The Truly Blessed Man, Part 3 · Section 2
Gods readineſs to forgive on Penitent Confeſſion.
DOCTRINE.
GOD is exceeding ready to Forgive the truly Penitent, upon their humble Confeſſion, how great …ever their Sins have been. The Pſalmiſt here …mmends God to us for one wonderfully prone … pardon penitent Sinners, upon his own very …rge experience. What this Confeſſion is hath …een already obſerved under the former Doctrine. Here therefore we may further Enquire.
1. What is implied in this forgiveneſs?
2. Wherein the readineſs of God to forgive is diſcovered?
3. What influence ſuch Confeſſion hath to the obtaining this forgiveneſs?
1. What is implied in this Forgiveneſs?
A. Forgiveneſs properly ſignifieth a free remiſſion of … offence, without any ſatisfaction made by the perſon … forgiven. For, when a man hath fully ſatisfied …t the injury, he hath bought his peace, and it …ould be injuſtice to purſue him for it afterwards: … Forgiveneſs is an act of free favour. Now this may be conſidered either in reſpect of perſonal wrongs between man and man, or with regard i… the Tranſgreſſion of a Law, wherein there is a penalty due in Juſtice, and the Judge is concerned in purſuing it: and this latter beſt reſembleth the caſe of a Sinner; and in this reſpect, ſatisfaction may be given to the Law, by the procurement of the Judge, that ſo Juſtice be not perverted, and yet a free pardon may upon it be given to the Offender, who did nothing to the procuring of that ſatisfaction; and ſuch is the caſe here. This Forgiveneſs then belongs to, and is one eſſential part of Juſtification; and therefore preſumeth ſuch a ſatisfaction made, and accepted by God, upon which, and in reſpect to which, he proceedeth to paſs an act of forgiveneſs upon the perſon who before ſtood Guilty: and it properly conſiſteth in a free and full diſcharging of him from the whole Condemnation of the Law, and putting him out of the danger of it: and hath theſe things contained in it.
1. He is ſuppoſed to be arraigned, tryed at Gods Bar, and there found Guilty, and Sentence of Death there paſt upon him for his ſin. All this in courſe goeth before, and maketh way for a pardon; and this the Spirit of God doth in the Conſcience when he Erecteth a Tribunal in Gods Name, and formally proceedeth: We read of our own heart condemning us, 1 Joh. 3. 20. And this is the firſt work of Conviction, aſcribed to the Spirit, Joh 1…. 8. without which the riches of Gods grace cannot be ſuitably apprehended, and acknowledged by the pardoned one.
2. Hereupon God, by an act of Soveraign Grace …evokes the Sentence. The man is firſt condemned, and then pardoned; and though God hath always an eye to the Propitiatary Sacrifice in it, by vertue of which he can be both juſt and merciful; yet in the application of it to the perſon, as he manifeſteth his Grace, ſo he acteth his Soveraignty, Rom. 9. 18. And here he diſannuls, and makes void the Sentence, in reſpect of the Sinners perſon, Job 33. 24.
3. By vertue of this act, the Sinner is made as free from the Condemnation of the Law, as if he had never tranſgreſſed it. Rom. 6. 14. He is delivered from his Judge, there is no more Condemnation, Chap. 8. 1. 33, 34. His Sin is ſunk into the depth of oblivion, and ſhall no more riſe up againſt him.
4. This act, being Forinſical, is entred on record to ſtand irrevocable. We read of Books to be Opened in the Great Day, out of which men are to be Judged, Rev. 20. 12. Now in theſe Books are Regiſtred all acts that have formerly paſt; not only the Sins of men, but all the Tranſactions between God and them; and ſo all the pardons that have paſt. So that in that Judgment, though it be found that all were Sinners, and Condemned, yet the pardons that have been given out, are filed, and will there be produced. Now there is a double record, or two Books wherein the act is written.
1. There are the Records of Heaven, or the Rolls of Eternity. And this is the firſt original authentick Regiſter of this forgiveneſs; and many times is paſt ſome while before the other: and is indeed nothing elſe but Gods gracious revoking the Sentence, and enrolling the man among the number of the pardoned; whereby, whether he know it or no, his ſtate is ſecured, and he is put out of the danger, whatſoever fear and terrors may perplex his mind about it.
