2 Peter ii. 3, and turn off grief rather than put it away. It is no profit though forgotten, if not forgiven. Not denying sin. There are books of record, Rev. xx. 12, which will be opened at the last day, and then all our sins are set in order before us. Not excusing sin, or extenuating it ; that is to aggravate our case, to hold neither by law nor gospel ; for the law cannot save the sinner or the half innocent ; and the gospel requireth that we should accuse ourselves, and judge and condemn ourselves : 1 John i. 9, ' If we confess and forsake our sins, he is just and faithful to forgive us our sins ; ' 1 Cor. xi. 31, ' For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.' Nothing but forgiveness will do us good.
3. There is some hope of forgiveness, because God forbeareth the worst, and doth not stir up all his wrath against them. They have food, and raiment, and ease, and liberty, and friends, and wealth, and honour : Rom. ii. 4, ' Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness, and forbearance, and long-suffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads thee to repentance ? ' All these forfeited mercies are continued to us. Therefore God deals not with them in utmost rigour ; and while he waiteth to be gracious, he is willing to be appeased, ready to
VER. 12.] SERMONS UPON 1 JOHN II. 12-14. 387
forgive upon terms consistent with his honour and the common food. Yea, his commanding us to forgive one another is an argument that mercy and forgiveness are agreeable and pleasing unto God. We are yet in via. in the way, and under an obligation to use means for our- selves, and therefore our condition is not desperate, and past all hope. Everything about us proclaimeth the goodness of this God with whom we have to do : Acts xiv. 17, ' Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.'
4. Though forgiveness may be probably hoped for from God's good- ness and mercy as represented in common providence, yet till there be a satisfaction for the offence, and we may have our pardon granted with the good leave of provoked justice, the soul can have no satisfaction. The grand scruple that haunts the guilty creature is, how God shall be appeased ? Micah vi. 7. If God will pardon sinners, there must be fit means to keep up the honour of his justice and authority of his law, or else the engrafted notions concerning God would be violated, and the government of the world could not be kept up. Some way there must be to declare his holiness and righteousness : Rom. iii. 25, ' Whom God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins.' To leave a brand upon sin, Rom. iv. 27, and to check those thoughts of impunity, which indulgence to carnalities breedeth in the hearts of men, Deut. xxi. 19 ; and that God's law and government may not be brought into contempt, and that sinners may not take liberty to sin without fear. The devil at first endeavoured to persuade men that God meant not as he spake in the threatening of death to them : Gen. iii. 4, 5, ' Hath God said, Ye shall not surely die ? ' Now this evil suggestion would seem to be confirmed by God's providence, unless there were a course and way found out to save the honour of God's justice, the authority of his law and government. Now to all these ends Christ came, and purchased forgiveness at a dear rate ; and so God appeareth fully just, as well as merciful, in that course of pardoning and forgiving which he hath instituted and set up.
5. It was agreeable to the honour and wisdom of God that those who would have benefit by this remedy should be sensible of the weight which is upon them, and humbly confess their sins, and with broken- ness of heart sue out their pardon : 1 John i. 9, ' If we confess our sins, he is just and. faithful to forgive us our sins;' Neh. ix. 33, 'Howbeit, thou art just in all that is brought upon us ; for thou hast done right, but we have done wickedly ; ' Dan. ix. 7, ' 0 Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of face.' Acknowledge his justice, and implore his mercy in a submissive way. Self-condemning sinners are pardoned ; for it was not meet that sin should be pardoned till the creature doth relent.
6. It is fit also that those who would sue out their pardon in this humble and submissive way should acknowledge their Redeemer, and thankfully accept of the benefit procured by him, and offered to them in his name ; and heartily consent to his covenant to be brought home to God again, that they may be fully recovered out of their lapsed con- dition : Acts xx. 21, the sum of the gospel is, ' Repentance towards God
388 SERMONS UPON 1 JOHN II. 12-14. [SeR. II.