VER. 12.] SERMONS UPON 1 JOHN II. 12-14. 385
only spare us for a while, but save us for ever. A reprieve only sus- pended and deferreth execution, but a pardon wholly preventeth it.
4. The object of this pardon is the penitent believer ; and that faith is required, see Acts x. 43, 'To him gave all the prophets witness, that, through his name, whosoever believeth in him shall receive remis- sion of sins;' Acts x. 38, 39, 'By this man we preach unto you forgive- ness of sin ; and whosoever believeth in him is justified from all things from which he could not be justified by the law of Moses.' It is neces- sary that those who have benefit by Christ should own the author of their deliverance, and give up themselves to him, both in a way of depend- ence and obedience. In a way of dependence, putting their cause into his hands, that he may reconcile them to God. And also obedience is needful, that they may for the future devote themselves to God by Christ. And repentance is required : Acts iii. 19, ' Repent, that your sins may be blotted out ; ' and Luke xxiv. 47, ' That repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations.' And it is also required that we may acknowledge the obligation in his law, bemoaning our former misery, and consecrating ourselves anew to God, to do his will, and walk in his ways. Repentance is our return to God, from whom we have departed by sin : Acts xx. 21, ' Testify- ing both to the Jews and Greeks repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ'
5. This sin is forgiven without requiring satisfaction or punishment of the sinner.
[1.] Satisfaction to divine justice is not given by us for the wrongs we have done, but by Christ. God will have satisfaction, but not from us. Christ hath given it by his own blood. Therefore pardon of sins is made a special part of our redemption : Col. i. 14, ' In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins ; ' Eph. i. 7, ' In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins.' We are freely forgiven, yet the Lord required that provoked justice should have satisfaction, which is not exacted of us, but of Christ, who was made sin for us.
[2.] Punishment is not required of us ; for where he forgiveth the sin, he forgivethHhe punishment. It will not stand with God's mercy to forgive the debt, and yet require the payment ; as it is a mockage among men to forgive the debt, and yet to cast the debtor into prison, or to pardon a malefactor, and yet leave him liable to execution. God forgiveth us, as we are bound to forgive our brother, Mat. vi. 12. Now that is not in part, but in whole ; not to forgive the wrong, and yet take our full revenge of him. Surely as to eternal wrath the case is clear ; as to the afflictions of believers, there is some difficulty ; but our afflictions in this life are not for the satisfaction of offended justice, that is so fully done by Christ, that it needeth not be pieced up by our sufferings ; and therefore our afflictions are not needful to the com- pleting of our justification and pardon, but as helps to the furtherance of our sanctification ; so they are of great use to make us hate sin more. If we only knew the sweetness of sin, and not the bitterness, we would not be so shy and cautious as we ought to be. Afflictions remain as monuments of God's displeasure against that which we are too apt to love and indulge : Jer. ii. 19, ' Thine own wickedness shall correct thee,
VOL. XX. I Qu. ' f oregoeth ' ?— Ed. 2 B
386 SERMONS UPON 1 JOHN IT. 12-14. [SER. I,
and thy backsliding shall reprove thee ; know therefore, and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God.' They help us also to prize our deliverance by Christ. If afflictions be so grievous, what would hell be ? ' When chastened, not condemned/ 1 Cor. xi. 32. Those whose garments were singed knew in part what it was to be cast into the fiery furnace. We are scorched a little, singed a little ; it is a fair warning or gentle remembrance to stand further off.
Secondly, How it is obtained. Take it in these propositions —
1. Sin is avofxia, a transgression of the law, a debt, as being a wrong done against God, obliging the sinner either to repair God in point of honour, or to lie under the wrath of God for evermore ; for
1 the wages of sin is death,' Rom. vi. 23.
2. There is no deliverance from this debt of sin, or obligation to wrath because of sin, but by pardon and forgiveness. The plea of innocency is lost, and there are but two pleas, guilty or innocent. Now to plead guilty without hope of pardon is but to condemn ourselves. What will stead us ? On God's part no other thing will serve the turn. Not his patience, or forbearing mercy ; forbearance is no dis- charge ; the sentence is in force still, though execution be delayed. Nut the bounty of his providence seen in outward blessings ; these things may be given in wrath. Not deliverance from eminent dangers ; that looks like a pardon, but is not. God seems to put the bond in suit, yet spareth for the time : Ps. lxxviii. 38, ' But he being full of compassion, forgave their iniquities, and destroyed them not; yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath ; ' Mat. xviii. 27, ' The lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave the debt.' Compared with ver. 34, ' And the lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors till he should pay all that was due to him.' This is a reprieve, not a pardon. Nothing will stead us on our part. Not forgetting sin ; for what are we the better if God remember it? Many sleep whose damnation sleepeth not,