actual right to all the saving benefits of Christ Heb. 3.14 We are made partakers of Christ They that are thus Interested in Christ are said to be in Christ and by vertue of their Union with him they have a right to all his saving benefits 1 Cor. 1.30 Of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption To be thus interested in Christ is not common to all men but it is a special priviledge belonging to a peculiar people Tit. 2.14 who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and parifie unto himself a peculiar people As concerning this saving interest in Christ we find some men are Christ owned by him for his own 1 Cor. 3.23 ye are Christs Joh. 13.1 Jesus having loved his own loved them unto the end Some men are none of Christs Rom. 8.9 Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his but are without any part or portion in Christ Eph. 2.12 At that time ye were without Christ some men have a part with Christ some have no part at all in him or with him Joh. 13.8 If I wash thee not thou hast no part with me To open the nature of this saving Interest in Christ more fully I shall resolve these two questions 1. How Christ becometh ours 2. How we become his How doth Christ become ours A. 1. By the Fathers giving him to be a propitiation for our sins and Christs giving himself to die for our sins God the Father gave Christ to be the propitiation for our sins Joh. 16.8 God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting Life 1 Joh. 4.10 Herein is love not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins And as God gave Christ so Christ gave himself to be a Sacrifice and ransom for us There was his own consent to this Gift the giving himself to die for our sins Gal. 2.20 Who loved me and gave himself for me Tit. 2.14 Who gave himself for us 1 Tim. 2.6 Who gave himself for a ransom for all 2. Christ becomes ours by effectual calling for when God calls us effectually he calls us to fellowship with Christ that is to be partakers of Christ and all his saving benefits 1 Cor. 1.9 God is faithful by whom ye were called to the Fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. When Christ dyed he gave himself for us when we are effectually called he giveth himself to us By the death of Christ there was an impetration or purchase of all things that were necessary to our Salvation In our effectual calling there is an application of Christ and all the benefits purchased by Christ to our own Souls As soon as we are effectually called Christ becomes ours and all his benefits become ours we have an actual right to an interest and propriety in Christ and in all his saving benefits 1 Cor. 1.26 Ye see your calling brethren All are yours and ye are Christs 1 Cor. 3.22.23 They that are effectually called Christ is theirs and all the benefits of Christ are theirs I add this word effectual because many are outwardly called by the Gospel who are not inwardly and effectually called to Fellowship with Christ now this effectual calling whereby we are made partakers of Christ and his saving benefits consists of these three Branches 1. Illumination when God calls us effectually he brings us out of our ignorance and darkness and gives us the knowledge of himself and his Son Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 2.9 Who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light The knowledge of Christ and God in Christ is a great furtherance of our being partakers of Christ and his saving benefits for through the knowledge of Christ are communicated to us all things pertaining to Life and Godliness 2 Pet. 1.3 According as his divine power hath given us all things pertaining to Life and Godliness through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and vertue 2. The loosening and taking off the heart from all things that hinder the Soul from coming to and following after Jesus Christ A man is called off from all that hinders his closeing with Christ whether they be worldly lusts or fleshly lusts or relying upon our own Righteousness or any other impediments A man is made to leave all to enjoy Christ when Christ called Levi he left all for to go after Christ Luk. 5.27 28. He said unto him follow me and he left all rose up and followed him When Christ called James and John they left their Father their Servants their Ship and there Nets and all to follow Christ Mark 1.20 He called them and they left their Father Zebedee in the Ship with the hired Servants and went after him When the Lord had called the Apostle Paul he was willing to suffer the loss of all things that came in competition with Christ so that he might win Christ Phil. 3.8 Yea doubtless and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them but dung that I may win Christ 3. VVhen God calls a man effectually he calls him to believe in Christ he calls him to come to Christ and to accept of Christ as offered in the Gospel and to rely upon him alone for his Salvation Joh. 6.45 Every man that hath heard and learned of the Father cometh unto me The Father calls us to come to his Son and every one that heareth this call effectually cometh to Jesus Christ Now they that are thus called to the knowledge and faith of Christ are made partakers of Christ and all his saving benefits for by Faith Christ dwells in our hearts Eph. 3.17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by Faith And they that are thus called shall have remission of sins and eternal life Rom. 8.30 Whom he called them he also justified and whom he justified them he also glorified 3. Christ becometh ours by our recieving him The Spirit of God maketh a free offer of Christ to every one that is willing to have him Rev. 22.17 The Spirit saith come And let him that is a thirst come And whoever will let him take the Water of Life freely VVhen we recieve Jesus Christ thus offered to us he becometh ours and we become his Joh. 1.12 To as many as recieved him to them gave he power to become the Sons of God even to them that believe on his name VVhen we recieve Christ he becomes our Saviour and God becomes our Father and we become his Sons Now this recieving Christ implyeth these 3 things 1. Our recieving that Testimony which is given of Christ in the Gospel concerning the person offices death and sufferings of Christ and the benefits that we
it can do us no harm 2. VVhen our sins are pardoned we may be assured our Souls shall be saved for God glorifieth all whom he justifieth Rom. 8.30 Whom he justified them he also glorified Tit. 3.7 That being justified by his grace we should be made Heirs according to the hope of eternal life 3. Jesus Christ by his death and sufferings hath obtained for all that are his freedom from eternal condemnation and this is a ground of strong consolation under all the troubles of this life and against the fears and terrours of Death There is not any one person that belongeth to Christ that hath an interest in Christ that shall come into condemnation Rom. 8.1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus That our Lord Jesus Christ hath redeemed all that are his from eternal condemnation is evident several wayes 1. Because Christ dyed for us Rom. 8.34 Who shall condemn It is Christ that dyed The Death of Christ is our security from Eternal Death He laid down his life on purpose to ransome us from Eternal condemnation Math. 20.28 The Son of man came to give his life a ransome for many out of respect to and for the sake of this ransome God will deliver all that are Christs from going down into the bottomless pit Job 33.24 Deliver him from going down into the pit for I have found a ransom 2. The ground and cause of our Condemnation is taken away by the Death of Christ which is sin For God condemneth no man but for sin and therefore Christ having by his Death taken away our sins hath taken away condemnation from us 3. God out of respect to the death and sufferings of Christ hath promised that none that believe in Christ shall come into condemnation Joh. 3.16 18. God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but should have everlasting life He that believeth on him is not condemned Job 5.24 Verily verily I say unto you he that heareth my word and believeth on him that sent me hath everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation but is passed from Death unto Life 4. The Keys of Hell are in the hands of Jesus Christ he hath power to cast into Hell and to keep out of Hell whom he pleaseth Rev. 1.18 I am he that liveth and was dead and behold I am alive for evermore Amen and have the Keys of Hell and of Death And if the Keys of Hell be in the hands of Christ then all they that are Christs are upon sure grounds that they shall not come into condemnation for he will not in any wife cast any of his Members into eternal torments Joh. 6.37 Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out And seeing all they that are Christs are redeemed from eternal condemnation this may comfort them under all the troubles of this world and against the fears and terrors of Death It may scatter and dispel all our sorrows and fill our hearts with joy and gladness when we understand and believe that we are ransomed and delivered from eternal torments Isa 35.10 The ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with Songs and everlasting joy upon their heads they shall obtain joy and gladness and sorrow and sighing shall flee away This hath relation to the deliverance of the Jews out of the Babylonian Captivity which was a type of our deliverance from eternal misery when God brought them out of their captivity they were filled with joy and singing Psal 126.1 2. When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion Then was our mouth filled with laughter and our tongue with singing Now if there were such joy and singing by the ransomed of the Lord that were delivered from Babylon what joy and gladness may arise to the ransomed of the Lord from their deliverance from Hell torments Hell is a worse place than Babylon the captivity of Babylon was but for 70 years but Hell torments are for Eternity David speaks of his deliverance from Hell as an unexpressible Mercy and that he would praise God with all his heart and glorifie him for evermore for such a great mercy Psal 86.12 13. I will praise thee O Lord my God with all my heart and I will glorifie thy name for evermore for great is thy mercy toward me and thou hast delivered my Soul from the lowest Hell And this his deliverance from the lowest Hell was a comfort to him when the proud rose up against him and the assemblies of