Let not any so minded flatter themselves that they have any ac- quaintance v/ith the mystery of gospel forgiveness.
3. Let it be inquired of them who pretend unto this persuasion how they came by it, that we may know whether it be of Him who calleth us or no ; that we may try whether they have broken through the difficulties, in the entertaining of it, which we have manifested abundantly to lie in the way of it.
When Peter confessed our Saviour to be "the Christ, the Son of the living God," he told him that " flesh and blood did not reveal that unto him, but his Father who is in heaven," Matt. xvi. 17. It is so vnth them who indeed believe forgiveness in God : " flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto them ; " — it hath not been furthered
508 AN EXPOSITION UPON PSALM CXXX. [Ver.4,
by any thing within them or without them, but all lies in opposition unto it. " This is the work of God, that we believe," John vi. 29 ; — a great work, the greatest work that God requireth of us. It is not only a great thing in itself (the grace of believing is a great thing), but it is great in respect of its object, or what we have to believe, or forgiveness itself The great honour of Abraham's faith lay in this, that deaths and difficulties lay in the way of it, Rom. iv. 18-20. But what is a dead body and a dead womb to an accusing con- science, a killing law, and apprehensions of a God terrible as a con- suming fire ? all which, as was showed, oppose themselves unto a soul called to believe forgiveness.
What, now, have the most of men, who are confident in the pro- fession of this faith, to say unto this thing? Let them speak clearly, and they must say that indeed they never found the least difficulty in this matter ; they never doubted of it, they never questioned it, nor do know any reason why they should do so. It is a thing which they have so taken for granted as that it never cost them an hour's labour, prayer, or meditation about it. Have they had secret rea- sonings and contendings in their hearts about it? No. Have they considered how the objections that lie against it may be removed? Not at all. But is it so, indeed, that this persuasion is thus bred in you, you know not how? Are the corrujDted natures of men and the gospel so suited, so comialying? Is the new covenant groA\ai so con- natural to flesh and blood? Is the greatest secret that ever was revealed from the bosom of the Father become so familiar and easy to the wisdom of the flesh? Is that which was folly to the wise Greeks, and a stumbling-block to the wonder-gazing Jews, become, on a sudden, wisdom and a plain path to the same principles that were in them? But the truth of this matter is, that such men have a general, useless, barren notion of pardon, which Satan, presump- tion, tradition, common reports, and the customary hearing of the word, have furnished them withal ; but for that gospel discovery of forgiveness whereof we have been speaking, they are utterly ignorant of it and unacquainted with it. To convince such poor creatures of the folly of their presumption, I would but desire them to go to some real believers that are or may be known unto them. Let them be asked whether they came so easily by their faith and apprehensions of forgiveness or no. " Alas ! " saith one, " these twenty years have I been following after God, and yet I have not arrived unto an abiding cheering persuasion of it." " I know what it cost me, what trials, difficulties, temptations I wi'estled with, and went through withal, before I obtained it," saith another. " What I have attained vmto hath been of unspeakable mercy ; and it is my daily prayer that I may be preserved in it by the exceedmg greatness of the
Ver. 4.] FORGIVENESS BELIEVED BY FEW, 509
power of God. for I continually wrestle with stonns tliat are ready to drive me from my anchor." A little of this discom'se may be sufficient to convince poor, dark, carnal creatures of the folly and vanity of their confidence.
4. There are certain means whereby the revelation and discovery of this mystery is made unto the souls of men. By these they do obtain it, or they obtain it not. The mystery itself was a secret, hidden in the counsel of God from eternity ; nor was there any way whereby it might be revealed but by the Son of God, and that is done in the word of the gospel. If, then, you say you know it, let us inquire how you came so to do, and by what means it hath been declared unto you. Hath this been done by a word of truth, — by the promise of the gospel ? Was it by preaching of the word unto you, or by reading of it, or meditating upon it ? or did you receive it from and by some seasonable word of or from the Scriptures spoken unto you ? or hath it insensibly gotten ground upon your hearts and minds, upon the strivings and conflicts of your souls about sin, from the tnith wherein you had been instructed in general? or by what other ways or means have you come to that acquaintance with it whereof you boast? You can tell how you came by your wealth, your gold and silver ; you know how you became learned, or obtained the knowledge of the mystery of your trade, who taught you in it, and how you came by it. There is not any thing wherein you are concerned but you can answer these inquiries in a reference unto it. Think it, then, no great matter if you are put to answer this ques- tion also : — By what way or means came you to the knowledge of forgiveness which you boast of? Was it by any of those before mentioned, or some other? If you cannot answer distinctly to these things, only you say you have heard it and believed it ever since you can remember (so those said that went before you, so they say with whom you do converse ; jou never met with any one that called it into question, nor heard of any, unless it were one or two despairing wretches), it will be justly questioned whether you have any portion in this matter or no. If uncertain rumours, reports, general notions, lie at the bottom of your persuasion, do not suppose that you have any communion with Christ therein.