The Plain Doctrine of the Justification of a Sinner in the Sight of God, Sermon 18
Remiſſion of Sins through Chriſts blood.
THE EIGHTEENTH SERMON
ON
Rom. 3.25.
Through Faith in his blood.
4 LET every true beleever know his duty, and the bounds of their comfort in this caſe, and this will bee opened by two ſorts of concluſions.
Queſt. 1 How far a true beleever that hath intereſt in Chriſt, and his ſins forgiven him, may charge his ſoul with ſin? This muſt bee cleared, that wee may avoid the Rocks that ſome Sectaries do claſh againſt, and I ſhall clear it in theſe Concluſions.
1 Every beleever is bound impartially to find out, by ſtrict examination of himſelf, the ſecret corruptions that are in his heart, or any ungodly practices that are in his Life and Converſation: yea, ſo as to judge himſelf for them, that the very leaſt of them, is ſufficient to bring Gods curſe on him, and the guilt of eternal condemnation; ſhould not the Lord of his free grace in Chriſt prevent it.
Every ſin in its own nature and power, doth and will procure guilt and condemnation to the ſoul, unleſs that Chriſt by the merit of his death doth free us from it. God called for this ſearching formerly, in times of the Churches calamities: Lam. 3.40. Hag. 1.5, 7. Thus ſaith the Lord, ſet your hearts upon your ways. Yea, this is commanded to every one that receives the Lords Supper, 1 Cor. 11.28, 31. Let a man examine himſelf, not onelyonly concerning his Faith, but alſo concerning his ſins. Yea, hee addes, that wee ſhould diſcern and judge our ſelves, which ſelf-judging is to proceed to ſelf condemnation. Ezek. 36.31. When God hath given his a new heart and ſpirit, then they ſhall remember their own evil waies and doings that were not good, and loathe themſelves in their ſight, or judge themſelves worthy to bee deſtroyed.
I ſay not that beleevers ſhould judge that they ſhall be condemned, but onelyonly that they are worthy to bee condemned.
2 Beleevers, notwithſtanding this forgiveneſs, ought to mourn for their ſins. Ezek. 7.16. They that eſcape ſhall every one mourn for their iniquities, like the doves in the vallies. Iſa. 59.11. We roar like Bears, & mourn like doves,—for our tranſgreſſions are multiplyed. So Peter having denyed his Lord, remembred the words of Jeſus, and went out and wept bitterly, Matth. 26.75. yea, this the Lord commands us, Jam. 4.8, 9. Bee afflicted, and mourn, and weep, and let your laughter bee turned into mourning. Sin pardoned is ſin, and calls for ſorrow; and ſorrow according to God, 2 Cor. 7.10.
3 Beleevers are bound (for all the forgiveneſs of ſin) to confeſs and acknowledge their iniquities; it is notable to this purpoſe, that was practiſed by Paul, even in his laſt daies, 1 Tim. 1.13.—15. where hee laies open his ſins of perſecution, and blaſphemy, hee calls himſelf the chiefeſt of ſinners, and therby hee ariſes to ſay, that the grace of God was exceeding abundant towards him, &c. This alſo the Lord requires of us, Jer. 3.13. OnelyOnly acknowledge thine iniquities, and 1 Joh. 1.9. If wee confeſſe our ſinnes, &c. as if hee ſhould ſay, that otherwiſe wee cannot lay claim to the promiſe of forgiveneſs. It is woful divinity of ſome in theſe times, that a Chriſtian ſhould not confeſs ſin.
4 Repentance, and that often renewed, for ſins frequently committed, is ſtill required, of the beſt beleevers, Ezek. 8.30. Thus ſaith the Lord, Repent, and turn your ſelves from all your tranſgreſſions, ſo iniquity ſhall not bee your ruine; and Chriſt ſaid to the Diſciples, Matth. 18.3. Except you bee converted and become as little Children, &c. The Diſciples themſelves have need to bee converted ſtill: So that Repentance is neceſſary to beleevers, by neceſſity of Precept, as it is alſo by neceſſity of Means to diſpoſe and quality, at leaſt, for the comfort of remiſſion: yea, no childe of God can have the comfort of pardon, before hee hath repented.
Object. But you will ſay, a true beleever hath pardon of his ſin, though hee hath not the comfort of it, without repentance: yea it is poſſible that a beleever ſinning may dye without repentance, and go to heaven, as David, lying ſo long in his great ſins, might have been taken away without repentance.
Anſ. It is poſſible, yet God uſually gives ſpace to repent to all beleevers, and Chriſt hath purchaſed repentance for thoſe that hee hath purchaſed remiſſion for, and gives them together. Repentance and Remiſſion go hand in hand together; hence ariſeth another neceſſity of repentance, viz. a neceſſity of intent and conſtitution, as an inſeparable evidence of faith and forgiveneſſe, and a determined means or condition of eſcaping death and damnation. Luke 13.1, 3. Mark. 1.15. Rev. 2.5. & 3.19. Eph. 6.7. Iſa. 1.16, 18. Jer. 36 3. Act. 26.18. Jer. 31.20. Heb. 10.22.
