184 FORGIVENESS OF SIN.. CHAPTER X. EVIDENCES OF FORGIVENESScontinued. X. Another foundation and infallible evidence of the truth, that there is forgiveness with God, may be taken from that especial name and . title which He takes to himself; he owns the name of the "Gon OF PARDONS," or the " GOD OF FORGIVENESS." So is he called, Neh. 9: 17, where we have rendered the words, " Thou art a God ready to forgive ;" but they are, as was said, in the Hebrew, " And thou art a God of pardons," forgive- ness, or propitiations. This is his name, which he owns, of which he accepts the ascription to himself; the name whereby he will be known. And here let us consider howGod manifests himself to us by his name, 1. The name of God is that whereby he reveals him- self to us, whereby he would have us know him and own him. It is something expressive of his nature or properties, which he has appropriated to himself. What- ever, therefore, anyname of God expresses him to be, that he is, that we may expect to find him; for he will not deceive us by giving himself :a = wrong or a: false name. And on this account he requires us to trust in his name, because he will assuredly be found to us what his name . imports. Resting on his name, flying to . his name, calling upon his name, praising his name, things' so often mentioned in the Scripture, confirm the same to us. These things could not be our duty, if we ;might be deceived in so doing. God is and will be to us what his namedeclares. 2. On this ground, then, God is said to be known by any name, when those to whom he reveals himself do, in an especial manner, rest on that name by faith, and
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