NATURE OF FORGIVENESS. 95 fountain, and springs of it, they will be able to give another account of these things. Christ is the centre of the mystery of the Gospel, and forgiveness is laid up in the heart of Christ, from the love of the Father ; in him are all the treasures of it hid. And surely it is no small thing to have the heart of Christ revealed unto us. When believers look for pardon, their faith fastens on this, that God, with whom the soul lath to do, bath, for this end, sent the Lord Christ to die. General notions of impunity they dwell not on, they have a closer con- verse with God than to be satisfied with such thoughts. They inquire into the graciousness of his nature, and the good pleasure of his will, the purpose of his grace ; they ponder, and look into the mystery of his wisdom and love in sending his Son. If these springs be not clear to them, the streams will yield but little refresh- ment. It is not enough that we seek after salvation, but we are to inquire and search diligently into the nature and manner of it. These are things that the "angels desire to bow down and look into." 1 Pet 1 : 11-13. And it is, doubtless, one reason why many, who truly believe, do yet so fluctuate about forgiveness all their days, that they never exercised faith to look into the springs of it, its eternal fountains, but have merely dwelt on actual pardon. 2. There is another sovereign act of God's will to be here considered : his eternal designation of those who shall he made partakers of this mercy. He bath not left this thing to hazard and uncertainties, that it should, as it were, be unknown to him who should be pardoned, and who not. Nay, none are made partakers of forgive- ness but those whom he bath eternally and graciously designed thereunto. So the apostle declares, Eph. 1 : 5-7. The rise is his eternal purpose ; the end, the glory of his grace ; the means, redemption in the blood of Christ ; the thing itself, forgiveness of sins.
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