RULES FOR OET1iNING FORGIVENESS. 27 I shall begin with GENERAL RULES, which, through the grace of Christ and supplies of his Spirit, may be of use to unbelievers in the condition under considera- tion. RULE I. Be not judges of your own condition, but let Christ judge. You are invited to take the comfort of this gospel- truth, that there is forgiveness with God. You say it is not for you : so said Jacob, "My way is hid from the Lord," Isa. 40 : 27 ; and Zion said so too, chap. 49 : 14, " The Lord bath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me." But did they make a right judgment of themselves'? We find in those places that God was otherwise minded. This false judgment made by souls in their entanglements, of their own condition, is often a most unconquerable hinderance to the bettering of it they, fill themselves with thoughts of their own about it, and on them they dwell, instead of looking out for a remedy. Misgiving thoughts of their diseases are a great part of some men's sickness. Many diseases cloud the thoughts, and cause misapprehensions concerning their own nature and danger; and those delusions are a real part of the person's sickness. Nature is no less impaired and weakened by them, the efficacy of reme- dies no less obstructed than by any other real disease. In such cases, we persuade men to acquiesce in the judgment of their skilful physician, not always to be wasting themselves by their own imaginations, and so despond upon their own mistakes; but to rest in the tes- timony of Himwho is acquainted with the causes and tendency of their indisposition better than themselves.
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