Kuhducs it, Micah vii. 19., " He will have compassion on us, he will subdue our ini- quities." Where men's persons are justi- fied, tlieir lusts are mortified. There is in sin v/'s imperatoria et damnatoria, — a com- manding power, and a condemning. Then is the condemning power of sin taken away, when the commanding power of it is taken away. When we know whether our sins are forgiven, are they subdued. If a male- factor be in prison, how shall he know that his prince hath pardoned him ? If the jailor come and knock off his chains and fetters, and lets him out of prison, then he may know he is pardoned : so, how shall we know God hath pardoned us ? If the fetters of sin be broken off, and we walk at liberty in the ways of God, Ps. cxix. 45., " I will walk at liberty ;" this is a blessed sign Ave are pardoned. Such as are washed in Christ's blood from their guilt, are made kings to God, Rev. i. 6. As kings they rule over their sins.
A. 5. He whose sins are forgiven is full of love to God. Mary Magdalene's heart was fired with love, Luke vii. 47., " Her sins, which are many, are forgiven ; for she loved much." Her love was not the cause of her remission, but a sign of it. A par- doned soul is a monument of mercy, and he thinks he can never love God enough ; he wishes he had a coal from God's altar, to inflame his heart in love ; he wisheth he could borrow the wings of the cherubims, that he might fly swifter in obedience; a pardoned soul is sick of love. He whose heart is like marble, locked up in impeni- tency, that doth not melt in love, gives evi- dence his pardon is yet to seal.
A. 6. Where the sin is pardoned, the na- ture is ])urified, IIos. xiv. 4., " I will heal their backslidings, I will love them." Every man, by nature, is both guilty and diseas- ed; where God remits the guilt, he cures the disease, Ps. ciii. 3., " Who forgiveth all thy iniquities, who healeth all thy diseases." Herein God's pardon goes beyond the king's ])ardon ; the king may forgive a malefactor, but he cannot change his heart, lie may have a thievish heart still ; but God, when he pardons, changeth the heart, Ezek. xxxvi. 26., " A new heart also will I give you." A pardoned soul is adorned and embellish-
ed with holiness, 1 John v. 6., " Tliis i-; he that came by water and blood." Wheie Christ comes with blood to justify, he comes with water to cleanse, Zech. iii. 4., " I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment." I will cause thy iniquity to pass from thee, there is pardoning grace; and I will clothe thee with change of raiment, there is sanc- tifying grace ; let not liim say, he hath pardon, that wants grace. INIany tell us, they ho])e they are pardoned, but were never sanctified ; yea, but they believe in Christ, — but what faith is it ? A swearing faith, — a whoring faith, — the faith of devils is as good.
A. 7. Such as are in the number of God's people, forgiveness of sin belongs to them, Isa. xl. 1, 2., " Comfort ye my people, tell them their iniquity is pardoned."
Quest. How shall we know that tve arc God's elect people ?
Ans. By three characters.
Ls^. God's people are an humble people, the livery which all Christ's people wear, is humility, 1 Pet. v. 5., " Be clothed with humility." 1. A sight of Gotl's glory hum- bles. Elijah wrapped his face in a mantle when God's glory passed by, Job xlii. 5., " Now mine eye seeth thee, wherefore I ab- hor myself." The stars vanish when the sun appears. 2. A sight of sin humbles. In the gljiss of the word the godly see their spots, and these are humbling sj)ots. Lo, saith the soul, I can call nothing my own but sins and wants ! this humbles. An humble sinner is in a better condition than a proud angel.
2d. God's people are a willing ])eople. Ps. ex. 3., " A people of willingness." Love constrains them ; they serve God freely, and out of choice. They stick at no ser- vice ; they will run through a sea, and a wilderness ; they will follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth.
3r7. They are an heavenly peo])le, stars, John xvii. 16., " They are not of the world." As the primian niobUe in the heavens hath a motion of its own, contrary to the other orbs : so God's people have an heavenly mo- tion of soul, contrary to the men of tho world ; they use the world as their servant, but do not follow the world as their ma*
OF THE FIFTH PETITION IN THE LORD'S PRAYER.
543
ter, Phil. iii. 20., " Our conversation is in heaven." Such as have these three clia- racters of God's peopU', have a g^ood certifi- cate to sliew that they are pardoned. For- giveness of sin l)eh»ngs to tliem : '* Comfctrt ye my people, tell them tiieir iniquity is for- given."