A practical exposition on the 130th Psalm

Let us see to what end is all this Solemnity, and what is declared ⟨p. 144⟩thereby. Wherefore should God appoint poor sinful men to come together, to take a Goat or Lamb, and to confess over his head all their sins and transgressions, and to devote him to destruction under that confession? Had men invented this themselves, it had been a matter of no moment. But it was an Institution of God which he bound his Church to the observation of upon the penalty of his highest displeasure. Certainly this was a solemn declaration that there is forgiveness with him. Would that God who is infinitely Good, and so will not, who is infinitely True, holy and faithful, and so cannot deceive, call men out whom he loved, to a solemn Representation of a thing wherein their chiefest, their eternal concernment did lye, and suffer them to feed upon Ashes? Let men take heed that they mock not God; for of a Truth God mocketh not man, until he be finally rejected by him. For four thousand years together then, did God declare by Sacrifices, that there is forgiveness with him, and lead his people by them to make a public Representation of it in the face of the world. This is a second uncontrollable Evidence of the Truth asserted, which may possibly be of use to souls that come indeed deeply and seriously to deal with God; for though the Practice be ceased, yet the Instruction intended in thern continues.

Let us see to what end is all this Solemnity, and what is declared ⟨p. 144⟩thereby. Wherefore should God appoint poor sinful men to come together, to take a Goat or Lamb, and to confess over his head all their sins and transgressions, and to devote him to destruction under that confession? Had men invented this themselves, it had been a matter of no moment. But it was an Institution of God which he bound his Church to the observation of upon the penalty of his highest displeasure. Certainly this was a solemn declaration that there is forgiveness with him. Would that God who is infinitely Good, and so will not, who is infinitely True, holy and faithful, and so cannot deceive, call men out whom he loved, to a solemn Representation of a thing wherein their chiefest, their eternal concernment did lye, and suffer them to feed upon Ashes? Let men take heed that they mock not God; for of a Truth God mocketh not man, until he be finally rejected by him. For four thousand years together then, did God declare by Sacrifices, that there is forgiveness with him, and lead his people by them to make a publick Representation of it in the face of the world. This is a second uncontrolable Evidence of the Truth asserted, which may possibly be of use to souls that come indeed deeply and seriously to deal with God; for though the Practice be ceased, yet the Instruction intended in thern continues.