The main principles of Christian religion in a 107 short articles or aphorisms, generally…

To. 2. Hom. IX. Dissension and discord interrupt prayer. —For the Lords Prayer hath not only a respect to particular persons, but to the whole universal, in the which we openly pronounce, that we will forgive them which have offended against us, even as we ask forgiveness of our sins of God. Hom. VII. p. 2. What if we be sinners, shall we not therefore pray unto God? or shall we despair to obtain any thing at his hands? Why did Christ then teach us to ask forgiveness of our sins, &c.

To. 2. Hom. IX. Dissention and discord interrupt prayer. —For the Lords Prayer hath not only a respect to particular persons, but to the whole universal, in the which we openly pronounce, that we will forgive them which have offended against us, even as we ask forgiveness of our sins of God. Hom. VII. p. 2. What if we be sinners, shall we not therefore pray unto God? or shall we despair to obtain any thing at his hands? Why did Christ then teach us to ask forgiveness of our sins, &c.

Expl. 105. In reference to the petition about forgiveness, there is (1) something implied. (2) The matter of the Petition, and (3) the illustration of it. 'Tis implied, (1) That man is naturally a guilty creature, and under the condemnation, and consequently obnoxious to the curse of the Law, both by reason of Original and Actual sin. (2) That of himself he cannot make satisfaction to Divine Justice, nor any other for him (Christ only excepted, who is God as well as man). For if man, or any other creature for him, could satisfy Gods justice, he might then stick to ⟨p. 185⟩that plea, and stand at the bar of Justice; whereas he is now forced to the throne of Grace. (3) That God only can forgive sin, for man is here directed only to God. (4) That confession of sin, and petition unto God for pardon, is the way to obtain this pardon in and through Christ. (2dly,) The matter of the petition, or that we pray for, 'tis directly and expressly remission (or forgiveness) of sins, and then consequently the imputation of Christs righteousness to us, by virtue whereof we may find acceptance with God the Father, in and by and through the merit of the righteousness of his Son Christ. For as by bread in the former Petition we do by a Synecdoche understand all the necessaries of this corporal life; so in this Petition, by forgiveness we may understand that which is so necessary to eternal life, Christs righteousness to be imputed to us; or in one word, in this Petition we beg justification of our persons, as in the next we beg sanctification of our natures, hearts, and lives. In short, sith there is forgiveness with God that he may be feared, we who are so many condemned Malefactors must make our application and our supplication to him, and to him alone for pardon; for sin is such a burden, and of such intolerable weight, that 'tis only omnipotent mercy that can remove the guilt of it from the consciences of men, it being an opposition to the holiness of Gods nature, who is infinite; as