Oh! let us bee perſwaded, to maintain and increaſe repentance in our hearts, as long as wee live, not as though thereby wee can make God amends, or ſatisfy the juſtice of God by it, that is an ignorant and Popiſh conceit, nothing can ſatisfy, but the death of his Son, and his blood; but conſider that,
1 Chriſt hath commanded, that repentance and remiſſion of ſins ſhould in his Name be preached to all nations, Luk. 24.47. Thoſe things that are to bee preached together, are to bee received together. It is the foreign, the bitter ſweet of the Miniſtry, and muſt bee joyned, yea, mixed together as a moſt wholeſome confection. So the Paſſeover was to bee eaten with bitter hearbs. Chriſt alſo gives them together, Act. 5.31. and God hath exalted him for this end, Act. 5.31.
2 By our continued and unfeigned repentance wee ſhall have many, and ſingular benefits, as,
1 Hereby wee ſhall come to know experimentally the bitterneſs of ſin, as well as the ſweetneſſe of it. It is good to look upon ſin, as full of gall and wormwood, Jer. 2.19. See and know what evil and bitter thing it is, &c. Zach. 12.10. They ſhall bee in bitterneſs, as for a first born.
2 Thy repentance will cauſe thee to prize the pardon more, and to eſteem the grace of God in Chriſt much more. Hee that is throughly pained with ſickneſſe will highly eſteem the Phyſician; when Davids bones were broken, hee praies for multitude of tender mercies, Pſal. 51.1, 7, 8. and ſo it was with Paul, Rom 7.24.25. Our ſpiritual conflicts in the trouble of our Conſciences for ſin, make us to judge the better of the grace of Chriſt towards us; in his grievous agonies, when hee cries out, My God, my God, &c. and ſay with Paul, The grace of God was exceeding abundant, 1 Tim. 1.14.18.
3 Repentance is a grace, that plows up, and ſtirs the heart, fitting of it for the ſeed of the Word to take better root in it. Plow up the fallow ground, Jer. 4.3. and when this is plowed, and plowed deep, the ſeed is not ſo likely to bee choaked with thornes. Repentance will make a thriving and fruitful Chriſtian, under the means of grace; and one that ſhall have a plentiful and joyful harveſt. They that ſow in tears, ſhall reap in joy hee that goeth forth with weeping, bearing pretious ſeed, ſhall come again with rejoycing, bringing his ſheaves with him, Pſal. 126.5, 6.
4 Repentance breeds a patient frame of heart under Gods afflicting hand▪ Whereas otherwiſe at ſuch a time, the heart will be very unruly and outragious. Take David in his ſaddeſt time that hee under paſſed after his great ſins, when his heart was kindly broken, hee would juſtify God, Pſal. 51.4. and this is becauſe it makes us humble, and laies the heart low in conſideration of our great unworthineſſe of the leaſt mercy, and deſert of the greateſt judgements from Gods hands: and then what ever God threatens, yea, whatever he inflicts, the heart is quiet, ſilent, and patient, not in the leaſt repining againſt, but juſtifying of God in all his wayes.
5 Repentance makes the heart charitable, and pittiful to others that fall into ſin; and will keep us from rigour and pride, in cenſuring of them too ſeverely from the remembrance of our ſinful failings and frame of ſpirit, as Tit. 3.2, 3. Shew meekneſſe towards all men, for we our ſelves were ſometimes fooliſh, &c.
6 This repenting frame, is a Sin-mortifying frame of ſpirit. No grace carries on the work of mortification more in the heart than repentance, ſeeing it is continually weeding out, and plucking up the remainders of corruption in the heart. Sin no ſooner ſhews it ſelf, but a broken heart is repenting of it, and mourning for it; God hath placed this grace in a beleevers heart, to bee continually cleanſing out and throwing forth, the filth and dreggs of corruption, ſtill adhearing to the heart in this life; and hence it is that wee read after all the faylings of the moſt precious Servants of God, the wheel of repentance was ſtill turned over their ſins, though they were fully certified of pardon and forgiveneſſe.
Concl. 2. A beleever (whatſoever his faith is) had need be fervent and inſtant in prayer for the pardon of his ſin. This our Saviour taught his Diſciples in the rule of prayer, Matth. 6.12. and we are ſtill to doe it in theſe reſpects.
1 Becauſe our ſins are daily renewed, and wee had need have pardon renewed, and remiſſion afreſh applied unto us, as our ſins are renewed: therefore we had need continually be praying for this, that our ſins may be blotted out, when the times of refreſhing ſhall come, Act. 3.19.
