5. Of them who profess to believe forgiveness, hoiu fetu are there who indeed know what it is ! They believe, they say; but as the Samaritans worshipped, — they "know not what." With some, a bold presumption, and cr}dng " Peace, peace," goes for the belief of for- giveness. A general apprehension of impunity from God, and that they are sinners, yet they shall not be punished, jDasseth with others at the same rate. Some think they shall prevail with God by their prayers and desires to let them alone, and not cast them into hell.
510 AN EXPOSITION UPON PSALM CXXX. [ Ver. 4.
One way or otlier to escai3e the vengeance of liell, not to be pun- ished in another world, is tliat which men fix their minds upon. But is this that forgiveness which is revealed in the gospel? that which we have been treating about? The rise and spring of our for- giveness is in the heart and gracious nature of God, declared by his name. Have you inquired seriously into this? Have you stood at the shore of that infinite ocean of goodness and love? Have your souls found supportment and relief from that consideration? and have your hearts leaped within you with the thoughts of it? Or, if you have never been affected in an especial manner herewithal, have you bowed down your souls under the consideration of that sove- reign act of the will of God that is the next spring of forgiveness; that glorious acting of free grace, that when all might justly have perished, all having sinned and come short of his glory, God would yet have mercy on some? Have you given up yourselves to this grace? Is this any thing of that you do believe? Suppose you are strangers to this also; what communion with God have you had about it in the blood of Christ? We have showed how forgiveness relates thereunto ; how way is made thereby for the exercise of mercy, in a consistency with the glory and honour of the justice of God and of his law ; how pardon is procured and purchased thereby ; with the mysterious reconciliation of love and law, and the new disposal of conscience in its work and duty by it. What have you to say to these things? Have you seen pardon flowing from the heart of the Father through the blood of tlie Son? Have you looked upon it as the price of his life and the jxirchase of his blood? Or have you general thoughts that Christ died for sinners, and that on one ac- count or other forgiveness relates unto him, but are strangers to the mystery of this great work? Suppose this also; let us go a little farther, and inquire whether you know any thing that yet remains of the like importance in this matter? Forgiveness, as we have showed, is manifested, tendered, exhibited in the covenant of grace and promises of the gospel. The rule of the efficacy of these is, that they be " mixed with faith," Heb. iv. 2. It is well if you are grown up hereunto; but you that are strangers to the things before men- tioned are no less to this also. Upon the matter, you know not, then, what forgiveness is, nor wherein it consists, nor whence it comes, nor how it is procured, nor by what means given out unto sinners. It is to no purpose for such persons to pretend that they believe that whereunto, either notionally or practically, or both, they are such utter strangers.
G. Another inquiry into this matter regards the state and condi- tion ivherein souls must he before it he j)ossihle for them to helieve fo7'giveness. If there be such an estate, and it can be evinced that
Ver.4.] FORGIVENESS BELIEVED BY FEW. 511
very anany of the pretenders concerDing whom we deal were never brought into it, it is then evident that they neither do nor can believe forgiveness, however they do and may delude their own souls.
It hath been showed that the first discovery that was made of pardoning grace was unto Adam, presently after the fall. What was then his state and condition? how was he prej)ared for the reception of this great mystery in its first discovery? That seems to be a considerable rule of proceeding in the same matter. That which is first in any kind is a rule to all that follows. Now, what was Adam's condition v/hen the revelation of forgiveness was first made to him? It is known from the story. Convinc^l of sin, afraid of punishment, he lay trembling at the foot of God : then was forgive- ness revealed unto him. So the jDsalmist states it, Ps. cxxx. 3, " If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?" Full of thoughts he is of the desert of sin, and of inevitable and eternal ruin, in case God should deal with him according to the exi- gence of the law. In that state is the gxeat support of forgiveness with God suggested unto him by the Holy Ghost. We know what work our Saviour had with the Pharisees on this account. " Are we," say they, " blind also?" " No," saith he; " you say you see, ' there- fore your sin remaineth,' " John ix. 40, 41; — " It is to no purpose to talk of forgiveness to such persons as you are ; you must of necessity abide in your sins. I came not to call such righteous persons as you are, but sinners to repentance ; who not only are so, as you are also, and that to the purpose, but are sensible of their being so, and of their undone condition thereby. ' The whole have no need of the physician, but the sick.' Whilst you are seeming righteous and whole, it is to no end to tell you of forgiveness ; you cannot understand it nor receive it." It is impossible, then, that any one should, in a due manner, believe forgiveness in God, unless in a due manner he be convinced of sin in himself If the fallow gi'ound be not broken up, it is to no purpose to sow the seed of the gospel. There is neither life, power, nor sweetness in this truth, unless a door be opened for its entrance by conviction of sin.