Ver.4. Fat Prefimptions ofForgivenef?. minds, and prelentl;y prefents it fell to their relief, on all occa- fions. Doth God at any time, in thedifj'enfätion of the Word, under an AIL/lion, uponfomegreat fin againtt their ruling light begin to deal with their confctences ; before their conviction can ripen, or come to any perfcafon, before it drawnigh to its perfect work, they choak it, and heal their confciences with this notion of pardon. Many a man between the Affembly, and his dwelling h,ufe is thus cured. You may fee them go away fhak.ing their heads, and iiriking on the,Oreatts, and be- fore they come home, be as whole as ever : Wcll ! God is mer- ciful, there is pardon, hath wrought the cure. The other:fort, have obtained their perfwafion, as a refute of the difcovery ofChrifl in the Gofpel, upon a full convi6'cion. Tryals they have had, ar d this is the ifíue. Thirdly, The one ( which we 'Tied) worketh no Love to God, no Delight inhim, no Reverence of him, but rather a con- tempt, and éommonneßof Spirit indealing with him. There are none in the world that deal worfe with God, than thofe whohave an ungroundedperfwafion of forgivenefs. And if they do fear him, or love him, or obey him in any thing, morc or lets, it is onother motives and confiderations, which will not render any thing they do acceptable, and not at all on this. As he is good to the Creation they may love, as he is great and powerful they may fear him ; but fenfe of pardon, as to any fuch ends or purpofes, hath no power upon them. Carnal boldnefs, formality, and defpifing of God, are the common if 'ues of fuch a notion and perfwafion. Indeed this is the generation of great .(inners in the world ; men whohave a general apprehenfion, but not a .fenf of the fpecial power of pardon, openly, or feecretly, in flefhly or JJ'iritual fins, are the great finnerr among men. Where faith makes a difcovery of forgivencß, all things are otherwife. Great Love, Fear, and Reverence.of God, are its attendants. Mary Magdalen loved much, becaufe much was forgiven. Great Love will fpring out cf great forgivenef . There is forgivenefi with thee, faith the Pfalmiff, that thoumaiff be feared. No unbeliever, loth truly and experimentally know the truth of this inference. But fo' it is when menfear theLord, and i 2 Goodnefs, Hof. 3. 5. fay y 9'I
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