sinned away their day of grace ; that they have committed the sin against the Holy Ghost ; and that God lias already sealed them up to final impenitence, and to everlasting con- demnation
But here, as in the former instance, is nothing but assertion, founded on unwarrantable surmises and groundless fears. We know that such persons will appeal to Scripture : but by what authority do they apply to themselves passages that have no real reference to their state, and make use of those passages to invalidate the plainest assertions of Holy Writ ? If only they desire to come to God, they have an express assurance from God, that " he will in no wise cast them out."]
Let US again, in God's name, oppose these reason- ings by others that are more substantial —
[iJs not God a God of infinite mercy and compassion ? Search the Scriptures : see the representations which he gives of himself: how often is it said, " His mercy endureth for ever!" If then "he delighteth in mercy," who are we that we should presume to limit him in the exercise of it towards ourselves ?
Do not his promises extend to all the sins that you have ever committed? You know that he hath said, " All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men." Moreover, read the words of our text; and doubt if you can. But, perhaps, you will reply, that the sin against the Holy Ghost is excepted ; and that that is the sin which you have committed. To that we answer, that if you desire to repent and turn unto God, it is not possible that you should have committed it ; because, if you had committed it, you vi^ould have arrived at such a degree of obduracy, that you would glory in your shame, and never wish to repent at all
Have not the vilest of siyiners already found acceptance with God ? Look at the character given of the Corinthians ; and see whether you can be in a worse state than they : yet " they were washed and sanctified and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God*^." If you are alarmed about backslidings after conversion, see whether you have been worse than David and Peter: yet they were restored to the divine favour as soon as ever they repented themselves of their iniquities. And myriads of others, once as vile as they, are at this very moment around the throne of God, rejoicing and triumphing in redeeming love. What bar then can there be to your acceptance through "him who loved them, and washed them from their sins in his own blood ? "
We forbear to urge other considerations, because if you can
'^ 1 Cor. vi. 9—11.