The first use we will make of it shall be for instruction and exhortation, and we will come after to comfort, and to resolve certain cases, if time serve. The cases are many, and rise from mistake of the covenant.
Use 1. First, for exhortation and instruction, and that shall be to per- suade every one, if they would make themselves happy in the enjoying of all things that are good, what course they should take for it. Get this, their sins forgiven. Let that be the first thing. If a man would make all comfort sure to himself, let him make this sure first to himself, that his sins are forgiven him. Therefore I beseech you consider this, and take it to heart, that we may persuade you to get the knowledge of the remission of your sins. We persuade you not to anything that is impossible or un- necessary. It is a thing that may be had, and it is a thing that is neces- sary you should have, if you will have any good. Make this first sure to thyself, that thy sin is pardoned.
I. I say, first, it is possible. It is that which the papists deny, and that which others question, and which natural reason is against ; and therefore, because it is a point of faith, the Scripture is more large in it, and we must be more express in clearing of it, to make it appear to you that it is pos- sible that a man may have the knowledge that his sins are forgiven him ; that he may not only conclude that sins are forgiven to some, or, it may be, I may hope that my sins shall be forgiven to me ; but he may conclude resolutely that my sins are forgiven me, and as truly and as certainly, and more certainly, than if an angel from heaven should tell a man so. A man would think when an angel shall come and tell Cornelius that his prayers and alms-deeds were accepted, there could be no certainer knowledge than that. When an angel shall come and tell Daniel that he was a man greatly beloved, there could not be more certainty of it by any means. All that Dives required was but that one might arise from the dead, that his brethren might certainly know the things in another world. But we will make it appear to you that there is a way to make it more certain to us than the voice of any that should rise from the dead, or the report of an angel. Men have been deluded by apparitions, and Satan may transform himself into an angel of light ; but this way of making it known to a man's self that
272 sin's antidote.
his sins are forgiven cannot deceive him, as we shall now shew to you. But that there is such a certainty,
(1.) First, Else how is it possible that the servants of God should have peace of conscience till a man may know that his sins are actually par- doned him ■? But to settle a man's conscience in quiet and in peace there must be an act in the court of heaven ; and somewhat must be done in the court of conscience. Something Christ doth in heaven with God his Father, and something like that he doth in the heart of a man, he makes peace with God his Father for us. Now God is reconciled to a man ; then a^ain he doth by his Spirit give to a man the knowledge of this reconciha- tion with God by clear evidences out of the word, and then a man is at rest, then a man is at peace, and therefore a man may know it. Suppose a malefactor had a pardon granted in the court, as long as he knows not of it, he is full of trouble still, when it is brought home to his chamber, to his lodfrinff, to the prison, or wheresoever he is, now he hath peace. The soul of a man is not at peace till the pardon be brought home to the consistory, to his chamber, to a man's own conscience. Now where there is one of these manifested evidently to him, that he may read it, and take notice of it, then he is at peace. Now it is possible for a man to have peace in this life: Rom. v. 1, ' Being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through Jesus Christ.' It was not only Paul's case that he had peace with God, but it was the case of the believing Romans, and therefore he joins the rest with himself, ' We being justified by faith, have peace with God.'
(2.) Again, it appears a man may know that his sins are pardoned by another thing, else how could a man pray for the pardon of sin ? We are bound to pray for it ; but what we ask we must ask in faith, and waver not, James i. 5, and whatsoever you ask, believe it shall be granted, and it shall be done to you, Mark xi. 24. A man must pray in faith ; in pray- inw for the particular thing, faith applies it to a man's self, applies it Jo his own soul, not in a wavering, suspensing, doubtful manner, but that upon knowledge : * By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many.' There is a knowledge in faith ; that is, such a knowledge as is grounded upon divine revelation, upon the truth of the word, whereupon faith looks, which, when a man knows and applies, now he hath peace ; by this he knows that his sins are pardoned.