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

The Forgiveness of Sins contains the Abolition of their Guilt, and Freedom from the deserved Destruction consequent to it. This is expressed by various Terms in Scripture. Pardon relates to some Damage and Offence which the offended Party may severely vindicate. Now although the blessed God in strictness of speaking can receive no Damage by rebellious Creatures, being infinitely above the Impression of Evil: yet as our Saviour speaks of one that looks upon a Woman with an impure Desire, that he has committed Adultery with her in his Heart, tho the Innocence of the Woman be unstained; so the Sins of Men, being Acts of foul Ingratitude against his Goodness, and notorious Unrighteousness against his Authority, are in a Sense injurious to him, which he might justly revenge upon them, but his Clemency spares them. The not imputing Sin is borrowed from the Accounts of Servants with their Masters; and implies the Account we are obliged to render ⟨p. 9⟩the supreme Lord for all his Benefits which we have so wretchedly misimproved: he might righteously exact of us ten thousand Talents that are due to him, but he is graciously pleased to cross the Book, and freely to discharge us. The purging from Sin, implies 'tis very odious and offensive in God's Eyes, and has a special respect to the expiatory Sacrifices, of which 'tis said, that without Blood there was no Remission. This was typical of the precious Blood of the Son of God that purges the Conscience from dead Works; from the deadly Guilt of Sin that cleaves to the Conscience of the Sinner. By the application of his Blood the crimson Guilt is washed away, and the pardoned Sinner is accepted as one pure and innocent.

The Forgiveness of Sins contains the Abolition of their Guilt, and Freedom from the deserved Destruction consequent to it. This is express'd by various Terms in Scripture. Pardon relates to some Damage and Offence which the offended Party may severely vindicate. Now altho the blessed God in strictness of speaking can receive no Damage by rebellious Creatures, being infinitely above the Impression of Evil: yet as our Saviour speaks of one that looks upon a Woman with an impure Desire, that he has committed Adultery with her in his Heart, tho the Innocence of the Woman be unstained; so the Sins of Men, being Acts of foul Ingratitude against his Goodness, and notorious Unrighteousness against his Authority, are in a Sense injurious to him, which he might justly revenge upon them, but his Clemency spares them. The not imputing Sin is borrowed from the Accounts of Servants with their Masters; and implies the Account we are obliged to render