" What course did you take?" — Ans. " I went unto Him by Jesus Christ against whom I have sinned, and have found him better unto me than I could expect or ever should have believed, had not he overpowered my heart by his Spirit. Instead of wrath, which I feared, and that justly, because I had deserved it, he said unto me in Christ, * Fury is not in me." For a long time I thought it impossible that there should be mercy and pardon for me, or such a one as I. But he still supported me, sometimes by one means, sometimes by an- other ; until, taking my soul near to himself, he caused me to see the folly of my unbelieving heart, and the vileness of the hard thoughts I had of him, and that, indeed, there is with him forgiveness and plenteous redemption. This hath taken away all my sorrows, and given me quietness, with rest and assurance."
" But are you sure, now, that this is so? May you not possibly be deceived?" — Ans. Says the soul, "I have not the least suspicion of any such matter ; and if at any time aught doth arise to that pur- pose, it is quickly overcome."
"But how are you confirmed in this persuasion?" — Ans. "That sense of it which I have in my heart; that sweetness and rest which I have experience of; that injluence it hath upon my soul; that ob- ligation I find laid upon me by it unto all thankful obedience; that relief, supportment, and consolation that it hath afforded me in trials and troubles, in the mouth of the grave and entrances of eternity, — all answering what is declared concerning these things in the word, — will not suffer me to be deceived. I could not, indeed, receive it until God was pleased to speak it unto me ; but now let Satan do his utmost, I shall never cease to bear this testimony, that there is mercy and forgiveness with him."
Ver.4.] EVIDENCE OF FORGIVENESS WITH GOD. 4G1
How many thousands may we find of these in the world, wlio have had such a seal of this truth in their hearts, as they can not only securely lay down their lives in the confirmation of it, if called thereunto, but also do cheerfully and triumphantly venture their eternal concernments upon it ! yea, this is the rise of all that peace, serenity of mind, and strong consolation, which in this world they are made partakers of.
Now this is to me, on the principles before laid down, an evidence great and important. God hath not manifested this truth unto the saints, thus copied it out of his word, and exemplified it in their souls, to leave them under any possibility of being deceived.
Institution of religious worship an evidence of forgiveness.
VII. God's institution of religious luorship, and honour therein to he rendered unto liim by sinners, is another evidence that there is forgiveness with him. I have instanced before in one particu- lar of worship to this purpose, — namely, in that of sacrifices; but therein we intended only their particular nature and signification, how they declared and manifested reconciliation, atonement, and par- don. Thiit now aimed at is, to show hoAV all the worship that God hath appointed unto us, and all the honour which we give unto his holy majesty thereby, is built upon the same foundation, — namely, a svipposition of forgiveness, — and is appointed to teach it, and to as- certain us of it; which shall briefly be declared. To this end ob- serve, ^ —
1. That the general end of all divine and religious worship is to raise unto God a revenue of glory out of the creation. Such is God 's infinite natural self-sufficiency, that he stands in need of no such glory and honour. He was in himself no less infinitely and eternally glorious before the creation of all or any thing whatever, than he will be when he shall be encompassed about with the praises of all the works of his hands. And such is his absolute perfection, that no honour given unto him, no admiration of him, no ascription of glory and praise, can add any thing unto him. Hence saith the psalmist, " My goodness extendeth not to thee," Ps, xvi. 2; — "It doth not so reach thee as to add unto thee, to profit thee, as it may do the saints that are on earth." As he in Job, chap. xxii. 2, 3, " Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself? Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? or is it gain to him, that thou makest thy ways perfect?" There is no doubt but that it is well-pleasing unto God that wo should be
4G2 AX EXPOSITION UPON PSALM cxxx. [Ver.4.
righteous and upright; but we do him not a pleasure therein, as though he stood in need of it, or it were advantage or gain unto him. And again, chap. xxxv. 7, " If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? or what receiveth he at thine hand?" And the reason of all this the apostle gives us, Rom. xi. 36, " Of him, and through him, and to him, are all things." Being the first sovereign cause and last absolute end of all things, every way perfect and self-sufficient, no- thing can be added unto him: or, as the same apostle speaks, "God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, is not worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth unto all life, and breath, and all things," Acts xvii. 24, 25; as he himself pleads at large, Ps. 1. 7-18.