2.  Do not conclude there is no pardon, because the rod that was inflicted for sin is not as yet taken off.  God pardoned David’s sin, and did intimate the same to him by Nathan, and yet the sword did not depart from his house till he died.  God can forgive, and yet take vengeance on their inventions, Psalm xcix. 8.

3.  Do not upon this ground question God’s faithfulness, or conclude that God’s covenant doth not stand fast.  He is the same, and the covenant abideth fast and firm; but the change is in thee.

4.  Do not think that because thou hast once received Christ, that therefore, without any new act of faith on him, or of repentance towards God, thou should immediately be pardoned of thy sins, as soon as they are committed; for the gospel method must be followed, and it should satisfy us.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

NO MAN COMETH TO THE FATHER BUT BY ME.

This being added for further confirmation of what was formerly said, will point out unto us several necessary truths, as,

I. That it is most necessary to be sound and clear in this fundamental point of coming to God only in and through Christ.  For,

1.  It is the whole marrow of the gospel.

2.  It is the hinge of our salvation, Christ is “the chief corner stone,” Isa. xxxviii. 16. 1 Pet. i. 5, 6; and,

3.  The only ground of all our solid and true peace and comfort.

4 An error or a mistake here, is most dangerous, hazarding, if not ruining all.

5.  Satan endeavours mainly against this, raiseth up heresies, errors, and false opinions, and prompteth some to vent perplexing doubts and objections, and all to darken this cardinal point.  So doth he muster up all his temptations for this end, at length to keep poor souls from acquaintance with this way, and from making use of it, or entering into it.

6.  Our corrupt hearts are most averse from it, and will close with any way, how troublesome, how expensive and costly soever it may seem to be, rather than with this.

7.  There are a multitude of false ways, as we did shew above.

All which do clear up this necessity, and should teach us to be very diligent to win to acquaintance with it, and to make sure that we are in it, and to hold it fast, and to keep it pure in our practice, without mixing any thing with it, or corrupting of it.

II.  That it is no small difficulty to get this truth believed and practised, that through Christ alone we come to the Father.  Therefore is the same thing asserted and inculcated again upon the same matter; for,

1.  Nature will not teach this way; it is far above nature.

2.  Yea, our natural inclinations are much against it, opposing it, and fighting against it.

3.  This way is altogether contrary to that high esteem which naturally all of us have of ourselves.

4.  And is opposite to that pride of heart which naturally we are subject to.