E " `'' 178 FORGIVENESS OF SIN. posed of in infinite wisdom and holiness in this cove- t! nant, the whole duty and blessedness of man being fully provided for, and the glory of God secured at all events, what was the reason that God left not all things thus to standor fall l Wherefore doth he reject and lay aside this covenant, and promise to make another Certain it is, that he might have continued it with a blessed security to his own glory ; and he makes " all things for himself, even the wicked for the day of evil." t. God himself shows what was the sole reason of this dispensation. Heb. 8 : 7-13. The sum of it is this : not- withstanding the blessed constitution of the first cove- ; . .;. nant, there was no provision for the pardon of sin, no room or place for forgiveness in it; but on supposition that man sinned, he was in that covenant left remedi- t^ less. God had not in it revealed that there was any such thing as forgiveness with him ; nor had any sinner the least grounds of expectation of any such thing. Die he must, and that without remedy. Now, saith God, this .. must not be. Mercy, goodness and grace require an- other state of things and therefore I will make another covenant with them, by which they shall know and find that there is forgiveness with me, that they may fear me. Now, next to the blood of Christ, whereby this cove- nant was ratified and confirmed, this is the greatest evi- dence that can possibly be given, that there is forgive - ', ness with God. To what end else does God make this great alteration in the effects of his will, in his way of dealing with mankind l As forgiveness of sin is express - $' ly contained in the tenor of the covenant, so, set it aside, and it will be of no more use or advantage than the former. For, as this covenant is made directly with sinners, (nor was there any one in the world when God made it, that was not a sinner; nor is it of use to any but sinners,) so is forgiveness of sins the very life of it.
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