Thomas Boston
1An edited extract from Boston’s Works, vol 1.
Exhortations to the unconverted.
1. Labour to get your hearts brought to a deep concern for a pardoned state.
Therefore believe your miserable state by nature, that you are condemned. Take a view of the holy, righteous law and your innumerable transgressions of it, besides your sinful nature. Look to the flaming justice of God. Behold it in the case of the damned, in the case of Christ suffering, and see what a fearful thing it is to fall into the hands of the living God.
2. Go to God in Christ, confess your sins and condemn yourselves.
Lay them out before God with shame and confusion of face, with their several aggravations. Make a full and free confession, insisting most on those sins of yours that have been most dishonouring to God. Acknowledge that you are justly condemned by the law, and that God would be righteous if He should put the sentence into execution.
3. Solemnly and sincerely accept of Christ in the covenant of grace.
as held forth in the gospel. Receive Him with His righteousness, and enter under the covert of His blood. And lay all your guilt over on Him, believing His ability and willingness to remove it. And, accepting of Christ for justification and sanctification, you shall be accepted and pardoned.
Exhortation to justified people. This privilege calls you to several duties.
1. Love the Lord.
and love Him much, for much is forgiven you. This may be oil to that holy flame, and therefore love will continue in heaven for ever.
2. Be of a forgiving disposition.
“Be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God, for Christ’s sake, hath forgiven you” (Eph 4:32). The same Saviour that brought in remission of sins, binds us to love our enemies. And the bitter, revengeful spirit, against those we think have wronged us, is a sad sign that God has not forgiven our own sin. “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors” (Mt 6:12). They who have found what a dreadful weight sin unpardoned is, and have at length got it removed, will thereby be helped to forgive.
3. Walk humbly.
You are justified, but it is by the righteousness of Another. You are pardoned, but it was procured to you by the satisfaction of a Saviour. Your debt is paid, your discharge is ready; but it is thanks to free grace, not to you.
4. Bear patiently your troubles and crosses in the world.
Your life that was forfeited by sin is safe by grace; therefore take thankfully any troubles you meet with. For why should a living man complain, especially one that deserved to die and yet is adjudged to life?
5. Walk tenderly.
God pardoning a sinner, dismisses him as Christ did the penitent adulteress: “Go, and sin no more” (John 8:11). Let not your broken bones be forgotten, but walk softly all your years. If you are pardoned, show it by your holy and tender walk.