25 . FORGIVENESS OF SIN. of mere sovereign grace, to speak peace and refresh- ment to the souls of his saints, in their depths of sin-en- tanglements. _Isa. 57 : 18,.19. And indeed, if the Lord had not thus provided that great provocation should stand in need of special reliefs, it might justly be feared, that the negligence of believers might possibly produce much bitter fruit. Only this must be observed by the way, that what is spoken relates to the sense of sinners in their own souls, and not to the nature of the thing itself. There is in the Gospel, consolation provided against the greatest as well as the least sins. The difference arises fromGod's sovereign communication of it, according to the tenor of the covenant's administration, which we have laid down. Hence, because under Moses' law there was.a:n exception of some sins, for which there was nó sacri- fice appointed, so that those who were guilty of them could no way be justified from them ; that is, carnally,. as to their interest in the judaical church and polity; Paul tells the . Jews, " That through Jesus Christ was preached unto them the forgiveness of sins, and that byhim all that believe are justified from all things, from which they could not be justified by the lawof Moses." Acts, 13 : 38, 39. There is now no exception of any par- ticular sins, as to pardon and peace ; but what we have spoken relates to the manner wherein God is pleased to administer consolation to the souls of sinning believers. Having shown that the covenant of grace leaves it possible that the souls of believers should fall into in- extricable depths, I proceed more directly to show whence it is that they often do actually thusfall. 1. From indwelling sin, as it remains in the best of saints in this life. For, Though the strength of every sin be weakened by grace, yet time root of no sin is in this life wholly taken away. Lust is like the stubborn Canaanites, who, after
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