(2.) That you would diligently consider to what ends and jmrposes you have received, and do make use of, this gospel forgiveness. Hath it been to make up what was wanting, and to piece up a peace in your own consciences? that whereas you could not answer your convictions with your duties, you would seek for relief from forgive- ness? This and innumerable other ways there are whereby men may lose their souls when they think all is well with them, even on the account of pardon and mercy. Whence is that caution of the apostle, " Looking diligently lest any one should seem to fail," or come short, "of the grace of God," Heb. xii. 15. Men miss it and come short of it when they pretend themselves to be in the pursuit of it, yea, to have overtaken and possessed it. Now, if any of these should prove to be your condition, I desire, —
(3.) That you Avould consider seriously ivhether it he not high time for you to look out for a tvay of deliverance and escape, that you may save yourselves from this evil tuorld, and fee from the wrath to come. The Judge stands at the dooi'. Before he deal with 3^ou as a judge, he Ivuocks with a tender of mercy. "Who knows but that this
Ver.4.] EXHORTATIONS UNTO BELIEVING FORGIVENESS. 539
may be the last time of liis dealing tlius with you. Be yon old or young, you have but your season, but your day. It may, perhaps, be night with you when it is day Avith the rest of the world. Your sun may go down at noon ; and God may swear that you shall not enter into his rest. If you are, then, resolved to continue in your present condition, I have no more to say unto you. I am pure from your blood, in that I have declared unto you the counsel of God in this thing; and so I must leave j'ou to a naked trial between the great God and your souls at the last day. Poor creatures ! I even tremble to think how he will tear you in pieces when there shall be none to deliver. Methinks I see your poor, destitute, forlorn souls, forsaken of lusts, sins, world, friends, angels, men, trembling before the throne of God, full of horror and fearful expectation of the dreadful sen- tence. Oh, that I could mourn over you, whilst you are joined to all the living, whilst there is but hope ! oh, that in this your day you knew the things of your peace !
But now if you shall sa}'-, " Nay, but we will ' seek the Lord whilst he may be found,' we will draAV nigh unto him before he cause dark- ness," then, —
(4.) Consider, I pray, ivlicit Joshua told the cJiiklren of Israel, when they put themselves upon such a resolution, and cried out, " We will serve the LoRD, for he is our God:" chap. xxiv. 19, " Ye cannot serve the Lord : for he is an holy God, a jealous God ; he will not for- give your transgressions nor your sins." Go to him upon your own account, and in your own strength, with your own best endeavours and duties, you will find him too great and too holy for you to deal withal. You will obtain neither acceptance of your persons nor pardon of your sins. But you will say, "This is heavy tidings, ' If you sit still you perish, and if you rise to be doing, it will not be better.' Is there no hope left for our souls? Must we pine away under our sins and the wrath of God for ever?" God forbid. There are yet other directions remaining to guide you out of these entanglements. Wherefore, —
(5.) Ponder seriously on luhat hath been spoken of this way of approaching unto God. Consider it in its own nature, as to all the ends and purposes for which it is proposed of God; consider whether you approve of it or no. Do you judge it a way suited and fitted to bring glory unto God ? Doth it answer all the Avants and distresses of your souls? Do you think it excellent, safe, and glorious unto them who are entered into it? or have you any thing to object against it? Heturn your answer to him in whose name and by whose appointment these words are spoken unto you. If you shall say, " We are convinced that this way of forgiveness is the only way for the relief and deliverance of souls," then, —
540 AN EXPOSITION UPON PSALM CXXX, [Ver.4'.
(G.) Abhor yourselves for all your blindness and obstinacy^ Avhcreby you have hitherto despised the love of God, the blood of Christ, and the tenders of pardon in the gospel. Be abased and humbled to the dust in a sense of your vileness, pollutions, and abo- minations; which things are eveiy day spoken unto, and need not here be repeated. And, —
(7.) Labour to exercise your hearts greatly with thoughts of that abundant grace that is manifested in this way of sinners coming unto God, as also of the excellency of the gospel wherein it is un- folded. Consider the eternal love of the Father, which is the foun- tain and spring of this whole dispensation, — the inexpressible love of the Son in establishing and confirming it, in removing all hinder- ances and obstructions by his own blood, bringing forth unto beauty and glory this redemption or forgiveness of sin at the price of it. And let the glory of the gospel, which alone makes this discovery of forgiveness in God, dwell in your hearts. Let your minds be exer- cised about these things. You will find effects from them above all that hath as yet been brought forth in your souls. What, for the most part, have you hitherto been conversant about? When you have risen above the turmoiling of lusts and corruptions in your hearts, the entanglements of your callings, business, and affairs, what have you been able to raise your hearts unto ? Perplexing fears about your condition, general hopes, without savour or relish, yielding you no refreshment, legal commands, bondage duties, distracted con- sciences, broken purposes and promises, Avhich you have been tossed up and down withal, without any certain rest. And what effects have these thoughts prodviced? Have they made you more holy and more humble? Have they given you delight in God, and strength unto new obedience? Not at all. Where you were, there you still are, without the least progress. But now bring your souls unto these springs, and try the Lord if from that day you be not blessed with spiritual stores.