EISCOVERY OF FORGIVENESS. 77 discovery of forgiveness. Conscience, if not scared, in- exorably condemns, and pronounces wrath on the sou! that has the least guilt cleaving to it. It lies close to the soul, and by importunity and loud speaking it will be heard. It will make the whole soul attend, or it will speak like thunder. And its constant voice is, that where there is guilt there must be judgment. Rom. 2': 11, 15. Conscience naturally knows nothing of forgiveness ; yea, it is against its very work and office, to hear any thing of it. If a man of courage and honesty be intrusted to keep a garrison against an enemy, let one come and tell him that peace is made between those whom he serves and their enemies, so that he may leave his guard, and 'set open the gates, and cease his watchfulness ; how wary will he be, lest, under this pretence, he be betrayed ! Nopsaith he, I will keep my hold until I have express orders frommy superiors. Conscience is intrusted with the power of God in the soul of a sinner, with command to keep all in subjection, with reference to the judgment to come ; it will not betray its trust, in believing every report of peace. No ! it says, and speaks in the name of God : " Guilt and punishment are inseparable ;" if the soul sin, God will judge. What tell you me of forgive- ness 1 I know what my commission is, and that I will abide by ; you shall not bring a superior commander into my trust. Now, whom should a man believe, if not his own con- science 1 which, as it will not flatter him, so it intends not to affright himbut to speak the truth as the matter requires. Conscience has two works in refer- ence to sin ; one to condemn the acts of sin, another to judge the person of the sinner ; both with reference to the judgment of God. 'When forgiveness comes, it would sever these offices, and take one of them out of the hand of conscience ; it will condemn the sin ; bat it shall no mere condemn the sinner, he shall be freed
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