Sermons upon Psalm CXXX, ver. 4 but there is forgiveness with thee, that thou…

1st. That pardoning Mercy was dispensed to us, notwithstanding our continued Rebellions against God. A Prince ⟨p. 113⟩is sometimes induced to pardon a Criminal, by the Solicitations of his Friends, and by his Prayers and Tears: but the Divine Goodness was the sole Mover for us, and interposed between Justice and our Offences. Instead of appeasing God by humble and mournful Submission, and ardent Addresses for Mercy, we repeated the Provocations of his Displeasure every day. How long did he with unwearied Patience wait to be gracious? If after ten thousand Denials of accepting his Mercy, he had forsaken us, we had been as miserable as we are sinful. But notwithstanding our being inflexible to the innumerable Calls of his Word, impenetrable to the pure Motion of his Spirit, and insensible of his excellent Goodness that leads Sinners to Repentance; tho the Love of Heaven or Fear of Hell could not prevail with us to forsake our Sins: when we were prepared for Wrath, and averse and utterly indisposed for the receiving his Mercy, then his Grace, as free as omnipotent, gave us Repentance unto Life, and qualified us for Pardon, and bestowed it upon us. The Extenuation of our Sins is inconsistent with the Exaltation of Grace: but the more humble we are ⟨p. 114⟩in the deep Sense of our Guilt, the more thankful for the Divine Clemency. That God was pleased to crown us with Loving-kindness and Mercy, when a killing Charge of innumerable Offences was levelled against us, O Goodness, truly Divine and Infinite, and should accordingly affect us with Admiration!

1st. That pardoning Mercy was dispensed to us, notwithstanding our continued Rebellions against God. A Prince ⟨p. 113⟩is sometimes induced to pardon a Criminal, by the Solicitations of his Friends, and by his Prayers and Tears: but the Divine Goodness was the sole Mover for us, and interposed between Justice and our Offences. Instead of appeasing God by humble and mournful Submission, and ardent Addresses for Mercy, we repeated the Provocations of his Displeasure every day. How long did he with unwearied Patience wait to be gracious? If after ten thousand Denials of accepting his Mercy, he had forsaken us, we had been as miserable as we are sinful. But notwithstanding our being inflexible to the innumerable Calls of his Word, impenetrable to the pure Motion of his Spirit, and insensible of his excellent Goodness that leads Sinners to Repentance; tho the Love of Heaven or Fear of Hell could not prevail with us to forsake our Sins: when we were prepared for Wrath, and averse and utterly indisposed for the receiving his Mercy, then his Grace, as free as omnipotent, gave us Repentance unto Life, and qualified us for Pardon, and bestowed it upon us. The Extenuation of our Sins is inconsistent with the Exaltation of Grace: but the more humble we are