The truly blessed man

A. It is God, and he only, who can thus Cover Sin. If Covering be forgiving, then it belongs to him alone who can forgive, and that is Gods Prerogative, Dan. 9.9. If it be the Guilt of Sin that is covered, and so covered that it shall never rise again, or be charged, it must needs be a Divine Work. Sin is a Transgression of Gods Law, and the ⟨p. 70⟩Guilt contracted by it is an Obligation to suffer accordingly; and who shall remove it but he? Men may forgive the wrong that is done to them, so far as they are concerned, but they cannot forgive the Violation of the Command of God that is therein perpetrated. Men may indeed Charitatively, or Ministerially declare this forgiveness, but they cannot bestow it. It is one of the Letters of Gods Name, Exod. 34.7. Forgiving iniquity, Transgression and Sin. We may indeed cover the Sins of our Neighbour, by keeping them Secret, and not divulging them, but that doth not hide them from the Revenging Justice of God, who will for all in due time make a discovery of them, if they be not forgiven by him. And we may cover our own Sins, by denying them, dissembling, excusing, extenuating, justifying them: but this will but aggravate the Guilt of them, and expose us to the more severe punishment, Prov. 28.13 This covering of Sin belongs to Justification; & it is God alone that Justifieth, Rom. 8.33. And indeed God, and no other, hath that cover to throw over the Sins of his people, that can hide them from his revenging eye: Every other cover is but an hiding place of deceit. God therefore challengeth it to himself as his prerogative, Isa. 43.25. I, even I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions. If all the power and authority in the World, Civil and Ecclesiastical, should Subscribe and Seal an act of Oblivion for us, it will signify nothing; no, though the Angels of Heaven should join in it. God is Judge of the World, and he can either ratify or ⟨p. 71⟩nullify all that is done; his act alone can make it authentic. Hence, though we are to ask forgiveness one of another, yet we are not to rest in that, but if we would have our Sins buried, and not digged up again, we must go to him to do it for us.