those who are pardoned by the God of grace have all their sins forgiven, and that for ever. Isaiah, the evangelist of the Jewish church, has a passage much to our purpose. He represents the Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, addressing his people in the following manner. As I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth, so have I sworn that I would no more be wroth with thee. For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee. Here we have, not only the word, but the oath of Jehovah, in attestation to the glorious truth; and if these fail, "The pillar'd firmament is rottenness, The apostle of the Gentiles having this glorious truth full in his view, is bold to challenge every enemy, and to defy every danger. What less can be the import of that heroic language. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? Who shall condemn? If the blessing of pardon were ever to be reversed: if a sinner, having been once acquitted from condemnation, should again fall under the curse and be liable to perish; there would be no foundation for these bold expressions. Such is the nature, and such the properties, of divine forgiveness; even of that forgiveness, which is the purchase of Immanuel's pains, and the price of redeeming blood. The doctrine of pardon is an essential branch, and a capital article of that truth, which is by way of eminence called THE GOSPEL. For the cheering language of that heavenly message is, Be it known unto you, men and brethren, that through this illustrious Jesus is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins. Such is the import of the evangelical testimony; and the glorious blessing is received by faith in the dying Redeemer. As it is written, To him give all the prophets witness, that, through his name, whosoever believeth in him, shall receive remission of sins. Believing the infallible record which God has given of his Son, we receive the atonement. The propitiating blood of Christ is sprinkled on our hearts, pardon is applied to our consciences, and peace enjoyed in our souls. It is no real objection to the truth advanced, That the Lord lays his chastising hand on the objects of this forgiveness. For though he corrects them and frequently with some degree of severity, on account of their backslidings; yet those chastisements are instances and evidences of his paternal affection, and of his constant care over them. They have the strongest assurances, that he will never take from them his loving-kindness, nor suffer his faithfulness to fail. Nor is it any way inconsistent with the doctrine maintained, that believers are expressly commanded to pray for the pardon of sin, and that this command has been frequently acknowledged in the conduct of eminent saints, whose characters are recorded in the holy scriptures. For, to use the words of a learned author, Very frequently when the saints pray, either for the forgiveness of their own or other's sins; their meaning is, that God would in a providential way, deliver them out of present distress; remove his afflicting hand, which lies heavy upon them; or avert such judgments which seem to hang over their heads, and very much threaten them; which, when he does, is an indication of his having pardoned them. We are to understand many petitions of Moses, Job, Solomon, and others, in this sense. Exod. xxxii. 32. Numb. xiv. 19, 20. Job vii. 21. 1 Kings viii. 30, 34, 36, 39, 50. Besides, when believers now pray for the pardon of sin, their meaning is, that they might have the sense, the manifestation, and application of pardoning grace to the souls. We are not to imagine, that as often as the saints sin, repent, confess their sins, and pray for the forgiveness of them, that God makes and passes new acts of pardon. But, whereas, they daily sin against God, grieve his spirit, wound their own consciences, they have need for the fresh sprinklings of the blood of Jesus, and of renewed manifestations of pardon to their souls; and it is both their duty and their interests to attend the throne of grace on this account.' How glorious, then, is that forgiveness which is with God, that pardon which I have been describing! It has every requisite to make it complete in itself, and suitable to the indigent, miserable sinner. It has not one discouraging circumstance to forbid the most guilty, or the most unworthy, applying to the ever-merciful Jehovah for it. It is full, free, and everlasting; every way complete and worthy of God. It was absolutely necessary to the peace of our consciences, and to the salvation of our souls, that it should be of such unlimited extent, of such unmerited freeness, and of such everlasting efficacy. Less than this would not have supplied our wants, or have served our purpose. If it had not been full, taking in every kind and every degree of sin, we must have suffered the punishment due to some part of it ourselves, and then we had been lost for ever. If it had not been entirely free, we could never have enjoyed the inestimable blessing; for we have nothing, nor can we do any thing to purchase it, or to qualify for it. And if it had not been everlasting, never to be reversed, we should have been under continual anxiety and painful apprehensions, lest God should, on account of our present unworthiness, or future failing, recal the blessing when once bestowed. But, being possessed of these properties, the vilest sinner has no reason despondingly to say, My sins, alas! are too many and great, for me to expect pardon.' None have any cause to complain, 'I long for the blessing, it is dearer to me than all worlds; but my strong corruptions, and utter unworthiness, render me incapable of ever enjoying it.' Nor have any occasion to fear lest, after the comfortable enjoyment of the superlative privilege, they should forfeit it, and again come under condemnation and wrath. What shall we then say to these things? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound in a perfect pardon? God forbid! So to act, would if possible, be worse than devilish, and more than damnable. Rather let the pardoned criminal say; yes, he will say with the warmest gratitude, Bless the Lord, O my soul! and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Who forgiveth all thine iniquities ; who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies. Before I conclude this momentous part of my subject, I will transcribe a few lines from a celebrated author of the last century; celebrated, not more for his very superior learning, than for his great penetration in spiritual things, and his experience in the Christian life. Treating of divine forgiveness, he says, "The forgiveness that is with God, is such as becomes him, such as is suitable to his greatness, goodness, and all the other excellencies of his nature; such as that therein he will be known to be Gop. What he says concerning some of the works of his providence, Be still, and know that I am GOD; may be much more said concerning this great effect of his grace; Still yourselves, and know that he is GOD. It is not like that narrow, difficult, halving, and manacled forgiveness, that is found amongst men; but it is full, free, bottomless, boundless, absolute-such as becomes his nature and excellencies. It is, in a word, forgiveness that is with GOD, and by the exercise of which he will be known so to be-If there be any pardon with God, it is such as becomes him to give. When he pardons, he will abundantly pardon. Go, with your half-forgiveness, conditional pardons; with reserves and limitations unto the sons of men. It may be, it may become them; it is like themselves. That of God is absolute and perfect; before which, our sins are as a cloud before the east wind and the rising sun. Hence he is said to do this work with his whole heart and his whole soul; freely, bountifully, largely to indulge and forgive unto us our sins, and to cast them into the bottom of the sea. Remember this, poor souls, when you are to deal with God in this matter. If we let go the free |