---=3.::...5_z_____ S_E_R_. rv_l_o_N s of the Forgivenefs of SINs. bodo)J · Mic. f. Hof.n ing the Brcafi of a Chrifiian, and fo congruous to our prefcnt State-, and fervile Fear that is the proper Charader of one in the Bondage of Sin. ' T he Filial Fear of God is an ingenuous voluntary Affection, flowing ·from Love and freely cxercis'd, and e£l:eem'd rhe 1reafure of the Soul. Servile Fear, rhe Sequel of Guilt is a jud,cial Impretlion from the fad Thoughts of the provoked Maje£l:y of Heaven: and if rhe Offender could diffolve the Bands of Confcience, he would throw it off. Fi: ha I Fc~ r 1S m.tx'd with Joy, 'ris the l?refcrvarive of God's ~avour ro us;. 1t makes us more ctrcumiped, bur nor !efs comfortable: it oppofes Secunry, butefl:abhfhes the Alfu~ ranee of F airh : rhe Fcar_ of the Lord, and Hope in. his Mercy, are united Graces. SerVile ~·ca r bns Torment, 'tts an Alarm within that d1fiurbs the Rcfi of the ~i~ncr; 'ris a frcmng Fire that iCcrctly torments him in his mofr lufcious Fruirions. Ftltal Fear re. firain s from all ~in in the Heart and Life, becaufe it difhonours and difpleafes God; it dcmcs the c;~rnal Appetites with Sweerncfs and Satisfaction to the Soul; tt excttcs us to obey God wi th Choice and Complacency. Servile Fear induces an Ab£l:inence from fomo Sins, which Ay in rhe Face of Confcien~e, and which the Sinner loves, .and urges to rhe ourw:m.l Performance of Duties, wluch he hares. The flaviJh Spinr is afraid to burn, not to fin; he is fearful robe damn' cl, not to difpleafc God. Filial Fear is aferi. ous and habitual Con£l:itution of rhe Soul, infeparable from it in all Times and Places ' ris inAucntial into the whole Life. Servile Fear is a fuddcn Paffion, and ttanfiem ~ Sometimes a {har p AffliCtion, a piercing Sermon, a. wakens a fecure Wretch into a Fit of Terror. Fi lial Fear keeps the Soul clo!C to God, makes it folicitous, le£1: any Sin lhouJd intercept t he Li ght of his Countenance, and obfiruct Communion with him, whid1 is the Para~ i lC of _a Saint: ' ris the gracious Promifc of God to his Children, 1 will p~tt ~[n~~;JJ;;'~/'~~~l:e;;:;~n~=~ ~~a f':~~\::~rr:gd;~afi~/l,~":n,m:~ a8~:f!~ ~:a:oj~~ch!e: He is not plca!ccl with Solitude, !ell the guilty Confcience lhould have time of Recollection, and 01ould look to the Judge above: He takes no Delight in "the Society of the Saints, and the Enjoyment of the Ordinances, becaufe God is peculiarly pcefent there ; and above all things he is afraid to die, becaufc then the Spirit returns to God that gave it. In 010rt, the filial Fear of God afcend·s with the Soul ro Heaven, and is rhe eternal Refpect that the ble!Ted Spirirs continually pay to his adorable Perfccnont Servile Fear at tends the Sinner to Hell, and ferries into Dcfpair for ever. 2dly. The DoCtrine of Divine Forgivenefs affords £l:rong Confolation to rhofe who arc wounded in Spirit in the Scnfe of their Sins. Thofe only who feel the intolerable Burden of Guilr, will come to Chri!l: to find Re£1:: And only thofe our Saviour invites and promifcs gracioufly to receive. A render and timorous Confciencc does often im· pure the Guilt of Sin, when 'tis abolifh'd; a feared Confcicnce does not impute it, when :~g~,~~~d~f ;'r~~~~t~n~v~~!~~/'~~~nchi~/elf.fu~: ~j~~~r, 1:: ~~~:;;;~~:/; ~~eP~: don : but this cannot exclude him from it : for the Grace of God fprings from wicl1in, and has no original Caufe wirhout it felf. 'Tis like cele£l:ial Fire that feeds it felf: God ~~/Ja~~s ~;~sci!~;:c~~~nw~lc~~~: ~e:~e t;~~~~~c Jfw1Jtfo~~ ~::~. berfM~::~'~v:C~oi)_ flowed only upon the worthy, none could be faved: for -all hll'lle finned and come fhort %,~~f.rc;,~Jefrr~;~in a~~'~:fc~d~:, ~~~~t~~~~eu~~f,~:r,~~ }~;!;~~: tt~~ t;e ~:! ~ff~~ed none is lil-e Cod in pardoning. The Number of our Sins is terrifying: This fo affetled the Pfalmi£1:, that he fainted with defponding1Fear; My Sins are Me the Hairs upon my H ead, tlmefore my Heart fails me. But the Multitude of God's Mtrcies incomparably exceed our numerous Sins. They are renewed every Moment of our Lives: Srupcn· dous Infinity ! they are over all bis Works; and over all his Attributes. God is LlfVe, and Love covers a multitude of Sins. Tllc killing Ag gravations of our Sins !hike us through: Bur there is not fo much Evll in Sin as there is Goodnefs in God. Our finite ACts cannot preponderate his unhmi ted E!Tence. He declares, I am God and not Man, therefore ye are not .confumed. We hardly forgive a few Pence, he forgives Ten thoufand Talents. He is God, infinite m Mercy, and as liberal as infinite. Delight in Sin is an aggravating Circumfiance; hue God ~digbts in Mercy. ContinUance in Sin inflames rhe Guilt; but his Mercy extends tO· Ercrmty. · inf g~~~~ s~~~~~~ 0r~~~;d~~~;,o~~t~:r~::~rn~! !:~:sn:l;e ~e~;~~:}mlir~~tr~~dtq~~;;; rll1.:;~: ~~~d~'ib!~Jd' h~~.~'&~~,ei :r~r::;e~~;;~~:qd~~~~ou~~n~i~}1~~ea~~rd~::~or~~.~~ Glocy
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