2 That we may get faith and aſſurance of pardon, and forgiveneſſe. Worldly men would not only have outward Eſtates, Lands, and Poſſeſſions, but they ſeek to have aſſurance thereof. Now this aſſurance of pardon is not gotten ordinarily without much contention in prayer, Hab. 6.11. We deſire that every one of you doe ſhew the ſame diligence, to the full aſſurance, &c. It is much to bee lamented, that any Chriſtian ſhould content himſelf, with an opinion, or conjecture of forgiveneſſe, and ſo become no other than James calls them, chap. 1.3. Double-minded, men, unſtable in all their wayes. A double-minded man is ſuch a one as is alwayes queſtioning Gods grace in Chriſt unto him, and his intereſt in the Promiſes, whereby he is very unſtable, and here he contents himſelf, without indeavouring a ſtability of faith and aſſurance, to ſay with Job, I know my Redeemer liveth. Wee have need of a great increaſe of faith, and meaſure of aſſurance that our ſins are pardoned, that wee may bee able to undergoe great trials, and ſtrong temptations, and to lay up like the rich man, riches for many years; and (with Joſeph) ſtore of proviſion againſt the years of famine. For ſo the Theſſalonians when they had much-aſſurance, received the Word in great affliction, with joy in the Holy Ghoſt, 1. Theſſ. 1.5, 6. Oh then a daily courſe of prayer is needful, that wee may get the ſenſe and feeling of the mercy of God to our ſouls, in the pardon of our ſins. Yea this is more than naked aſſurance, when a man can feel the love of God ſhed abroad in his heart by the Holy Ghoſt, Rom. 5.5. when a man is ſealed with the holy Spirit of promiſe, Epheſ. 1.13. and hath the earneſt of his heavenly inheritance in his heart. Many by the ſtrength of their faith, have truſted in Gods mercy, even then when the Lord hath hid his face from them, or ſhewed them an angry countenance, but the feeling of the grace of God is more: this is for the heart to find the warmth of his love, and behold the gracious ſmiles of his countenance in the loweſt condition, and it is a very heaven upon earth, or a lively fore-taſte of the joyes of heaven.
3 This is needful, that the ſoul may have the pardon of fr… in all the fruits and effects thereof, in their further accompliſhments and perfection; though wee are freed from the damnation and dominion of ſin, yet wee are not freed from the remainders of it. Wee know how Paul groaned under his unmortified corruptions, Rom. 7.23, 24. and the Church is taught to pray, Take away all iniquity, and Hoſ. 14.2. wee muſt look ſometimes to meet with terrours of Conſcience, and to bee in darkneſſe without any light, wee muſt look for deſertions and temptations by reaſon of the remainders of ſin, and therefore we are to pray for full redemption from ſin, in all the fruits and effects of it.
4 It is needful to pray, that we may make a right uſe of the pardon of ſin, having once obtained it. For the heart is apt under ſuch a favour to wax proud, and wanton, and careleſſe; as it is with many an ungodly childe, when a father hath made over a great eſtate into his hands, he will care no more for his father, nor doe any duty belonging to a childe: ſo the children of God would doe being left to themſelves, when God hath made known to them this bleſſed eſtate of the pardon of their ſins, they are ready in their proſperity to ſay, they ſhall not bee moved, Pſal. 30.6. and there is no ſtate ſo proſperous as a pardoned eſtate. And this right uſe of pardon ſtands in deep humility, and abaſement of our ſelves, Ezek. 16.63. That thou mayeſt remember, and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more; becauſe of thy ſhame, when I am pacified towards thee, for all that thou haſt done, ſaith the Lord. 2 Another uſe of it is in vigilancy and watchfulneſſe at all times, and in all places againſt ſin, Pſal. 85.8. 3 In a reſolved care and conſcience of obedience for the time to come, Jerem. 31.33, 38. 4 To love God ſo much the more; as the poor woman, Luke 7.47.
Now I come to ſhew you how farre a Chriſtian ought to goe, in comforting his ſoul about the forgiveneſſe of his ſin.