violent men sought after his Soul ver 14.17 When we know and believe that we are freed from condemnation by the death of Christ this may cause us to triumph over death when we are killed all the day long and counted as Sheep for the slaughter Rom. 8.34 36 37. Who shall condemn It is Christ that dyed For thy sake we are killed all the day long we are accounted as Sheep for the slaughter Nay in all these things we are more then Conquerors through him that loved us When we are freed from condemnation we may triumph over Death though we walk in danger of Death all the day long more than Conquerours triumph over their conquered enemies IV. They that are Christs have a sure and undoubted right to eternal life and that sure hope which they have of eternal life is a ground of strong consolation under all the troubles of this life and against the fears and terrours of Death They that are Christs have a sure and undoubted right to Eternal Life 1 Joh. 5.12 He that hath the Son hath Life It is not said he shall have Life but he hath Life that is he may be as sure of it as if he had it already He hath an undoubted right an unquestionable Title to eternal life He hath it in the purpose and decree of God he hath it in the promise of God And that by life here is meant eternal life is evident from the following words they that have Christ dwelling in their hearts by Faith have a sure ground and foundation for their hope of eternal glory Col. 1.27 Christ in you the hope of Glory That all that are Christs have an undoubted right to and sure grounds to hope for eternal Life may be demonstrated several wayes 1. Our Lord Jesus Christ dyed on purpose that he might purchase and procure eternal life for all that should believe on him Joh. 3.14 15. As Moses listed up the Serpent in the Wilderness so must the Son of man be lifted up that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have eternal life By the lifting up of the Son of man is meant his suffering death upon the Cross Joh. 12.32 33. And this death he suffered that he might purchase eternal life for all that should believe on him 1 Thes 5.9 10. God hath not appointed us unto wrath but to obtain Salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ
who died for us that whether we wake or sleep we should live together with him 2. Our Lord Jesus Christ interceedeth with his Father on the behalf of all those that are given to him that they may be with him where he is that is in the Kingdom of Heaven Joh. 17 24. Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me And what Christ asked of his Father shall assuredly be granted Joh. 11.42 I know that thou hearest me always 3. God for Christs sake hath promised eternal life to all that are Christs that is to all persons that do or shall believe on Christ to the end of the World Joh. 3.16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son this whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting life 1 Joh. 2.25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us eternal life And the promise of God is a sure ground to hope for eternal life Tit. 1.2 In hope of eternal life which God that cannot lie promised before the World began 4. Our Lord Jesus Christ hath power over all flesh given to him by the Father that he may give eternal life to all that are given to him by the Father Joh. 17.2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him And therefore they that are Christs may be assured that they shall have eternal life seeing Christ hath power to give eternal life to whom he will and this power over all flesh was given him purposely that he might give eternal life to all that were given him by the Father 5. God hath given us this record concerning his Son that eternal life is in his Son and that eternal life is his free gift and that he will give it to all that have his Son and if we do not believe this record that God hath given of his Son we should make God a Liar 1 Joh. 5.10 11 12. He that believeth not God hath made him a Liar because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son And this is the record that God hath given us eternal life and this life is in his Son he that hath the Son hath Life Eternal Life is in Christ and therefore if we believe the record that God hath given of his Son namely that God hath given us eternal life and that this life is in his Son we must then conclude it as a certain truth that he that hath the Son hath Life Now seeing such as have an interest in Christ have sure grounds to hope for eternal life it followeth hence that they have good grounds of strong consolation under all the troubles of this life and also against the fears and terrors of Death For hope of eternal life will help us to rejoyce greatly in the midst of all our troubles Rom. 5.2 3 VVe rejoyce in hope of the glory of God and not only so but we glory in tribulations When we have good hope of the glory of God that is of enjoying the Kingdom of Heaven which is a most glorious Kingdom we may rejoyce and glory in the midst of our greatest tribulations 1 Pet. 1.3 4 6. