A practical exposition on the 130th Psalm

1. Regeneration doth not in Order of time precede the souls interest in the forgiveness that is with God, or its being made partaker of the pardon of sin; I say no more but that it doth not precede it in order of time, not determining which hath precedency in order of nature. That, I confess, which the method of the Gospel leads unto, is that Absolution, Acquitment, or the pardon of sin, is the foundation of the communication of all saving Grace unto the soul, and so precedeth all Grace in the sinner whatever. But because this Absolution or pardon of sin is to be received by faith, whereby the soul is really made partaker of it, and all the benefits belonging thereunto; and that faith also is the radical grace which we receive in our Regeneration; for it is by faith that our hearts are purified, as an Instrument in the hand of the great purifier, the Spirit of God; I place these two together, and shall not dispute as to their priority in nature; but in time the one doth not precede the other.

2. It is hence evident, that an Assurance of being Regenerate, is no way previously necessary unto the believing of an interest in forgiveness; so that although a man have not the former, it is, or may be his duty to endeavour the latter. When convinced persons cried out, What shall we do to be saved! the answer was, believe and you shall be so; Believe in Christ, and in the remission of sin by his blood, is the first thing that convinced sinners are called unto. They are not directed first to secure their souls that they are born again, and then afterwards to believe. But they are first to believe that the Remission of sin ⟨p. 348⟩is tendered unto them in the blood of Christ, and that by him they may be justified from all things from which they could not be justified by the Law. Nor upon this proposition is it the duty of men to question whether they have faith or no, but actually to believe. And faith in its operation will evidence it self. See Acts 13. 38, 39. Suppose then that you do not know that you are Regenerate, that you are born of God; that you have no prevailing, refreshing constant evidence or persuasion thereof; should this hinder you? should this discourage you from believing forgiveness, from closing with the promises, and thereby obtaining in your selves an interest in that forgiveness that is with God? Not at all; Nay, this ought exceedingly to excite and stir you up unto your duty herein. For,