Law Sentence of Death was out againſt them, they were incapable in that ſtate of being Glorified: when God taketh off the Sentence, it is always in order to the making them happy for ever: and therefore it muſt needs be followed with the Making them meet for that Glorious ſtate, which cannot be enjoyed by any of the Children of men, ſo long as they have a Spirit full of Guile. The natural man cannot be entertained in the ſpotleſs Kingdom; nor can he reſent the happineſs either of the Place, or Company, or employment in it, except he be made Holy; all being accommodated to happify no other. That then God may accompliſh this deſign of his, he Sanctifyeth them together with Juſtifying of them Chriſt had an eye to this, Eph. 5. 25, 26, 27. From all theſe Conſiderations, we ſee how evidential this being without Guile, is of our being pardoned; and how neceſſary it is for us to be able to argue this from that, if we would not be miſtaken in our hopes and aſſurances.
USE I. For INFORMATION, in two particulars.
1. Learn hence how vainly many pretend themſelves to be in a Pardoned state. How few indeed are there of thoſe that Live under the Goſpel, who do not preſume of this? whence elſe is the quietneſs, and confidence of the moſt, under all the aw… and awakning truths that ſound in their Ears from time to time? And yet if they were brought to the tryal of this one Character, how muſt they fall before it? And that not only in their own Conſciences, but in the Conſciences of others too, even after all the allowances, which a well regulated Charity may make, are afforded to them? And … is to be feared, that beſides thoſe that walk open faced, there are a great many of cloſe covered Hypocrites, whoſe own hearts would condemn them… if they would hear them ſpeak, how plauſibly ſo ever they carry it in appearance. And certainly if mens Lives are full of Guile, their Spirits are ſo too. He that is an Hypocrite in his Life, may well be preſumed to be ſo in his Heart, and how unprofitably doth ſuch an one pleaſe himſelf with expectation to be forgiven? Job 36. 13. But let all ſuch know that their hopes will ere-long prove as the Spiders web, and certainly periſh. Let me ſay to ſuch, if Piety be not a thing to be choſen, why do you pretend to it? And if it be, why do you no more but pretend to it? Think of this you that talk high of Religion, and yet lead a Licentious Life: You that ſtudy no more than to get mens good word, and to baffle your own Conſciences, that they may not lead you a wretched Life.
2. Learn hence one reaſon why ſo many Chriſtians are in the dark about their ſtate of forgiveneſs. How often do they complain that they are full of fears, and doubts, and hurries in their minds concerning themſelves; afraid they are not in Gods favour, that he hath not pardoned them? And whence is his diſtreſs and darkneſs? Far be it that I ſhould Condemn the Generation of the just; I know that God acts a great deal of his Sovereignty here: they are not all Hypocrites that are in ſuch a condition, Iſa. 53. 10. How ever, it is to be feared that too many give ſad occaſion for this by their own folly, and provoke God thus to withdraw the light of his Countenance from them, whiles they take too tittle heed to themſelves, and keep not a ſtrict watch over the deceitfulneſs that remains in their hearts, but ſuffer themſelves to be trapanned by … into carriages that are deceitful. Was it not thus with the Spouſe? Cant. 5. begin. And upon it her beloved Withdraws from her. And when Gods Children turn Lawful Liberty into Licentiouſneſs comply with the humours, modes, and cuſtoms of a vain world, upon pretence of Civility; whe… they grow formal and ſlightly in the performance of Spiritual duties, and admit of carnal pretence to intermit them, &c. They do in theſe things gratify the Guile of their worſer part, and if God upon it witholds the witneſs of his Love, and darkens the evidence of it, it is a Righteous diſpenſation; and did they more carefully maintain an awful fear of God in their hearts, it would not ſo frequently be ſo, Pſal. 25. 24.
