What ground is left of questioning the truth in hand? What link of this chain can unbelief break in or upon? If men resolve, not- withstanding all this evidence and assurance that is tendered unto them thereof, that they will not yet believe that there is forgiveness with God, or will not be encouraged to attempt the securing of it unto themselves, or also despise it as a thing not worth tlie looking after; it is enough for them that declare it, that preach these things, that they are a sweet savour unto God in them that perish as well as in them that are saved. And I bless God that I have had this opportunity to bear testimony to the grace of God in Christ; which if it be not received, it is because " the god of this world hath blinded the eyes of men, that the light of the gospel of the glory of God should not shine into their minds." But Christ will be glorified in them that believe on these principles and foundations.
XIII. Another evidence of the same truth may be taken from hence, that God requires forgiveness in us, that we should forgive one another; and therefore, doubtless, there is forgiveness with him for us. The sense of this consideration unto our present purpose will be manifest in the ensuing observations: —
First, It is certain that God hath required this of us. The testimo- nies hereof are many and known, so that they need not particularly
Ver. 4.] EVIDENCE OF FORGIVENESS WITH GOD. 495
to be repeated or insisted on: see Luke xvii. 3, 4; Epli. iv. 32; Matt- xviii. 23, unto the end. Only, there are some things that put a sin- gular emphasis upon this command, manifesting the great import- ance of this duty in us, which may be marked ; as, —
1. That our Saviour requires us to carry a sense of our integrity and sincerity in the discharge of this duty rJong with us in our ad- dresses unto God in prayer. Hence, he teacheth and enjoins us to pray or plead for the forgiveness of our debts to God (that is, our sins or trespasses against him, which make us debtors to his law and justice), even "as we foi^give them that so trespass against us" as to stand in need of our forgiveness. Matt. vi. 12. Many are ready to devour such as are not satisfied that the words of that rule of jorayer which he hath prescribed unto us are to be precisely read or repeated every day. I wish they would as heedfully mind that pre- scription which is given us herein for that frame of heart and spirit which ought to be in all our supplications ; it might possibly abate of their wrath in that and other things. But here is a rule for all jjrayer, as all acknowledge; as also of the things that are requisite to make it acceptable. This, in particular, is required, that before the Searcher of all hearts, and in our addresses unto him, in our greatest concernments, we profess our sincerity in the discharge of this duty, and do put our obtaining of what we desire upon that issue. This is a great crown that is put upon the head of this duty, that which makes it very eminent, and evidenceth the great con- cern of the glory of God and our own souls therein.
2. We may observe, that no other duty whatever is expressly placed in the same series, order, or rank with it; which makes it evident that it is singled out to be professed as a. token and pledge of our sincerity in all other parts of our obedience unto God. It is by Christ himself made the instance for the trial of our sincerity in our universal obedience ; which gives no small honour unto it. The apostle puts great weight on the fifth commandment, " Honour thy father and mother;" because it " is the first commandment with pro- mise," Eph. vi. 2. All the commandments, mdeed, had a promise, "Do this, and live," — life was promised to the observance of them all ; but this is the first that had a peculiar promise annexed unto it, and accompanying of it. And it was such a promise as had a peculiar foundation through God's ordinance in the thing itself. It is, that the parents should prolong the lives of their children that were obedient. T^l P^In;^., Exod. xx. 1 2,—" They shall prolong thy days ;" that is, by praying for their prosperity, blessing them in the name of God, and directing them in those ways of obedience whereby they might live and possess the land. And this promise is now trans- lated from the covenant of Canaan into the covenant of srrace ; the
4DG AN EXPOSITION UPON PSALM CXXX. [Vcr.4
blessing of parents going far towards the interesting their children in the promise thereof, and so prolonging their days unto eternity, though their days in this world should be of little continuance. So it is said of our Saviour that " he should see his seed, and prolong his days," Isa. liii. 10 ; which hath carried over that word, and that which is signified by it, unto eternal things. But this by the way. As the singular promise made to that command renders it singular, so doth this especial instancing in this duty in our prayer render it also; for though, as all the commandments had a2:)romise, so we are to carry a testimony with us of our sincerity in universal obedience in our addresses unto God, yet the singling out of this instance ren- ders it exceeding remarkable, and shows what a value God puts upon it, and how well he is pleased with it.