RULES FOR OBTAINING FORGIVENESS. 301 soul in forgiveness, may be without it, that so you may not conclude there is a real want of pardon, from the want of the refreshing sense of it. Grace in general may be referred to under two heads : 1. Our acceptance with God, or the forgiveness of sin, through Christ; and, 2d. The grace of sanctification from God in Christ. Of each of these there is a spiritual sense or experience to be obtained ; in both distinguished from faith that gives us a real interest in forgiveness. Of the spiritual sense that we have of acceptance with God there are sundry parts or degrees : to thin belongs peace with God, " Being justified by faith, we have peace with God." Rom. 5 : 1. This peace is the rest and composure of the soul emerging out of trouble on account of the reconciliation made for it by the blood of Christ : it implies a freedom from trouble, and a rest, satisfaction and contentment in the condition attained. And this, at least the second part of it, belongs to the spiritual sense that we inquire after. Again, there is in it joy in the Holy Ghost, called " joy unspeakable and full of glory," l Pet. 1 : 8 ; as also " glorying in the Lord" on account of his grace, Isa. 45 : 25, with many like effects proceeding from a shedding abroad of the love of God in our hearts. Rom. 5 : 5. Yea, you say these are the things you aim at ; these are the things you would attain, and be filled with. It is this peace, this joy, this glorying in the Lord that you would always be iu possession of. I say, you do well to desire them, to seek and labor for them; they are purchased by Christ for believers : but you will do well to consider under what notion you desire them. If you look on these things as belonging to the essence
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