USE II. Let it then be for EXAMINATION and this is the very deſign of the Text, it being laid down to give the Character of a pardoned man. Let us then prove our ſtate by this; are we ſuch … whoſe Spirit is no Guile? To excite us to this Conſider;
1. It it of unſpeakable moment for us to know whether we are Pardoned or no. This diſcovery wi… give us light to know whether we are happy … miſerable: If our Sins are pardoned, then are we Delivered from our Judge, then are we At Pea… with God, then our own Conſciences have the foundation of Peace in them: If forgiven then Juſtified, then are we found Righteous, and ſhall be adjudged to Eternal Life, then out of danger of all our Accuſers, and we ſhall be able to ſtand … the Judgment; and what a Bleſſedneſs is this… But if we are not forgiven, then we are Condemn already, and the wrath of God abides on us; we have him for our Enemy, and all the Curſes in his book are out againſt us, and purſuing of us to Everlaſting Deſtruction, and is not this a Miſery indeed? What caſe then can there be, that calls more loudly for a through reſolution of it? You know that in your natural ſtate you are Guilty and Condemned, and till you are pardoned, your own Conſciences muſt ſay that you abide under the Sentence; and what quiet or comfort can you have whiles it is ſo? Can you but go in a fearful Expectation of the wrath of God to fall upon and devour you?
2. This is a thing that may be known: it is a caſe whereof a reſolution is to be obtained. God hath not left us neceſſarily in the dark upon this account, but, as he hath given us Directions in his word how to come by a pardon, ſo he hath there afforded us Rules by which we may prove our Title to it. And, though our comfortable perſwaſion of it, depends on the witneſs of his Spirit with ours, yet the evidence of it is to be ſought for and found in our ſelves. There are thoſe things which accompany it, that are diſtinguiſhable from all other things, and unto which the promiſe is firmly made, which when the Spirit hath wrought in us, he thereby leaves a pledge of his Everlaſting Love, from whence we may argue ſafely that we are pardoned, and ſhall be Saved. God therefore bids us to Try … ſelves, 2 Cor. 13. 5.
3. This is given for one Evidence by which to prove …. If we have the Grace in our Hearts which renders us Sincere, if we have indeed made choiſe of Chriſt, and him alone, to be our Lord and Saviour, and have heartily embraced and devoted our ſelves to his Service; if we are Upright in our Profeſſion, it will be an undeceiving witneſs of a pardoned ſtate. When God giveth a New Heart, he alſo giveth a Sentence of Abſolution: Repentance and Remiſſion go together, Act. 5. 31.
4. If there be Guile in our Spirits we cannot hide it from Gods All ſeeing Eye. If we have dealt Hypocritically in our Profeſſion, and made a pretence of chuſing God to be our God, and devoting our ſelves to his Service; a ſhew of Repentance and turning from our Sins, of Faith in embracing Chriſt, entring into Covenant with him, and mean while Our heart is not right with him; He is not mocked, there is no blinding of him, and he will find … out; our Guile will never hurt him, but it will turn upon our own heads. We may deceive others, and our ſelves too, but not God. Let … then be ſerious and earneſt in this matter: and … Rules of Tryal,
1. Were you ever convinced of your natural Guileful Spirit? We all bring ſuch an one with us into the World, Pſal. 58. 4. And the Spirit of God, in the work of Converſion, makes men to ſee and confeſs it. The Conviction of Sin, that is his work Joh. 16 8. Carries this in it. The Deceitfulneſs … mens Hearts is one of the Great diſcoveries th… God makes to them, when he comes to do the… good, Jer. 17. 9, 10. And indeed, men would never ſeek to be delivered from it, till they we… made to apprehend it in themſelves; and how few are ſo perſwaded? how many plead for themſelves, that they always ſcorned Hypocriſy, Cheating hath ever been odious to them, and they love plain dealing, and ſuch men never knew their own hearts: for, though there be ſuch a moral principle in ſome natural men, with reſpect to their words and carriages to others, yet towards God and their own Souls, every unconverted man, is a great cheat: and he that hath not found himſelf ſo, is yet under the Cheat.
