The truly blessed man, or, The way to be happy here, and forever being…

2. That the forgiveness of Sins is an expression of rich Grace. The not doing of it without the satisfaction of Christ, is no obstruction of the Grace of it, as some fondly dream, but doth the more enhance it. What is Grace, but an act of free favour bestowed on the Subject, which he no way deserved, nor could have laid any claim unto, had it not been so conferred? and such is this forgiveness: hence said to be done freely, Rom. 3. 24. The pardoned Sinner deserved to die; all miseries belonged to him; he had nothing to offer to atone God to himself withal; Christ freely satisfied for him, and God freely applies the merit of this to him: and it must needs be rich Grace, for we have already observed, that the man is made a blessed one by it.

2. That the forgiveness of Sins is an expression of rich Grace. The not doing of it without the satisfaction of Christ, is no obstruction of the Grace of it, as some fondly dream, but doth the more en•ance it. What is Grace, but an act of free favour bestowed on the Subject, which he no way deserved, nor could have laid any claim unto, had it not been so conferred? and such is this forgiveness: hence said to be done freely, Rom. 3. 24. The pardoned Sinner deserved to dy; all miseries belonged to him; he had nothing to offer to atone God to himself withal; Christ freely satisfied for him, and God freely applies the merit of this to him: and it must needs be rich Grace, for we have already observed, that the man is made a blessed one by it.

3. That the more and greater sins it extends unto, the more illustrious is the Grace of it. There is so much of malignity in the least sin, and so just a provocation given to God by it, and the merit of death in it is so righteous, that it is a wonder that God should forgive one Sin: how then is this admiration justly increased, when the Sins of the Creature, have risen to a most formidable multitude and magnitude? Paul puts a great Emphasis on this,