encourage our return : he does not merely say, " I will heal their sins, but I will heal their backsliding ; " thereby obviating at once all their objections. He knows how Satan will take advantage of them ; that he will suggest desponding thoughts, and make them believe their sins are too great to be forgiven ; and therefore God specifies the greatest of all sins, " I will heal their backsliding ," their sins committed against all their own vows and resolutions, their sins committed after the greatest mercies had been vouchsafed to them ; yes, even those, says God, will I heal : I will wash them away in the blood of my dear Son, and blot them out as a thick cloud : I will cast them behind my back, and remember them no more ; I will pour the balm of Gilead into your wounded spirits, and speak peace to your afflicted consciences. Still Satan suggests, " But you will fall again, and then your last end shall be worse than the beginning." ' No ' says God, ' it shall not be so ; only come to me, and I will keep you from falling; trust in me, and "you shall never fall; but an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the kingdom of your Lord and Saviour:" I will heal you, not only by my pardoning, but also by my renewing, grace : and so effectually will I heal your wounds, that I will even renew you after mine own image, in righteous- ness and true holiness.' Perhaps Satan will still urge, ' But you are not worthy;' and thus prevent your trusting in God; 'But,' says God, 'I do not look for worthiness in the creature : I will love them freely ; without the smallest regard to any thing in them : I will love them for mine own name sake, and " have mercy merely because I will have mercy." ' But yet Satan suggests, ' This is not for you : God is your enemy, and you have nothing to do with these promises :' but to this also God has given you a certain answer ; Are you truly desirous to have your backslidings healed, and to live in the enjoyment of God's free love and favour? ' Then, says God, " mine anger is turned away from you :" it not only shall be, but is ; that very desire is a fruit of my love ; that little re- pentance which you exercise, is the gift of my grace ; and you are to take it as a pledge and earnest of richer blessings ; you are to take encouragement from what I have given, to expect from me all that I can give : only follow the direction I have given you, " Take with you words, and say unto me, Take away all iniquity, and receive me graciously," and I will answer the very desires of your heart ; for " I will heal your back- slidings, which are the greatest of all sins, and will love you freely ; and, lest you should doubt this, I tell you, that, if such be the desires of your heart, mine anger is turned away from
you'"
See now, my Brethren, what rich consolation here is for every drooping and desponding soul ! O cease to listen to the
l2