166 FORGIVENESS or SIN. without remedy or hope of relief. As he eternally satisfies himself in the revenue of glory which arises, to him in their punishment, so also he would have done with men had there been no forgiveness: with him for them. He would not have required them to fear, love or obey him, or have appointed -to them any way of worship where- by to express such affections towards him. Wherefore, 4'. It is evident that God, by prescribing worship to sinners, fully declares that there is forgiveness with him for them. A contrary course would not become his infinite self- sufficiency goodness and bounty. This the wife of Manoah well pleads : " If the-Lord were pleased to kill us, he would not have received a meat-offering and a burnt offering at our hands." Judges, 13 : 23. His ac- ceptance of worship from us is an infallible demonstra- tion that he will not execute against us the severity of the first-curse. This is-clearly shown in the first record of solemn instituted worship performed by sinners, "God had respect unto Abel and his offering." Gen. 4 : 4. Some think that God gave a visible pledge of his acceptance of Abe -1 and his offering; it may be, it was by fire from -heaven; for how else should Cainso instantly know that his brother and his offering were accepted, but that he and his were refused l However it were, it is evident that what testimony God gave of the acceptance" of his offering, the same he gave con- cerning his person; and that in the first place he had respect untoAbel, and then to-his offering. And there- fore the apostle saith, that thereby he obtained " wit - ness that -he was righteous," Heb. 11:4, that is, the witness or testimony of God himself. Now, this was in the forgiveness of his sin, without which he could nei- ther be righteous nor accepted, for he was a sinner. This God declared by acceptance of his worship. And thus we also, if we have any testimony of acceptance
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