formal act of pardon, but the open declaration of it on some future day-in time or at the end of it. "Repent and be baptized for the remission of sins." Is baptism essential to forgiveness, or a means of it? Certainly not. Baptized in testimony of forgiveness and as a sign and seal thereof. Repentance is not a good work which precedes forgiveness, for then it would precede faith, without which we know it is impossible to please God.

How little can be built on the order of a particular class of passages is clear from the fact that elsewhere we have a different order. "I have blotted out as a thick cloud thy transgressions, and as a cloud thy sins,—return unto me, for I have redeemed thee." Isaiah xliv. 22.

2. Secondly, forgiveness and repentance are intimately and inseparably connected, so that every pardoned sinner certainly repents, and every impenitent sinner is certainly unpardoned. We need here to beware of putting asunder what God hath joined together. Men say God is merciful, and they hope they are forgiven, and yet live in known sin and make repentance of no account. How can that be vindicated? How dare a man thus despise the teachings of God's Word, and the plainest dictates of right reason? We do not look to uninspired poets usually for a vindication of evangelical doctrine, especially as opposed to popular and prevailing errors. Yet in this case you will find this very thing in Shakspeare. In one of his tragedies he describes a murderer as crying out in agony, "Forgive me my foul murder!" And then he answers himself

"That cannot be; since I am still possessed
Of those effects for which I did the murder,-
My crown, mine own ambition, and my queen.
May one be pardoned, and retain the offence?"

E

Unequivocally proclaiming the thing to be impossible. Would that men did learn this truth and lay it to heart. We cannot escape the curse of sin if we are resolved to God now commandeth all men every

continue in it. where to repent. justly claimed as

His prescribing repentance to men is proof that there is forgiveness with God. But why should he forgive sin except with a view to the sinner's salvation? And how is the sinner to be saved who refuses to renounce sin and forsake it? Repentance and remission are two links of the chain which lifts the sinner from the abasement and bondage of sin up to the service of God and enjoyment of his kingdom. Wherever the sinner is pardoned there is forthwith the forsaking of sin and cleaving unto God, and striving to walk with him in newness of life. And this hatred of sin and forsaking it are proof and evidence that our sins are blotted out. While on the other hand impenitence is proof that we are still in the bond of iniquity,—-enslaved, unpardoned, unforgiven. And to all such there comes forth from God's Word the emphatic messageExcept ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”

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3. Thirdly, the believer's sense of forgiveness usually corresponds to the depth and breadth and abiding vigour of his repentance. This is generally admitted, although often forgotten. Keep in mind that by repentance we understand a true sense of sin, an apprehension of God's mercy in Christ, hatred of sin, and turning from it unto God with full purpose and endeavour after new obedience. Well, this is to go on deepening and strengthening through the whole course of the believer's life, carrying him more and more out to God and Christ and spiritual things. And our remark is that according as this goes on there comes into the heart a deeper, clearer, and more pervading sense of the forgiveness of our sins. The dis

from his children?

ciple daily comes short, and prays daily for pardon, seeking for an increased sense of forgiveness in his heart and for deliverance from those temporal judgments to which he is liable in God's fatherly displeasure. But if he be guilty not only of daily shortcomings, but fall into flagrant sins-like David or Peter-then his sense of forgiveness will be obscured, yea, may altogether evanish. He may come thus to speak and pray as if he had no interest in Christ. Why should God thus hide his face They must learn not to trifle with sin and dally with temptation, and to that end God hides his face and they are troubled. It is then David, convinced of sin, confesses his guilt, and entreats deliverance from the divine displeasure, and a returning sense of the divine favour. Then we hear him saying "Hide thy face from my sins and blot out all mine iniquities." This was after he had received the divine message, "The Lord hath put away thy sin,"-" Create in me a clean heart, O God! renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and uphold me with thy free Spirit.' On the other hand, we find God's people as cleaving unto God and bringing forth fruits meet for repentance, proclaiming their sense of his favour, their hope in his mercy, and consciousness of their interest in Christ. This also is what may be expected from what has been revealed of the divine. character and principles of the divine government in the economy of grace. For God is the rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Following on to know him,— loving his law and keeping his commandments,-great peace is theirs, even the peace that passeth all understanding. Hence the Psalmist, recognising the ordinances of God, and his call therein to come to him, and

the blessedness of obedience, declares—“I had rather be a door-keeper in the house of my God than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.”

Men and brethren, to you this day is preached the forgiveness of sins. How should we hail it, and hasten to embrace it as the glorious gospel of the blessed God, the very gospel of your salvation.

This doctrine is a reproof to every self-righteous man. Are there any such here to-day? The gospel we preach supposes you fallen and lost, and that you have incurred a debt you can never yourselves discharge. We are assured that "if there had been a law which could have given life, verily righteousness would have been by the law," [Gal., iii. 21.] But the Scripture hath concluded all under sin that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ, might be given to them that believe.

forbid! To Now is your

Are any careless and indifferent? Is the subject of forgiveness to them as a twice told tale? Hearing do they not hear, neither understand? God you is the word of this salvation sent. accepted time. But if you continue impenitent, a day is coming when the God who now offers you mercy, will reckon with you to the uttermost farthing. Then he will visit indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish upon every soul of man that doeth evil. Now escape for thy life! Flee from the wrath to come! and take refuge in the Saviour now offered.

Is there here any soul burdened with sin ?-Any sinner bowed down with a consciousness of guilt, bemoaning his condition and saying, How shall man be just with God? How shall the sinner be accepted in the sight of him who is of purer eyes than to behold evil? We pro

claim to you the doctrine of forgiveness. We point you to the cross. Look to the Lamb of God. Behold the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world! Come unto God through Christ and penitently ask forgiveness, and you will find there is forgiveness with him, and that he delights in pardoning.

To us this day as a Christian congregation, the ordinance to which we look forward has a special significance. It is a duty indeed and also a blessed privilege. The Lord's Supper commemorates the death of the Redeemer. But he designed it to do more, he appointed it as a sign and seal of forgiveness. Hear him the night in which he was betrayed. "This (cup) is my blood of the new testament which is shed for many for the remission of sins." And so the ordinance is not only for his own honour but our salvation,-to assure our hearts and comfort us by this token of forgiveness, as we journey on toward that better land where the inhabitant shall not say I am sick, the people that dwell therein are forgiven their iniquity.

After Sermon is sung PSALM XXXII.

THEREUPON have unto thee
my sin acknowledged,

And likewise mine iniquity

I have not covered:

I will confess unto the Lord

my trespasses, said I;

And of my sin thou freely didst
forgive th' iniquity.

For this shall ev'ry godly one

his prayer make to thee;