A second volume of discourses or sermons on several scriptures

Secondly, Blotting out of Transgression implies a legal discharge of the Debt. A Book that is once blotted and crossed, stands void in Law; whatever the Sum and Debts were before, yet the crossing of the Book signifies the payment of the Debt. So is it here, I will blot out thy Transgressions; that is, I will acquit thee of all thy Debts, I will never charge them upon thee, I will dash them all out, I will not leave so much as one Item, not one sin legible against thee. This is the proper meaning of this Expression ⟨p. 7⟩and Notion of blotting out of Transgression and Sin. And this is one thing that pardon of sin is expressed by.

It follows in the next words, and I will not remember thy sins. Not that there is truly any forgetfulness in God; no, his Memory retains every sin we have committed surer and firmer than if all our sins were written in Leaves of Brass; but God speaks here as he doth elsewhere frequently in Scripture, by a gracious Condescension, and after the manner of Men, and it is to be interpreted only by the Effects, I will not remember their sins; that is, I will deal so mercifully with them, as if indeed I did not remember the least of their Provocations, I will be to them as one that hath utterly forgotten all their injuries. So, that this, not remembering of sin, denies not the eminent Act of God's Knowledge, but only the transient Act of his Justice, and is no more than his promising not to punish sin; as if God had said, I will not be avenged on them, nor punish them for their sins.

It follows in the next words, and I will not remember thy sins. Not that there is truly any forgetfulness in God; no, his Memory retains every sin we have committed surer and firmer than if all our sins were written in Leaves of Brass; but God speaks here as he doth elsewhere frequently in Scripture, by a gracious Condescension, and after the manner of Men, and it is to be interpreted only by the Effects, I will not remember their sins; that is, I will deal so mercifully with them, as if indeed I did not remember the least of their Provocations, I will be to them as one that hath utterly forgotten all their injuries. So, that this, not remembring of sin, denies not the eminent Act of God's Knowledge, but only the transient Act of his Justice, and is no more than his promising not to punish sin; as if God had said, I will not be avenged on them, nor punish them for their sins.