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Verse 12. And forgive us our debts, &c.]
Loose us (saith 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉) and let us goe free: for 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sinners are in the* 1.1 bond of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, as Simon 〈◊〉〈◊〉; and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is called a 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Rom. 3 25. The guilt of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is an 〈◊〉〈◊〉, binding 〈◊〉〈◊〉 over to 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉. God hath against us, Matth. 5. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 our hand-writing, which is contrary to us, Coloss. 2. 14. This 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 against himself, Psal. 32. 5. and upon 〈◊〉〈◊〉 praier obtained pardon. He only acknowledged the debt, and God 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the book. God crossed the black lines of his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with the red lines of his Sonnes bloud. Thou forgavest me (saith David) the iniquity of my sinne; the maliguity of it, the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thing that was in it. For this shall every one that is godly pray 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thee, by mine example, and obtain like favour. For our God is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sin-pardoning God, Nehem. 9. 31. none like him, Mica. 7. 18. He forgiveth sinne naturally, Exod. 34. 6. abundantly, Isa, 55. 7, constantly, Joh. 1. 27. He doth take away the sinnes of the world. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a perpetuall act of his, as the Sunne doth shine, as the spring doth runne, Zech. 13. 1. The 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is not weary of seeing, nor the ear of 〈◊〉〈◊〉:* 1.2 No more is God of shewing mercy. All sins, yea, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 shall be forgiven to the sons of men, saith our Saviour:* 1.3 as the sea covers not only small sands, but huge rocks. Christ 〈◊〉〈◊〉* 1.4 the propitiation or covering for our sins, are they how many, and* 1.5 how great soever, as was sweetly shadowed of old by the 〈◊〉〈◊〉* 1.6 covering the Law, the mercy-seat covering the Ark, and the* 1.7 Cherubims over them, both covering one another. In allusion* 1.8 whereunto, Blessed, saith David, is the man whose transgression is forgiven, whose sinne is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputeth not sinne. A metaphor from merchants, who when they will forgive a debt, doe not put it into the reckoning, and so, doe not impute it. Sinne casteth men deep into debt and arrearages with God. It is called a debt of ten thousand ta∣lents.* 1.9 It casts a man into a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 condition, makes him* 1.10 hide his face for shame, as Adam, causeth a continuall sound of* 1.11 fear in his ears: so that he thinks every bush a bailiff, every shrub 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sergeant, &c. An evil conscience hunts him, follows him up and down so close, like a bloud-hound, hot-foot, that he sometimes serves himself, as that Jesuite in Lancashire, followed by one that had found his glove, with a desire to restore it to him; but pursu∣ed inwardly with a guilty conscience, leaps over a hedge, plun∣ges into a marlepit behinde it unseen and unthought of, wherein* 1.12