A second volume of discourses or sermons on several scriptures

Secondly, Remission of Sin, makes Sin to be as if it had never been committed. Things that are forgotten, are no more to us, than if they had never had a being. Now God tells us, he forgets our sins, their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. Nor is there any long Tract of Time required, to wear the Idea of them out of his Memory, as is necessary among ⟨p. 53⟩Men, to make them forget the Wrongs and Injuries done to them by their fellow-Creatures; for God forgets the sins of his Children, as soon as they are repented of; yea, sometimes sooner than our Consciences do: for many times a Christian, after a heart-breaking-Repentance for some great Sin, lies under the upbraidings of Conscience, when God hath forgiven it; yea, and forgotten it also. God's Officer is not so ready to acquit them, as God himself is. He forgets as though no Provocation or Offence had ever been committed. He retains not his Anger for ever, says the Prophet, Micah 7.14. not for ever, but so soon as ever we grow displeased with our selves, he begins to be well-pleased with us; no sooner doth Sorrow and Grief overspread our Faces, but Favours and Smiles clear up his Face to us. See this gracious Disposition of God, in Jerem. 31.20. Ephraim is there brought in bewailing his sin: Surely, says he, after I was turned, I repented; after I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh; I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth: ⟨p. 54⟩Now, what doth God but presently embrace him, with most tender and most melting Expressions of Love, as if he had never been angry, nor had any cause for it: Is Ephraim my dear Son, is he a pleasant Child, since I pass against him, I do earnestly remember him still; my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the Lord. And therefore, O Christian, thou who now perhaps criest out in the bitterness of thy Soul, Oh, that I had never committed this or that sin against God! Oh, that I had never offended him in this or that manner! Why thou hast thy Wish, O Sinner, herein; for God, when he pardons sin, makes it as if it had never been committed against him.

Secondly, Remission of Sin, makes Sin to be as if it had never been committed. Things that are forgotten, are no more to us, than if they had never had a being. Now God tells us, he forgets our sins, their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. Nor is there any long Tract of Time required, to wear the Idea of them out of his Memory, as is necessary among