Chap. t 3. AnExpofition upon the Book ofJo$. Verf. I6. 453 while we reprove ourfelves, and confefs our fins, our hearts may .Qamvis act_ be raifed up in confidence of the favour of God in the pardon of our vcrfum me co.. ram V o was fins. meas tanquant Ile doth not fay, If I reprove mine own waies Goa w[1. re- malas a,;uo, prove me too. There are force rep rovings of our hearts, from fcio tamenquod which we may infer, that God will reproveus much more : fo fententiamii fob. 3, 2o. If our heart condemn us, God Isgreater then our mca favorem hearts, and knowethall things. 'Tis fo, when the heart is engaged 7 a Boldturua to any luft : when fucha mans heart condemns him, God will condemn him a thoufand times more: a man continuing in tin cannot fay upon good ground, I reprove my waies, yet God íháll be my falvation; yea, while fuch reprove themfelves they may be fure God will reprove them alfo. O.11y, when we humbly acknowledge the tinfulnefs of our waies, and forfake them, we areallured ofmercy. Thefe, and none but thefe have warrant from theword to fay falvation belongs to them: Prov. 28.1 He that covereth his fins(hall notprofiler, but whofo con_ feffethand forfaketh them(hall have mercy. (i Joh. i. 9.) Ifwe confefs our fins, he is faithful andjug to forgive us ourfins : To: coifefsfiin is felf-condemnation: God is fo gracious that he will not condemn, fo faithful and jufl -thathewill forgive thofe that confefs. While vve implead our felves, God will not be our Judge, but Quilt will be our Advocate; hence that G'ófpel-prophet encourageth drooping fouls (Ifa. 43. 16.) De- clare, that thoumaifl be jufti faed; Declare,what Ihould he declare?: Declare thine iniquity, and thou fh:alt be juftified from all thine iniquities. The Lord alfo will be thy falvation. Secondly, Take the former claufe according toour readingà I will maintainmy ownwies beforehim; He alfo(hall be myfalva- tion. From this connexionObferve. There is afelf-jufi'i facation confi¡lent withfalvation. Chrit} chargeth the Pharifees ( Lukk,, 16. z5,) reare theywhich jsiflifleyour felves before men, but God knoweth.your hearts.That is, youbear up andpride your felves with this, that men knowno ill:by you, that no man can fay, tilackis your eye, but God can fee black is your heart. They who tea in a jf}ification before men while their hearts are naught, are condemnedbeforeGod. And all who jutfifie themfelves before God upon the goodnefs of their works íhall be condemned. But though we may not Oil:- fie-our felves upon thegoodnefsof our works, yet they ( whole works.
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