2d, God having pardoned sin, will pass an act of oblivion, Jer. xxxi. 34., " I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." When a creditor hath crossed the book, he doth not call for the book again. God will not reckon with the sinner in a judicial way. When our sins are laid upon the head of Christ, our scape- goat, they are carried into a land of forge t- fulness.
Sd, The pardoned soul is for ever secur- ed from the wrath of God. How terrible is God's wrath ! Ps. xc. 11., " Who know- eth the power of thine anger ?" If a spark of God's WTath when it lights upon a man's concience, fills it with such horror, (as in the case of Spira) then, what is it to be al- ways scorching in that torrid zone, to lie upon beds of flames ? Now, from this a- venging wrath of God every pardoned soul is freed ; though he may taste of the bitter cup of affliction, yet he shall never drink of the sea of God's wrath, Rom. v. 9., " Being justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him." Christ's blood quencheth the flames of hell.
At/i, Sin being pardoned, conscience hath no more authority to accuse. Conscience roars against the unpardoned sinner, but it hath nothing to do to terrify or accuse him
that is pardoned. God hath discharged the sinner, and if the creditor discharge the debtor, what hath the sergeant to do to ar- rest him ? The truth is, if God absolve, conscience, if riglitly informed, absolves ; if once God saith thy sins are pardoned, conscience saith, "go in peace." If the sky be clear, and no storms blow there, then the sea is calm ; if all be clear above, and God shine with pardoning mercy upon the soul, then conscience is calm and serene.
5t/i, Nothing that befals a pardoned soul shall hurt him ; Ps. xci. 10., " No evil bcfal thee :" that is, no destructive evil. Every thing to a wicked man is hurtful. Good things are for his hurt. His very bless- ings are turned into a curse, Mai. ii. 2., " I will curse your blessings." Riches and prosperity do him hurt. They are not iminera but imidia, Seneca, ' Gold snares.' Eccl. V. 13., " Riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt." Like Haman's ban- quet, which did usher in his funeral. Or- dinances do a sinner hurt ; they are a ' sa- vour of death,' 2 Cor. ii. 16. Cordials themselves kill. The best things hurt the wicked, but the worst things which befal a pardoned soul shall do him no hurt; the sting, the poison, tlie curse is gone ; his soul is no more hurt, than David hurt Saul,, when he cut off the lap of his garment.
6^//, To a pardoned soul, every things hath a commission to do him good. Afflic- tions shall do him good, — poverty, re- proach, persecution ; Gen. 1. 20., " Ye thought evil against me, but God meant it unto good." As the elements, though of contrary qualities, yet God hath so tem- pered them, that they work for the good of the universe, so the most cross providences, shall work for good to a pardoned soul. Correction shall be a corrosive to eat out sin ; it shall cure the swelling of pride, the fever of lust, the dro|)sy of avarice. It shall be a refining fire to purify grace, and make it sparkle as gold. Every cross pro- vidence, to a pardoned soul, shall be like Paul's Euroclydon or cross wind, Acta xxvii., which though it broke the ship, yet. Paul was brought to shore upon the brokeiL pieces.
1th, A pardoned soul is not only exempt- ed from wrath, but invested with dignity ;;
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OF THE FIFTH PETITION IN THE LORD'S PRAYER.
as Joseph was not only freed from prison, but advanced to be second man in the king- dom.
Sth, A pardoned soul is made a fovourite of heaven. A king may pardon a traitor, but will not make him one of his privy- council ; but whom God pardons, he re- ceives into favour. I may say to him, as the angel to the virgin Mary, Luke i. 30., " Thou hast found favour with God." Hence such as are forgiven, are said to be " crown- ed with loving-kindness," Ps. ciii. 3, 4. Whom God pardons he crowns. Whom God absolves, he marries himself to, Jer. iii. 12., " I am merciful, and I will not keep anger for ever ;" there is forgiveness ; and in ch. v. 14., " I am married to you ;" and he who is matched into the crown of hea- ven, is as rich as the angels, as rich as hea- ven can make him.
9th, Sin being pardoned, we may come with humble boldness to God in prayer; guilt makes us afraid to go to God. Adam having sinned, Gen. iii. 10., "was afraid," and hid himself. Guilt cTips the wings of prayer, — it fills the face with blushing ; but forgiveness breeds confidence ; we may look upon God as a Father of mercy, hold- ing forth a golden sceptre ; he that hath got his pardon, can look upon his prince with comfort.