CHAP. VI.

ON THE ENCOURAGEMENTS GIVEN TO THE

PENITENT.

THE Saviour was sent to bind up the brokenhearted, and to set at liberty them that were bound, Every word in the gospel speaks encouragement to the humble. But perhaps you may say, I have no doubt that God is gracious to hear the prayer of the penitent, but I fear this is not my character. Some persons can tell the time of their awakening, and even the means which God used for that purpose, but I cannot. They can mention the books, the sermons, or the very texts, which touched their hearts, and drew forth the earnest cry, What shall we do? But though I am sensible of my lost condition, it is impossible for me to trace back my concern to any particulat season, or instrumental cause. Suppose a man deeply in debt thus to tell his tale to a neighbour? I have long feared that my business and my books were in a bad state, but now I am sure it is so. I cannot say exactly when, or by what means, I first began to perceive this. Sometimes I suspected it, and soon after forgot my fears; then the alarm returned afresh, as my creditors brought new demands which I could not answer. This neighbour replies, Of what consequence is it for you to know when you first found out your deficiency? I am acquainted with a rich friend, who will be bound for you. All you have to do is, to go without delay to this surety, and commit your

affairs into his hands. Would not such advice be the best? You too are deeply in debt. You have no means of paying the long arrears. Now, if you are fully convinced of this, I recommend to you the Lord Jesus Christ, the friend of sinners. He is ready to become your security, and answer every demand. Or, suppose a man to say, I have long felt myself unwell; my health is gone; but really I cannot tell when I first perceived the symptoms of my disorder. Some persons can declare the place where, and the manner how, they were first struck with pain, or seized with sickness; but, alas! it is not so with me. I should say to such an one, The question is not when you began to know your disorder, do you know it now? If so, all you have to do, is to go without delay to the best physician. Thus, whenever there is a due sense of sin, I would say, hasten to the Lord Jesus Christ. It is of little consequence whether you were awakened suddenly or gradually, your chief concern now lies in the means of obtaining salvation.

While I proceed to give encouragement to the penitent, I feel somewhat at a loss, not for want of matter, but to know how to select from the abundance which offers, that which may be most suitable. We can scarcely look into the Bible, but we find something to animate the contrite and humble. I have gathered a few things, and you may go to the same rich treasury, and gather the rest for yourself. After I have said a few words, I must own, with the queen of Sheba, that the half cannot be told. Are you sensible of your guilt and condemnation, your want and misery, your pollution and helplessness, then I would direct you to those promises which hold out pardon, adoption, and the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit.

1. The scriptures promise pardon to the penitent. Forgiveness is a blessing so suitable to fallen man, so sweet and precious to the humble soul, that it cannot be too earnestly sought, or too highly valued. The angels who sinned are confined under chains of darkness unto the judgment of the great day. The call to repentance, or the sound of salvation, was never heard in hell. In that dismal prison no gleam of hope shines, no fountain of mercy flows. The Redeemer says, "To you, O men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of men." When God pardons our sins, he is said to "blot them out, to remove them as far as the east is from the west, and to cast them into the depths of the sea." These expressions not only throw a light upon the subject of forgiveness, but also afford peculiar encouragement to the penitent. Though his sins should be ever so numerous, or ever so odious, they shall not appear against him for his condemnation. Though you should owe more than ten thousand talents, the book being crossed, you shall stand completely clear. Though your sins be like a cloud, which blackens the face of heaven, burdens the air, and gathers a mighty tempest, they shall be entirely and for ever removed. Isa. xliv. 22. This is one of the chief blessings secured to men by the glorious covenant of grace. "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." Heb. viii. 1-12. Dr. Owen justly observes, "That the pardon bestowed by God is not like that narrow, difficult, halving forgiveness, that is found among men, when any such thing is found among them; but it is full, free, bottomless, boundless, absolute, such as becomes his nature and excellences." Now if you really wish this invaluable blessing, the gospel brings it to your bosom, and offers it without money and without price. God commands and invites you to accept of pardon, he pleads with you to receive it, he points to the blood of atonement, the intercession of his Son, and the examples of those who have obtained forgiveness, to prevail with you.

1. God commands you to accept of pardon. After Christ had risen from the dead, he gave his apostles authority to spread the glad tidings of salvation throughout the world. They were sent "to preach repentance and remission of sins to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." Luke xxiv. 47. Astonishing mercy! How many righteous men, how many heaven-inspired prophets had been slain in that bloody city. There, the Messiah himself was mocked and buffeted, condemned and crucified. Who would have wondered, if he had said: Go and preach repentance and remission of sins every where, except in that devoted city, Jerusalem. The apostles zealously obeyed the order of their Master, as appears from Acts ii. 28. iii. 19. "Repent therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord." There it may be seen, that pardon follows penitence. What God has joined, must not, cannot be put asunder. You are as much commanded to receive forgiveness as you are to repent. Do not then resist the authority of God through unbelief. Say not, I am so vile, that there can be no forgiveness extended to me. The blessing is held out in the promise, and the command requires you to take it.

Mr. Marshall, author of a Treatise on Sanctification, in his early years was under great distress for a long time, through a consciousness of guilt, and a dread of the Divine displeasure. At last, mentioning his case to Dr. Thomas Goodwin, and lamenting the greatness of his sins, that able divine replied, "You have forgotten the greatest sin of all, the sin of unbelief, in refusing to believe in Christ, and rely on his atonement and righteousness for your acceptance with God." This word in season banished his fears. He looked to Jesus, and was filled with joy and peace in believing! By disobeying the commands of the law, you sin against divine majesty; but, by disobeying the commands of the gospel, you sin against divine mercy. If indeed you remember your sins, and be deeply humbled, God has promised to forget them, and be reconciled to you.

2. God invites you to accept of pardon. The year of redemption is come. The trumpet of jubilee in sweet and melodious tones proclaims liberty to the captive, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound. Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound. Blessed is the man whose transgression is forgiven, and whose sin is covered. If the authority of God does not awe, let the kindness of God allure you. Do you think these tidings are too good to be true? While you linger, he sends forth messenger after messenger, with winning invitations and persuasions, to compel you to come in. Do not raise objections, or make excuses. It is the policy