And this also (which is our design in hand) will make it appear that this discovery of forgiveness whereof we speak is indeed no com- mon thing, — is a great discovery. Let men come, with a sense of the guilt of sin, to have deep and serious thoughts of God, they will find it no such easy and light matter to have their hearts truly and thoroughly apprehensive of this loving and gracious nature of God in reference unto pardon. It is an easy matter to say so in common ; but the soul will not find it so easy to believe it for itself. What hath been spoken before concerning the ingrafted notions that are in the minds of men about the justice, holiness, and severity of God, will here take place. Though men profess that God is gracious, yet that aversation which they have unto him and communion with him doth abundantly manifest that they do not believe what they say and profess : if they did, they could not but delight and trust in him, which they do not; for "They that know his name will put their trust in him." So said the slothful servant in the gosiDel, " I knew that thou wast austere, and not for me to deal withal." It may be he professed otherwise before, but that lay in his heart when it came to the trial. But this, I say, is necessary to them unto whom this dis- covery is to be made, even a spiritual a])prehension of the gracious, loving heart and nature of God. Tliis is the spring of all that follows; and the fountain must needs be infinitely sweet from whence such streams do flow. He that considers the glorious fabric of heaven and earth, with the things in them contained, must needs conclude that tbey were the product of infinite wisdom and power; nothing less or under them could have brouerht forth such an ctfect. And he
Ver. 4.] TRUE NATURE OF GOSPEL FORGIVENESS. 401
that really consideretli forgiveness, and loots on it with a spiritual eye, must conclude that it comes from infinite goodness and grace. And this is that which the hearts of sinners are exercised about when they come to deal for pardon: Ps. Ixxxvi. 5, "Thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive;'' Neh. ix. 17, "Thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness;" and Micah vii. 18, "Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity ? . . . . because he delighteth in mercy." And God encourageth them hereunto wherever he says that he forgives sins and blots out iniquities for his own sake or his name's sake ; that is, he will deal with sinners according to the goodness of his own graci- ous natui-e. So Hos. xi. 9, " I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim : for I am God, and not man." Were there no more mercy, grace, compassion to be showed in this case than it is possible should he treasured up in the heart of a man, it would be impossible that Ephraim should be spared ; but saith he, " I am God, and not man." Consider the infinite large- ness, bounty, and goodness of the heart of God, and there is yet hope. When a sinner is in good earnest seeking after forgiveness, there is nothing he is more solicitous about than the heart of God towards him, — nothing that he more labours to have a discovery of; there is nothing that sin and Satan labour more to hide from him. This he rolls in his mind, and exercises his thoughts about; and if ever that voice of God, Isa. xxvii. 4, " Fuiy is not in me," sound in his heart, he is relieved from his great distresses. And the fear of our hearts in this matter our Saviour seems to intend the prevention or a removal of: John xvi. 26, 27, "I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you ; for the Father himself loveth you." They had good thoughts of the tender heart and care of Christ himself, the mediator, towards them; but what is the heart of the Father? what acceptance shall they find with him? Will Christ pray that they may find favour with him? Why, saith he, as to the love of his heart, "There is no need of it ; ' for the Father himself loveth you.' " If this, then, be- longeth to forgiveness, as whoever hath sought for it knoweth that it doth, it is certainly no common discovery to have it revealed unto us. • To have all the clouds and darkness that are raised by sin between us and the throne of God dispelled ; to have the fire, and storms, and tempests, that are kindled and stirred up about him by the law re- moved; to have his glorious face unvailed, and his holy heart laid open, and a view given of those infinite treasures and stores of good- ness, mercy, love, and kindness which have had an unchangeable habitation therein from all eternity; to have a discovery of these eternal springs of forbearance and forgiveness, — is that which none but Christ can accomplish and bring about, John xvii. 6.