man his thoughts ; and let him turn unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." Not that your repentance will wash away sin, or your conversion purchase heaven. It is the blood of Christ alone that can cleanse even from the smallest sin : but if, with a penitent and contrite heart, you turn unto him, your sins, how numerous soever they may have been, shall all be blotted out; and how heinous soever they may have been, they shall be made white as snow ]
And then shall " seasons of refreshing, also, come to you from the presence of your Lord" —
[This expression may refer to that season of joy which shall prevail over the earth, when the Messiah's reign shall be established upon itd. But I understand it rather as im- porting that peace and joy which shall flow into the soul of every true convert e. See the change wrought in the minds of the three thousand, on the day of Pentecost f. See the promise made to all who shall " truly believe in Christ g." This shall be your experience, if, with penitential sorrow, and in newness of heart and life, you turn unto the Lord. You shall be filled with a " peace that passeth all understanding," and " a joy that is unspeakable and glorified." No tongue can declare the blessedness of that soul which has " the light of God's coun- tenance lifted up upon it," and " his love shed abroad within it" ]
Let me, then, once more say to every one of you, Repent deeply of all your sins, and seek, without delay, to be truly converted unto God —
[Without this there can be no remission of your sins : not one can ever be blotted out of the book of God's remembrance ; but all will be brought forth against you in judgment, to the utter confusion and condemnation of your souls. And what season of refreshment, suppose you, will you ever experience ? Have you any now ? You know you have not. Will you have any in a dying hour ? Alas ! insensibility is the best that you can hope for then. And what will you have in the eternal world? Alas! not " a drop of water to cool your tongues." What I say, then, to one, I say to all, " Repent, and be con- verted, ere it be too late, and ere the wrath of God fall upon you to the uttermost.]
d Isai. lii. 9, 10. and lxvi. 10—13.
e See Doddridge on the place.
f Acts ii. e Isai. lxi. 1 — 3.
278 ACTS, III. 22,23. [l?45.