1 A beleever holding his integrity ſhould never conceive, How farre a beleever ought not to charge his ſoul with ſin.or let his heart be perſwaded, that any of all his ſins ſhall ever bring guilt upon him, ſo as to cauſe Gods revenging juſtice to bind him over to wrath. If any one ſhall doe ſo, hee ſins and bears falſe witneſſe againſt God, and his own Soul. It is one thing to ſay we are worthy to bee condemned, and another thing to ſay, or think, we ſhall be condemned indeed. For, there is no condemnation to them that are in Chriſt Jeſus, &c. Rom. 8.1. becauſe Chriſt hath condemned their ſin; ſins guilt is on them, as the Viper on Pauls hand, which he ſoon ſhook off without any hurt. Or like the Lions in the Den where Daniel was caſt, who though they were hungry, God ſhut their mouthes, and they had no power on Daniel, Dan. 6.22, 25. but when they who cauſed Darius to make the Decree were caſt in, the Lions tare them ſuddenly in pieces, before they came to the ground. Juſt ſo it is with the ſins of the faithful, and the ſins of wicked men and unbeleevers: the ſins of the faithful, though they are of a killing and Lion-like nature, (for the wages of every ſin (in it ſelf) is death) yet the Lord Jeſus in the behalf of beleevers, ſtops the Lions mouthes, and takes away the guilt, and the condemning power of it, ſo that it cannot hurt them. But when it meets with an unbeleever, it ſoon ſlayes him, Pſal. 34.21. Evil ſhall ſlay the wicked, yea ſin ſhall lye at his door, Gen. 4.7. the filthineſſe of the unclean perſon ſhall devoure him; the diſobedience of the ſtubborn ſhall plague him; the pride of the haughty and ſcorner ſhall rend the very caul of his heart one day, &c. but ſo it is not with poor beleevers, though their ſin hath teeth, and jaws, and power to make them worthy of condemnation, yet it ſhall never be able to faſten condemnation on them.
2 Every faithful ſoul is bound to perſwade his heart, that God doth not, nor ever will charge any one ſin upon him. He will never follow the Law upon him here for his hurt, curſe, or miſchief in this life. God may indeed hide his face from him, and write bitter things againſt him, and deal with him as an angry Father with a diſobedient Childe; but will never proſecute him at his Law, as an enemy, or Judge; but a beleever may ſay with holy Job, chap. 13.15. Though hee ſtay me, I will put my trust in him, becauſe he ſees no iniquity in Jacob, Numb. 23.22. What is that? Not to trouble you with the deluſions of the Familiſts, the meaning is, that the Lord takes no notice of the ſins of his Iſrael, to impute them, or to puniſh them, but only to pardon, cover, and cure them, Iſa. 53.6. all the ſins of beleevers meet in Chriſt as in the center, like ſo many Diameters of a Circle; or as all the Rivers meet in the Sea, ſo all the Sins of beleevers on Chriſt in the full puniſhment and curſe of them. Therefore let every beleever make conſcience to conſider what God hath revealed in the Promiſe, and take heed that you make not God a Lyar, and be ſure that you are diſcharged from all your ſins by Chriſt; but let not any unbeleever, or prophane perſon, meddle with this priviledge, for he hath no part or fellowſhip with it, they ſhall bear their own drunkenneſſe, ſcorning, Sabbath-breaking▪ and all manner of prophaneneſſe; the Devil is let looſe, iniquity is upon them, and the flying roul of Curſes, and Divine vengeance is gone forth againſt them. They have ſinned, and be ſure their ſin will find them out, Num. 32.23. as a Bloud-hound findes out a Thief. But you that are beleevers, glorifie the name of Chriſt, and his Death, and I charge you take heed, what you ſay or think in this caſe, as though God would avenge himſelf on you, or deal with you as an enemy.
3 Every true beleever ſhould exempt his ſoul from any fear, of the charge of any ſin upon it, by any accuſer in this world, ſo as to break off the love of God in Chriſt from him. Famous is that bold challenge of Paul, Rom. 8.33, 34. Who ſhall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect? be it Devil, or World or Conſcience, there is nothing can be of ſuch force and power as to affright us, as though wee might fall from the love of God, whereby hee hath loved us in Chriſt, Iſa. 26.3. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, &c.
4 A beleever ſhould take heed of ſpeaking, or thinking that God is ſo diſpleaſed with him, as to neglect him, reject him, or forget him for his ſins, Iſa. 40.27, 28. Why ſayeſt thou O Jacob, and ſpeakeſt, O Iſrael, my way is hid from the Lord &c. Iſa. 49.14. Sion ſaid, God hath forſaken mee, &c. yea though he ſhould fall into ſome foul ſin, yet hee ſhould not conceive his condition hopeleſſe, and helpleſſe, 1 Joh. 2.1, 2. Pſal. 130.3. though he muſt ſee that he repent, and bee ſuitably humbled for ſuch falls; but this is his comfort, when hee falls he ſhall ariſe, not periſh-through hardneſſe and impenitency, but be raiſed by true remorſe, hearty ſorrow and humiliation for his ſins, or any one in particular, that he hath fallen by.
Vſe 4. It is exhortation, to the performance of ſeveral duties, about or concerning the pardon of our ſins.
