SUPPORT FROM FORGIVENESS. 115 From these effects of this discovery of forgiveness in God, THREE THINGS will ensue, which are sufficient to maintain the spiritual life of the soul. L ./l resolution to abide with God, and to commit all to him. This the word, as was observed, teaches us : "There is forgiveness with thee," and therefore thou shalt be feared. Because this I found, this I am per- suaded of, therefore will I abide with him in the way of his fear and worship. To this our Savior calls, John, 15 : 4. "Abide in me; except you do so ye can bear no fruit." Many discouragements mayrise up in the soul : fears, especially, will assault it, that it shall not hold out, that it shall be rejected at last, that all is naught and hypo- critical with it, that it shall not be forgiven, that God indeed regards it not, and therefore it may well enough give over its hopes, which seem often as the giving up of the ghost. Again, oppositions arise from corruptions and temptations to sin, contrary to the life of faith : and these often proceed to a high degree of prevaleney, so that the guilt contracted may seem to cast the soul quite out of all expectation of mercy : I shall one day perish by these means, saith the soul, if I am not al- ready lost. But where faith has made this discovery of forgive- ness, the soul will abide with God against all these dis- couragements and oppositions; it will not leave him, it will not give over waiting for him. So David says, Psalm 73: 2, "But as for me, my feet were almost gone, my steps had well nigh slipped ;" and ver. 13, " Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain ;" but yet, after all his con- flicts, he comes to this at last, ver. 26, " Though my flesh and my heart faileth," yet, ver. 28, " it is good for me to draw near unto God ;" I will yet abide with God, I will not let go his fear, nor my profession : al- though I walk weakly, lamely, unevenly, yet I will still
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=