hard man." But God is a sin pardoning God, Exod. xxxiv. 6, 7., " The Lord, mer- ciful and gracious, forgiving iniquity, trans- gression and sin." Here is my name (saith God) if yoii would know how I am called, I tell you my name, " The Lord, the Lord God, merciful, forgiving iniquity." A pi- rate or rebel, that knows there is a procla- mation out against him, will never come m ; but, if he hears that the prince is full | of clemency, and there is a proclamation of pardon to him, if he submit, this will be a great incentive to liim to lay down his arms, and become loyal to his prince. See God's proclamation to repenting sinners, Jer. iii. 12., " Go and proclaim these words, and say, ' Return, thou backsliding Israel,' saith the Lord, ' and I will not cause my anger to fall upon thee, for I am merciful.' " God's mercy is a tender mercy. The Hebrew word for mercy signifies bowels. God's mercy is full of sympathy ; he is of a most sweet indulgent nature, Ps, Ixxxvi. 5., " Thou, Lord, art good, and ready to for- give." The bee doth not more naturally give honey, than God shews mercy.
Ob J. 1. But doth not God seem to delight %n punitive acts, or acts of severity ? Pro v. i. 26., " I will laugh at your calamity."
Ans. Who doth God say so to ? See verse 25., " Ye have set at nought all my coun- sel, and would none of my reproof." God delights in their destruction who despise his instruction : but an humble penitentiary breaking off sin, and suing out his pardon, the Lord delights in sliewing mercy to such an one, Micah vii. 18., " He delighteth in mercy."
Obj. 2. But though God be so full of mer- cy, and ready to forgive, yet his mercy reach- eth not to all ; he forgives only such as are elected, and I question my election ?
Ans. 1. No man can say he is not elect- ed : God hath not revealed this to any par- ticular man, that he is a reprobate, except- ing him only who hath sinned the sin a- gaiust the Holy Ghost : which sin thou art iar enough from, who mourncst lor sin, and seekest after forgiveness.
A. 2. These thoughts of non-election, — that we are not elected, — and that there is no ])ardon for us, — come from Satan, and are the poisoned arrows he shoots. He is^
the accuser ; he accuseth us to God, that we are great sinners ; and, he accuseth God to us, as if he were a tyrant. One that did watch to destroy his creature, these are di- abolical suggestions ; say, " Get thee behind me, Satan."
A. 3. It is sinful for any to hold that he is not elected ; it would take him oif from the use of means, from praying, and repent- ing; it would harden him, and make hira desperate ; therefore pry not into the arcana cceli, the secrets of heaven. Remember what befel the men of Bethshemesh, for looking into the ark, 1 Sam. vi. 19. Know that we are not to go by God's secret wil)« but by his revealed will ; look into God's revealed will, and there we shall find e~ nough to cherish liopo, and encourage us to go to God for the pardon of our sins. God hath revealed in his word, that " lie is rich in mercy," Eph. ii. 4. ; that he doth not de- light in the destruction of a sinner, Ezek. xviii. 32. Jurat per essentinm, Musculus. He swears by his essence, Ezek. xxxiii. 11,, " As I live saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked." Hence it is God waits so long, and puts off the sessions from time to time, to see if sinners will repent, and seek to him for pardon ; therefore let God's tender mercies and pre- cious promises encourage us to seek to him for the forgiveness of our sins.
7. Consideration. Not to seek earnestly for pardon is the unspeakable misery of such as want forgiveness ; it must needs be ill with that malefactor that wants liis ])ardon.
1. The unpardoned sinner (that lives and dies so) is under the greatest loss and pri- vation. Is there any happiness like to the enjoying of God in glory ; this is the joy of angels, the crown of saints glorified ; but the unforgiven sinner shall not behold (iod's smiling face ; he shall see God as an enemy, not as a friend ; he shall have an aflVighting sijrht of God, not beatifical ; he shall see the black rod, not the mercy-seat. Sins unpar- doned are like the angel with a flaming sword, who stopped the jKissage to ])aradise ; sins unpardoned stop the way to the hea venly ])aradise ; and how doleful is the con- dition of that soul which is banished from the place of bliss, where the King of glory keeps his court ''
OF THE FIFTH PETITION IN THE LORD'S PRAYER.