The Sixth means, pray mucli for pardon, Hos. xiv. 2., " Take away all iniquity," Luke xviii. 13., " The publican smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner." And the text saith, " He went away justified." Many pray for health, riches, children ; but Christ liath taught us what to pray for chiefly, Remitte nobis debita nostra^ ' Forgive us our sins.' And be ear- nest suitors for pardon ; consider what guilt of sin is; it binds one over to the wrath of God ; better thy house were haunted with devils, than thy soul with guilt. He who is in " the bond of iniquity," must needs be " in the gall of bitterness," Acts viii. 23. A guilty soul wears Cain's mark, which was a trembling at the heart, and a shaking in his flesh ; guilt makes the sinner afraid, lest every trouble he meets with should ar- rest him, and bring him to judgment. If guilt be so dismal, and breed such convul- sion-fits in the conscience, how earnest should we be in prayer that God would re- move this guilt, and so earnest as to resolve to take no denial. Plead hard with God for pardon, as a man would plead with a judge for his life. Fall upon thy knees, say, " Lord, hear one word." — " Why," may God say, " what canst thou say for
thyself, that thou shouldest not die?" — " Lord, I can say but little, but I put in my suretv, Christ shall answer for me. O look upon that blood which speaks better things than that of Abel ! Christ is my priest, his blood is my sacrifice, his divine nature is my altar." As Rahab was to shew the scarlet thread in the window, and when Joshua saw it, he did not destroy her. Josh. ii. 18, 21., and vi. 22, 23., so shew the Lord the scarlet thread of Christ's blood, and that is the way to have mercy. " But," will God say, " why should I pardon thee ? thou hast nowise obliged me."^ — " But, Lord, pardon me, because thou hast promised it ; I urge thy covenant." When a man is to die by the law, he calls for his book, so say, " Lord, let me have the benefit of my book : thy word saith, ' if the sinner forsake his evil way thou wilt pardon abundantly,' Isa. Iv. 7. Lord, I have forsaken my sins, let me therefore have mercy : I plead the benefit of the book." — " But, for whose sake should I pardon ? Thou canst not deserve it." — " Lord, for thy own name's sake ; thou hast said, thou wilt blot out sin, for thy own name's sake, Isa. xliii. 25. 'Twill be no eclipsing to thy ci-own ; how will thy mercy shine forth, and all thy other attri- butes ride in triumph, if thou shalt pardon me !" Thus plead with God in prayer, and resolve not to give him over till thy pardon be sealed. God cannot deny importunity ; he delights in mercy. As the mother, saith Chrysostom, delights tohave her breast milk- ed, so God delights to milk out tlie breast of mercy to the sinner. These moans being used will procure this great blessedness, — the forgiveness of sin. Thus I have done with the first part of this fifth petition, ' Forgive us our sins ;' I come to the second part of this petition, " As we forgive our debtors."
Mat. vi. 12. As we forgive our Debtors : Or, As ice forgive them that trespass against us
I PROCEED to the second part of the petition, " As we forgive them that trespass against us."
" As we forgive." This word, As, is not a note of equality, but similitude ; not that we equal God in forgiving, but imitate him.
This great duty of forgiving others, is a crossing the stream ; 'tis contrary to flesh and blood. Men forget kindnesses, but re member injuries. But it is an indispensi- hie duty to forgive ; we are not bound to trust an enemy ; but we are bound to for-
OF THE FIFTH PETITION IN THE LORDS PRAYER.
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give liim. We are naturally prone to re- venge. Revenge (saith Homer) is sweet as dropping honey. The heathen philoso- phers held revenge lawful. JJIcisci te laces- sittts potes. Cicero. But we learn better things out of the oracles of scripture, Mark xi. 25., " Wlien ye stand praying, forgive," Mat. V. 44., Col. iii. 13., " If a man hatli a quarrel against any, even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye."
Quest. 1. How can we forgive others, when it is only God forgives sin ?
Ans. In every breach of the second ta- ble, there are two things, — an offence a- gainst God, — and a trespass against man ; 60 far as it is an offence against God, he only can forgive ; but so far as it is a tres- pass against man, so we may forgive.
Quest. 2. When do rve forgive others ?
Alls. When we strive against all thoughts of revenge, — if it be in our power to do our enemies mischief, we will not, — we wish well to them, grieve at their calamities, we pray for them, we seek reconciliation with them, we shew ourselves ready on all occa- sions to relieve them, — this is gospel-for- giving.
Ocj. 1. But I have been much injured and abused, and to put it up will be a stain to my reputation.