The truly blessed man

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 ⟨p. 25⟩to this? be not then careless about it, but set your selves to seek it.

Directions how to do so, will fall under a following Doctrine; only be not slight about it; give your selves no rest, till you have gotten a pardon signed and sealed. Bless God who hath told you of it, and go to him for it in the Name of Christ, ask that faith of him by which you may receive it, and be made happy by it.

USE. II. Let this put us all upon the Trial of our state, Whether we are indeed pardoned. And I know no question more solemn and weighty, that any of us hath to put to our own Soul, than this, Am I a pardoned one? are my sins forgiven? hath God blotted out my Transgressions? And, except men be dead asleep in a Lethargy of carnal security, one would think, they could not live at any rest, till they had gotten a comfortable resolution of this question; till they had a supporting hope, built upon a good foundation? Can we think of the Judgments of God to which we are exposed? Can we meditate on the day of Death which we are hastening unto, and know not how soon it will over take us? Can we have any comfortable thoughts of the day of Judgment which is hastening, where all that are found out of Christ, and so without a pardon, will be adjudged to everlasting miseries, and yet not know how we are laid in for such a day? Let us then be solicitous about this matter, and be often bringing our selves to the strictest Rules of Trial which the word of God