Chap. 3 t. An Expofetion upon :log Book. of J45 a. Verf 33. 6s9 The original word fignifieth properly to cover with a garment MOD rex- e or vaile, with any thing, which gives fhadow or is a meanes of ru abfc 2tt- conceálment. Yet force diftingui(h the native fignificationoft is qaz regal, word from another in the Hebrew tongue fomewhat neere it in ranjtam ex op the letter ; that fignifying to cover as houles or tents cover us cuto out vo te. (& from thence the wordSuccoth tignifying tentsor booths,is de. 1JD of tegre rived) w`" cover usby being over us,or we being in them,where- obumb (ardo 11DJ ttPl J?:$e7t' asthis word lignifies to cover ascloarhs or garments coverus, do. by being put upon us,or by our putting them on.But not to flay upon that ftri&nefre ofthe word in its proper fence ; here we are to underftand it metaphorically, and fo 'cis applyed two wayes in Scripture ; l'irlt, to that gracious at of God in pardoning our tranfgreffions; Secondl o, to that ungracious a& of man indeny- ing or excufing his trenfgreffìons. 'Tic an at of greateft grace in God to cover our tranfgreilions by a pardon. He never thews himfelfe more as God, thenwhen he thus hides the fin of man. And 'cis an a&moli oppofite tograce,for man tocover his fin by denyingor excufing it ; man never (hews himfelfe more a man, a finfull man, then whenhe covers his fin. That a& of divine pardoning Grace Davidexpreffeth in the language of 7 hi text (`P/al. 32. I.) Bleffedú theman whofetranfgrefon it forgiven, andworfefin re. covered. Bywhom covered ? not by himfelfe but byGod. That which is called the forgivenes of fin in the former part of theverfe, is calledcovering of it in the latter part. Solo- mon fpeakes the fame thingof God, though he uleth another word ( Pro. z$. a. ) It it theglory of rod to conceale (or cover ) a thing; he meanes a finfull thing,or that which is worfe then no- thing, fin. To cleare this a lisle further; we read in Scriptureof a foure-fold covering offin for good. Firft There is a covering offin, by mercy or free love ; that indeed is the fountaine from whence this tranfcended favour, the forgivenes of fin floweth to us. !,even 1am he (faith the Lord, ifa. 43.,2$, ) that blottetb out thy tranfgrefonsformy namefalse, and will not remember tbyfine. That is, the rife and firfl moving caufe of this is in my felfe, it proceeds out of my owne bofome. There is no moving caufe antecedent to the love ofGod,, why finners are.pardoned, though there be a firft or chiefe working caule of the pardoning or covering of our fins ; And that is the next way ofcovering fin. PPPPz Se.
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