1 Wee ſhould learn from hence highly to eſteem the pardon and forgiveneſſe of our ſins, for theſe grounds,
1 Becauſe it is a peculiar property of God, A property of God to forgive ſin.belonging to the Lord alone, to forgive ſin; that is expreſſed in the text in theſe words [through the forbearance of God] forbearance and remiſſion belong only to the Lord, as his Prerogatives royal, Exod. 34.7. Forgiving iniquity, tranſgreſſion, and ſin, Iſa. 47.25. I, even I am he that blotteth out thy tranſgreſſions, &c. Mic. 7.18. Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth Iniquity, &c. Oh! there is an infinite evil in ſin, and therefore requires an infinite power to remove it. Hence it is made an argument of the God-head of Chriſt, to forgive ſin, Matth. 9.5. and this is a greater argument than the working any miracle; true, in a ſenſe it is attributed alſo to the Apoſtles: whoſe ſins ye remit, &c. but this is but miniſterially, in the Court of the World, or Church: but in the Court of heaven, none but God can forgive ſin.
Now this ſhews the tranſcendent excellency of this grace, The worth of Chriſts blood.that it is the only remedy in the World, for the diſeaſe of ſin, it is God only can cure us with the blood of Chriſt, and this is the greateſt miracle that ever was wrought for us, that we read of in the Goſpel.
2 The great force of forgiveneſs appears, by the price that was paid for the purchaſe of it. It was foreign, the worthy pretious blood of Jeſus Chriſt. 1 Pet. 1.18, 19. and it is expreſſed in the text in the word (foreign) his own blood as Beza notes, The blood of Jeſus Christ his Son. 1 Joh. 1.17. Aſſuredly Gods love was ſo great to his onelyonly begotten Son, that if any creature could have laid down a ſufficient price, he would not have ſent his Son, out of his own boſome, to make ſatisfaction. Or if any other excellency in Chriſt, as the integrity of his nature, or his active obedience could have procured the pardon of ſin for his Elect, Chriſt ſhould not have dyed for that end: but Chriſt muſt bee offered to take away the ſins of many, Heb. 9.27, 28. It is as if a ſubject have a diſeaſe, that can bee cured no other way, than with the heart blood of the Prince, for no other potion than ſuch an one will heal ſins diſeaſes, and wounds, for the Lord himſelf (who is the onelyonly wiſe God) would not lay down more than was neceſſary, and hence hee ſpared not his own Son, but delivered him up, &c. Rom. 8.32.
3 The worth of it appears, becauſe this is a leading grace in the new Covenant. And though there bee many other bleſſings, in the Covenant of Gods grace purchaſed by Chriſts blood: (for it purgeth our conſciences, Heb. 9.14. nouriſheth all grace, and works the growth and increaſe of it, Joh. 6.55. and gives us an entrance into the holy of holies. Heb. 10.19) I ſay, though all other ſpiritual bleſſings do flow from Chriſt, yet remiſſion of ſins is the chiefeſt of them, the firſt grace in communion, and the firſt in … ſoul that is united unto Chriſt. Rom. 5.1. When wee are juſtified by Faith, then follows peace, and joy, and acceſs to God, &c. As a King firſt receiving a Rebel into favour, forgives him his treaſon and diſloyalty, then hee … or priviledge upon him. So the Lord … in this caſe, wee are all rebells againſt God, and wee can expect nothing at the hands of God, till our guilt, curſe, horror, and expectation of vengeance bee removed.
Now this cannot bee removed till Faith. All unbeleevers being under condemnation …. So that pardon belongs onelyonly to beleevers, Iſa. 33. laſt; and ſuch an one David pronounceth bleſſed, Pſal. 32.12. for forgiveneſs brings a man into favour with God; and our ſalvation ſtands in it, Luke 1.77. Oh let theſe, and many other conſiderations, ſtir up men highly to prize forgiveneſs of ſins. Remarkable is the reproof by the Evangelical Prophet, Iſa. 55.2. Wherefore do you spead your ſilver, &c. why are you ſo eager about baſer, inferiour things? you do but loſe your mony, and labour, after them.
Moreover, conſider that Remiſſion is equally beſtowed on all beleevers: Though ſome have more ſins forgiven them than others; yet all beleevers have their ſins equally forgiven them, the weaker ones, as well as Abraham, Rom. 4.22, 23. and therefore being attainable by the weakeſt beleever, all ſhould look after it, as a matter of greateſt importance. If we felt but the weight of guilt once, wee ſhould know what forgiveneſs is, Pſal. 38.4. Let the conſcience bee once arreſted by God, and perſued by Divine Juſtice, it would bee then like the entangled ſurety, Prov. 6.4. Hee would give no ſleep to his eies, &c. but would deliver himſelf, as a Roe from the hands of the Hunter, and as a bird from the hands of the Fowler. Now I beſeech you brethren, get and maintain this experience of a wounded ſpirit; get a clearer underſtanding and ſenſe of your own guiltineſs, together with the loathſomeneſſe of ſin: and then wee ſhall know how to value the mercy of forgiveneſs. None can prize health, but a ſick and languiſhing perſon; nor food, but the hungry. So that when your ſoul is truely pained with the horror of ſin, then you will know better what the remiſſion of ſin is: as David, Pſal. 32.
