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CHAPTER X.

ARTICLE X.

The Forgiveness of Sins.

THIS Article has been expressly contained in every Creed; and in the old ones it used to follow "The Holy Church;" being so immediately added, to shew that remission of sins was to be obtained in the Church of Christ. Hence is to be shewn what is the nature of the remission of sins, and the great privilege thus possessed by Church members.

Now the nature of sin is revealed in the Scriptures, and is there stated to be the transgression of the law; every sin is such, from its reference to the law; for "where there is no law, there is no transgression +." The law of God is the rule of men's actions; and any aberration from that rule is sin: the Law of God is pure; and whatsoever is contrary to that Law is impure. Hence whatsoever

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Ghost, who dwell in them; with angels who minister to them; with all the members of Christ's Church, externally; and with each other, spiritually, also that this communion is not separated by death, inasmuch as it is spiritual; and they still remain united under Christ their head, as living members; through whom they have virtual fellowship with all the saints, which, from the death of Abel, have departed in the true faith, and are now in the presence of God. And thus I believe the Communion of Saints.'

CHAPTER X.

ARTICLE X.

The Forgiveness of Sins.

THIS Article has been expressly contained in every Creed; and in the old ones it used to follow "The Holy Church;" being so immediately added, to shew that remission of sins was to be obtained in the Church of Christ. Hence is to be shewn what is the nature of the remission of sins, and the great privilege thus possessed by Church members.

Now the nature of sin is revealed in the Scriptures, and is there stated to be the transgression of the law*; every sin is such, from its reference to the law; for "where there is no law, there is no transgression +." The law of God is the rule of men's actions; and any aberration from that rule is sin: the Law of God is pure; and whatsoever is contrary to that Law is impure. Hence whatsoever

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is done by man, or is in man, having any contrariety or opposition to the Law of God, is sin.

Now every sin doth cause, on the part of the person sinning, a guilt; or an obligation to suffer a proportionate punishment. Sins are of two kinds; of commission, and of omission; the former consist in actual breaking of the law; the latter in the neglect of some duty; the sins themselves pass away, but the guilt remains. This guilt or liability to punishment, results not only from the breach of God's law, but is taught us expressly in Scripture *. "Whosoever blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost is liable (or rather obnoxious, evoxos, or bound over,) to eternal damnation." Hence appeareth both the liability to eternal punishment, if there be no remission; as also the taking off that liability, if there be such remission or forgiveness.

The nature of remission of sins appears from what was done to procure it. All sins under the law almost were purged with blood, and " without shedding of blood there is no remission of sins +." This blood-shedding referred to, and was involved in, the subsequent death of Christ, who was crucified for our sins; who bore the iniquity of us all; with whose stripes we are healed, and whose blood was

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