A practical exposition of the Lord's-Prayer

III. The Person to whom we Pray. Our Heavenly Father.

The Note is, That God doth alone forgive Sin.

There is a double forgiveness of Sin: In Heaven, and in a Mans own Conscience; and therefore sometimes compared to the blotting out of something out of a Book, sometimes to the blotting out of a Cloud. To the blotting out of a Book. Isa. 43. 25. I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy Transgressions, for mine own sake, and will not remember thy Sins; That it may be no more remembered, or charged upon us. To the blotting out of a Cloud: Isa. 44. 22. I have blotted out as a thick Cloud thy Transgressions, and as a Cloud, thy Sins. As the Sun when it breaketh forth in its Strength, dispelleth the Mists and Clouds. Sin interposeth as a Cloud, hindering the Light of God's Countenance from shining forth upon us. Both these are God's Work; to blot the Book, and to blot out the Cloud.

There is a double forgiveness of Sin: In Heaven, and in a Mans own Conscience; and therefore sometimes compared to the blotting out of something out of a Book, sometimes to the blotting out of a Cloud. To the blotting out of a Book. Isa. 43. 25. I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy Transgressions, for mine own sake, and will not remember thy Sins; That it may be no more remembred, or charged upon us. To the blotting out of a Cloud: Isa. 44. 22. I have blotted out as a thick Cloud thy Transgressions, and as a Cloud, thy Sins. As the Sun when it breaketh forth in its Strength, dispelleth the Mists and Clouds. Sin interposeth as a Cloud, hindring the Light of God's Countenance from shining forth upon us. Both these are God's Work; to blot the Book, and to blot out the Cloud.