2. There is the Record of Conſcience; which is the duplicate or tranſcript of the Original, ſigned, ſealed, and witneſſed by the Spirit of God in the Conſcience of the perſon. A Copy of his pardon thus ratified i… given to him, and he is made to read and believe it, as coming from God himſelf, and from whence reſulteth the Teſtimony of Conſcience, acquitting of us, 1 Joh. 3. 21. If our heart condemn us not; &c. i. e. acquits us on good grounds: Now this God giveth to the man when he ſees beſt: and this is more peculiarly aimed at in our Text, though not in ſeparation from the former: for without that, this is a deluſion, nor is there any ſafety in an acquitting Conſcience, ſo long as God condemneth us.
3. Wherein this readineſs in God to forgive is diſcovered?
A. Beſides that God hath proclaimed this in his Word, to belong to his great and glorious Name, as that wherein he delighteth to make himſelf known to the Children of men, Exod. 34. 6, 7. There is abundant demonſtration that he hath given for the confirmation of the truth of it.
1. In that any of the ſinful race of men have ever been forgiven. Such is the vile nature of Sin, ſo high is the affront that is offered to God by it; there is ſo much of malignity in the leaſt Sin, and ſo great an indignity done to the Declarative Glory of God by it, that if he had not an heart in him to pardon, there had no ſuch thing ever been heard of. One Sinner pardoned, though the leaſt that ever was in the world, is a Monument of Gods wonderful Grace, and proclaimeth him to be a forgiving God. One ſuch inſtance ſaith that there is forgiveneſs with him; for it muſt proceed from his own voluntary inclination, who found the Sinner to be his Enemy, and might juſtly have deſtroyed him for ever. To ſee a Sinner ſaved from hell, is a matter of juſt admiration, to all ſuch as ever were acquainted with the nature of Sin, and what it hath made men to be.
2. In the way which he hath contrived to bring about the forgiveneſs of Sinners. The right conſideration of this, will ſhew us how deeply Gods heart was engaged for it in the days of Eternity, and how unchangeably it is fixed on it, in as much as he laid it out before time, and purſued it to effect in the fulneſs of time; and truly this is that which hath ſurprized the Holy Angels themſelves with aſtoniſhing wonder, and they ſtill gaze upon it with greateſt admiration; the Pſalmiſt obſerveth, Pſal. 130. 4. With thee there is forgiveneſs; but how comes it to be with him? how came he to have a ſtock of pardoning mercy laid up by him? It is true, nothing is more free than forgiveneſs, it cannot be bought by, but muſt be given to the Subject: but there muſt a door be opened for the extending of this; though God is prone to pardon, Pſal. 86. 5. Yet there was that which lay in the way of it, which muſt be removed, elſe there could have been no application of it; the Juſtice of God which was concerned in, and by which the Firſt Covenant was ratified, had righteouſly doomed man to dy for ſin, and the truth of God had declared that he would ſtand by his own Law; yea, and his Holineſs, by which he is bound for his own Glory, would not admit that that Covenant ſhould be baulked, Mat. 5. 18. How then ſhall the Sentence be Executed, and yet the Sinner be pardoned? There was but one way in which this could be brought about, and that was by the interpoſition of the Eternal Son of God, undertaking to be ſubſtituted in the Sinners room, and to anſwer all the demands of the Law in his ſtead, that ſo Juſtice, being ſatisfied, might conſpire with Mercy in the Sinners Salvation, Pſal. 85. 10. In which affair the Son of God muſt become man, and be humbled to death, and bear all the weight of Divine Diſpleaſure, even all the penalties of ſin, Iſa. 53. 4, 5, 6. Nor was Salvation poſſibly to be had in any other way, Acts 4. 12. And yet ſuch was the kindneſs of God, that all this ſhould not obſtruct the matter, but he would rather make all wonders to meet in one, and not Spare his own Son, but give him for us, that ſo he might expreſs his kindneſs to us in pardoning out ſins. And what greater diſcovery of good will could there be?
3. In the free offers that he maketh of it to men. He hath not only made way for it, by the Obedience of his Son, who paid the price of our Redemption, but publiſhed it in the Goſpel, and tendered it to all that come within the ſound of that Proclamation: And there are two things that ſet forth his readineſs to apply this forgiveneſs to Sinners.
1. That he maketh offer of, and invites Sinners to accept it. He hath ordered that man be told that he hath forgiveneſs, and that they be bidden to come for it. He doth not wait till miſerable Sinners cry to him for it; which yet would be a rich favour, if ſo they might find it at his hands, but becauſe they ſought it not, nor ever would have done ſo, he ſends them an Embaſſy about it, Iſa. 65. 1. 2 Cor. 5. 20. And would he do ſo, did he not delight in pardoning?
