A. That we must not seek *?reat matters for ourselves, neither make Vol. VL U
308 AN' EXPOSrriON OF THE ASSEMBLY'S CATECHISM.
them the matter of prayer to God ; nor the end and design of our labours and callings among men.
Q. 20. What is a second inference from hence ?
J. That having food and raiment, we must be therewith content, and therefore thankful ; 1 Tim. vi. 8. And having food and raiment, let us be therewith content. 1 Thess. v, 18. In every thing give thanks.
Q. 21. What is tlie third inference.?
J. That we ascribe not our success in the world to our own skill and industry, for the wisest and most industrious do sometimes labour in the fire, and put their gain in a bag with holes ; but to God's free donation to us, and to his blessing upon our endeavours ; Gen. xxxiii. 5, 11. And he hft up his eyes, and saw the women and the children, and said, Who are those with thee ? And he said, the children which
God hath graciously given thy servant. Take, I pray thee, my
blessing that is brought to thee, because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. Deut. xxviii. 3. Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field. Ver. 6. Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.
Concei'ning Forgiveness of Sins.
Quest. 105. V? HAT do we pray for in the fifth petition?
A. In the fifth petition, which is, [And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors,] zee praij, that God, for Christ's sake, licouldfrecJy pardon all our sins ; which zoe are the rather encoura- ged to ask, because by his g7'ace ive are enabled from the heart to forgive others.
Q. 1. Why doth this petition immediately follow the former.''
A, To teach, that all temporal and corporal good things, without special and spiritual ones, are little worth ; Psalm iv. 6. There be many that sa}', who will shew us any good ? Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. Psalm xvii. 14, 15. From men which are thy hand, O Lord, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure. They are full of children, and leave the rest of their sub- stance to their babes. As for me, I will behold thy face in righteous- ness ? I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.
Q. 2. Why is it annexed to the former with the copulative and ?
A. To teach, that to be one minute in the confluence of all earth- ly good things, without the pardon of sin, is a very dangerous and dreadful condition ; Luke xii. 16, 20. And he spake a parable unto them, saying. The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plen- tifully : But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night shall thy soul be required of thee ; then whose shall those things be which thou hast provided r
AM EXPOSITION OF THE ASSEMliLV's CATECHISM. 309
Q. 3, Why is forgiveness of sins placed in the front of spiritual blessings ?
J. Because till sin be pardoned, we are under wrath, and can have no special saving grace applied to us, till we are accepted ; till we are in Ciirist, we have no covenant-right to the blessings of Christ ; Mat. xi. 28. Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Ver. 30. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light ; John xv. 4, 5. Abide in me, and I in you ; as the branch can- not bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine ; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches. He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much
fruit ; for without me ye can do nothing. Ver. 7. If ye abide in
me, and my words abide in you ; ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. John iii. nit. He that believeth on the Son, hath everlasting life ; and he that believeth not the Son, shall not see life ; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Q. 4. Why do we pray for forgiveness ? Cannot we make amends for our sins, and be freed from their guilt, without pardon ?
A. No, all that we can ever do, or suffer, can never expiate the guilt of the least sin ; Psalm xlix. 7, 8. None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him ; (for the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever) 1 Sam. ii. 25. If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him : but if a man sin against the Lord, who shall entreat for him ?
Q. 5. Does God then freely, and out of mere grace, forgive us ?
A. Yes, without any respect had to anything we can do, or be; Isa. xliii. 25. I, even I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. Rom. ix. 15. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. Ver. 18. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
Q. 6. How doth God forgive sins ?
A. (1.) Universally, all sins; Exod. xxxiv. 6, 7. And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, the Lord, the Lord God, mer- ciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodncssand truth, keeping mercy for thousands ; forgiving iniquit}, and transgression, and sin. Jer. xxxiii. 8. And I will cleanse them from all their ini- quities, whereby they have sinned against me ; And I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and where])y they have transgressed against me. Hosea xiv. 2. Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously. (2.) Completely, and perfectly ; Isa. xliii. 25. I, even I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. Psal. ciii. 12. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Mic. vii. 19. He will subdue our iniquities ; and thou wilt cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. Isa. xxxviii. 17. Forlhou hastcastallmv sins behind thy back. (3.) Everlastingly ; Jer. xxxi. 34. For I will
310 AN EXPOSITION OF THE ASSEMBLY'S CATECHISM.
forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. Heb. viii. 12. And their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
Q. 7. But doth not God punish them afterward, whom he has justified and forgiven ?
A. No, not with a proper and vindictive punishment; but he brings evils upon them for their sins, as a Father chastises his child ; and other sorts of afflictions for their spiritual good : He may be angry, as a Father, with those he has pardoned, but never hate them as a condemning Judge; Psal. Ixxxix. 28. My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him. Ver. 34. My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.
Q. 8. How can God be said freely to pardon all our sins, when we pray it may be done for Christ's sake ; does not that imply that Christ nas satisfied God for our sins, and deserved our remission ?