[Some there are, who, when they see how far they have departed from God, are ready to imagine, that they have sinned beyond the reach of mercy, and that, with respect to them, Christ has died in vain. But no man is warranted to say, that his state is desperate ; nor ought any man to come to such a conclusion after the strictest search. There is one distinction which ought never to be forgotten : it is this ; that whatever grounds sin affords for humiliation, it affords none for despondency. If there were not a sufficiency in the blood of Christ to cleanse from the guilt of sin, we might well despair : or, if there were not a sufficiency in the grace of Christ to rescue from the power of sin, we might justly say, There is no hope : but, whilst we are assured that Christ " is able to save to the uttermost all who come unto God by him," we need not fear, but that if we go to him, he will receive us ; and if we trust in him, he will glorify himself in our salvation. Attempt not then to hide from your own eyes the extremity of your guilt ; nor, when it is revealed to you, indulge any desponding fears : but flee unto Christ, and lay hold on him, and cleave to him, and determine, that, if you perish, you will perish at the foot of his cross, trusting in his blood, and plead- ing with him that promise, "Whosoever cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out."]
3. Those who are enabled to form a just estimate of their state —
[These persons are a perfect mystery to all around them. The world sees them humbling themselves as the very chief of sinners, and yet exulting under a sense of God's pardoning love : and how to reconcile this they know not. ' If,' say they, ' you are so vile, how can you rejoice ? and, if you have such cause for joy, how is it that you yet sigh, and mourn, and weep, as if you were the vilest of mankind?' But it is this union of humility and confidence which characterizes the true Christian : and, the more eminent the Christian is, the more do both these graces nourish in his soul. Thus then, brethren, let it be with you : affix no limits to your self-abasement ; for it is not possible for you ever to have too humiliating thoughts of yourselves : yet, on the other hand, let there be no limits to your confidence in Christ, as able, and willing to save the very chief of sinners. Yet, at the same time, do not imagine, that, because you are vile in yourselves, you are at liberty to indulge in sin ; or because " in Christ you are complete," you are not under any necessity of practising universal holiness : these would be fatal errors indeed : were any such licence given you, " Christ would be a minister of sin." But this is far from being the case. It is true, that you are justified by