1. Pardon is purchased and procured by it. Our redemption is our forgiveness, as the cause contains the effect. No soul is par- doned but with respect unto the blood of Christ as the procuring cause of that pardon. Hence he is said to have " washed us in his blood," Rev. i. 5 ; " by himself to have purged our sins," Heb. i. 3 ; "by one offering" to have taken away sin, and to have "perfected for ever them that are sanctified," Heb. x. 14; to be the ransom and " propitiation for our sins," 1 John ii. 2 ; to have "made an end of sins," Dan. ix. 24; and to have "made reconciliation for the sins of the
406 AN EXPOSITION UPON PSALJI cxxx. [Vcr.4.
people/' Heb. ii. 17. God hath enclosed his licli stores of pardon and mercy in the blood of Jesus.
2. Because w his blood the promise of pardon is ratified and confirmed, so that nothing is wanting to our complete forgiveness but our pleading the promise by faith in Imn: 2 Cor. i. 20, " All the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen;" that is, faith- fully, and irrevocably, and immutably established. And therefore the apostle having told us that this is the covenant of God, that he would be "merciful to our sins and iniquities," Heb. viii. 12, he informs us that in the undertakinof of Christ this covenant is become a tes- tament, chap. ix. 15-17; so ratified in his blood, that mercy and for- giveness of sin is irrevocably confirmed unto us therein.
3. Because he hath in his own person, as the head of the church, 7'eceived an acquitment for the luhole body. His personal discharge, upon the accomplisliment of his work, was a pledge of the discharge which was in due time to be given to his whole mystical body. Peter tells us. Acts ii. 24,. that it was impossible he should be detained by death. And why so? Because death being penally inflicted on him, when he had paid the debt he was legally to be acquitted. Now, for whom and in whose name and stead he suffered, for them and in their name and stead he received this acquitment.
4. Because upon his death, God the Father hath committed unto him the ivhole management of the business of forgiveness : Acts v. 31, he now gives ''repentance" and the "forgiveness of sins." It is Christ that forgives us, Col. iii. 13. All forgiveness is now at his disposal, and he pardoneth whom he will, even all that are given unto him of the Father, not casting out any that come to God by him. He is intrusted with all the stores of his Father's purpose and his own purchase ; and thence tells us that " all things that the Father hath are his," John xvi. 15.
In all these respects doth forgiveness relate to the blood of Christ. Mercy, pardon, and grace could find no other way to issue forth from the heart of the Father but by the heart-blood of the Son; and so do they stream unto the licart of the sinner.
Two things are principally to be considered in the respect that for- giveness hath to the blood of Christ: — (1.) The way of its procure- ment; (2.) The xcay of its administration by him. The first is deep, mysterious, dreadful. It was by his blood, the blood of the cross, the travail of his soul, his undergoing Avrath and curse. The other is gracious, merciful, and tender; whence so many things are spoken of his mercifulness and faithfulness, to encourage us to expect forgive- ness from him.
This also adds to the mysterious depths of forgiveness, and makes its discovery a great matter. The soul that looks after it in earnest
Ver.4.] WHAT faith respects in forgiveness. 407
must consider what it cost. How light do most men make of par- don ! What an easy thing is it to be acquainted with it ! and no very hard matter to obtain it! But to hold communion with God, in the blood of his Son, is a thing of another nature than is once dreamed of by many who think they know well enough what it is to be par- doned. " God be merciful," is a common saying; and as common to desire he would be so " for Christ's sake." Poor creatures are cast into the mould of such expressions, who know neither God, nor mercy, nor Christ, nor any thing of the mystery of the gospel. Others look on the outside of the cross. To see into the mystery of the love of the Father, working in the blood of the Mediator; to consider by faith the great transaction of divine wisdom, justice, and mercy therein, — how few attain unto it ! To come imto God by Christ for forgiveness, and therein to behold the law issuing all its threats and -curses in his blood, and losing its sting, putting an end to its obliga- tion unto punishment, in the cross ; to see all sins gathered up in the hands of God's justice, and made to meet on the Mediator, and eternal love springing forth triumphantly from his blood, flourishing into pardon, grace, mercy, forgiveness,— this the heart of a sinner can be enlarged unto only by the Spirit of God.