S INWARD WITNESS TO CHRISTIANITY. much more of the particular glories and blessings of this atone- ment isdisplayedby the blessed apostlesthe followers of the Lamb, Other religions, that have been drawn from the remains of the light of nature, or that have been invented by the supersti- tious fears and fancies ofmen, and obtruded on mankind by the craft of their fellow creatures, are all at a loss in this instance, and can never speak solid peace and pardon. 1. The religion of the Heathens, and the best of philosophers, couldnever assureus, Whether Godwouldpardon sinat all, or no. The light of nature indeed would dictate thus much; that God is, inhis own nature, gracious, and compassionate, and kind; but. whether God wouldbe gracious to you or me, compassionate to such ill-deserving sinners, as we are, the light of nature could never determine. It is only the Son of God, that came down from the bosom of the Father, could so well inform us how the Father'sheart worked toweris such sinners, in the designs of pardon and reconciliation. 2. Again, the light of nature could never tell us, how often God would pardon sinners. Suppose it could be found out by reason that God is so compassionate, that he could forgive offen- ces, yet itcould never beinferred how oftenwe would beforgiven ; and if he had pardoned us once, we might for ever despair if we hadcommitted new iniquities: For who but a divine messenger can tell us, that he will oftenrepeat his pardons? 3. The light ofnature could never inform us howgreat the offences were that could be forgiven; reason could never tell us, that rebellions of the biggest size, and treasons of the blackest aggravation, should be all cancelled; the light of nature could never say, All manner of sin, and blasphemy, shall be forgiven to men. This the Son of God bathonly taught us, who came from the bosom of the Father, and who laid a foundation for the brightest displays of pardoning grace, 4. Reason, with all the principles of natural religion, could never teach us 'what we must do to obtain pardon, and on what terms God would forgive. Reason indeed might require us to repent of sin, but it could never assure us, that he that confesseth, and forsaketh his sins, shall find mercy. Nor could it shew u any mediator orreconciler betweenGod and man, nor how, or in what manner, we mustaddress ourselves to him, or to an offended God by him; reason could never start a thought of this strange way of salvation, that wemust believe, or trust in another's suffer- ings inorder to the pardon of our own sins ; that wemust depend on the merits and righteousness of one that died, in order to obtain forgiveness and life; that byfaith, in the blood of Christ, God will justify them that believe in Jesus? What could the light of mere nature teach us concerning this Jesus ? And yet.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=