74 MERCY TO UNRIGHTEOUSNESS. HEBREWS viii. 12. "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." THE general outline of the Christian covenant, in its free, full, sure, and everlasting grace, we have already considered; and, along with this, the administration of it, in the hands of Christ, as Mediator between God and man. We have seen that it owes its gracious character to his engagements entered into from eternity; its establishment with man to his sacrifice, the blood of which ratified it; and its perpetual efficacy in the experience of elect sinners to his all-prevailing intercession. By the terms of this covenant alone can we ever hope for pardon and acceptance with God. For these terms we are indebted wholly to the work of the Lord Jesus Christ. On the ground of that work must we come to God, and treat with him for a personal interest in every blessing which the covenant of grace contains. It is true, as we have said before, that it is the Holy Spirit who ministers this grace, immediately, in the hearts of God's people; but he does this as the "Spirit of Christ," the promise of the Father to the Son, the gift fogo patam. which Christ received for man. (Acts. ii. 33.) d) this the It has pleased that Holy One, in the accomplishment of the work of redemption, thus to subordinate himself to the Son, the minister and mediator of the better covenant; to go forth as his Spirit, quickening whom he will, there being, at the same time, a perfect agreement of counsel as to those who shall be the heirs of salvation, between the persons of the blessed Trinity. We are now prepared to examine more in detail the several parts of this wonderful mystery of grace, the provisions of which have already passed, in a general manner, under review. The words of my text contain the main provision of the whole the foundation-stone upon which all the blessings of the covenant rest. This is, unconditional mercy to sinners, and everlasting oblivion of all possible offences. FOR," (God says, as a reason for all the other blessings pledged to man in this covenant of grace,)—" For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." May the Spirit of truth, brethren, vouchsafe 1 A to lead us into a saving apprehension of the exceeding riches of this forgiving grace! There are, in these words, three things to engage our attention. I. The persons to whom this grace is covenanted. II. The condition in which it supposes them to be. III. God's engagements relative to this condition. I. We are to consider the persons to whom this grace is covenanted. Who are they who may lay hold on this promise, and rejoice in God as pledged thus to deal with them? Unless this be clearly ascertained, to the entire satisfaction of the mind of any, the largest revelation of grace and mercy will be wholly unavailing. Is it I, will each of us inquire, whom God means to include in a promise so cheering, so all-sufficient? Now, while it is undeniable that there is an elect people, to whom, according to the foreknowledge of God, these promises especially belong, and who alone will ever cordially embrace them, and be finally benefited by them,—yet it is important, even for their sakes, who are as yet, many of them, in an unregenerate state, mixed up with a world which lieth in wickedness, and no Had bast weepply St. Pauls incogitaney, foris Rom VIII. 95-100 Enimierover in omitting to include whom this It we are more then into the Sin in he muster of Conquerors) and even adventure to put him into not. And but that I know Martin Luther was the Catalogue too; trudly I dake dives set homo Xtianus sive "Vides quam I will non nolit Buy that means, of comfortable Jater doctrine, wherewith they their freends and benefactors Chellingworth Sermon &, Test 63. po 380, to lead us into a saving apprehension of the exceeding riches of this forgiving grace! There are, in these words, three things to engage our attention. I. The persons to whom this grace is covenanted. II. The condition in which it supposes them to be. III. God's engagements relative to this condition. I. We are to consider the persons to whom this grace is covenanted. Who are they who may lay hold on this promise, and rejoice in God as pledged thus to deal with them? Unless this be clearly ascertained, to the entire satisfaction of the mind of any, the largest revelation of grace and mercy will be wholly unavailing. Is it I, will each of us inquire, whom God means to include in a promise so cheering, so all-sufficient? Now, while it is undeniable that there is an elect people, to whom, according to the foreknowledge of God, these promises especially belong, and who alone will ever cordially embrace them, and be finally benefited by them,-yet it is important, even for their sakes, who are as yet, many of them, in an unregenerate state, mixed up with a world which lieth in wickedness, and no |