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I. REASONS WHY SUCH MUST NEEDS BE BLESSED WHOSE TRANSGRESSIONS ARE FORGIVEN.

1. Because God doth pronounce them blessed.

2. Because they are delivered from the greatest evil, and that which exposes them to the greatest misery, and which alone can deprive them of eternal happiness.

3. Because they are taken into covenant with God.

(1) They are taken into God's favour.

(2) They are taken into God's family.

(3) They are under God's providence.

(4) They have free access unto God in prayer.

(5) They have communion with God in all His ordinances: and thus it is with all pardoned persons, and therefore they are blessed.

4. Because they are in a better state than Adam was in his first creation.

(1) In respect of innocence.

(2) In regard of the image of God, that is repaired in all those that are pardoned. — When God forgiveth their sin, He changeth their nature; and that faith which justifieth the person doth also "purify the heart" (Acts 15:9).

5. Because they shall be blessed.

(1) Show what the future blessedness is, which pardoned persons shall have. They shall live and take up their eternal abode in a most blessed and glorious place (Hebrews 13:14; Hebrews 11:10). They shall have most blessed and glorious company to converse with: saints, angels, the Holy Spirit, the Lord Jesus Christ in His glory, etc. They shall attain a blessed and glorious state of perfect peace and tranquillity, wealth and plenty, honour and dignity, holiness and purity, perfect happiness and glory in soul and body.

(2) Prove that pardoned sinners shall assuredly attain this future blessedness. God's decree of predestination and election. God's covenant and promise. The union of all pardoned persons unto Christ and His undertaking for them to bring them to eternal blessedness. The right which they have to eternal blessedness: justification; adoption; the certainty of all pardoned persons' perseverance in grace unto the end.

(3) Show how this future eternal blessedness of heaven renders pardoned persons blessed here upon earth.

(1)  They have a sight of their future blessedness, and the excellence of it.

(2)  Their hopes of it, that they shall one day have possession of so great felicity.

(3)  They have the beginnings of future blessedness here, in this life, in the work of grace, and sometimes foretastes and first-fruits of it, through the witness, seal, and earnest of the Spirit; and this renders them blessed in this life.

II. How THIS BLESSEDNESS MAY BE ATTAINED.

1. Some things must be believed.

(1)  The doctrine of Christ's satisfaction for sin.

(2)  The doctrine of justification by the righteousness of Christ.

2. Some things must be done.

(1)  They must get conviction of sin.

(2)  They must make confession of sin.

(3)  They must by faith make application of Jesus Christ.

(4)  They must forsake sin.

(5)  They must make supplication and earnest prayer unto God for pardoning mercy.

(6)  They must forgive others.

(T. Vincent, M. A.)

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KJV: {A Psalm of David, Maschil.} Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

WEB: Blessed is he whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is covered.