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sin, and has done away the punishment thereof. For this is according to the word of truth, even as true as God is, who has commanded you to do thus, and to believe in him.

But some will reply, this putting me into a consideration of my sins, breeds all my distress and fear, for I find them greater and more than can be pardoned.

O! say not so; for you can hardly commit a greater sin than indeed to think and to say so. It is blasphemy against God; yet this sin, if you will follow God's counsel, and all others, may, and shall be pardoned. I intend not to extenuate and lessen you sin: but you must give me leave to magnify God's truth and mercy, and to extol Christ's love and merit. However, it is true, that because sin is a transgression of a law of infinite holiness and equity; and, in respect of the evil disposition of the heart, is of infinite intention, and would perpetuate itself infinitely, if it had time and means; and because God, the person against whom sin is committed, is infinite; therefore sin must needs contract an infinite guilt, and deserve infinite punishment.

Secondly, Consider that the price to satisfy God's justice, namely, the death of Christ, the only begotten Son of God, does exceed all sin in infiniteness of satisfaction of God's justice and wrath due for sin. For if Christ's death be a sufficient ransom for the sins of all God's elect in general; then much more of thine in particular, whosoever thou be, and how great, and how many sins soever thou hast committed.

Thirdly, Know that the mercy of God, the forgiver of sin, is absolutely and every way infinite. For mercy in God is not a quality, but is his very nature, as is clear by the description of his name, proclaimed, Exod. xxxiv. 6, which rightly understood and believed, removes all the objections which a fearful heart can make against itself, from the consideration of his sins.

1. He is merciful, that is, he is compassionate, and to speak after the manner of man, is one that has bowels of pity, which yearn within him at the behold-