Let us consider, then, whether the infinitely wise and holy God, pursuing his purpose of bringing souls unto himself, — laying aside one way of his own appointment as useless and infirm, because of the coming in of sin, against which there was no relief found in it, and substituting another way in the room of it, — would not provide such a one as should be absolutely free from the faults and inconveniences which he charged upon that which he did remove. That which alone rendered the fon:ner way faulty was sin ; it could do any thing but save a sinner. This, then, was to be, and is, principally provided against in this way of forgiveness. And we see here how clearly God hath severed, yea, and in this matter opposed, these two things, — namely, the tvay of personal righteousness and the waij of forgiveness. He finds fault with the first. What then doth he do? what course doth he take? Doth he mend it, take from it what seems to be redundant, mitigate its severity, and supply it where it was wanting by forgiveness, and so set it up anew? This, indeed, is the way that many proceed in their notions, and the most in their prac- tice; but this is not the way of God. He takes the one utterly away, and establishes the other in its place. And men's endeavours to mix them will be found of little use to them at the last. I can have no great expectation from that which God pronounced faulty.
(2.) The unchangeable principles and foundations that this way is built upon render it secure and safe for sinners; for, —
[1.] It is founded on the purpose of God : Gal. iii. 8, " The Scrip- ture foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith." God would do so ; he had purposed and determined to proceed this way; and all the purposes of God are attended with immutability. And, —
[2.] His promise also is engaged in it, and that given out in the way of a covenant, as hath been already declared. And, —
532 AN EXPOSITION UrON PSALM CX XX. [Vcr.4.
[3.] This promise is coufirmed by an oath; and it may be ob- served, that God doth not in any thing interpose with an oath, but what relates to this wiiy of coming to himself by forgiveness ; for the oath of God, wherever it is used, respecteth either Christ typically or personally, or the covenant established in him ; for, —
[4.] This way is confirmed and ratified in his blood; from whence the apostle at large evinceth its absolute security and safety, Heb. ix. Whatever soul, on the invitation under consideration, shall give up himself to come to God l)y the way proposed, he shall assuredly find absolute peace and security in it. Neither our own weakness or folly from within, nor the opposition of any or all our enemies from without, shall be able to turn us out of this way. See Isa. xxxv. 4-10.
(3.) In the other way, every individual jJerson stands upon his own bottom, and must do so to the last and utmost of his continu- ance in this world. You are desirous to go unto God, to obtain his favour, and come to an enjoyment of him. What will you do, what course will you fix upon, for the obtaining of these ends? If you were so holy, so perfect, so righteous, so free from sin as you could desire, you shoidd have some boldness in going unto God. Why, if this be the way you fix upon, take this along with you : You stand upon your own personal account all your days : and if you fail in the least, you are gone for ever; "for whosoever shall keep the whole law, and j^et offend in one point, he is guilty of all," James ii. 10. And what peace can you possibly obtain, were you as holy as ever you aimed or desired to be, whilst this is your con- dition? But in this way of forgiveness ive all shall stand upon the account of one common Mediator, in whom we are " complete," Col. ii, 10. And a want of a due improvement of this truth is a great principle of disconsolation to many souls. Suppose a man look upon himself as loosed from the covenant of works, wherein exact and perfect righteousness is rigidly required, and to be called unto gospel, evangelical obedience, to be performed in the room thereof in sin- cerity and integrity; yet if he be not cleared in this also, that he stands not in this way purely on his own account, he will never be able to make his comforts hold out to the end of his journey. There will be found in the best of men so many particidar failings, as will seem in difficult seasons to impeach their integrity; and so many questionings will after arise, through the darkness of their minds and power of their temptations, as will give but little rest unto their souls. Here lies the gTcat security of this way, — we abide in it on the account of the faithfulness and ability of our common Mediator, Jesus Christ.
And this is another consideration, strengthening our invitation to
Ver.4.] EXHORTATIONS UNTO BELIEVING rORGIVENESS. 533