Ans. 1. A bad debtor dotii not love to be called to an account. Tliere's a day com- inff when God will call his debtors to ac- count, Roni. xiv. 12., " So then, every one shall Jiive an account of himself to God." But we play away the time, and do not love to hear of the day of judgment ; we love not. that ministers should put us in mind of our debts, or speak of the day of reckoning. What a confounding word will that be to a secure sinner, rcdde rationem, — give an account of your stewardship.
A. 2. A bad debtor is unwilling to con- fess his debt, he will put it otf, or make less of it ; so we are more willing to excuse sin, than confess it. How hardly was Saul brought to confession? 1 Sam. xv. 20, 21., *' I have obeyed the voice of the Lord, but the people took of the spoil." He rather excuseth his sin than confesseth it.
A. 3. A bad debtor is apt to hate his crc- tor ; debtors wish their creditors dead ; so wicked men naturally hale (iod, because they think he is a just judge, and will call them to account; (Gr.) Gitd-hatcrs. The debtor doth not love to see his creditor.
Use \sf. It reproves them who are loath to be in debt, but make no reckoning of Bin, which is the greatest debt ; they use no means to get out of it, but run still further in debt to God. We would think it strange, if writs or warrants were out against a man, or a judgment granted to seize his body and estate, yet he is secure and regardless, as if he were unconcerned. God hath a writ out against a sinner, nay, many writs, for swear- ing, drunkenness, sabbath -breaking, yet the sinner eats and drinks, and is quiet, as if
he were not in debt ; what opium hath Sa- tan given men ?
Use 2d. Exhortation. If sin be a debt. 1. Let us be humbled. The name of debt (saith St. Ambrose) is grave vocahidum, grievous. Men in debt are full of shame, they lie hid, and do not care to be seen. A debtor is ever in fear of arrest. Ca?)is /at rat et cor palpitat. O let us blush and tremble, who are so deeply indebted to God ! A Ro- man dying in debt, Augustus the emperor sent to buy his pillow, because (saith he) I hope it has some virtue in it to make me sleep, on which a man so much in debt could take his ease. We that haA^e so many spiritual debts lying upon us, how can we be at rest till we have some hope that they are discharged.
2. Let us confess our debt. Let us ac- knowledge that we are run in arrears with God, and deserve that he should follow the law upon us, and throw us into hell-prison. By conf. ssion we give glory to (jod, Josh, vii. 19., " My son, I pray thee give glory to the Lord God of Israel, and make con- fession to him. ' Sav that God were rio-h- teous if he should strain upon all we have ; if we confess the debt, God will forgive it, 1 John i. 9., " If we confess our sins, he is just to forgive." Do but confess the debt, and God will cross the book, Ps, xxxii. 5., " I said, I will confess my transgression to the Lord, and thou forgavest,the iniquity of my sin."
3. Labour to get your spiritual debts paid, that is, by our surety Christ. Say, " Lord, have patience with me, and Christ shall pay thee all. He hath laid down an in(ii;ite price." The covenant of works would not admit of a surety, it demanded jiersonal o- bedience : but this privilege we have by the gospel, which is a court of chancery to re- lieve us, that if we have nothing to pay, God Avill acce))t of surety. Believe in Christ's blood, and the debt is paid.
Luke xi. 4. And forgive us our sins, fur we also forgive every one that is indebted to us.
IN the words are two parts : Isf, Ai)eti- tion, " Forgive us our sins." 2d, A condi- tion, " For we also forgive every one that io indebted to us." Our forgiving others is | First. I begin with the first, the peti-
not a cause of God's forgiving us, but it is a condition without which God will not foi- give us.
OF THE FIFTH PETITION IN THE LORD'S PRAYER.
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tion, " Forc^ive us our sins ;" a blessed jte- dispels the cloud, and breaks forth with the
tition ! the ignorant world say, " Who will light of his countenance,
show us any good?" Ps. iv. (5., meaning a 5. To forgive sin, is for God to cast our
good lease, a good purchase ; but our Sa- sins into the depths of the sea, Micah vii.
viour teaclieth us to pray for that which is ; 19., which iinj^lies God's burying them out
more noble, and will stand us in more stead, of sight, that they shall not rise up in judg-
the pardon of sin, " Forgive us our sins." nient against us. " Thou wilt cast all their
Forgiveness of sins is a ]»riinary blessing, — sins into the depths of the sea." (io<l will
it is one <»f the first mercies (iod bestows, Ezek. xxxvi. 25., " I will sprinkle clean water upon you ;" that is, forgiveness. When God pardons, there is nothing he will stick at to do for the soul ; he will a- dopt, sanctify, crown.
Quest. 1 . What forgiveness of sin is ?