2. That he offereth it freely. And if he did not do ſo, the Sinner muſt for ever go without it, for he had nothing to purchaſe it with. The Goſpel Invitations come as freely as can be ſuppoſed, Iſa. 55. 1. Rev. 22. 17. If it be here objected; you teach that there are Goſpel Conditions on which it is only to be had; how then can it be ſaid to be free? it may readily be replied; there are no other Conditions required in the Goſpel, but what among men are required in order to receiving and being inveſted with the freeſt gift that can be: there is nothing but acceptance of this gift, and acknowledgment of the kindneſs of the beſtower; faith is the hand that receiveth it, whereas unbelief puts it away; and is it not meet that he who would have the benefit of a gift, do accept of it? or doth ſuch acceptance derogate from the grace of the Giver? and what is our Obedience, but our thankfulneſs to God for ſo unſpeakable a gift? and ſhall any ſay the gift was not free, be cauſe I was thankful for it? the Sinner was worthy of death, and deſerved no pardon, and yet he may have it for receiving, and is not God willing?
4. In the urgent entreaties he uſeth with men to accept of this forgiveneſs. He not only offers it, but pleads and is very urgent and importunate with them, as if it were a kindneſs done him to take it of him, as well as to them in their having it; he uſeth all ſorts of arguments to perſwade them by; he tells them what need they ſtand in of it, that their eternal welfare depend upon it, that they are condemned and going to Execution, and muſt need periſh, if they be not pardoned, and therefore how much they will ſtand in their own light, and be guilty of their own blood if they refuſe it, Ezek. 33. 11. He acquaints them how much it coſt his own Son to purchaſe it, elſe they had been hopeleſs; and hence how great an affront it will be to all that kindneſs of his, to deſpiſe it: It will be to trample on the precious blood, and to make their eſcape deſperate, Heb. 2. 3. He urgeth on them the conſideration of the vanity of all other objects, and courſes from ſaving them from the Wrath to come, and that theſe refuges of lies will leave them naked and expoſed to Gods Indignation: he telleth them how acceptable it will be to him, if they take hold of this offer, and make their peace with him, and how much his grace will be illuſtrated thereby: he puts them in mind how gracious and merciful he is, Jer. 3. 13 Obviates all the diſcouragements that Satan and a miſgiving heart offer to throw in the way to make them deſpair of obtaining pardon: and he doth all this with greateſt urgency, beſeeching them to be reconciled, 2 Cor. 5. 20.
5. In the vaſt extent of this offer, and the application of it. And here we may obſerve.
1. The univerſality of the offer, with the great number of thoſe that are made to partake in it. The Proclamation is to all of what ſort ſoever, that come within the call, it is unlimited, Iſa. 55. 1. Rev. 22. 17. None are excepted but ſuch as will debar themſelves, nor any exempted, but thoſe that have Sinned againſt the Holy Ghost; and they are ſuch as have not only willingly, but ſpitefully rejected a Saviour, after great illumination, and open profeſſion; and they have not been a few, but a multitude that have been made to taſte and experience the efficacy of it; that have been pardoned, and all their iniquities are forgiven them; even all that have cordially accepted the offer, none excepted; and that there are no more, is becauſe they would not, Joh. 5. 40.
2. The quality of ſuch as have been invited and accepted: this Call hath been extended,
1. To Chief Sinners. Paul is a witneſs for this, 1 Tim. 1. 15. And he tells us what he had been, verſe 13. And let Manaſſeh ſtand forth on this account, what a monſter of Sin he was, ſee 2 Chron. 33. begin. Yet he obtained mercy and pardon upon his ſeeking God, and humbling himſelf before him.
2. To the greateſt of Sins. This is conſequent on the former, yet hath its peculiar remarks. Look no farther than the inſtance of David: how grievous were his Sins which he perpetrated in his Murder and Adultery? and this is ſuppoſed to be the very …ſe on which he makes this precious remark in our Text. And were not Manaſſeh's Sins alſo of the biggeſt ſize, and yet were forgiven him.
3. To thoſe that have abuſed his beſt and greateſt favours. Guilt is highly aggravated by Sinning againſt ſtrong obligations laid on men by God to Serve him; when he hath done for them, as Hoſ. 11. 3. When he hath taken them into Covenant with himſelf, and they have dealt falſely in it; and yet to ſuch is the offer made, Jer. 3. begin. and it is introduced with a mark of wonderment. We ſee how God by the Prophet expoſtulateth with David, 2 Sam. 12. 7, 8. And yet how readily is he forgiven? verſ. 13.
