Use. 2. To press us to this ready Inclination to forgive Wrongs and Injuries. We are not so perfect, but we all need it from one another. There will be mutual Offences while we are in the World, especially in a time when Religious Differences are on Foot; therefore it concerns us to look after this Disposition of forgiving others, as we would be forgiven of God. Human Society cannot well be upheld without this mutual Forbearance and Forgiving. Now imitate your Heavenly Father. No Man can wrong us so much as we daily trespass against him, and yet God pardoneth us. He doth not only pardon the lesser Failings, some Venial Errors, and Sins of Incogitancy and sudden Surreption, which creep upon ⟨p. 385⟩us we know not how; but he pardons the greatest Sins, tho they be as Scarlet, Isa. 1. 18. Those that are of a Crimson hue, God can wash them out in the Blood of Christ. And mark, what is it then that you will stand upon? Is it the greatness of the Offence? God pardons great Sins. Or is it the baseness of those that injure you? (this is the Circumstance) When we have received wrong from those which are our Inferiors, that owe us more Reverence and Respect? What are we to God? Notwithstanding the baseness of those which affront him daily, all Men to him are but as the drop of the Bucket, and the small Dust of the Balance, Isa. 40. 15. yet God pardons them. And then again, cast in the consideration of God's Omnipotency: He is able to right himself of the wrongs done to him, and no Man can call him to an account: Many times it is not in our Power. He can cast Body and Soul into Hell, Mat. 10. 28. God is thus offended, and by saucy Dust that is ready to fly in his Face, inconsiderable Man; and yet the Lord pardons, and this he doth freely, Luke 7. 42. He frankly forgave them both. And he pardons fully, as if it were never committed, Mich. 7. 19. He casts all our Sins into the Depths of the Sea. Then he pardons frequently, His Free Gift is of many Offences unto Justification, Rom. 5. 16. And he multiplies to pardon, Isa. 55. 7. And mark, he pardons too (in some sense) before they Repent, there's a Purpose; he provided Christ before we were born. And he gives us Grace to repent, or else we could never humble our selves at his Feet, the offended God; he gives them the Grace whereby they shall acknowledge the Offence.
Vse. 2. To press us to this ready Inclination to forgive Wrongs and Injuries. We are not so perfect, but we all need it from one another. There will be mutual Offences while we are in the World, especially in a time when Religious Differences are on Foot; therefore it concerns us to look after this Disposition of forgiving others, as we would be forgiven of God. Human Society cannot well be upheld without this mutual Forbearance and Forgiving. Now imitate your Heavenly Father. No Man can wrong us so much as we daily trespass against him, and yet God pardoneth us. He doth not only pardon the lesser Failings, some Venial Errors, and Sins of Incogitancy and sudden Surreption, which creep upon ⟨p. 385⟩us we know not how; but he pardons the greatest Sins, tho they be as Scarlet, Isa. 1. 18. Those that are of a Crimson hue, God can wash them out in the Blood of Christ. And mark, what is it then that you will stand upon? Is it the greatness of the Offence? God pardons great Sins. Or is it the baseness of those that injure you? (this is the Circumstance) When we have received wrong from those which are our Inferiors, that owe us more Reverence and Respect? What are we to God? Notwithstanding the baseness of those which affront him daily, all Men to him are but as the drop of the Bucket, and the small Dust of the Ballance, Isa. 40. 15. yet God pardons them. And then again, cast in the consideration of God's Omnipotency: He is able to right himself of the wrongs done to him, and no Man can call him to an account: Many times it is not in our Power. He can cast Body and Soul into Hell, Mat. 10. 28. God is thus offended, and by sawcy Dust that is ready to fly in his Face, inconsiderable Man; and yet the Lord pardons, and this he doth freely, Luke 7. 42. He frankly forgave them both. And he pardons fully, as if it were never committed, Mich. 7. 19. He casts all our Sins into the Depths of the Sea. Then he pardons frequently, His Free Gift is of many Offences unto Iustification, Rom. 5. 16. And he multiplies to pardon, Isa. 55. 7. And mark, he pardons too (in some sence) before they Repent, there's a Purpose; he provided Christ before we were born. And he gives us Grace to repent, or else we could never humble our selves at his Feet, the offended God; he gives them the Grace whereby they shall acknowledg the Offence.
