(3.) We beg here the sense and manifestation of pardon, though it be not the only thing we pray for. ' Forgive us our sins,' that is, let us know it. God may blot sins out of his book, when he doth not blot them out of our consciences. There is the book of conscience, and the book of God's remembrance. The book of God's remembrance may be cancelled (to speak after the manner of men) ; as soon as we believe and repent, then the handwriting which was against us is torn ; but he blots it out of our consciences when the worm of conscience is killed by the application of the blood of Christ through the Spirit, when we are ' sprinkled from an evil conscience,^ as the expression is, Heb. X. 22. And David is earnest with God for this benefit, the sense of his pardon : Ps. li. 8, 12, ' Make me to hear joy and gladness ; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice ; and restore unto me the joy of thy salvation.' Nathan had told him his sins were
180 AN EXPOSITION OF [MaT. VI. 12.
pardoned, yet he wanted the joy of God's salvatioi), that ancient free spirit, that comforting, enlarging spirit he was wont to have. God may forgive in heaven, when he does not forgive in our sense and feeling ; therefore we beg the manifestation of it by the comforts of the gospel.
(4.) We beg the increase of that sense, for this sense is given out in a different latitude. Spiritual sense is not in all alike quick and lively ; many have only a probable certainty, but have many doub.ts — some have comfort, but never arrive to peace. Comfort, you know, is that thing Avhich holds up itself against encounters when we are confronted ; so there may be many doubts when the preponderating part of the soul inclineth to comfort. Some have peace for the present, rest from trouble of conscience ; others have joy, which is a degree above peace and comfort.
(5.) We beg the effects of pardon, or freedom from those penal evils wdiich are continued upon God's children, and are the fruits of sin. Clearly this is intended, for we beg of God to pardon us as we pardon others; that is, fully, entirely to forgive, forget. We beg of God to for- give us our sins ; that is, to mitigate those troubles, evils, and afHictions, which are the fruits of sin. It is true, when a man is justified, the state of his person is altered ; yet sin is the same in itself, it deserves all manner of evils ; therefore we beg not only a release from wrath to come, but from those other temporal evils that dog us at the heels. Sin is the same still, though the person is not the same. It is still the violation of a holy law, an affront done to a holy God, an inconven- ience upon the precious soul ; it brings a blot upon us, an inclination to sin again ; nay, it brings eternal death. Though it do not bring eternal death upon pardoned persons, yet it may occasion temporal trouble. God hath still reserved this liberty in the covenant : that he will 'visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes ; nevertheless my loving-kindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail,' Ps. Ixxxix. 32, 33. And Prov, xi. 31, ' The righteous shall be recompensed in the earth ; ' that is, he shall smart for his evil-doings. A child of God, when he sinneth against him, though he be not executed, yet he may be branded, he may have a mark of shame put upon him, his pilgrimage may be made uncomfortable, and these maybe fully consistent with God's grace and love. Therefore we beg a release from these penal evils, that as the guilt, so the punishment also may be abolished.
2. The right that a justified person hath to the pardon of his daily sins.
Pardon of sin is to be considered : (1) in the impetration of it ; (2.) the offer; (3.) the judicial application, or legal absolution of tlie sinner.
[1.] In the impetration and purchase of it. So when, Heb. x. 14, ' By one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified,' there needed no more to expiate them to satisfy justice.
[2] In the offer of it. So God hath proclaimed pardon upon the condition of repentance: Ezek. xxxiii. 11, ' Say unto them. As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked ; but that the wicked turn from his way and live : turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways ; for why will ye die, 0 house of Israel ? '
Mat. VI. 12.] the lord's prayer. 181
[3 ] In tlic judicial application, or legal absolution of a sinner. God in Ills word hath pronounced the legal absolution of every one that believeth in Christ. As soon as we repent and believe, a threefold benefit we have : —
(1.) The state of the person is altered ; he is a child of God : John i. 12, ' To as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.' He hath full leave to call God Father, a kind of fatherly dealing from him. Translated from a state of wrath to the state of grace, from a child of the devil he is made a child of God, never to be cast out of his family.