4. To thoſe that have lain long in Sin, and multiplied rebellion against him: That have been ſtiff, refractory, and refuſed to return; have ſtopt their ears at calls and counſels, and run on in their obſtinacy, Manaſſeh alſo was ſuch an one, 2 Chron. 33. 10. And let us well weig… that wonderful Text, Iſa. 43. 22, &c Verſe 25. Though they have tired him with their provocations.
6. In the great patience with which he waits on men, though they neglect theſe offers. When they bid him depart, and turn their backs upon him, he doth not preſently iſſue out the Oath againſt them, and ſay they ſhall never have another offer made them; no, but when they have been breaking of the treaty, he reneweth it again, he cometh afreſh, and tarrieth to ſee if it will not repent them. How long did he wait on the Old World, in the days of Noah? He tells us that he waits to be gracious, Iſa. 30. 18. And in this waiting he trieth all courſes with them, he uſeth fair and foul means, Promiſes, Threatnings, Mercies, Judgments, and all to ſee if their hard hearts may be wrought over to a compliance with his offers of grace, and when all means fail, he is at a ſtand, and deliberates what to do with them, Hoſ. 6. 4. And expreſſeth himſelf as one that can hardly find in his heart to execute the doubly deſerved Sentence of Wrath upon them, Hoſ. 11. 8.
7. In the grief which he expreſſeth, when men after all wilfully reject his tendered forgiveneſs. He ſpeaks after the manner of men, when he tells us of his Spirit being grieved at ſuch carriages, Pſal 95. 10. And what is this but a grief of compaſſion, extended to ſuch as are in miſery! he might juſtly be enraged at mens deſpiſing of ſuch favour offered them, and fall on them in his fury; and may in time be provoked to it by their obſtinacy; but how often doth he expreſs ſuch compaſſion, as Chriſt did, in Mat. 23. 37. Luke 19. 41, 42. And this ſhews how ill God takes it, when men refuſe him the glory of his Grace in forgiving them, by diſregarding it, when he comes and begs their entertainment of it.
8. In the wondrous efficacy of his power, prevailing over the greateſt obſtinacy of Sinners. And every pardoned Sinner is an inſtance of this; but for this, Gods forgiveneſs had never been exemplified. Such is the malignity and enmity of heart in all men naturally, that they would never give it entertainment, did not he work it in them by the efficacy of his Almighty Spirit; till then all means, the moſt urgent pleadings, the moſt convincing arguments, ſignifie nothing. When therefore all have been without ſucceſs, he himſelf hath come in and wrought this change, putting in them that new heart, that hath cloſed with his Calls; on this account, we have God himſelf, ſo expreſſing himſelf, Iſa. 57. 17, 18. Hoſ. 11. 9. When it hath come to a caſting voice, either he muſt turn them or ruine them, he hath taken this ſide; and when they were ready to be turned off for their wilfulneſs, he hath come to the very place of Execution, applied his grace to them, and made them to accept of him and his forgiveneſs.
9. In that none ever truly ſought it of him, that went away without it. Poſſibly he hath not preſently recorded it in their Conſciences, ſo as to give them the comfort of it; but he never ſpurned any away from the Throne of Grace, who in ſenſe of their miſery and unworthineſs did humbly ſupplicate him for it; they ſought his mercy and found it; Chriſt hath declared this plumply, Joh. 6. 37 And there never was an inſtance of ſo much as one that was defeated; the greateſt Prodigal, ſuch as he, Luke 15. If he hath come to himſelf, gone back to his Father, confeſſed his ſins and deſervings, and caſt himſelf upon his Soveraign Grace, hath found him ſo ready, that he hath met him a great way off, taken him into his arms, and given him all the Teſtimonies of his pardon.
3. What influence this confeſſion hath into that forgiveneſs for the obtaining of it?
A. 1. Negatively; it is neither the meritorious, nor the moving cauſe of Gods forgiving us.
1. It is not the meritorious cauſe of it. We have already obſerved that it is a free favour. It is indeed firſt merited for us, before we can partake in it; for it belongs to Juſtification: we are firſt ranſomed, and then pardoned; but our confeſſion hath no hand in this. It is through Chriſt's Blood that we obtain remiſſion, by his ſtripes we are healed, Iſa. 53. 5. Confeſſion carrieth no ſatisfaction in it, but is a legal and full proof of our Guilt; in it, we condemn our ſelves; it ſaith, as Dan. 9 8. To us belongs Confuſion; the Law left no room for a pardon upon acknowledgment; this is purely Evangelical.
