214 'á FORGIVENESS OF SIN. But he is God : this gives an inconceivable boundless- ness to the forgiveness that is with him, and exalts it above all our thoughts and ways. 2. God engages his infinite excellences to demonstrate the greatness and boundlessness of his forgiveness. He proposes them to our. consideration, to convince us that we shall find pardon with him suitable and answer- able to them. See Isa. 40 : 27-31. "Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the Lord, and my judgment is passed over from my God'? Hast thou not known, hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the 'Lord, the Creator of the ends of .the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary; there is no searching.of his understanding : He giveth power to the faint, and to, them that have no might he increaseth strength : even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fail; but they that wait up- on the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, and they shall- walk and not faint." The matter in question is, whether acceptance with God, which is only by forgiveness, is to `be obtained or not this sinful Jacob either despairs of, or at least desponds about.. But, saith God, "My thoughts are not our thoughts" in this matter. And what course does be take to convince them of their mistake'? What argu- ment does he make' use of to free them from' their un- belief, and to rebuke their fears l Plainly, he calls them to the consideration of himself, both who and what he is with whom they had to do, that they might expect acceptance and forgiveness such as 'become him. Re- minding them of his power, his immensity, his infinite wisdom, his unchangeableness, all thë excellences and properties of his nature, he demands' of themwhether they have not just ground to 'expect forgiveness and grace above all their thoughts and apprehensions, be-
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