Sixthly, These things being so, let us consider how it stands in reference unto that which is under consideration, God, in the crea- tion of all things, glorified or manifested his greatness, power, wis- dom, and goodness, with many other properties of the like kind. But his sovereignty, righteousness, and holiness, how are they de- clared hereby? Either not at all, or not in so evident a manner as is necessary, that he might be fully glorified in them or for them. What, then, doth he do ? leave them in darkness, vailed, undis- covered, satisfying himself in the glory of those properties which his work of creation had made known? Was there any reason why he should do so, designing to do all things for himself and for his own glory? Wherefore he gives his holy law as a rule of obedience unto men and angels. This plainly reveals his sovereignty or authority over them, his holiness and righteousness in the equity and purity of things he required of them: so that in and by these properties also he may be glorified. As he made all things for himself, — that is, the manifestation of his greatness, power, wisdom, and goodness ; so he gave the law for himself, — that is, the manifestation of his autho- rity, holiness, and righteousness. But is this all? Is there not re- munerative justice in God, in a way of bounty? Is there not vindic-
486 AN EXPOSITION UPON PSALM CXXX. [Ver. 4.
tive justice in liira, in a way of severity? There is so; and in the pursuit of the design mentioned they also are to be manifested, or God will not be glorified in them. This, therefore, he did also, in the rewards and punishments that he annexed unto the law of obe- dience that he had prescribed. To manifest his remunerative jus- tice, he promised a reward in a way of bounty, Avhich the angels that sinned not were made partakers of ; and in the penalty threat- ened, which sinning angels and men incurred, he revealed his vin- dictive justice in a way of severity. So are all these properties of God made known by their effects, and so is God glorified in them or on their account.
But, after all this, are there no other properties of his nature, divine excellencies that cannot be separated from his being, which by none of these means are so much as once intimated to be in him? It is evident that there are; such are mercy, grace, patience, long- suffering, compassion, and the like. Concerning which observe, —
1. That where there are no objects of them, they cannot be de- clared, or manifested, or exercised. As God's power or wisdom could not be manifest if there were no objects of them, no more can his grace or mercy. If never any stand in need of them, they can never be exercised, and consequently never be known. Therefore were they not revealed, neither by the creation of all things, nor by the law or its sanction, nor by the law written in our hearts; for all these sup- pose no objects of grace and mercy. For it is sinners only, and such as have made themselves miserable by sin, that they can be exercised about,
2. There are no excellencies of God's nature that are mo7-e expres- sive of divine goodness, loveliness, and beauty than these are, — of mercy, grace, long-suffering, and patience ; and, therefore, there is nothing that God so requireth our likeness unto him, in our confor- mity unto his image, as in these, — namely, mercy, grace, and readi- ness to forgive. And the contrary frame in any he doth of all things most abhor : " They shall have judgment Avithout mercy, who shcAved no mercy." And, therefore, it is certam that God will be glorified in the manifestation of these properties of his nature.
3. These properties can be no otherwise exercised, and conse- quently no otherwise known, but only in and by the pardon of sin; which puts it beyond all question that there is forgiveness with God. God will not lose the glory of these his excellencies: he will be revealed in them, he will be known by them, he will be glorified for them ; which he could not be if there were not forgiveness with him. So that here comes in not only the truth but the necessity of forgiveness also.
Ver.4.] EVIDENCE OF FOKGIVENESS WITH GOD. 487
Forgiveness manifested in the sending of tlie Son of God to die for sin— And from the obligation that is on us to forgive one another.
XII. In the next place we shall proceed unto that evidence which is the centre wherein all the lines of those foregoing do meet and rest, — the fountain of all those streams of refreshment that are in them, — that which animates and gives life and efficacy unto them. This lies in Ood's sending of his Son. The considera- tion hereof will leave no pretence or excuse unto unbelief in this matter.
To make this evidence more clear and legible, as to what is in- tended in it, we must consider, — First, What was the rise of this sending we speak of Secondly, Who it was that was sent. Thirdly, How, or in what manner he was sent. Fourthly, Unto what eoid and purpose.