2. Have you truly loathed your ſelves for it? Selfabhorrence is the genuine product of this diſcovery, in every one that is delivered from it. When God comes to ſhew men their Guile to a Saving purpoſe, he makes it to work in them unto deteſtation of themſelves; they are vile in their own eyes, Ezek. 36. 31. For, together with ſhewing them the thing, he …ets them ſee how odious it is in it ſelf, and how loathſome it hath rendred them.
3. Is it truly mortifyed in you? Mortification is one part of Sanctification; and though your Guile be not erradicated, yet if it be under the efficacy of this mortification, it is a good Evidence. And here,
1. Do you cordially mourn by reaſon of it? If the preſence of it grieves you, and you cannot ſee it without being in bitterneſs by reaſon of it, it ſpeaks well for you; this was Pauls witneſs for him, Rom. 7. 24. You bear it as an inſupportable burden, it wearies you, you long to be rid of it; Godly Sorrow is a concomitant of, or an ingredient in that Repentance that is not to be repented of, 2 Cor. 7. 10.
2 Do you maintain a War againſt it? Is it to you a deadly Enemy, and that which you are wreſtling with, fighting againſt continually? it makes many furious aſſaults upon you, and gains ſometimes very unhappily in you, but you do not ſubject your ſelves to it, but recruit again, and combat it. Do you find this Spirit in you Luſting againſt the fleſh, and all its deceits, and doing its utmoſt to deſtroy it?
3. Do you daily Repent of the eruptions of it? There are too awful breakings out of this Corruption of yours; you ſee it, and find it, but how do you reſent it? Do you ſay it is your infirmity, and you cannot avoid it, and make no more of it? that is an ill ſign: but if you are indeed … the work of Mortification, every diſcovery of … brings you upon your knees, fills you with bitterneſs, drives you to Repentance, and ſo the work goes on continually.
USE III. Let it be to Exhort the Children of God, to be more and more in the practice of ſuch … Spirit. Have you it in you? Endeavour that it may more powerfully influence your whole Converſation, that you may expreſs your ſincerity in all that you have to do with: And to move you, Conſider;
1. Hereby you will bring more honour to God. The upright plain dealing honeſty of Gods Children, in their converſe with men, is a credit to the name they profeſs, and the Religion they pretend to; God is Glorified by it: Whereas the deceitfulneſs and cunning tricks they uſe, are a reproach, and open the mouths of men; there is nothing in the world that more credits Chriſtianity, than this Godly ſimplicity.
2. It will give you more inward peace and comfort. … dare appeal to the experience of any of Gods Children; when you have ſtrained your Conſcience to ſome guilful trick, whether it have not left … prick there that hath put you to pain; and it is … it ſhould ſo do: Whereas whatever you meet with from the world, yet this will be an inward ſupport, and matter of Joy to you in the midſt of all; was it not ſo with Paul, 2 Cor. 1. 12.
3. It will give you more eſteem among all men. Not only will good men prize you for it, but the worſt of men will have an honourable reſpect for you on this account. One that is Guilful is low in the eſteem of all, but ſuch as would make a tool of him; whereas, ſincerity in Converſation, plainneſs in all a mans dealings, and a care to be upright in all things, commands reſpect from all that have any moral principle in them. And for direction here;
1. Labour to fortifie this principle in you. The way to quicken any exerciſe of grace, is to corroporate the principle. Grace at firſt is ſmall and weak, and the corruption that oppoſeth it is ſtrong; ſee then to the inward man, that that be encreaſing; and its influences into your life will hold a proportion. Get more of love to, and delight in ſincerity.
2. Watch your ſelves in your whole Converſation… You muſt look after your ſelves in all that you do… if you remit your ſpiritual watch, your deceitfu… heart will be too hard for you, and put a che… on you: and if you are deceived by them, y… will practiſe deceit: You muſt look to your way… leſt you be drawn aſide.
3. Eye all Temptations to deceit, and reſiſt the… Satan and ſubtile ſin, are very cunning in their offers, and will impoſe on you, if you be not w… ry. Be inquiſitive, bring all to the Trial, and … you diſcern any guile in it, or ſuſpicion of … ſtand off, and have nothing to do with it; … ſhall you, by Grace be kept from it.