ri 114 FORGIVENESS OF SIN. apprehensions of God, which were wont to arise in the first thoughts of coming to him, are now removed. In particular, it removes the overwhelming considera- tion of the unspeakable greatness of sin as exceeding the mercy of God. This presses the soul to death when it is possessed with it. Were not their sins so great, such as no heart can imagine or tongue declare, it might pos- sibly be well with them, say distressed sinners. They are not so troubled that they are sinners, as that they are great sinners: not so much that they are guilty of these and those sins, as that they are great sins, attend- ed with fearful aggravations. Now, though this discov- ery free not men from the entanglement of their sins, as theirs, yet it does from the whole entanglement of their sins, as great and many. That great sins can be pardoned, this discovery makes certain: whether his own sins shall be pardoned, is now the only -inquiry. Whatever any faith can do, this faith will do: unless it be the making of particular application of the things believed unto itself.' The soul then can no longer just- ly be troubled about the greatness of sin; the infinite- ness of forgiveness that he sees in God will relieve him against it. 3. It gives some life and encouragement in duty. And that, first, in duty as duty; eyeing Godby faith in such a fulness of grace, the soul cannot but be encouraged to meet, him in every way of duty; every way leading to him, as leading to him, must be well liked and ap- proved; and, secondly, in all duties: and herein lies no small advantage. God is often found in duties, but he has not revealed in what he will be found by any one soul in particular. This faith encourages the soul to all. Now, what support may hence obtained, is easily ap- prehended ; support, not from them, or by them, but in them, as the means of intercourse between God and the soul.
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