This then was one principal end of so marvellous a conver- sion, namely, that the exceeding riches of the Redeemer's grace
e Acts xxvi. 10, 11. f Acts viii. 3. and xxii. 4, 5.
s Acts xxvi. 10. h Acts xxvi. 11.
J Acts ix. 1. Gal. i. 13. and 1 Tim. i. 13. k 1 Pet. hi. 20.
1 2 Thess. i. 3 0.
might be displayed before the whole universe, both in time and eternity.]
2. For the encouraging of sinners to believe in him —
[It is not uncommon for persons to apprehend themselves so vile that they cannot be forgiven. But our blessed Lord has given a most effectual antidote to this in the conversion of Paul. It is not without reason that Paul repeatedly styles himself " the chief of sinners"1 :" and he expressly tells us, that he was designed to be a " pattern to all who should hereafter believe on Jesus." Our adorable Saviour points, as it were, to him, and says; ' See, thou tempted soul, if thou art as blind as that infuriated bigot, I can make " the scales to fall from thine eyes":" if thine enmity against me be as rooted as his, I can slay it: if thou possessest all that is malignant and diabo- lical, I can change thee : there is nothing too great for me to do, nothing too good for me to give, even to the chief of sin- ners. I am the same gracious and almighty Saviour that I was in the day that I converted him ; and I am able and willing to do the very same things for thee. Thou seest how freely I bestowed my grace on him. If wrath and malice, and murder and blasphemy, could entitle him to my favour, then certainly he had as good a title as man could have : but if these things rather entitled him to a distinguished place in hell, then thou seest how free and sovereign my grace is ; and hast a proof, that " where sin has abounded, grace can, and shall, much more abound0.'"
Who, after beholding this pattern, can despond ? Who will put away mercy from him under the idea that he is unworthy of it? Who will be afraid to come to Jesus, because he has no good work to bring as a price of his favour ? None that reflect on the salvation of Paul, can ever doubt either the freeness of Christ's offers, or the sufficiency of his grace.]
There are two things which, on account of their singular importance, we will further endeavour to impress upon your minds :
1. No good that can be possessed will supersede our need of mercy —
[Paul, as has been hinted at before, had much to boast ofp : but, notwithstanding all his learning, and strictness, and zeal, he had perished for ever, if he had not " obtained mercy." Let
m t/iol Tpwra) should have been so translated in the text, as it is in the verse before it.
n Acts ix. 18. ° Rom. v. 20. r Phil. hi. 4- 6.