2. Nor is it the moving cauſe of it. Among men indeed, a tender heart is moved by an ingenious confeſſion, and humble ſub…iſſion; and it makes, us to relent, and ſhew compaſſion to a delinquent; but though ſuch affections are aſcribed to God, yet it is after the manner of men, and warily to be underſtood: Affections are attributed to him in regard of the Effects which flow from his fixed and unalterable will Confeſſion is an adjunct of true Repentance, and God is the Author of that, as well as of the pardon, Acts 5. 31. To be able truly to confeſs Sin is his gift.
2. Poſitively; this Confeſſion belongs to the way in which God is wont to apply forgiveneſs to Sinners. God deſigned from Eternity to forgive them, but he hath laid out this Medium through which he will bring them to it. How God treats with Infants, is beyond our deciſion, but in regard of ſuch as are of years of underſtanding, and under the Goſpel, there are two things obſervable.
1. That God requires this Confeſſion of theſe that hope to obtain forgiveneſs of him. The influence therefore of one upon the other, is only as it is the way of Divine Appointment to obtain it; the promiſe ſo runs, Prov. 28. 13. And that clauſe is inſerted, Jer. 3. 13. Only acknowledge, &c. God will be ſought to for pardon, and there can be no asking forgiveneſs without acknowledging Guilt. Hence, though this be Gods gift as well as the other, yet it is whiles the Guilty Sinner is proſtrating himſelf at the foot ſtool of Mercy, taking ſhame to himſelf, that God comes and paſſeth the act of pardon upon him, Luk. 15. 17. In ſumme, where God giveth a Pardon, he gives Repentance, and where true Repentance is, there will be confeſſion: So we may ſafely conclude, that he who is not brought truly to confeſs hath not truly repented of his ſins: and if he be ſtill an impenitent, he is certainly an unpardoned man.
2. That this Confeſſion is the way to obtain the evidence or witneſs of our pardon. God is ſometimes ſaid to forgive, when he witneſſeth in us to his pardoning mercy; and the reaſon is, becauſe the man was before, in his own, apprehenſion unpardoned, though his ſtate were good. Now as it is uſual for God to come in and refreſh the heart, with telling it, its Sin is forgiven, whiles the bleeding Soul is bemoaning it ſelf, with moſt humble confeſſions to him; ſo there is matter of evidence in the confeſſion it ſelf, and when we can truly ſay we have ſo confeſſed, as before, we have the characte… of one that hath received this grace of God, and ſo is in a ſtate of forgiveneſs; whereas the want of this is juſt reaſon to make us call it in queſtion; at leaſt to think that ſin is not forgiven which is not thus confeſſed.
USE. I. For Caution; Take heed of abuſing this truth unto preſumption. It is a great policy of Satan, to hold men as long as he can in carnal ſecurity, unto which their own natural inclination leads them: and among other devices he hath to inſinuate into them by, this is one main engine that he uſeth with thoſe that live under the Goſpel, and enjoy the priviledges of it, to blow them up with falſe ſurmizes about God, and thence to draw ungrounded concluſions about their good eſtate, and arrogate to themſelves the things that belong not to them; let us then be warned to take heed to our ſelves, and there are many that need this warning, leſt they rue it for ever, viz.
1. All ſuch as reſolve their whole hope into the merciful nature of God, not ſeeking his favour in his own way. That God is merciful and gracious, is a great truth, and wo to us all if it were not ſo; had he not written his Name in ſuch Letters, we had all been without hope. But this precious truth may be abuſed, and it is ſo by all thoſe that have no other plea for Salvation, but becauſe God is merciful; his natural goodneſs, and his common love to his Creature is the only foundation on which they build, thence arguing that they cannot periſh, and hence enquire no farther, but reſt here, never asking how this mercy may be obtained, ſo as to obtain a deliverance from the Curſe fallen on them, or what are the terms of the New Covenant, on which God offers himſelf to be propitious to Sinners, and ſo never ſtudy a compliance with them, but count it enough that he is ſuch a God; this is derided in that Sarcaſm, Iſa. 27. 4. And this Spirit was in them, Joh. 8. 32. And if we may judge of mens hearts by their practices, this is the guiſe of all the looſe Profeſſors, that live careleſly, and yet confidently.
2. They that inſtead of confeſſing, do cover their ſins, and yet hope to do well enough. And how many are there of theſe? Such as ſeek to hide their Sins under excuſes, or to juſtifie themſelves by pleas and defences; or that little regard to practice Repentance upon their falling into ſin, but think it ſufficient, either to plead their infirmity, or ſlight it over with ſaying, we are all Sinners, and none without their faults, or a pretence that they allow it not in themſelves, though the fleſh be too hard for them, and hope that God will not charge it: thus they prevent their deep ſorrow, and taking to themſelves the due ſhame for their ſins; and think they are as good Chriſtians as any, and God will accept them as well as the beſt; ſurely this ſpeaks them preſumptuous.
