170 FORGIVENESS OF SIN. sins, and those who remained, though they had just cause to fear the same judgment would again befall them or their posterity, because they saw there was like to be the same cause of it, the thoughts and imaginations of the hearts of men being still evil, and that continùal- ly; to secure them against these fears, I told them that I would destroy the earth no more with water; and I gave them a token of my faithfulness therein, by placing my bow in the cloud. And have I failed them 1 Though the sin and wickedness of the world has been, since that day, unspeakably great, yet mankind is not drowned again, nor ever shall be,: I will not deceive their expec- tation from the token I have given them. Wherever, then, there is a word of promise confirmed with a token, never fear a disappointment. But so is this matter. I have declared that there is forgiveness with t e; and, to give you assurance thereof, I have ordained-this or- dinance as a seal of my word, to take away all suspicion of your being deceived. As the world shall be drowned no more, so neither shall they who believe come short of forgiveness." The same is the end of that other great ordinance of the church, the supper of the Lord. We have 'already shown the connection between gospel-forgiveness and the death or blood of Jesus Christ. This ordinance, therefore, designed and appointed on purpose for the representation and calling to remembrance of the death of Christ, with the communication of its benefits to them- that believe, loth principally intend our faith and com- fort in the truth under consideration; and therefore, in th& very institution of it, besides the general end before mentioned, which had been sufficient for our security, there i""added an especial mention of the forgiveness of sin : for so speaks our Savior in the institution of it, for the use of the church to the end of the world, " This.. is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for
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