Exh. …. The ſecond branch of this Exhortation is, to teſtify your true prizing of Remiſſion, by unwearied diligence in the uſe of means to obtain it; as,
Firſt, Leave not your heart and Conſcience till they are ſhiftleſs, and paſt all carnal evaſions, in regard of the charge of ſin. It is moſt ſure, that every ſoul naturally is at emnity with Chriſt; hee is one of the Citizens that hated him, and will not come at him, as long as wee can ſhift without him. So it was with the Prodigal, Luk. 15.14, 17. that would not come to his Father, till hee had ſpent all, and was driven to feed Swine, yea, to feed with them, and no man gave to him: So that hee was put beyond all his ſhifts before hee would return. So God deals with ſinners, as Rom. 11.32. God hath ſhut up all in unbeleef, that hee might have mercy upon all. Gal. 3.22. The Scripture hath ſhut up all in ſin, &c. Gods ſhutting up in both places ſeems to be by putting them beyond their ſhifts, by the full convictions of his word, that they have never a ſtarting hole to eſcape by. Oh beloved! there is never a ſoul inlightned, living under the means, but is in a maze, and runs from hole to hole, from mountain to hill, and being ferreted out of one hole runs into another. There is no remiſſion in this caſe, whilſt you are running (like Adam) to ſhift into a wood, far away from God, as you think, but all your ſtrong holds muſt bee pulled down, 2 Cor. 10.4.
2 Take a thorough ſurvey of the free offers of Chriſt, and him crucifyed, to every ſoul, that hears the Goſpel preached, and this is both by God the father, and Chriſt himſelf, Joh. 6.40. Rom. 5.8. Joh. 3.…7. Iſa. 11.10. Act. 10.43. Rev. 3.20. Now in this caſe conſider two things, 1 What end the Lord hath, or can have, in offering himſelf thus to a vile ſinner; who ſhall bee the gainer if wee do receive him? or the looſer if wee receive him not? what ſaid John the Baptiſt to our Saviour, though hee were more than a Prophet? Mat. 3.14. I have need of being baptized of thee, and comeſt thou to mee? to bee ſure wee have need of Chriſt, but hee hath no need of us. Yea, what need hath Chriſt of a filthy beaſt, a Drunkard, Scorner, Murderer, Atheiſt? as Achiſh ſaid of David in a matter of leſſer moment, 1 Sam. 21. laſt, yee ſee the man is mad, have I need of mad men? conſider what objection or exception thou haſt, or canſt make againſt the offer of Chriſt; doſt thou think hee gets any thing by thee? If thou bee righteous, what giveſt thou him? Or if thy tranſgreſſions bee multiplyed, what doſt thou unto him? Job 35.6, 7. thou art but a loſt man at the beſt, Luke 19.10. See then yee refuſe not him that ſpeaketh, Heb. 12.25. leſt the King bee wrath, and ſend his Armies againſt you, Math. 22.7.
3 Obſerve the ſweet Invitations of Chriſt, and the perſons, whom hee doth invite to come to him, with their qualifications. His offers are more general than his Invitations, which are of particular perſons, ſo and ſo qualified, The weary and heavy laden, Matth. 11.28. The thirſty, Joh. 7.37. The poor, the meek, the broken-hearted, the blind, the captives, &c. Such who groan under theſe infirmities, Luk. 4.18, 19. hee calls and invites theſe, to Riches, Liberty, Eye-ſight, to a Jubilee, an acceptable year of the Lord. Hear therefore and fear, all yee ſtubborn, ſtiff-necked, Impenitent, hard-hearted ſinners, whoſe Conſciences can evidence your unbrokenneſſe for ſin, and that it is your greateſt content, that you have elbow-room enough for the Commiſſion of it: and your greateſt trouble is, when Commands or Threatnings croſs you in it; expect not a good look from Chriſt in this condition. Pſal. 138.6. Jam. 4.6. hee reſiſts the proud, &c. but on the contrary, the poor, broken-hearted, humble ſinner ſhall bee welcome to Chriſt; for a contrite and bruiſed spirit, hee will not despiſe or caſt off.