3. They that encourage themſelves to ſin boldly on account of Gods mercy. Inſtead of being melted into Godly Sorrow, on conſideration that God is ſo good and gracious, which is the kindly effect of it in the hearts of the Godly, they are emboldned to ſin by it: Was there not ſuch a ſpirit in them? Jer. 7. 9, 10. and them, Pſal. 50. 21. And if we obſerve the great allowances that many under the Goſpel, give themſelves in their immoralities, and the great ſecurity and confidence which for all they nouriſh themſelves in, we ſhall diſcover them to be built on this rotten foundation; and if their tongues do not, their lives do plainly utter that, Rom. 6. 1. Let us continue in ſin that grace may abound; as if the kindneſs to man proclaimed in the Goſpel, were nothing elſe but an indulgence granted to the Children of men, to live in all manner of licenciouſneſs. Be we then warned to beware of thus abuſing this precious truth, in which God expreſſeth his rich mercy to ſinful men: And therefore. Conſider,
1. God is holy and juſt, as well as merciful. The Divine Perfections, as they are in God, are not ſeparate one from another, though to us they are diſtincly diſcovered, becauſe we cannot otherwiſe entertain the notion of them: there can therefore be no claſhing among them. Now there are other Attributes beſides Mercy and Grace, which God hath declared in his Word, and will diſplay in his Works; there is his Juſtice as well as his Mercy; and he will have Monuments of them both, Rom. 9 22, 23. And when he doth diſplay his mercy, it ſhall be agreeable with his Juſtice, Pſal. 85. 10. And there is Holineſs, which is celebrated in the diſplay of every other Attribute, Pſal. 99. ult. How vain is it then for any to lean the whole weight of their confidence for eternity, upon ſo weak a foundation as this? What though God is wonderfully rich in mercy? May he not appear ſo for ever in others, though you be never made ſharers of it? ſhall he not be admired in them that believe, though Unbelievers periſh for ever? may not you for all this be Veſſels of Wrath, and ſo be made foils of his mercy in others? Or do you think that God will ſtain his Holineſs, that he may magnifie his Grace? Be not deceived.
2. God will certainly forg…ve no Sinners but in his own way. Infinite Wiſdom hath contrived a way for the exalting free grace in the Salvation of Sinners, ſo as with it to give luſtre to his other Perfections: and herein he gives us to ſee his merciful nature, in that he hath found out, and brought about ſuch a way to do it in, and hath not ſpared for coſt in the effecting it: but for Sinners to expect it out of this way, is a great madneſs; it is enough, there is forgiveneſs with him, Pſal. 130. 4. And if we may in any way obtain it, we ſhall owe him the praiſe of it for ever; but ſtill God threatens ſuch as neglect this way, that there ſhall be no mercy for them, Iſa. 27. 11.
3. Hence there are none more like to be peculiar monuments of his Wrath, than ſuch as thus turn his Grace into wantonneſs. Though God hath a mind to ſhew compaſſion to Sinners, yet he never deſigned to ſhew any favour to Sin, but in this very way to let it be ſeen how odious it is to him. If he had indulged it in any, it had been in his own Son, when he took the imputation of it on him, being immaculate in himſelf; but he ſpared not him, Rom. 8. 32. And what do you other, than go about to make the Holy God a patron of ſin? as if he had found out a way to Save Sinners in their ſins, and encourage them to hold on a courſe of them: What can more derogate from his Glory? needs then muſt this expoſe you to his more exaſperated Wrath; See then what he hath to ſay to ſuch as you, Pſal. 50. 22. Oh take heed!
USE II. This Doctrine may farther be improved to quicken, encourage, and direct miſerable Sinners. As we ought not to be preſumptuous, ſo God duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page would not have us to deſpair, or be negligent: Hope is the incentive of endeavour; and the conſideration that we have ſuch a God to do with, may we… be improved by us all to theſe ends.
And here,
1. Let it quicken ſecure and confident Sinners … ſeek forgiveneſs at Gods hand. Let this good news rouſe you to ask a pardon, and not ſit ſtill. To move you, Conſider;
1. Your Sin hath deſtroyed you. This is true concerning all men in their natural ſtate, they are under the Curſe and Condemnation, and Stand guilty before God; all the world are ſo, Rom. 3. 19. Beware of thinking all well and ſafe; while the Law hath declared you men of death, and paſt the Sentence on you. Remember what a God you… have to do with, and how fearful a thing it is to fall into his hands.
