EVIDENCI S OF FORGIVENESS. 151 this day, this very day, that you might use it for the obtaining of the remission of your sins. Lose not this day, nor one day more, as you love your souls; for woful will be their condition who shall perish for des - pising or abusing the patience of God. VI. THE FAITH AND EXPERIENCE OF THE SAINTS in this world concur in this testimony, and we know that their record in this matter is true. Let us then ask them what they believe, what they have found, what they have experience of, as to the forgiveness of sin 1 This God himself directs and leads us to, by appeal- ing to our own experience; whence he shows us that we may take relief and support in our distresses. Isaiah, 40 : 28. " Hast thou not heard 1 Hast thou not known2" Hast not thou thyself, who now criest out that thou art lost and undone, because God hath forsaken thee, found and known by experience the contrary, from his former dealings with thee 1 And if our own experience may confirm us against the workings of our unbelief, so may that of others. Thus Eliphaz directs Job, " Call now, if there be any that will answer thee, and to which of the saints wilt thou look'" chap. 5 : 1. It is not a supplication to them for help that is intended, but an in- quiry after their experience in the case in hand, where- in he wrongfully thought they could not justify Job. In the Hebrew " to which of the saints, on the right hand or the left, wilt thou have regard in this matter 1" Some would foolishly hence seek to confirm the invocation of departed saints : when indeed, if they were intended, it is rather forbidden and discountenanced than directed to. But the saints here are, "the saints that are in the earth," Psalm 16 : 3, into whose experience Job is di- rected to inquire. David makes it a great encouragement to waiting upon God, as a God hearing prayer, that others had done so, and found success, Psalm 34 : 6
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