66

Gospel offers, as it is here described in the text. By Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses." Here, observe,

1st, That this Forgiveness of sins is a complete forgiveness. Those who partake of it are expressly said to be "justified." Justification is not the same with Forgiveness: it is something far exceeding it. Forgiveness is the pardoning of a crime, the absolving of a criminal from the guilt which he has incurred. But Justification implies that there never was any crime which ought to have been laid to his charge; that there is no guilt which needs to be absolved. When a man is justified, he is declared to be innocent; and this declaration of his innocence is nothing more than an act of justice due to him. This term then, when applied to the pardoned sinner, shews how completely he is pardoned. Strictly speaking, indeed, he cannot be declared personally innocent, for he has committed innumerable sins: but he is declared so by imputation. He is through Christ reckoned, accounted, and dealt with as if he were innocent. His sins are so put away, that they cannot be found any more. They are so blotted out, that they will never be mentioned, never be remembered against him. God is perfectly reconciled unto him, regards him with favour, invests him with

privileges, and places him among his children. Thus, being justified he has peace with God," and stands "complete in Christ." My Brethren, what a change is this! What an alteration in a man's condition, feelings, and prospects! To be raised from a prison to a throne! Instead of a criminal to become a son! Instead of being under the condemnation of eternal death, to receive the promise of an eternal inheritance! Surely we must exclaim with David, "Blessed is the man whose unrighteousness is forgiven, and whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputeth not-iniquity!"-Observe,

2dly, How comprehensive is this Forgiveness of sins through Christ. It reaches to all sins. Those who are pardoned are justified from all things: from which, adds the Apostle to the Jews, "Ye could not be justified by the law of Moses." The rites and sacrifices of the Jewish Dispensation could in fact take away no sin, except as they looked forward to the sacrifice of Christ, of which they were shadows and types. But there were still many transgressions, for which no sacrifices were commanded to be offered, and consequently for the pardon of which no provision was made under the law. But it is not so under the Gospel, "The Blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth fron all sin." The

Be

forgiveness offered through Him is not limited either by the number or the greatness of our transgressions. It extends to all sins. He is "set forth as a propitiation for the remission of sins that are past." Whatever may have been the sins previously committed, a full pardon is offered for them. "Be they as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; be they red like crimson, they shall become as wool." Be they as many as the sands on the sea-shore, they shall all be taken away. they as high as the mountains, they shall all be cast into the sea. My Brethren, what tidings are these! What a salvation is here proclaimed to you! A full, a complete remission of all your sins, reaching from the first dawn of reason to the present moment! An entire discharge from all the guilt, the punishment, and the penalty to which they have exposed you! A justification from all things; from all the wickedness which, in thought, word, or deed, you have ever committed! Observe,

3dly, That this Forgiveness is a present Forgiveness. It is not a pardon to be granted at some future day, some distant period. It is to be conferred on you now. The Apostle did not say of those of whom he speaks, They shall be justified from all things, but they are justified. "There is (says the same Apostle)

no condemnation to them that are in Christ

Jesus." And again to the Corinthians, "Ye are washed, ye are justified in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the Spirit of our God." I entreat you to attend to this statement, and clearly to understand it. That Forgiveness of sins, which we preach to you, through the name and Gospel of Jesus Christ, is a present forgiveness. Great, complete, and comprehensive as it is, it is also to be received, possessed, and enjoyed now. God in Christ is ready, even now, to be reconciled unto you, to remit all your sins which are past, and henceforth to receive you as righteous, and to regard and deal with you as his beloved children.-Such is the nature of that offer which is made to you in the Gospel of Christ. Such is the blessing which it sets before you under the term "Forgiveness of Sins."

And now, my Brethren, are you ready to enquire what you must do to obtain this blessing; and to appropriate it to yourselves? Are you saying each in your own heart Would that my sins were thus remitted! Would that I were thus justified from all things! What must I do to make this blessing my own, to secure to myself a name and a place among the children of God?' If such be your enquiries, such your secret desires and thoughts; I can easily and satisfactorily reply to them. The text itself furnishes an

6

answer.

Take notice how St. Paul describes those persons, whom he represents as "partakers of the benefit." "By Him all that believe are justified from all things." "All that believe." Belief in Christ is that single condition, qualification or requisite, on which the apostle insists as essential to our justification. And God forbid then, that the minister of Christ should insist on any other. If we should represent the blessing of Remission of Sins as less complete, less compre. hensive, than the Apostle has represented it, we should be taking away from the words of Scripture. If we should tell you that any other condition is necessary, for your obtaining this blessing than that one, which He has laid down, we should be adding to the words of Scripture. My Brethren, I would neither take from nor add to the word of God. Saint Paul here says, " All that believe are justified from all things ;" and the Scripture says the same in numerous other places; and therefore I say it to you. On the authority of the word of God I say to you, that if you believe you are justified from all things. If with the heart you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (for it is of such a belief only that the Apostle is here speaking) your sins, though many, are forgiven you. You are justified from all things, from which you can be justified in no other way. If you