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again to a lively hope by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to an inheritance incorruptible and vndefiled that fadeth not away reserved in heaven for you wherein ye greatly rejoyce though now for a season if need be ye are in heariness through manifold temptations Here is joy great joy in the midst of manifold temptations that did cause heaviness and whence did this joy proceed from a lively hope of an heavenly inheritance VVherein ye greatly rejoyce That is in which hope or in hope of which inheritance So Heb. 10.34 Ye took joyfully the spoyling of your goods knowing in your selves that ye have in Heaven a better and more enduring substance The spoyling of our goods for which we have laboured many years is wont to cause sorrow and lamentation Jer. 9.19 A voice of wailing is heard out of Zion how are we spoyled yet the hope of a reward in Heaven will help us to take the spoiling of our goods joyfully The hope of eternal life will take away the fears and terrors of Death when a man hath good hope of his Salvation it will be no trouble no terror to such a man to dye but he may dye in peace Luk. 2.29 30. Lord now lettest thou thy Servant depart in peace for mine eyes have seen thy Salvation The hope of eternal life will so far take off the fear and terrors of death that it will make us desire and long for our dissolution that we may be with Christ in Heaven Phil. 1.23 Having a desire to depart and to be with Christ which is far better 2 Cor. 5.1 2. VVe know that if our earthly house of this Tabernacle were dissolved we have a building of God an house not made with hands eternal in the heavens For in this we groan earnestly desiring to be cloathed upon with our house which is from Heaven V. They that are Christs shall have the Lords presence with them under the troubles which they meet with while they live and also when they come to die Our sins made a separation between God and our Souls Isa 59.2 But the sufferings of Christ have made up this breach 1 Pet. 3.18 For Christ also suffered once for sins the just for the unjust that we might be brought unto God One of the names given to Christ was Emmanuel which being interpreted is God with us Math. 1.23 Whereas by the fall of Adam God was against us and was separated from us through Christ he is reconciled to us and is become with us a God that will afford us his presence That such as are Christs shall have the presence of God and Christ with them under all their troubles yea at all times both while they live and when they dye See Heb. 13.5 He hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee And what he hath said he will surely perform it If he will never leave nor forsake us then at no time of life nor at the hour of death Mat. 28.20 Lo I am with you always to the end of the world Here is a note of attention set before this promise that the Members of Christ may take notice of it for their comfort and encouragement Lo I am with you I that have all power in Heaven and in Earth given to me I am with you how long always to the end of the world not only with his Apostles and Disciples that lived in those days but with all his Ministers and Members to the end of the world and at all times And more especially in times
Now for a long season Israel hath been without the true God But when they in their trouble did turn unto the Lord God of Israel he was found of them § Such as want Evidence of their interest in Christ ought to trust in him for Salvation What grounds have such to trust in Christ 3. Though you want evidence of your interest in Christ in a time of trouble and at the hour of Death yet if you be such as live in the fear of God such as desire to be saved by Christ in his own way and upon his own Terms you may yea you ought to trust in Christ for eternal Salvation Isa 50.10 VVho is among you that fears the Lord that obeyeth the voice of his Servants that walketh in darkness and hath no light let him trust in the name of the Lord and stay upon his God A man that truly feareth God may be in great darkness about his Spiritual State he may have no light that is no Evidence of his interest in God and the promises and so be in a very uncomfortable condition yet such ought to trust in Christ If any say what grounds hath a man that followeth after Righteousness and desireth to live in the fear of God and yet wanteth evidence of his Interest in Christ and the promises of God to trust in Christ for his Salvation § Grounds of trusting in Christ for Salvation for such as are in a dark condition as to their Interest in Christ A. 1. God sends his Son into the World to take our nature upon him and to die for our Sins for this very end and purpose to seek and to save Sinners who were in a lost and undone condition 1 Tim. 1.15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief Luk. 19.10 The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which is lost 1 John 4.14 VVe have seen and do testifie that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the VVorld John 3.17 God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through him might be saved These general expressions to save the World to save Sinners to save that which was lost opens a door of hope to such as can't see their interest in Christ but see themselves lost Sinners and hearing that the Father sent his Son to be the Saviour of the world to save lost sinners i◠shews them that there is hope for their Souls that