God only forgives sin
upon it, and over them two cherubins covering one another, but Christ our ark covering the curses of the law, in whom is the ground of all mercy? 'which things the angels desire to pry into,' 1 Pet. 1:12, as into the pattern of God's deep wisdom. And whenas any prayed in the temple they looked towards the mercy-seat, what meaneth it other than that, whenever we do pray to God, we should behold
Christ, through whom God appears to be merciful and gracious?
What signified the temple, towards which they looked when they prayed, 2 Chron. 6:38, Dan. 6:10, but that we in our prayers should evermore have reference to our temple Christ Jesus? And being thus assured, we may safely pass the flaming fire of God's justice. If there were any other to be trusted besides Christ, there would be no peace of conscience. The sinner would argue, I am a creature, my sin is infinite; no creature can satisfy, they are not infinite; angels cannot stand; it must be an infinite majesty that must satisfy, and it must be with blood. Now, Christ by his blood hath obtained eternal redemption for us, and therefore none but Christ, none but Christ!
He is God-man, making God and man at one. It is his nature, and it is his office. So as God is just as well as merciful; for as it is Rom. 3.
24th and 25th verses, 'God the Father hath proposed or set forth Christ' in types and figures 'to be a propitiation,' alluding to the mercy-seat, 'to declare his righteousness and justice, that he may be just in punishing sin,' that is in Christ; 'and a justifier of the sinner that believes in Christ Jesus,' because he accepted of Christ's satisfaction, so as his mercy devised a remedy to satisfy his justice.
Thus much in general; now to come to particulars. First, take it exclusively, and we may observe, God only forgives sin
Doct. 1. That only God can release a guilty conscience; only he can speak peace to a soul in distress. Ministers indeed have keys to open and shut heaven; but they use them only ministerially, as they find persons disposed, but Christ independently. Now, then, whenas man assumes this prerogative to himself, as the popes were wont to do, giving indulgences, it is no other than to set them in the place of God.
'I, even I, forgive sin,' saith God, Jer. 31:34. None can quiet the conscience but one that is above the conscience, which is God, who is only* the party offended; though there be also an offence against men. This ought to comfort us, that we have to do with a forgiving
God, Neh. 9:31. There is none like to him, to whom it is natural to remit and forgive sin. It is his name: Exod. 34:6, 'Forgiving iniquities, transgressions, and sins,' all manner of sins; sins against knowledge and against conscience; with him is plentiful forgiveness.
Doct. 2. Secondly, Observe that as God only forgives sin, so he ever forgives sin. It is always his nature, as the fire always burns; as he is
Jehovah, he is merciful. John 1:29, Christ he is 'the Lamb of God,' that doth take away the sins of the world. It is a perpetual act; as we say the sun doth shine, the spring doth run. He is, Zech. 13:1, that 'fountain that is opened for sin and uncleanness.' Mercy is his nature, and forgiveness is an effect of his mercy.
Obj. Therefore it is no satisfying objection that the distressed soul will be ready to make, that God was merciful to David and Peter, but how can he be to me, miserable sinner? For God, as he forgave Peter,
Paul, David, so he forgives now. He is a fountain of mercy never drawn dry. He is unchangeable; and therefore we are not consumed,
Mal. 3:6; and Christ is the same 'yesterday, and to-day, and for ever.'
The consideration of this should be as a perpetual picture in our hearts.