PRESUMPTIONS OF FORGIVENESS. 87 pardon," hath wrought the cure. But the other class have obtained their persuasion as a result of the disco- very of Christ in the Gospel, upon a full conviction. 3. These delusive hopes of forgiveness work no love to God, no delight in him, no reverence of him. None deal worse with God than those who have anunground- ed persuasion of forgiveness; and if they seem to fear him, or love him, or obey him in any thing, it is from other motives and considerations, which will not render any thing they do acceptable. Carnal boldness, formali- ty, and despising of God, are the common issues of such a persuasion. Indeed, this is the generation of great sinners in the world; men who have a general appre- hension, but not a sense of the special power of pardon. Where faith makes a discovery of forgiveness, all things are otherwise. Great love, fear, and reverence of God are its attendants. Mary Magdalen lovedmuch, because much was forgiven. Great love will spring out of great forgiveness. " There is forgiveness with thee, (saith the Psalmist,) that thou mayest be feared." No unbe- liever truly and experimentally knows the truth of this inference. 4. This delusive apprehension of the pardon of sin begets no serious thorough hatred and detestation of sin, but rather secretly insinuates into the soul encourage- ment to continue in it. It tends to lessen and extenuate sin, and to support the soul against its convictions. So Jude tells us, that some " turn the grace of God into lasciviousness." But how can they do this? Will what was once grace ever become wantonness? It is their perversion of the doctrine of grace, not of real grace, that is intended. The doctrine of forgiveness may be thus abused. From hence do men, who have onlya gene- ral notion of it, habitually draw secret encouragements to sin and folly. Paul informs us that carnal men are very apt to make such conclusions. Rom. 6 : 1. And it
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