He will " abundantly pardon" transgressions, how- ever multiplied they may have been —
[They whose iniquities have been heinous and long-con- tinued, are apt to despond, and to imagine themselves beyond the reach of mercy. But none need to despair : God's mercy is infinite: though our sins may have been numerous as the sands upon the sea-shore, his mercies will far exceed them : " as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him." See what sinners have been for- given ! mark the transgressions of David, Manasseh, Peter, and others ; see the peculiar aggravations of their guilt ! and then say whether God will not multiply his pardons to the
very utmost extent of our necessities ? After such a
view of God's mercy, our hearts must be harder than adamant, if we refuse to repent, and to turn unto him.]
Address — To those who,
1. Presume upon God's mercy —
[You are at ease, because God is merciful : but are his mercies ever promised to those who live and die in sin ? Are not rather his judgments denounced against them ? Search the Scriptures, and see if you can find one word to comfort those who persist in wilful impenitence : alas ! you will soon find to your cost, that, as God is merciful to repenting sinners, so will he fulfil the declaration, that " except ye repent, ye shall all perish."]
2. Limit it —
[Satan's first device for the retaining of sinners under his dominion is, to represent God to them as a Being who is too merciful to punish them. His next endeavour is, to make them believe that their sins are too great to be forgiven, and that there is not mercy enough in the heart of God to pardon such transgressors as they. But, if any of us are tempted to enter- tain such thoughts of the Deity, let us only reflect upon the words of the text, and the many passages of Scripture which illustrate and confirm them, and we shall see at once the folly and impiety of limiting his mercies. Let such persons at least put the matter to a trial ; and they shall find, by sweet expe- rience, that " whosoever cometh unto him, he will in no wise cast out."]
3. Abuse it —
[Are there those in the world, who, because they have obtained mercy (as they think), are remiss in " working out their salvation?" Are there those who imagine, that, because they have " once overcome the world, they may be again