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18 SERMON UPON LUKE XXIII. 34.
and the riches of his grace. They curse, and he blesseth ; they vomit out scorns and slanders, but he poureth out prayers to God for them.
2. That all sins, even the greatest, except that against the Holy Ghost, are pardonable. What greater sin could there be than crucify- ing the Lord of glory ? yet upon repentance it is forgiven. That it was capable of pardon appeareth by this prayer of our Saviour, and that it was actually pardoned appeareth by Acts ii. When they were touched to the quick with the sense of this crime, and asked what they should do, Peter adviseth them to this remedy, Acts ii, 38, 'Repent, and be baptized every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins ; ' and they found it effectual upon the use of it : ver. 41, ' Then they that gladly received his word were baptized, and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.' And that it is so in the general case, our Lord assureth us, Mat. xii. 31, ' All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men, but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men,' There is no exception of any sin, though it go so high as blasphemy, but the malicious blaspheming the operations of the Holy Ghost, those by which he testified, manifestly and sufficiently, that he was the true Messiah, and their imputing these operations to the devil. But of other sins there is no exception ; speaking against the Son of man was not believing him to be the Messiah ; that may be forgiven ; but blasphemy against the Holy Ghost is resisting his manifestations, affirming them to be done by the devil rather than God, and this shall never be for- given. Well, then, let us conceive of God's mercy according to the infiniteness of his nature, and of Christ's merits according to the dignity of his person ; an ocean of water will wash one sink or filthy hole clean.
3. That remission of sins is the free gift of God, and the fruit of his pity and grace. Christ asketli it of his Father, ' Father, forgive them : ' he must be sought to ; we cannot merit it of ourselves. David addres- seth himself to God, and usetli no other plea but grace and mercy : Ps. Ii. 1, ' Have mercy upon me, 0 God, according to thy loving-kindness, according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.' Our work lietli with the Father of mercies and the God of all compassions, that he may be reconciled to us, and seal up his perfect pardon to our souls.
4. That pardon of sins is a special benefit. Christ asked no more than, Father, forgive them. It is a special benefit, because it freeth us from the greatest evil, wrath to come : 1 Thes. i. 10, ' And it maketli us capable of the greatest blessing, eternal life : Titus iii. 7, ' That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. It is purchased at the dearest rate, even the blood of Christ : Rom. iii. 25, ' Whom God hath set forth to be a pro- pitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.' It is brought about by the highest power, the finger of God, or his all-conquering Spirit, who by converting us, or giving us repentance, maketh us capable of pardon : Acts ii. 38, ' Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins ; *
SERMON UPON LUKE XXIII. 34. 19
Acts V. 31, ' Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a prince and a saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.' It openeth the door to the ciioicest privileges, the favour of God and communion with him in tlie Spirit ; therefore David pronounceth the pardoned blessed : Ps. xxxii. 1, 2, ' Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Avhose sin is covered; blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth no iniquity/
5. That love of enemies, and those that have wronged us, is an high grace, and recommended to us by Christ's own example. Sure it is needful that we should learn this lesson, to be like God : Luke vi. 36, ' Be ye merciful, as your Father also is merciful ; ' that we may obey God, who hath required this at our hands. Therefore we must con- sider not what others have been to us, but what God will have us to be to them, meek, patient, and merciful. Again, we hereby show the purity and sincerity of our love ; nature will teach us to love those that love us, but grace only teacheth us to love enemies. This is love with self-denial. They who love us endear themselves to us, the other alienate themselves from us ; yet for God's sake we can love them, and seek to draw them out of the snares of the devil, that we may restore them to God.