SUPPORT FROM FORGIVENESS. 119 a life of joy, rest, peace and consolation do they lead ! Had I but the evidence of an interest in it, and the spiritual consolation that ensues, how would I despise the world and all the temptations of Satan, and rejoice in the Lord in every condition !" And this apprehen- sion of grace also exceedingly fits the soul for receiving a blessed sense of it, that God may have glory thereby. It also gives the soul a right understanding of forgive- ness, its nature, its causes, and effects. At first, the soul goes no further but to look after impunity, or freedom of punishment. " What shall I do to be saved" from hell l is the utmost it aims at ; who shall deliver me '? how shall I escape l And it would be contented to escape any way, by the law or the Gospel, if it may but escape. But upon this discovery of forgiveness a man plainly sees its na- ture, and that it is to be desired for its own sake. In- deed, when a soul is in trouble for sin, it knows not well what it would have. It has an uneasiness that it would be freed from; a dread of some evil condition that it would avoid. But now the soul can tell what it desires, what it aims at, as well as what it would be freed from. It would have an interest in eternal love, have the gracious kindness of the heart of God turned towards itself; and a manifestation of a special interest in the precious blood of the Son of God, whereby atone- ment is made for him. These things he comes for; in this way alone he would be saved, and no other. He sees such a glory of wisdom, love and grace, in forgiveness, such an exaltation of the love of Christ, in all his offices, especially in his death, sacrifice, and blood-shedding, whereby he procured or made reconciliation for us, that he exceedingly longs after the participation of them. All these things, in their several degrees, will this discovery of forgiveness in God, without special evi- dence ofa personal interest therein, produce. And these will assuredly maintain the spiritual life of the soul, and
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