90 FORGIVENESS OF SIN. That this is the head or spring from which forgive- ness flows, is manifest from this solemn proclamation which he made of old of his name, " The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long - suffering, and abun- dant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thou- sands, forgiving iniquity, and transgression, and sin." Exod. 34 : 6, 7. Having made this known to be his name, and thereby declared his nature, he, in many places, proposes it as a relief, a refuge for sinners, an encouragement to come to him, and to wait for mercy from him. " They that know thy name, will put their trust in thee," Psalm 9 : 10; others have no foundation of their confidence. But if this name of God be indeed made known to us by the Holy Ghost, why should we not repair to him, and rest upon him l So Isaiah, 1 : 10. " Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obey eth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness and bath no light, let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God." Not only sinners, but sinners in great distress, who walk in darkness, are here spoken to, and called " to trust in the name of the Lord." I have shown that nothing but forgiveness is of use to one in distress on account of sin; yet is such an one here sent to the NAME of the Lord, wherein his gracious heart and nature is revealed. That, then, is the very fountain and spring of forgiveness, and what John would impress a sense of upon our souls, where he tells us that " God is love." Infinite goodness and grace is the soil wherein forgiveness grows. It is impossible that this flower should spring from any other root; unless this be re- vealed to the soul, forgiveness is not revealed. To con- sider pardon merely as it is terminated on ourselves, not as it flows from God, will bring neither profit to us nor glory to God. This discovery of forgiveness, in God, is, as we have said, no common thing, it is a great discovery. Let
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