264 FORGIVENESS OF SIN. fear of the great God, entreat a few things yet further of you. 2. That you would seriously consider whether the forgiveness you rest on, and hope in, be true gospel-for- giveness which we have described l or is it only a general apprehension of impunity though you are sin- ners: that God is merciful, and you hope that you shall escape the vengeance of hell fire l If it be thus with you, forgiveness itself will not relieve you. Gospel par- don is a thing of another nature : it bath its spring in the gracious heart of the Father; is made out by a sove- reign act of his will; rendered consistent with the glory of his justice and holiness by the blood of Christ; by which it is purchased in the covenant of grace. If you say, Yea, this is the forgiveness we relyupon, it is that which you have described; then I desire further, that you would, 3. Examine your own hearts how you came to have an interest in this forgiveness, to close with it, and to have a right to it. Aman may deceive himself as effec- tually by supposing that true riches are his when they are not, as by supposing his false and counterfeit money to be good and current; how, then, came you to be in- terested in this gospelforgiveness l If it hath come to you, you know not how; if a lifeless, barren, inopera- tive persuasion of it hath crept upon your minds; be not mistaken, God will come and require his forgiveness at your hand, and it shall appear that you have had no part nor portion in it. If you shall say, Nay, but we were convinced of sin, and rendered exceedingly unquiet in our consciences, and on that account looked out after forgiveness, which hath given us rest; then I desire,
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