Jesus Christ, he may find acceptance with God: " though his sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as wool ; though they have been red like crimson, they shall be made white as snow." Our blessed Lord has expressly declared this, without any limitation or exception : " Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out." Nor is there any limit to the benefits which the believing penitent shall obtain at his hands. Does he desire pardon ? The declaration of an inspired i\.postle is, " All that believe, shall be justified from all things." Does his troubled soul sigh for peace ? " Being justified by faith, he shall have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, so as to rejoice in hope of the glory of God." Does he pant after holiness? Such shall be the transforming efficacy of his faith, that " his very heart shall be purified by it;" and in the exercise of it he shall " be changed into the Saviour's image, from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."
Now there is no other grace, of which these things can be spoken ; because there is no other grace that can unite us to Christ, or derive from him those rich communications which alone can produce these great effects.]
Application —
1. Is there, then, an inquirer here?
[I suppose there are some who are ready to ask, ' What shall we do, that we may work the works of God ? ' Let me, before I reply to this, ask in return, ' Are you sincere in making this inquiry ? And will you, if I set before you the very truth of God, endeavour earnestly to comply with it ? Can you, from your hearts, declare before God what Jeremiah's hearers engaged to him, " The Lord be a true and faithful witness between us, if we do not even according to all things for which the Lord thy God shall send thee unto us : whether it be good, or whether it be evil, we will obey the voice of the Lord our God, to whom we send thee ; that it may be well with us, when we obey the voice of the Lord our God1." If this be really the disposition of your minds, then do 1 confidently return to you the answer which St. Paul gave to the jailor's inquiry, "What shall I do to be saved?" " Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." This is the work which must be done by all : and this work really and truly done, you shall as surely find acceptance with God, as if you were already in heaven. I do not say, that, when you have done this, there remains nothing more to be done : but I say, that if this be really clone, all the rest will follow. Once find the sweetness of that truth, " There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus," and you will soon attain the character inse-
1 Jer. xlii. 3— G.