With respect to forgiveness, there can, I think, be no dispute; for the very term, forgive, implies a free act of the offended party. For if the offender has any merit, so far as that merit goes, he has a claim upon the justice of God; which at once destroys the very nature of mercy, and makes the whole work of Christ, as a Saviour, of no effect, and totally unnecessary; “for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain: and if there had been a law given, which could have given life, verily, righteousness should have been by the law.”

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