196 FORGIVENESS OF SIN. And further, these properties can be no otherwise ex- ercised, and consequently nó otherwise known, but only in and by the pardon Of sin ; which puts it beyond all question that there is forgiveness with God. God will not lose the glory of these his excellences; he will be revealed in them, he will be known by them, he will be glorified for them; which\he could not be, if there were not forgiveness with him; so that here comes in, not only the truth, but also the necessity of forgiveness. XII. We proceed to that evidence of forgiveness with God, which is the centre in which all the lines of the foregoing meet ; the fountain of all those streams of refreshment which they containGoo's SENDING. HIS SON. The consideration hereof will leave no pretence or excuse for unbelief. To make this evidence more clear, -we must consider what was the rise of this send- ing ; who it was that was sent; how he was sent ; and to what end and purpose. 1. The rise and spring of it is to be considered. It came forth from the eternal mutual consent and coun- sel of the Father and the Son; " The counsel of peace shall be between them both." Zech. 6 ; 13. It is of Christ the Branch, of whom the prophet speaks. "He shall build the temple of the Lord ; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne ; and shall be a Priest upon his throne; and the counsel of peace shall be between them both ;" that is, between God the Father, who sends him, and himself ; there lay the counsel of peace - making between God and man, in due time accomplished by him who " is our peace." Eph. 2 :14e. So he speaks, " Then I was by him, as one brought up with 'him,- and I was daily his delight, re- joicing always before him; rejoicing in the- habitable parts of the earth ; and my delights were with the sons of men." Prov. s : 30, 31. These are the words of Wis-
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