2. A consent that the mercy we shew to others should be made the pattern of God's mercy to us —
[We cannot with propriety request, that the forgiveness which we exercise towards others may be the measure of that which we would receive from God ; (because every thing we do is so extremely imperfect:) but the 'pattern it may and ought to be. Of course, as in the former case, when we speak of a condition, we are not to be understood as if there were any thing meritorious in forgiving others, or as if God bargained with us, as it were, and bartered away his mercies : so, in the pre- sent case, we are not to be understood as if there were, or could be, any thing in us that was worthy of God's imitation. There is a sense in which we are to be " pure, as God is pure," and " perfect, as he is perfect:" and, in a similar sense, though not with equal strictness, we may beg of God to forgive us our ofl^ences, as we forgive our offending fellow-creatures ; that is, freely, fully, cordially, and for ever.
True it is that, in offering this petition, we need to speak " with fear and trembling;" lest there be in our hearts any root of bitterness unperceived by us, and lest, when praying for forgiveness, we do in effect pray, that we be not forgiven. And, that no doubt may exist respecting our sincerity in forgiving others, we ought to be rendering good for evil, and " heaping thereby coals of fire on the heads" of our enemies, to melt them into love. Then may we use this petition with safety, with confidence, and with comfort.]
' Jam. ii. 13. ^ yer. 11, 15. i Phil. ii. 13.