Moreover, we must carefully distinguish between the demerit of sin, or its desert of punishment; and the sinner’s obligation to suffer punishment for it. The former of these is inseparable from sin, and not removed, or, in the least lessened, by pardoning mercy; for sin is no less the object of the divine detestation; nor is its intrinsic evil, or demerit, abated by its being forgiven; and therefore, a justified person, remaining still a sinner, as transgressing the law of God, has as much reason to condemn himself, in this respect, as though he had not been forgiven. The Psalmist speaking concerning a person that is actually forgiven or justified, says, notwithstanding, that _if thou Lord, shouldst mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?_ Psal. cxxx. 3. He was, at the same time, in a justified state; but yet he concludes, that there is a demerit of punishment in every sin that he committed; though, when it is pardoned, the obligation to suffer punishment is taken away:[29] and therefore, the apostle speaking of such, says, _There is no condemnation to them_, Rom. viii. 1. We must farther distinguish between our having matter of condemnation in us; this a justified person has; and there being no condemnation to us; that is, the immediate result of being pardoned. There are several expressions in scripture, whereby forgiveness is set forth, namely, God’s covering sin: thus the Psalmist says, _Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered_, Psal. xxxii. 1. or, his hiding his face from it, and blotting it out; or, _when it is sought for_, Psal. li. 9. its _not being found_, Jer. l. 20. and, _casting our sins into the depths of the sea_, Micah vii. 19. And elsewhere it is said, That when God had pardoned the sins of his people, _he did not behold iniquity in Jacob, nor see perverseness in Israel_, Numb, xxiii. 21. which amounts to the same thing as the foregoing expressions of its being covered, hid, blotted out, _&c._