loo FORGIVENESS OF SIN. from some one of them, more than from the rest; and then that proves an inlet, a door of entrance, to the trea- sures laid up in the rest. 1. Sometimes faith fixes upon the name and infinite goodness of the nature of God, and draws out forgive- ness from thence. So Both the Psalmist, " Thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive." Psalm 86 : 5. He rolls himself, in the pursuit and expectation of pardon, on the infinite goodness of the nature of God. So Neh. 9 : 17, "Thou art a God of pardons," or ready to forgive; of an infinite, gracious, loving nature ; not severe and wrathful. Thus we are encouraged "to stay on the name of God," Isa. 50: 10, as in innumerable otherplaces. Thus faith often finds a peculiar sweetnessand encou- ragement in the consideration of God's gracious nature. Sometimes this is the first thing it fixes on, and some- times the last it rests in ; and often it makes a stay here when driven from all other holds. Faith can say, How- ever it be, yet God is gracious; and at least make that conclusion whichwe have from it, " God is gracious and merciful, who knoweth but he will return I" Joel, 2 : 13, 14. And when faith has well laid hold on this conside- ration it will not easily be driven from its expectation of relief and forgiveness, even from hence. 2. Sometimes the soul, by faith, addresses itself in a peculiar manner to the sovereignly of God's will; where- by he is gracious to whom he will be gracious, and mer- ciful to whom he will be merciful; which, as was showed, is another considerable spring or principle of forgive- ness. This way David's faith directed him in his great strait and perplexity, " If I shall find favor in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me again; but if he thus say, I have no delight in thee, behold here am I, let him do unto me as seemeth good unto him." 2 Sam. 15 : 25, 26. He had in consideration whether God had any delight' in him; that is, whether God would graciously remit
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