MEN DISBELIEVE GOD'S FORGIVENESS. 223 give themselves no reat until it be afresh discovered 2. Is this the frame of the most of men 1 The Lord knows it is not They talk of forgiveness, but esteem it not, prize it not, make no particular inquiries:after it. They put it to an ungrounded venture whether ever they be partakers of it or not ; for a relief against some pangs of conscience it is called upon, or else scarcely thought of at all. Let not such flatter themselves that they have any acquaintance with the mystery of gospel-for- giveness. III. Let it be inquired of .those who pretend to this persuasion of forgiveness, how they came by it, that we may know whether it be of Him who calleth us, or not; that we may try whether they have broken through the difficulties in, believing it, which we have manifested abundantly to lie in their way. When Peter confessed our Savior to be. the Christ, the Son of the, living, God, he told him that "flesh and blood had not revealed that untohim, but his Father who is in heaven." Matt. 16 : 17. It is so with those who indeed believe forgiveness in God: flesh andblood bath not revealed it to them. It has not been further- ed by any thingg within them or without them,; but all lies in opposition to it.. " This is the work of God, that we believe." John, 6 : 29. A.' great work, the greatest work. that God requireth of us. It is not only a great thing in itself, (the grace of believing is a great thing,) but it is greatin respect of its object,. (or what we have to believe, or forgiveness itself.) The great honor of Abraham's faith lay in this, that deaths and difficulties lay inthe way of it. Rom. 4 : 1S-20.. But what is adead body, and a dead womb, compared with an accusing conscience, a killing law, and apprehensions of a God terrible as a consuming fire 1 all which oppose them- selves to a soul called to believe forgiveness. What now have the most of men, who are confident
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