3. Let the sense of God's love in foraiv- ing, make you more cautious and fearful of sin for the future, Ps. cxxx. 4., " There is forgiveness with thee that thou mayest be feared." O fear to offend this God, who hath been so gracious to you in forgiving. If a fi-iend hath done a kindness for us, we will not disoblige him, or abuse his love. After Nathan had told David, " The Lord hath put away thy sin," how tender was David's conscience ! How fearful was he of staining his soul with the guilt of more blood! Ps. li. 14. " Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God !" Men committing gross sins after pardon, God changeth his carriage towards them, he turns his smile into a frown ; they lie, as Jonah, in ' the belly of hell;' God's wrath falls into their conscience, as a drop of scalding lead into the eye; the promises are as a fountain sealed, not a drop of comfort comes from them. O Christians, do you not remember what it cost you before to get your pardon ! How long it was before your ' broken bones' were set; and will you again venture to sin ? You may be in such a condition, that you may question whether you belong to God or not; though God doth not damn you, he may send you to hell in this life.
4. If God hath given you good hope that you are pardoned, walk cheerfully, Rom. V. IL, " We joy in God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we liave received the atonement." Who should rejoice, if not he that hath his pardon ? Gcd lejoiceth
when he shews us mercy, and shoidd not we rejoice when we receive mercy? In the saddest times a pardoned soul may rejoice. Afllictions have a commission to do him good, every cross wind of providence shall blow him nearer to the haven of glory. Christian, God hath pulled off your prison- fetters, and clothed you with the robe of righteousness, and crowned you with lov- ing-kindness, and yet art thou sad? Rom. v. 2., '• We rejoice in hope of the glory of God." Can the wicked rejoice who have only a short rcj)rieve from hell, and not they who have a full pardon sealed ?
5. Hath God pardoned you ? Do all the service you can for God, 1 Cor. xv. 58., " Always abounding in the work of the Lord." Let your head study for God, — let your hands work for hiui, — let your tongue be the organ of his praise. Paul got his pardon, 1 Tim. i. IG., " I obtained mercy :" and this was as oil to the wheels, it made him move faster in obedience, 1 Cor. xv. 10., " I laboured more abundantly than they all." Paul's obedience did not move slow, as the sun on the dial ; but swiftly, as the sun in the firmament, he did spend, and was spent for Christ. The pardoned soul thinks he can never love God enough, or serve him enough.
The last thing is to lay down some rules or directions, how we may obtain forgive- ness of sin.
First, We must take heed of mistakes a- bout pardon of sin.
1st. Mistake that our sins are pardoned, when they are not.
Quest. Jl/unce is this miatake?
A/IS. From t\\-o grounds.
l.s^ Mistake, Because God is merciful.
Ans. God's being n)ercif"ul, shews, that a man's sins are parduiiahle. But tliere is a great deal of tliffirenee between sins par- donable and sins pardoned ; thy sins may be pardonable, yet not pardoned. Though God be merciful, yet who is God's mercy for ? Not for the presuming sinner, but the repenting sinner. Such as go on in sin, cannot lay claim to it. God's mercy is like the ark, none but the priests, might touch the ark : none but such as are spiritual priests, sacrificing their sins, may touch this ark of God's mercy.
OF THE FIFTH PETITION IN THE LORD'S PRAYER.
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2. Because Christ died for their sins, Mat. viii. 8., " Lord, 1 am not worthy that therefore they are forgiven. thou sl)ouUlest come under ray roof;" I de-
Jns. Tliat Cluist died for remission of serve not tlie least smile from heaven.'* sin is true ; but, that therefore all have re- , This is the way for pardon.
mission, is false ; then Judas should he for- given. Remission is limited to believers.
The Third means for pardon is, hearty confession of sin, Ps. xxxii. 5., " I will con-
Acts xiii. 39., " By him all that believe are , fess my transgressions, and thou forgavest
justified ;" but all do not believe, — some slight and trample Christ's blood under foot, Heb. X. 29., so that, notwithstanding Christ's death, all are not pardoned. Take heed of this dangerous mistake. Wlio will seek after pardon, that thinks he hath it already?