IG^A, Forgiveness of sin makes our ser- vices acceptable ; God takes all we do in good part. A guilty person, nothing he doth pleaseth God. His prayer is " turne<l into sin ;" but when sin is pardoned, now God accepts our oifering. We read of Jo- shua standing before the angel of the Lord. " Joshua was clothed with filthy garments," Zech. iii. 3., that is, he was guilty of divers sins : now, saith the Lord, v. 4., " Take a- way his filthy garments, I have caused tliine iniquity to pass from thee ;" and then he stood and ministered before the Lord, and his services were accepted.
\Oth, Forgiveness of sin is the sauce which sweetens all the comforts of this life. As guilt embitters our comforts, — it puts wormwood into our cup, so pardon of sin sweetens all, — it is like sugar to wine. Healtli and pardon, estate and pardon, re- lish well. Pardon of sin gives a sanctified title ! and a delicious taste to every comfort.
As Naaman said to Gehazi, 2 Kings v. 23., " Take two talents," so saith God to t))e pardoned soul, " take two talents, — take the venison, and take a blessing with it, — - take the oil in the cruse, and take my love with it, — take two talents." It is observa- ble, Christ joins these two together, " Give us our daily bread," " forgive us our tres- passes :" as if Christ would teach us, there is little comfort in daily bread, unless sin be forgiven. Forgiveness doth perfume and drop sweetness into every earthly enjoyment.
12///, If sin be forgiven, God will never upbraid us with our former sins. When the prodigal came home to his father, the father received him into his loYnng embra- ces, and never mentioned his former luxu- ry, or spending his estate among harlots, so God will not upbraid us with former sins, nay, he will entirely love us, we shall be his jewels, and he will put us in his bo- som. Mary Magdalene, a pardoned peni- tent, after Christ arose, he appeared fi^st to her, Mark xvi. 9. ; so far was Christ from upbraiding her, that he brings her the first news of his resurrection.
13//t, Sin being pardoned, is a pillar of support in the loss of dear friends. God hath taken away thy child, thy husband ; but withal, he hath taken away thy sins. He hath given thee more than he hath tak- en away ; he hath taken away a flower, and given thee a jewel. He hath given thee Christ and the Spirit, .ind the earnest of glory. He hath given thee more tliau he hath taken away.
14///, Where God pardons sins, he bes- tows righteousness. With remission of sin goes imputation of righteousness, Isa. Ixi. 10., " I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, he hath covered me with the robe of righteous- ness." If a Christian can take any comfort in his inherent righteousness, which is so stained and mixed with sin, O then what comfort may he take in Christ's righteous- ness, which is a better righteousness than that of Adam ! Adam's righteousness was mutable ; hut suppose it had been unchange- able, yet it Avas but the righteousness of a man ; but that righteousness which is im- puted, is the righteonusess of him who is God, 2 Cor. v. 21., " That we might be made the righteousness of God in him."
OF THE FIFTH PETITION IN THE LORD'S PRAYER.
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O blessed privilege, to be reputed, in tlie sight of God, righteous as Christ, having his embroidered robe put tipon the souJ ! This is the comfort of every one that is par- doned, he hath a perfect righteousness ; and now God saith of him, " thou art all fair, my love, and there is no spot in thee," Cant. iv. 7.