2. Know that except God pardon you, you mu… needs periſh. There is but this one way to eſcape, miſs of that, and your caſe is hopeleſs; to think to make ſatisfaction to offended Juſtice by any Righteouſneſs of your own, or find a price to buy off the Sentence any where elſe, is vain. It muſt be an act of Grace, that only can give you a diſcharge from the Execution of the doom paſt upon you; without which Juſtice will make its demands, and purſue you, till it hath brought you under the whole weight of Gods Wrath, which will iſſue in your perdition.
3. There is a pardon to be had with God. This is the glad tidings that is publiſhed among a company of periſhing Sinners, and ought be counted …ortby of all acceptation, 1 Tim. 1. 15. It is one Letter of his Name, a God forgiving iniquity, tranſgreſſion and ſin, Exod. 34. 7. And why hath he proclaimed this, but to perſwade ſuch as want it, to …earken and make out after it? and who could have told man that it was poſſible that Juſtice ſhould conſiſt with forgiveneſs, if God himſelf had not revealed it?
4. There is no obtaining it but in this way. of Confeſſion. It is Gods will, and there is all reaſon for it, that men muſt part with their ſins, as they hope to have them forgiven: and if ever they part with them, they will confeſs them: or how ſhall we go to God for his forgiveneſs, but by carrying our ſins with us to have them forgiven? And in what way can we ſpread them before him, but in an hearty confeſſing of them? how ſhall God be Glorified by us, unleſs we acknowledge our deſert to have ſuffered his wrath …or our ſins? and what exception can Sinners make againſt this? if God ſhould require ſome great thing of you, would you think it too much, in order to eſcaping his wrath? What preten…lons did they make, Mic. 6. 6, 7. How much more then, when this is all, if you confeſs and forſake, you ſhall find mercy.
5. Be aſſured that he will not always ſit in this Office. The Throne of Grace which is now Erected, will ere long be removed: the Golden Scepter that is now Stretched out, will ſhortly be withdrawn; if now you ſlight the offers of a pardon, you will ere long ſeek one, and nor obtain it. God will hereby be incenſed; read how he declareth it, Prov. 1. 24. &c. Take heed of delaying; the Proclamation is out againſt you, Juſtice hath you in chaſe, if you make not haſt to the City of Refuge you will be overtaken. Now prevent it, leſt you mourn too late.
2: Let it be to encourage drooping and deſponding Sinners. When Satan can no longer cheriſh preſumption in men, but the Spirit awakens and puts them in fear, he now ſeeks to overwhelm them with fears, and put them out of hope; here then is a precious cordial for ſuch. For Encouragement. Conſider;
1. You have a gracious God to do withal, who delighteth in pardon. He is indeed holy and juſt, but be not diſheartened by that; he is for all that merciful, thoſe Attributes cannot hinder his being ſo: all that he hath done to make way for this forgiveneſs, ſtands to let us underſtand, how much his heart is in it. Would he ever have given his own Son to be made an offering for ſin, had he not taken pleaſure in exalting his pardoning grace among a company of ſinful Creatures?
2. He hath laid in enough for your pardon, whatſoever you have been. It may be the greatneſs of your ſins terrifie you, or the multitude of them, or your long continuing in them, and the many aggravations circumſtancing of them, which makes you think them to outbid a pardon; but know it, that becauſe God delighted in forgiveneſs, he provided for the glorifying of it, by laying it upon one mighty to ſave: and hence, in the Satisfaction made by Chriſt, there is ſufficient to anſwer all the demands of Juſtice, for the greateſt Sins and Sinners. Such are therefore encouraged, Iſa. 55. 7. There can be no wrong done to the Law of God; & abundance is added to the manifeſtation of his grace by this: there is therefore no room le…t for your doubting on this account: Nay you may make a plea of it, Pſal. 25. 11.
3. He urgently offereth this pardon to you. You may queſtion, but will God entertain me if I come to him for it? Will he not reject me? but if it were ſo, ſurely he would not ſend ſo many meſſages to you, uſe ſo many entreaties with you, to accept, and come up to the terms of forgive neſs: nor come himſelf by the ſecret addreſſes of his Spirit, moving on you in the means. God doth not diſſemble with men. It was once uſed as an argument of conſolation, Mark 10. 49. He calleth thee; and the ſame may be ſaid to you. What mean all thoſe pleadings in the Miniſtry? thoſe repeated Calls and Invitations? What intends this long continued patience uſed with you, notwithſtanding your unbelief and ſtanding off? Why ſhould you ſay, he meaneth not me? he himſelf hath invited, every one that thirſteth, and is weary; and if you are ſuch, you are ſpecified.
