The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 317

is granted, Thie was assured by the promises of the Old Testament, such as !Aa. Iv. 7. In the New we have the same assurances, and the difficnlties which arise from tnr, penitent sinner's conviction of the rightness of the punishment threatened to trans"'res- eors (hie conscience being on the side of the Divine justice) are removed by the ato~inn- sacrifice of Christ. 2, Free. Burdened with no conditions, no demand for penancesn or compensations, or sin offerings, The sin was too serious for these. So David felt (Ps. Ii. 16). Only a perfectly free pardon could meet the ca.~e. New love and service would follow; but these would spring from gratitude for forgiveness, not from the expectation of securing it. The attempt to merit or earn pardon for past transuressions by voluntary sufferings, by multiplied prayers or ceremonies, or by future obedience, is absurd on the face of it, and as contrary to the Old Testament as to the New. It was to the" multitude of God's tender mercies" (Ps. Ii. 1) that David appealed; and it i~ to the same abounding grace as shown in the gospel that we must trust. 3. Declared. Nathan pronounced the king's absolution: "'l'he Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die." Men would like a similar assurance to themselves individually; and the system of some Churches is constructed to meet this wish. On confession of 11in to a priest, he pronounces absolution. But this practice is unwarranted and delusive. Confessedly the absolution is worthless unless the sinner be truly penitent; and if he be, it is useless ; and in multitudes of cases it is most pernicious, fostering baseless hopes. If men could read the heart, or had, like Nathan, a special message of pardon from God in each case, they might safely pronounce absolution. But in ordinary cases none can know the reality of repentance until it is proved by the life; and therefore none can safely assure the sinner of his actual forgiveness until such assurance is needless. The repenting sinner, coming to God by faith in Jesus Christ, is assured of pardon (1) by the promises of God, and (2) by the Spirit of God in his heart applying the promises to the individual and enabling him to confide in them, and commencing in him the Christian life. A new heart is given with pardon; and this, with its fruit in the conduct, becomes a growing evidence of pardon. 4. Yet with a reservation. The penalty qf death, to which David had virtually condemned himself, was remitted; but other penalties were not. One was specifically mentioned-the death of the child (ver. 14); and the others, denounced (vers. 10-12) before the confession and forgiveness, we know from the subsequent history were inflicted. And it is often the case that the painful consequences of sin continue long after pardon is granted, perhaps till death. Shall we say, then, that the forgiveness is not real and full? By no means. But because it is real and full the pardoned sinner must suffer. Suffering, however, changes its character. As from God, it is no longer penal infliction, but fatherly chastisement and discipline (1) to maintain a salutary remembrance of the sfo., and produce constant gratitude and humility; (2) to preserve in obedience and promote holiness; (3) to vindicate to others the justice of God, and warn them against sin. And as to the penitent himself, his suffering produces no bitterness, abjectness, or sullenness. Love to him that chastises, kept alive by the sense of his forgiving and fatherly love, enables him to yield himself to the chastisement, thankful, resigned, acquiescent, and earnestly seeking to realize the intended profit. Jn conclusion: 1. Admire, adore, trust, and proclaim the pardoning love of God. 2. Let sinners repent of, confess, and /or sake their sins, that they may obtain f argiveness. For, notwithstanding the love of God and the sacrifice of Christ, no impenitent sinner shall be forgiven. 3. Let no penitent despair. Not even the backslider, and though bis sins have been as bad as David's. 4. Let none presv.me. One of the worst and most persistent consequences of David's sin and pardon has been the encouragement to sin, which foolish and wicked persons have derived from them, or-shall we SIIY ?- pretended to derive, For so foolish and impious is it to turn the narrative to such a. purpose that it is difficult to believe in the siacerity of those who do so. Rather they love their sins, and are glad of anything that may quiet somewhat their consciences in committing them. Let any such consider that the proper effect of the narrative is to render sin odious and to awaken a dread of it; and that the sins of those who read it and persist _in sin are ren_dered doubly guilty. Such a~e harde?ing thei_r hearts_ and promoting lil themselves mcapacity to repent, and so mcapab1hty of bemg forglve.n. -G.W. Il. SAMUEL. y  322 THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. [011. XII. 1-31,