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

SERMONS OF THE Forgiveness of Sins.

PSAL. CXXX. 4. But there is Forgiveness with thee, that thou mayst be feared.

THE Psalmist, in the first and second Verses, addresses to God with earnest Desires for his saving Mercies: Out of the Depths have I cried to thee, O Lord: Lord, hear my Voice: let thine Ear be attentive to my Supplication. He humbly deprecates the severe Inquiry of Divine Justice; ver. 3.¹ If thou, Lord, shouldst mark Iniquities: O Lord, who shall stand? If God should with an exact Eye observe our Sins, and call us to an account, who can stand in Judgment? who can ⟨p. 2⟩endure that fiery Trial? The best Saints, tho never so innocent and unblameable in the sight of Men, tho never so vigilant and watchful over their Hearts and Ways, are not exempted from the Spots of humane Frailty, which according to the Rigour of the Law, would expose them to a condemning Sentence. He relieves and supports himself under this fearful Apprehension with the Hopes of Mercy: But there is Forgiveness with thee, that thou mayst be feared. 'Tis in thy Power and thy Will, to pardon repenting and returning Sinners, that thou mayst be feared. The Fear of God in Scripture signifies the humble holy Reverence of him, as our heavenly Father and Sovereign, that makes us cautious lest we should offend him, and careful to please him. For this Reason the Fear of God is comprehensive of all Religion, of the whole Duty of Man, to which it is introductive, and is a principal Ingredient in it. The Clemency and compassionate Mercy of God is the Cause of an ingenuous filial Fear, mixed with Love and Affiance in the Breasts of Men. Other Attributes, his Holiness that framed the Law, Justice that ordained the Punishment of Sin, Power that inflicts it,