4. He is grieved at your unbelief and deſpondency. He takes it ill that troubled Sinners ſhould queſtion the truth of his proteſtations: that they ſhould rather credit Satans diſcouragements, than his invitations; that when their adverſary tells them, there is no hope, you have ſinned beyond a pardon, he ſhall be believed, and that when he himſelf tells them, he hath a pardon provided, and it ſhall be theirs upon acceptance, that he is a merciful God, and is willing to be reconciled, they ſhould ſuppoſe he meaneth not as he ſaith; this unbelief grieves his Holy Spirit, and you have grieved him …ough already.
5. He asks nothing of you to purchaſe this forgiveneſs. You are apt to ſay, What ſhall I bring? I have nothing, I can do nothing to procure it, and this diſheartens you, but without reaſon, for he knows your poverty, and ſo hath himſelf laid in for that: the work is already done; Juſtice is ſatisfied; the demands of the Law are anſwered, Jeſus Chriſt hath gone through that Province, and nothing is left to be done by you: he therefore expects that you come empty handed, Iſa. 55. 1 And if you think to bring any thing with you and lay in for it, it will be the ready way to be rejected: it is his Grace that he ſeeks to exalt in your forgiveneſs, and you muſt comp… with it.
6. Hence he only expects that you ſhould Confeſs. This is the great thing he ſtands upon, you humble and cordial acknowledgment, Jer. 3. 11 I know proud nature had rather to do ſomethin… elſe than come to this; but God will have … thus to teſtifie our Humiliation, and acknowledgment of his grace to us: if then you … heartily confeſs, he will readily forgive.
7. He counts himſelf Glorified by this Confeſſ… Joſh. 7. 19. And indeed by it we acknowledge our own merit, and his Righteouſneſs in the Sentence of Death paſt upon us, as he, Pſal. 51 4. By this we lay our ſelves down at-his fee…, and acknowledge that if ever he forgive us, it muſt be for his own name ſake, and ſo we aſcribe our pardon to him, and give him the praiſe of his grace.
3. Let it be to direct Sinners in this affair: how Confeſſion is rightly to be made, was opened under the former Doctrine: Only for our help in it, take theſe Rules.
1. Be duly affected with your Guilt. Till we rightly apprehend that, we ſhall never kindly confeſs our ſin; the want of this is the reaſon why ſome confeſs not at all, and others do it ſo ſlightly: whereas, when once the Soul is under the burden of this, and finds himſelf juſtly condemned, this will draw forth a free and full Confeſſion, Pſal. 51. 3.
2. Know your own impotency to remove this Guilt. This is the undoing of many a convinced Sinner, who finds himſelf under Condemnation, and not being humbled, but acted by a legal ſpirit, hopeth to make up all by a Righteouſneſs of his own, and ſo, inſtead of duly conſeſſing, falls to his Reformations, ſets upon abſtinence from ſin, and takes a task on him, to perform moral duties, hoping ſo to make up ill, and thus deceiveth himſelf. Know that you cannot do any thing to purchaſe Gods favour, Iſa. 64. 6.
3. Renounce all other hopes of pardon, but what must derive to you through the free Grace of God. If you expect it may come in any other way, it will ſpoil your Confeſſion: either it will prevent it, or make it a meer legal thing: it will loſe its direct end, which is to carry us off from every other bottom, to caſt our ſelves upon the meer mercy of God in Chriſt: and if we have our hope on any other thing, our pride will keep us from this. Reſolve then as, Hoſ 14. 3. Aſhur ſhall ſhall not ſave us, &c Conclude poſitively, if Grace ſave us not, we periſh for ever.
4. Be not afraid to confeſs your Sins, with all the aggravations. It is a fooliſh fear in ſome, leſt … they do aggravate their ſins, they ſhould thereby damp their Hopes: but it ariſeth from a gro… miſtake; there is an aggravation which Satan ſuggeſts, which will do it, to think that we have Sinned beyond the vertue of the atonement; bu… know it, there is vertue enough in Chriſt's Blood 1 Joh. 1. 7. And the greater you apprehend your ſins to be, the more will you be helped to admire the mercy that brings and applies a pardon to them; the more vile you make your ſelves, the more will Chriſt be exalted by you, when you come to taſte of his rich forgiveneſs.