A practical exposition of the Lord's-Prayer

3. 'Tis Full; Because, where God forgiveth the Sin, he also forgiveth the Punishment. 'Twill not stand with God's Mercy, to forgive the Debt, and yet to require the Payment. 'Tis a mocking to say, I forgive you the Debt, and yet cast the Man into Prison; and to pardon the Malefactor, and yet leave him liable to Execution. Here, in the Text, God forgiveth us, as we are bound to forgive our Brother; not in part, but in whole. Guilt is nothing but an Obligation to Punishment. 1. As to Eternal Punishment, 'tis clear, Rom. 5. 9. The Eternal Promises and Threatenings, being of Things absolutely Good and Evil, are therefore absolute and peremptory, that is certain. 2. But now, as to Temporal Afflictions, there is some difficulty; for where the whole Punishment is done away, such Grace, and payment of any part of the Debt, cannot stand together. That Pardon which is given upon valuable and sufficient Price, is full and perfect. Jesus Christ satisfied the Justice of God for all our Sins. How is it then that the Saints are subject to so many Afflictions? 1. So far as Sin remains, so far some penal Evil remains; when the Dominion of it is broken, there remains no Condemnation, but yet some Affliction; and when 'tis wholly gone, there is no Evil at all. We are not yet purged from all Sin. And therefore, 2. These Afflictions are not satisfactory Punishments, and need not, as to the completing of our Justification, but are helps to us, as the furtherance of our Sanctification. And so are of great use, ⟨p. 403⟩1. To make us hate Sin more. If we only knew the sweetness of it, and not the bitterness, we would not be so shy of it. Now the bitterness of it is seen by the effects; Jer. 2. 19. Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy back-slidings shall reprove thee; Know therefore, and see, that it is an evil thing, and bitter; that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God, and that my Fear is not in thee, saith the Lord God of Hosts. 2. 'Twill cause us to prize our deliverance by Christ. If Affliction be so grievous, what would Hell be? 1 Cor. 11. 32. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the World. 'Tis a gentle remembrance of Hell pains, or a fair warning to avoid them, when scorched or singed a little. 3. To make us walk more humbly. We forget our selves, and are apt to be puffed up. Paul saith,