SERMONS 0 F THE Forgivenefs of SINS; p S A L CXXX. 4· Rut there is ForgiYJeiufs with thee, that thou mayft he fear~J: ~ ,-I-, liE Pfalmill:, in rhe.fi;fi a)ld fecond Verfcs, addreffes to God with earnell: ~ Dcfirc5: for hts favmg Mercies: . Out of the Depths hll'l)e I cried to thee, 0 L(!fd: Lord hear my Yoic'e : let thine Ear be attentive to my S"'pplication. . · ~~.~'~:~Y,jh~~YJ1c~~:~ ~~~q~~~;:~ b'i~~'J, w~~ Jt~Ilfi~!:~ll:~~e b:~rii,~ufr"· J. ~idl. an exact Eye obferve our Sins, and eaU ·us to an account, Who ea~ !hind in ]udg~ mcnt? who can endure that fiery Trial ? The bell: Saints, rho' never fo int1ocbtr and unblameable in the light of Men, rho' never fo vigilant and watchful.over rh~ir Hearts and Ways, arc not exempted from the Spots of humane Frailty, which according to the Ri~ gour of the Law, would expofe them to a condenmmg Sentence. He relieves and fupporrs himfelf und~r this fearful A,Pprehenlion v.;irh the Hopes of Mercy: But there h Forg,i"uenefs with thee, that thou m•)ll }e feared. TIS lll .thy Power and thy wm•. ro par'. don repenting and rerurnmg Smners, that tho~ mayfl }e feared. The. Fear of God m Script~rc figntfics the humble . hoJ~· Reve.rence o~ htm! as our hea.venly Father and SOvereign, that makes us cautious 1~11: we !hould offend hm1, and careful to pleafe him. For rhis Reafon the Fear of God is cmnptehenfivc of all Religion, of th< whofe Duiy of Man, to which in is imroduCbve, and IS a pnnctpal Ingred1cnt m u. The Clemency and corn:. ~~~~~~t~~~~~c~~~i!o~/~!~. C6rfie~fAt~rlb~:c~~0l~i~ fit~~~'~%· th;;'~r:~~·~ ;h;~~~v~ Jufi~cc that ordai~'d th~ Punifhme~1t of Sin, Power that inflicts it, . render his Majeftj rcrnblc, and caufe a Fhght from h1m as an Enemy: If all mull: penfl1 for rheir Sins, no Prayers or Praifes will afcend to Heaven, all Religwus Worfl1ipwill ceafe for ·ever: But ~~~J~~;h~n~~~ci~bl~a~[,d r~d~~~~~:e a~dd~!:;u,;,p~~::s;0 i~!.rell:ore them to his F avouri There ate nvo Propolitions to be conlidered in the Verfe: 1. That Forgivencfs belongs to God. . , . . , .. 2. That rhe forgiving Mercy of God is a powerful Moth·e of Adoration and Obedience. I propound ro difcourfe of the firll:, and ro touch upon rhe fecond i1i the Application. ~ , In managing the Point with Light and Order, 'ris _requifite to confider.-; Jfl. What is conrain'd in Forg,ivenefs. 2dly. The Arguments that demonll:rare rhar Forgivcrrcfs belongs to God. . . 1. What is conrainc~ in F orgivenefs. Ti1is ne~effarily fuppofes Sin, and Sin a Law ~~~;~:~~,~~~e~uZ ~'n'ci ~;~,~ ~:i~ ~~i'~·~na1~c'::~~~gi~ ~~;~~~~~ !r ~~~~ ;eb!d~~~:c~v~J Difobedience to his Law, and difpenfe Rewards and Punifhri1cnrs accordingly. God.by rhc; -d~arcft Titles is our King, our Law-givu and Judgt : For he is our Maker arld Pre_:. b~~;{; J~~~r~~;,~e~;;dn~~[,g~l::r~~~Jb~~~ef{ ~~.~:Aed1~~·~~oj~:,~ ~~th~iJer~;~d ~e;n~ni~ Y y nece!Tarily
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