they may obtain Salvation By Jesus Christ 2. The Lord Jesus Christ who is the Saviour of the world and who came into the world purposely to save sinners is an all-sufficient Saviour able to save unto the uttermost all that come unto God by him Heb. 7.25 He is able to save them unto the uttermost that come unto God by him seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them He is able to save to the uttermost that is to save perfectly to save eternally to give all things requisite to Salvation he is able to justifie sanctifie and bring unto glory all that come unto him For his blood is available to take away the greatest sins of the greatest sinners in the whole world John 1.29 Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world And his Spirit is able to sanctifie the worst and most polluted Sinners The Corinthians were the chief of Sinners Extortioners Drunkards Adulterors Abusers of themselves with mankind with other abominations yet they were sanctified by the Spirit of Christ of great sinners made eminent Saints 1 Cor. 62.10 11. 3. The Lord Jesus Christ inviteth and calleth all distressed Persons in all places that see themselves in a perishing undone condition to look to him and to come to him for Salvation Isa 45.22 Look unto me and be ye saved all the ends of Earth That is let all Persons from one end of the Earth to the other that find a want of Salvation look unto me and I will save them Matth. 11.28 Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest 4. The Lord commandeth us to trust in his Son for the giving us eternall life 1 John 3.23 This is his Commandment that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another as he gave us Commandment And he is displeased with those that do not relie on him for their Salvation Ps 78.21 22. The Lord was wroth and anger came up against Israel because they believed not in God and trusted not in his Salvation 5. We have God promises yea many promises that he will give eternal life and blessedness to all whosoever they be that believe and trust in his Son Ps 2.12 Blessed are all they that put their trust in him Joh. 3.16 God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life Joh. 6.47 Verily verily I say unto you He that believeth on me hath everlasting life § The plea of such as can't trust in Christ for Salvation for want of Sanctification Obj. 1. None shall be saved by Christ but such as are sanctified and in a state of Grace but I want evidences of my being sanctified and being in a state of Grace how then can I trust in Christ to save me A. 1. It is true that Christ sanctifieth all whom he saveth for without Holiness no man whatsoever shall see the Lord. Heb. 12.14 Follow peace with all men and holiness without which no man shall see the Lord. If a man live and dye in his sins without repentance and yet trust in Christ for Salvation he doth but delude himself for our Lord Jesus telleth us expresly that all that do not repent shall surely perish Luk. 13.3 I tell you nay but except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish 2. Though you want evidences of your Sanctification yet do you not find ardent desires of Sanctification do you not find hungrings and thirstings after Righteousness Such as hunger and thirst after Righteousness are in a blessed condition as well as they that have attained Righteousness Matth. 5.6 Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after Righteousness for they shall be filled Spiritual desires are an argument of the Grace of God bestowed upon us The gracious estate of the Servants of God is sometimes set out by their desires Isa 26.8 The desire of our Souls is to thee and to the remembrance of thy name Neh. 1.11 Thy Servants who desire to fear thy name Then our desires argue a gracious state when our desires of God and the things of God exceed our desires of other things Ps 73.25 Whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is none on Earth that I desire besides thee 3. If you find in your self a want of Sanctification know this that you are to trust in
goat and confess over him all the Iniquities of the Children of Israel and all their transgressions in all their sins And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities into a Land not inhabited This did signifie Gods laying all our sins upon Christ Isa 53.6 And Christ making satisfaction for them all bearing them all away by his death 1 Pet. 2.24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body upon the tree The discharge that Christ by his death hath obtained for us is a full discharge VVhatever sin may be charged upon us by the Law by Conscience by Satan who is our accuser by the justice of God all is discharged and quitted and answered by the death of Christ Rom. 8.33 34. