Christians. Christian charity doth not only forbid that which is any way (continued)
foolishly; forfeited thy favor, incurred thy displeasure, and deserve to be for ever abandoned by thee. But Christ died; yea rather, is risen again, hath finished transgression, made an end of sin, made reconciliation for iniquity, and brought in an everlasting righteousness; he gave his life a ransom for many, and if for many, why not for me? In him a free and full remission, is promised to all penitent, obedient believers; by him all that believe are justified, and to them there is no condemnation. Thou, even thou, art he that blottest out their transgressions for thine own sake, and art gracious and merciful; nay, thou art faithful and just to forgive them their sins. Lord, I repent,—I believe, and take the benefit of those promises, those exceeding great and precious promises, which are to my soul as life from the dead. I flee to this city of refuge, I take hold of the horns of this altar; here I humbly receive the forgiveness of my sins, through Jesus Christ, the great propitiation, to whom I entirely owe it, and to whom I acknowledge myself infinitely indebted for it, and under the highest obligations imaginable to love him, and live to him. He is the Lord our righteousness, so accept I him: let him be made of God to me righteousness, and I have enough; I am happy for ever."
Every time we come to the Lord's Supper, we come to receive the remission of sins; that is,
1. A renewed pardon of daily trespasses.—In many things we offend daily, and even he that is washed, that is, in a justified state, needs to wash his feet; and, blessed be God, there is a fountain opened for us to wash in, and encouragement given to pray for daily pardon as duly as we do for daily bread. We have to do with a God that multiplies pardon. Lord, the guilt of such a sin lies upon me like a heavy burden; I have lamented it, confessed it, renewed my covenant against it, and now in this ordinance I receive the