418 FORGIVENESS OF SIN. time and enabled to mix effectually a promise with faith. The word of promise has a wonderful, mysterious, special impression of God upon il. By it he secretly and ineffably communicates himself to believers. When God appeared in a dream to Jacob, he awaked and said, " God is in this place, and I knew it not." He knew God was every where, but an intimation of his especial presence surprised him : so is a soul surprised, when God opens himself and his grace ina promise unto him. It cries out, God is here, and I knew it not. Such a near approach of God in his grace it finds, as is accom- panied with a refreshing sm-prisal. There is a special engagement of the truth of God in every promise. Grace and truth are the two ingredients of an evangelical promise. I cannot now stay to show wherein this special engagement of truth in the promise consists. Besides, it is a thing known and confessed; but it has a special influence to support the soul, when hoped in, in its duty of waiting: for that hope can never make ashamed, or leave the soul to disappoint- ment, which stays itself on Divine veracity under a spe- cial engagement. This is the duty which the Psalmist engages himself in, as the only way to obtain a comfortable interest in forgiveness with God, and all its gracious effects.
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