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect. It is God that justifieth It is Christ that dyed Out of respect to the Death of Christ God will forgive us all our trespasses how many or how great soever they have been Col. 2.13 Having forgiven you all trespasses Ps 103.3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities Ps 85.2 Thou hast forgiven all the iniquities of thy people thou hast covered all our sin And that we may be the more fully assured that the pardon which our Lord Jesus hath obtained for us is a full and general pardon of all offences the Lord hath obliged himself by many promises for Christs sake to pardon all and every one of our sins Jer. 33.8 I will cleanse them from all their Iniquity whereby they have sinned against me and I will pardon all their Iniquities whereby they have sinned and whereby they have transgressed against me Ezek. 36.25 From all your filthiness and all your Idols I will cleanse you 2. Our Lord Jesus hath obtained of God that this general pardon shall be for ever that all our sins should be forgiven for ever and never be remembred against us to Eternity Heb. 8.12 I will be merciful to their unrighteousness and their sins and their Iniquities will I remember no more And this is implyed in such promises as these Mich. 7.19 Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the Sea that is as Drusius observ's aeternâ oblivione delebit memoriam peccatorum nostrorum He will blot out the remembrance of our sins for ever Those things that are cast into the depths of the Sea are wholly and for ever taken out of our sight Psal 103.12 As far as the East is from the West so far hath he removed our transgressious from us That is so far as they shall never be laid to our charge any more For the East and VVest are at that great distance that they shall never come together Ezek. 33.16 None of the sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned to him 3. The Lord Jesus hath obtained a general and perpetual pardon of all offences upon terms of free grace without any respect to merit or worthiness in us that are partakers of it Rom. 3.24 Being justified freely by his Grace through the Redemption that is in Jesus Christ Eph. 1.7 In whom we have Redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace It is from grace free-graces the riches of grace that we have pardon of our Sins through the blood of Christ It is not for our sakes but for his own sake and his Sons sake that the Lord pardons our sins Isa 43.25 I even I am he that blotteth out thy Transgressions for mine own sake and will not remember tâ—y sin Eph. 4.32 God for Christs sake hath forgiven you 4. This free this everlasting this general pardon of all offences our Lord Jesus Christ hath purchased for all that are his that is for all that do and all that shall believe in him in all places and all ages of the world Act. 13.39 By him all that believe are justified from all things from which they could not be justified by the Law of Moses Acts 10.43 To him gave all the Prophets witness that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins Now this free this everlasting this full and general pardon which our Lord Jesus Christ hath obtained for all that are his by shedding his blood for them is a ground of strong consolation under all the troubles of life and all fears and terrours of death Rom. 5.1 3. Being therefore justified by Faith We glory in Tribulations Justified persons whose sins are remitted through the blood of Christ may glory not only when they are got out of their troubles but when they are in the midst of all their tribulations Isa 33.24 The Inhabitant shall not say I am sick the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquities It is not said the Inhabitant shall be without sickness The greatest of Gods favourites are liable to sickness as well as other men Daniel was a man greatly beloved yet he was sick and faint many days Dan. 8.27 I Daniel fainted and was sick certain dayes And it is said of Lazarus John 11.3 Lord he whom thou lovest is sick Justified persons are oft times sick as well as other men but the pardon of sin doth so sweeten their affliction that they shall not say I am sick that is they shall not say by way of complaint and discontent Sin unpardoned makes afflictions like gall and wormwood that is exceeding bitter Lam. 3.5 15 42. He bath compassed me with gall He hath filled me with bitterness he hath made me drunken with worm wood We have transgressed and rebelled and thou hast not pardoned But pardon of sin doth so sweeten the bitterest afflictions that it takes away all causes of complaint under the rod of God The Inhabitant shall not say I am sick and why is it because there is no sickness No but because the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquitie VVhen a man is taken sick and his sickness for ought he knoweth may be his death sickness when he is so sick that he can't go or stand or set up but is confined to his Bed if his sins be forgiven him he may be of good cheer Math. 9.2 Son be of good cheer thy sins be forgiven thee Here is a sick man his sickness was very uncomfortable he was sick of the Palsie he was brought very low he kept his Bed there was no way for his recovery but a miracle yet before Christ gave him any intimation of his purpose to heal him he bid him be of good cheer and why because his sins were forgiven him This pardon of all our sins which is obtained for us by our Lord Jesus Christ may comfort us against all the fears and terrours of Death on several accounts 1. VVhen our sins are pardoned the sting of Death is taken away For the sting of Death is sin 1 Cor. 15.56 And when Sin is forgiven Death hath lost its sting and when the sting of Death is taken away we need not be afraid of Death