84 FORGIVENESS OF SIN. tions of God are fitted only to make them mad : that he takes little notice of their sins, and those he doesno- tice, he will easily pass by, as they suppose better be- comes him. Come, " let us eat and drink, for to-mor- rowwe die." Their inward thought is, " The Lord will not do good, neither will he do evil," which, says the Psalmist, is men's " thinking that God is such a one as themselves." Psalm 50 : 21. Theyhave no deep nor seri- ous thoughts of his greatness, holiness, purity, severity, but think he is like themselves, so far as not to be much moved with what they do. What thoughts they have of sin, the same they think God has. If, with them, a slight ejaculation be enough to expiate in so that their consciences are no more troubled, they think the same is enoughwith God, so that it will not be punished. The generality of menmake light of sin ; and he that has slight thoughts of sin, had never great thoughts ofGod. Indeed, men's undervaluing of sin arises from their contempt of God. The evil of sin flows from its relation to God ; and as men's apprehensions are of God, so will they be of sin. This is the state of most men; they know little of God, and are little troubled about any thing that re- lates to him. God is not reverenced, sin is but a trifle, forgiveness a matter of nothing ; whoso will, may have it for asking ! But shall this atheistical wickedness of the heart of man be accounted a discovery offorgiveness? Is not this to make God an idol 2 He who is not acquaint- ed with God's holiness and purity, who knows not sin's desert and sinfulness, knows nothing of forgiveness. From the doctrines of the Gospel commonly preached there is also a vague notion in the minds of men that God is ready to forgive a mere speculative apprehen- sion of this truth, without any real satisfactory founda- tion of that apprehension as to themselves. This they have heard, this they have been often told, and a gene- ral persuasion spreads itself over all to whom the sound
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