EVIDENCES OF FORGIVENESS. CHAPTER VII. 123 EVIDENCES OF FORGIVENESS. That we may be enabled to settle our persuasion of forgiveness in God, I proceed to adduce unquestion- able evidences of this gospel truth, on which the soul may rest. That which may be known of God is of two kinds : first, his natural attributes, his omnipotence, eternity, holiness, &c. These are revealed in his works, and may be discovered by the light of nature. Rom. 1: 19, 20. Secondly ; the free acts of his will and power, or his free eternal purposes, with the temporal dispensations that flow from them, which include his forgiveness, all which can be known only by special revelation. For There is in the heart of man no inbred notion of the acts of God's will. Forgiveness is not revealed by the light of nature ; flesh and blood declare it not. By that means "no man hath seen God at any time," John, 1 : 18 ; that is, as a God of mercy and pardon, as the Son reveals him. Adam had acquaintance, according to the limited capacity of a creature, with the properties and excel- lences of the nature of God. It was implanted in his heart, as indispensably necessary to that natural worship which, by the law of his creation, he was to perform ; but when he had sinned, it is evident that he had not the least apprehension that there was forgiveness with God : such a thought would have laid a foundation of some further treaty with God about his condition. He had no other design but " of flying and hiding himself," Gen. 3 : 10 ; so declaring that he was utterly ignorant of any such thing as pardoning mercy. Such are all the first or natural conceptions of sinners : namely, that it
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=