think a man ought to reason so, from the very natural knowledge he
hath of God. But when ye have not only his name and nature published, but
his word and promise so often proclaimed, himself come under some tie to
receive and accept graciously all sinners that fly in under the shadow of
his wings of mercy, then, O with how much persuasion and boldness should
we come to him, and lay open our sins before him, who not only may pardon
them, and not only is likely to do it, seeing he hath a gracious nature,
but certainly will pardon them, cannot but do it, because his faithfulness
requireth it! Certainly, he hath superadded his word to his name, his
promise to his nature, to confirm our faith, and give us ample ground of
strong consolation.

There is another more suitable notion about the justice of God, in
forgiving sin. It hath some truth in the thing itself, but whether it be
imported here, I dare not certainly affirm. Some take his faithfulness in
relation to his word of promise, and his justice in relation to the price
and ransom paid by Christ, importing as much as this--whatever sinner comes
to God in Christ, confessing his own guiltiness in sincerity, and
supplicating for pardon, he cannot in justice refuse to give it out unto
them, since he hath taken complete satisfaction of Christ. When a sinner
seeks a discharge of all sin, by virtue of that blood, the Lord is bound
by his own justice to give it out and to write a free remission to them,
since he is fully paid, he cannot but discharge us, and cancel our bonds.
So then a poor sinner that desires mercy, and would forsake sin, hath a
twofold ground to suit(247) this forgiveness upon--Christ's blood, and
God's own word, Christ's purchase and payment, and the Father's promise,
he is just and righteous, and therefore he cannot deny the one, nor yet
take two satisfactions, two payments for one debt, and he is faithful, so
he cannot but stand to the other, that is, his promise, and thus is
forgiveness ascertained and assured unto the confessing sinner. If any
would take this in relation to confession, as if it reflected upon that
which preceded, and the meaning should be, if any man confess his sin, he
is just to requite confession with remission,--he cannot in righteousness
deny one that deserves it, he is just to return some suitable recompense
to such a humble confession, this sense were a perverting of the whole
gospel, and would overturn the foundations of grace. For