ARM 198 FORGIVENESS OF SIN. cording to its verdict and sentence. But now he as- sures us, he reveals to us, that he had other thoughts in this matter; that there weremother counsels between the Father and the Son concerning us; and these such as the Son was delighted in the prospect of accomplish- ing. What can these thoughts and counsels be, but about a way for their deliverance, which could no otherwise be but by the forgiveness of sins l For if God mark iniquities, none can stand. Hearken, there- fore, poor sinner, and have hope. God is consulting about thy deliverance and freedom ; and what cannot the wisdom and grace of the Father and Son accom- plish'? For to this end was the Son sent into the world, which is the second thing proposed to consideration. 2. Whom did God send i The Scripture lays great weight and emphasis on this consideration ; faith must do so also : " God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Soh," John, 3 : 16 ; so 1 John, 4 : 9, " In this was manifested the love of God towards us, be- cause that God sent his only - begotton Son into the world, that we might live through him." " Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." And who is this that is thus sent, and called "the only-begot- ten Son of God i" Take a double descriptionof him, one out of the Old Testament, and another from the New. The first from Isa. 9 : 6, " To us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoul- der, and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace :" the other from Heb. 1 : 2, 3, " God hath spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds. Who being the brightness of his glory and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat
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