120 FORGIVENESS OF SIN. keep it up to such an obedience as shall be accepted of God in. Christ. Darkness, sorrow, storms, they in whom it is may meet with; but their eternal condition is se- cured in the covenant of God; their souls are bound in the bundle of life. From what has. been said, we may draw some INFER- ENCES concerning the true notion of believing. And, 1. The effects ascribed to this faith of forgiveness in God, make it evident that many who pretend to believe that there is forgiveness with God, do indeed believe no such thing. I only ask what effects this faith has produced in them, and whether they have been enabled to perform the duties before mentioned 2 I fear, with many, the fruits of their pretended faith are quite other- wise. They love sin the more for it, and God never the better; supposing that a few barren words will issue the controversy about their sins, they come insensibly to have slight thoughts of sin, and of God also. This persuasion is not of Him that calls us. Po9r souls! your faith is the devil's greatest engine for your ruin ; the highest contempt of God and Christ, and forgiveness also, that you can be guiltyof; a means to let you down quietly into hell: the Pharisees trusted in Moses, and will condemn you. As none is saved but by faith, so you, if it were not for your faith, as you call it, might possibly be saved. If a man's gold prove counterfeit, his jewels painted glass, his silver lead or dross, he will not only be found poor when he comes to be tried, and want the benefit of riches, but will also have a fearful aggravation of his poverty, by his disappointment and surprisal. If a man's faith, which should be more pre- cious than gold, bé found corrupt, if his light be dark- ness; how vile is that faith, how great is that darkness! Such, it is evident, will the faith of too many be found. 2. The object before us is the raising of a sin-entan-
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