4 You muſt look at it as abſolutely neceſsary to get Chriſt, and to ſtir up earneſt and reſtleſſe deſires after him. This is the thirſt that Chriſt calls for: and it is wrought by a knowledge of his worth. Joh. 4.10. If thou kneweſt the gift of God, &c. for the deſire is anſwerable to that certain and clear judgement, that wee have of the neceſſity, worth, and dignity of the great gift of God. The Merchant ſees the Pearl to bee of unſpeakable price, and therefore meditates the attaining of it. Matth. 13.44, 46. Deſires are not to be dead and ſluggiſh, but eager and careful for the getting and poſſeſſing ſatiating bleſſings. Iſa. 26.9. With my ſoul have I deſired thee in the night, yea, with my spirit with a mee will I ſeek thee early, &c. This is the taking the Kingdome of heaven by force. Now ſuch an one will not only cry, God have mercy on mee, &c. or uſe ſome formal Prayers for pardon, but will cry earneſtly, and wraſtle for it, as David did, Pſal. 51.1, 2. Sin is ſoon committed, but pardon is not ſo ſoon obtained; a ſickneſs or wound is ſoon got, but a cure is a long and buſy work Pſa. 69.3. God will have us have pardon in his order, and for right ends; It is Gods order that wee ſhould have Chriſt crucified before remiſſion of ſins, Rom. 8.1, 2. 2 Cor. 3.19. So that hee that is not in Chriſt, muſt not think to get a pardon.
Object. But ſhould not a man out of Chriſt pray for pardon? Or is it in vain ſo to do?
Anſw. No, for if thy caſe were as bad as Simon Magus his caſe, thou ſhouldeſt pray for it, Act. 8.22. but you muſt not think to have it without Chriſt; but firſt Chriſt, and then pardon, and ſo God is ready to forgive, Pſal. 86.5. Beſides, ſeek pardon for a right end: it may bee thou wouldeſt onelyonly bee eaſed of thy horror, but that alone is a ſiniſter end, Pſal. 13….4.
5 Hence we ſhould learn, by all means to get the pardon of ſin cleared to our hearts: this doth neceſſarily flow from the tranſcendent excellency of forgiveneſs. A wiſe man in a caſe of this nature, would not contentedly bee in the dark; a condemned malefactor is not ſatisfied by knowing a pardon may bee had, but hee would fain have it in hand, and read his own name in it; and ſuch muſt bee our care in this, which is a greater matter.
Queſt. How ſhould a ſinner get the pardon of his ſins cleared unto him?
Anſw. It muſt bee thy main care to clear up thine intereſt in Chriſt, and then it will bee clear. Many think it enough to ſay, that Chriſt dyed for ſinners, and that Juſtification is by Chriſts blood: why beloved, the Devils are perſwaded of this. What is a poor man the better, to bee perſwaded there is Gold at the Indies? or the hungry man, that there is meat at the Cooks ſhop? or the Prodigal, that there is bread in his fathers houſe? hee may periſh for hunger for all that. Beloved we ſhould be of Pauls mind, Phil. 3.8, 9. Yea doubtleſſe I account all things loſſe, &c. Mark the words, 1 That there is an excellency in the knowledge of Chriſt, above other knowledge, 2 He ſuffered the loſſe of all other things for it. 3 He did this not out of a raſh zeal, but adviſedly, hee ſaid, I account, &c. 4 Conſider what kind of knowledge this was, that Paul made ſo great account of, it was the ſuper-excellency of the knowledge of Chriſt; and again, I account all things but droſſe and dung that I may win Chriſt, and be found in him. To know Chriſt to be my Lord and Saviour, to win him, and wear him as mine own. Then a man is ſafe. As a poor Woman married to a rich Husband, if ſhe bee arreſted for Debt, ſhe will plead that ſhe is under Covert baron, and the Law takes no hold of her, but of her Husband; ſo it is with a poor beleever, that is married to Chriſt; but they that are ſingle perſons (as unbeleevers are) muſt anſwer their own debts, and lye in priſon for them.
2 Labour to clear up the efficacy of Chriſt's bloud unto thy Conſcience; that is the Fountain ſet open for ſin, and for uncleaneneſſe, Zach. 13.1. Heb. 10.22. for the ſprinkling of us from an evil Conſcience, and the healing of all our Spiritual maladies, as well as for the pardon of our ſins, 1 Cor. 6.11. Pſa. 103.3. Who forgiveth all thy ſins, and healeth all thy diſeaſes. Yea, this is certain, that that ſin that is not healed in ſome meaſure, is not pardoned, and if one ſin be unpardoned, on ſin at all is pardoned. Now what is the healing all diſeaſes? but the killing luſts and corruptions in the heart: when the ſoul doth not only forſake the practice of ſin, but it hates it, and will not let it get power, Rom. 6.6. and many things may conduce to the killing of it, but nothing doth it like grace. Education may doe ſomething, the Law ſomething, Civil honeſty ſomething, and Afflictions ſomething, but Grace conquers all. Rom. 8.34, 38. See then what the bloud of Chriſt hath done, towards the ſhealing thy ſins, and killing thy corruptions.
