The truly blessed man

3. There are fearful miseries await us, by reason of this Guilt. Guilt holds us under the Curse, and that is a tremendous thing: all the miseries of this life, and all the sorrows of hell are contained in it. We read of a fearful great Roll, and it was Written within and without: and what were ⟨p. 24⟩the contents of it? why it was the Curse, Zech. 5. begin. No tongue can express, no heart conceive, the wretchedness of that man who must undergo all that is written in it: and yet this is the guilty sinners portion, and, whiles guilty, he cannot escape it.

4. There is no avoiding these miseries without a pardon: that, and only that can remove our Guilt. We cannot make satisfaction; it is vain to hope or attempt it; Thousands of Rams, &c. signify nothing here, nor can we any way fly from it, because our Guilt keeps us close prisoners, and will drag us before the great Tribunal: forgiveness is the one way to have it taken off; and that is the thing we want. Try all other courses, and they will deceive you; but get a pardon, and your business is done; miss of that, and you are undone. There lies all the hope of a sinner. Dan. 9.9. To the Lord belong mercies and forgivenesses. It is as much as your Lives, yea your Souls are worth, that you obtain it: be not then careless about this one thing, lest you rue it for ever.

5. Obtain forgiveness, and you have all secured to you that is needful to make you happy for ever. Get this, and all will come with it: without it you can have nothing else. Christ will not bestow his Adoption, and his Grace, and his Glory upon an unpardoned sinner: but when he gives a pardon, he will give every thing else. Why then do men sit still, & neglect this great business? Can you find any thing else of equal moment? is there any other business comparably necessary