4Gi AN EXPOSITION UPON PSALM CXXX. [VcT. 4.
pleads, Judges xiii. 23: " If," saith she, " the Lord Avere pleased to kill us, he would not have received a burnt-ofierin2: and a meat-offer- ing at our hands." His acceptance of worship from us is an infallible demonstration that he will not execute against us the severity of the first curse. And this is clearly evidenced in the first record of solemn instituted worship performed by sinners : Gen. iv. 4, " The Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering." Some think that God gave a visible pledge of his acceptance of Abel and his offering. It may be it was by fire from heaven ; for how else should Cain so instantly know that his brother and his offering were accepted, but that he and his were refused? However it were, it is evident that what testimony God gave of the acceptance of his offering, the same he gave concerning his person; and that in the first place he had respect unto Abel, and then to his offering. And therefore the apostle saith that thereby "he obtained witness that he was righteous," Heb. xi. 4, — that is, the witness or testimony of God himself Now, this was in the forgiveness of his sins, without which he could neither be righteous nor accepted, for he was a sinner. This God declared by acceptance of his worship. And thus we also, if we have any testimony of God's accejDtance of us in any part of his worshij^, should employ it to the same end. Hath God enlarged our hearts in prayer? hath he given us an answer unto any of our supplications? liath he refreshed our hearts in the preaching and dispensation of the word, or any other ordinance? We are not to rest in the particular about which our communion with him hath been; — our doing so is the cause why we lose our experiences; they lie scattered up and down, separated from their proper root, and so are easily lost: but this is that which we should first improve such particular experiences in the worship of God unto, — namely, that God Juith pardoned our sins, and accepted our persons thereon; for without that, none of our worship or service would please him or be accepted with him.
(2.) Hereby God lets us know that he deals, with us upon new terms, so that, notwithstanding sin, ive may enjoy his love and favour. For this we have the engagement of his truth and veracity, and he cannot deceive us. But yet by this command of his for his worship we should be deceived, if there were no forgiveness with him; for it gives us encouragement to expect, and assurance of finding, accept- ance with him, which without it cannot be obtained. This, then, God declares by his institution of and command for his worship, — namely, that there is nothing thjtt shall indispensably hinder those who give up themselves unto obedience of God's commands from enjoying his love and favour, and communion with him.
(3.) For matter of fact, it is knoAvn and confessed that God hath appointed a worship for sinners to perform All the institutions of
Yer.4.] evidence OF forgiveness with god. 465
the Old and New Testament bear witness hereunto. God was the author of them. And men know not what they do when either they neglect them or would be intermixing their own imaginations with them. What can the mind of man conceive or invent that may have any influence into this matter, to secure the souls of believers of their acceptance with God? Is there any need of their testimony to the truth, faithfulness, and goodness of God? These things he hath taken upon himself. This, then, is that which is to be fixed on our souls upon our first invitation unto religious worship, — namely, that God intends a new revenue of glory from us, and therefore declares that there is a way for the taking away of our sins, without which we can give no glory to him by our obedience ; and this is done only by forgiveness.
5. There are some ordinances of lu or ship appointed for this very end and purpose, to confirm unto us the forgiveness of sin, especi- ally in that worship which is instituted by the Lord Jesus under the New Testament. I shall instance in one or two : —
(1.) The ordinance of baptism. This was accompanied with the dawning of the gospel in the ministry of John the Baptist ; and he expressly declared, in his sermons upon it, that it was instituted of God to declare the " remission of sins," Mark i. 4.
It is true the Lord Christ submitted unto that ordinance and was baptized by John, who had no sin ; but this belonged unto the obedience which God required of him, as for our sakes he was made under the law. He was to observe all ordinances and institutions of the worshi]^ of God, not for any need he had in his own person of the especial ends and significations of some of them; yet, as he was our sponsor, surety, and mediator, standing in our stead in all that he so did, he was to yield obedience unto them, that so he might " fulfil all righteousness," Matt. iii. 15. So was he circumcised, so he was baptized, both which had respect unto sin, though absolutely free from all sin in his own person ; and that because he was free from no obedience unto any command of God.