PRESUMPTIONS OF FORGIVENESS. 83 any dreadful providence, thunderings, lightnings, tem- pests, or in darkness, they tremble, not so much at what they see, or hear, or feel, as from their secret thoughts that God is nigh, and that he is a consuming fire. Now, these inbred notions lie universally against all apprehensions of forgiveness; which must be brought into the soul fromwithout, having no principle óf nature to promote them. Thus it appears that a real, solid discovery of forgive- ness is indeed a great work; many difficulties and hin- derances lie in the way of its accomplishment. We proceed to expose some of the FALSE PRESUMPTIONS OF FORGIVENESS, with which men deceive themselves. It may be objected as to the considerationsjust adduced, that we find men abundantly ready to expect forgiveness from God. What so common as, " God is merciful l" Are not the convictions of most men stifled by this soothing apprehension 2 Is it not a common complaint, that men presume on it, to their eternal ruin l I answer, the folly of poor souls in their presuming on forgiveness, can never be enough lamented ; it is one thing to embrace a cloud,' a shadow, and another to have the truth in reality. I shall hereafter show the true nature of forgiveness, and wherein it consists, whereby the vanity of this self-deceiving will be ex- posed. It will appear in the issue, that notwithstanding all their pretensions, the most of men know nothing at all, or not any thing to the purpose, of true forgiveness. I therefore proceed to show, in some few observations, how far this delusion of many differs from a true gos. pel-discovery of forgiveness. .!ln atheistical presumption that God is not so just and holy, or not just and holy in such a manner as he is re- presented, is the ground on which multitudes persuade themselves of forgiveness. Men think that some declara-
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