Therefore let us the more build upon this truth, which is indeed the sum of all godliness. For what is the gospel but the triumph of mercy ? Do but consider the scope of God in the new covenant, whereof the sacra- ment is a seal, which is only to shew forth the exaltation of the grace and mercy of God in Jesus Christ, above all unworthiness whatsoever. For all there is for the glory of his mercy. For in the covenant of gi-ace, mercy doth triumph against judgment and justice ; which mercy of God in Chiist is said by the apostle ' to reign unto hfe everlasting, by Jesus Christ our Lord,' Rom. v. 21. It reigns, and hath a regiment* above, and over all. For mercy in God stured up his wisdom to devise a way, by shedding of the blood of Christ Jesus, God-man, to satisfy divine justice, and rejoice against it. But whence comes this, that justice should be so satisfied ? Because a way is found out, how none of God's attributes are losers by mercy. "Wherefore in any temptation, when we are prone to doubt of God's love, say, What ! shall we wrong God more, by calling in question his mercy, and the excellency of his lovingkindness, which is more than any other sin we have committed ? This is a sin superadded against his mere}', power, goodness, gi'aciousness, and love in healing of sin ; which takes away the glory of God in that attribute, wherein he labours to triumph, reign, and glorify himself most, and ' which is over all his works,' Ps. cxlv. 9. Therefore he that oifends herein, in denying God the glory of his great, tender, imspeakable mercy, whereby he would glorify himself most in the covenant of gi'ace, he oflends God most.
Therefore let us, at such times as God awakens conscience, be so far from thinking that God is unwilling to cure and help us, as to think that hereby we shall honour God more by believing than we dishonoured him by our sin. For the faith of an humble, contrite sinner, it glorifies God more than oui" better obedience in other things doth ; because it gives him the glory of that wherein he delights, and -will be most glorified, the gloiy of his mercy and truth, of his rich, abundant mercy that hath no bounds. There is no comparison between the mercy of God in the covenant of grace, and that to Adam in the state of nature. For in the first he did good to a good man ; first he made him good, and then did him good. But when man did degenerate, and was fallen into such a cursed estate as we are, for God then to be good to a sinner, and freely to do good, here is goodness indeed, triumphant goodness. Cain w^as a cursed person, who said, 'My punishment is greater than can be borne,' Gen. iv. Id. We know who spake it. No ; God is a physician for all diseases. If they be ' crimson sins,' he can make them * white as wool,' Isa. i. 18. That is, ' government.' — G.
310 THE KETTIRNING BACKSLIDEB. [SeRMON V.
Who would not be careful therefore to search his wounds, his sins to the bottom ? Let the search be as deep as we can, considering that there is more mercy in God, than there can be sin in us. Who would favour his soul ? especially considering, if he neglect searching of it, sins will grow deadly and incurable upon that neglect. Let this therefore encourage us not to spare ourselves, in opening the wounds of our souls to God, that he may spare all. Thus we saw formerly, the church here is brought in deal- ing plainly with God, and confessing all (for she had an excellent teacher), and God answers all ; beginning with this, ' I will heal their backsliding.' They were idolaters, and guilty of the sins of the second table in a high measure (no petty sins), yet God saith, * I will heal their backsliding,' &c. Which being healed, then an open highway is made for all other mercies whatsoever, which is the next point we observe hence :
Ohs. That the chief mercy of all, which leads unto all the rest, is the pardon and forgiveness of sins.
Healing of the guilt of sin, we see, is set in the front of these petitions for- merly shewed ; which as it is the first thing in the church's desire, ' Take away all iniquity,' &c, so it is the first thing yielded to in God's promise, ' I will heal their backsliding,' &c. Pardon of sin, and cure of sin, whereby the conscience ceaseth to be bound over to condemnation, is the first and chiefest blessing of God, and is that for which the church falls out in a triumph. ' Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage, because he de- lighteth in mercy,' &c., Micah vii. 18, 19, 20. And this is that excellent and sweet conclusion of the new covenant also, whereupon all the rest of those former foregoing mercies there are grounded. For, ' I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more,' Jer. sxxi. 34. Yea, this is the efi'ect of that grand promise made to his church after the return of their captivity. ' In those days, and at that time, saith the Lord, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none ; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found ; for I will pardon them whom I reserve,' Jer. 1. 20. The point is plain and clear enough ; it needs no fol- lowing. The reason is.