3 Endeavour to clear up to faith in Chriſts bloud; and it may be cleared from the Spiritual buſineſſe it ever puts the ſoul upon, it is active like the veſtuous woman, which puts her hand to every …rk, …rov. 31.…4, 17. 2 Theſſ. 1.11. Hence it is that the … by his faith. Heb …. … believers doe all i.e ſaith … the faithful of old were inabled to do ſo great works, old were inabled to do ſo great works, Heb. 11.33. Subdued kingdoms, wrought righteouſneſſe, &c. but it is moſt eſpecially buſie in the uſe of Ordinances: as the Word, Prayer, Seals; though it will not bee … from … callings it works by love, and is our victory over the …, 1 Jo…. 5.4. So that a true faith is imploying it ſelf on all hands, for a beleevers good. Now alas, when … faith is but a dead drugge in us, or is but an underling in the heart, and is at the command of every luſt, profit, or pleaſure, truly it is not lively, much leſſe ſhall you live eternally by it.
4 Clear up the way and fruits of forgiveneſſe of ſins: the way of bringing it home unto the ſoul, is the Word. Acts 26.18. the Word was preached to open mens eyes. If ever wee come to the right knowledge of the pardon of our ſins, it muſt be by the Word preached, working theſe particulars, 1. Illumination, diſcovering effectual your ſin and miſery to us, with a through ſenſe and feeling of it. 2 The converſion of the ſoul, and turning of it from darkneſſe to light. Now when the league with Hell is diſa…ulled, then wee come to receive forgiveneſſe of ſin. Beſides, … the fruit of forgiveneſſe, there bee many … of this ſappy root, let mee name ſome. Firſt, the … heart to love Chriſt with fervency, Luke 7.47. … were many were forgiven her, for ſhe loved much: her love was the effect, not the cauſe of her pardon. So Pſal. 116.1, 3, 4, &c.
Queſt. What kind of love is this to God?
Anſ. Such a love as inlargeth the heart in duties to God, as it did that poor woman, and David, and Peter. Hence is in them a love to the Word and Ordinances, and the Children of God; it is not poſſible for a man to have great debts forgiven him, and that out of pitty and bounty, when hee hath nothing to pay, but that his love ſhould bee kindled, and his heart in a light fire in zeal for God.
2 A forgiving diſpoſition in caſe of perſonal wrongs, Epheſ. 4.32. Bee yee kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Chriſts ſake hath forgiven us; and this note is given by our bleſſed Saviour with great earneſtneſſe and aſſeveration, affirmatively and negatively. If yee forgive men their treſpaſſes, then your heavenly Father will forgive you, Matth. 6.12.14, 15. and if yee from the heart forgive not every one his brother their treſpaſſes, neither will your heavenly Father forgive you. Hee ſpeaks indefinitely every one, not excepting any: it is a ſad ſentence for a malicious heart: But a merciful heart that can forgive private wrongs, and ſtrive againſt motions of malice and revenge, and be humbled for them, and that from the heart, how great ſoever the injuries are, it is a ſure fruit of Gods pardoning him, and his freedom from guile and reigning Hypocriſie, Pſal. 32.1, 2. 1 Joh. 3.19.
6 Maintain and improve the forgiveneſſe of ſin cleared up unto thee, and this will be by daily and diligent obſervation of our wayes: by often reckonings with God, and getting the Book ſtill croſſed; by ſuing out a pardon of courſe: and therefore Chriſt teacheth us to pray daily, Forgive us our debts: This was Davids practice, as appears by Pſal. 119.58, 59. and other places, and this muſt bee joyned with a reſolution and care to ſhun future ſins and failings; and hereby wee ſhall know we are of the truth (i. e. ſincere) and ſhall aſſure our hearts before him, 1 Joh. 3.19. Now this improvement is,
Firſt, by holy, humble, and thankful abaſement of our ſelves before God continually, Hoſ. 3.5. Ezek. 16. ult. ſo Ezek. 36.29. I will ſave you from all your uncleanneſſes, then ſhall yee remember your own evil wayes, &c. Beware of pride, covetouſneſſe, carnal rejoycing, ſhaking off ſorrow for ſin: it is a bad ſymptom when a man doth ſo.
2 Bee careful to improve your intereſt in the favour of God for others; not only near relations, but even for ſtrangers, eſpecially for the publick; as Noah, Daniel, Job, Moſes, Samuel, &c. they were ſtill ſtanding in the gap.
3 Bee ready to comfort other? with the ſame comfort wherewith God hath comforted us, 2 Cor. 1.4.
4 Know and bear in mind your ingagement to the Lord. The Princes pardon is the condemned Malefactors life, as Mephiboſheth ſaid, 2 Sam. 19.28. All my fathers houſe were dead men before thee. Pardon of ſinne, is the eternal life of the ſinner, and hee is paſſed from Death to Life by it. Yea as the offending God by Sin is an infinite evil; ſo the forgiveneſſe of the offence is an infinite good; and wee may ſay, What ſhall wee render to the Lord for all his benefits towards us? Surely as Pſalm 116.8, 9. Hee hath delivered our ſouls from death, our eyes from tears, and our feet from falling, that we ſhould walk before the Lord in the land of the living.