The Truly Blessed Man, Part 1 · Section 3
Gods forgiveneſs extends to all Sin.
DOCTRINE. II.
GOD'S forgiveneſs extends to all Sin. This is implyed in the threefold expreſſion of Sin …ere uſed, which contain under them, not only …e errours that men are apt to fall into, but alſo …e crooked and perverſe nature and actions which …ey are chargable with; yea the bold, proud, and …gh handed Tranſgreſſions which they rebelliouſly perpetrate againſt God. Give me leave firſt … explain the Doctrine, and then to give the reaſo… for it.
1. In the Explication we may premiſe, Th… there is one Sin which, in the Goſpel, is exemp… ed from forgiveneſs, and but one. It is true, … Sin impenitently perſiſted in unto death, leav… the Sinner unpardoned; for there is neither Sa… ing Repentance, nor forgiveneſs to be obtain… in another World, by one that dies in his Sins: b… it is not becauſe former impenitency may not … pardoned upon Repentance, but becauſe the Sin… hath, by perſiſting in it, loſt the opportunity of … day of Grace. But there is one that in it … puts the man, in this life, out of all hope of p… don, and that is called The Sin against the H… Ghoſt, of which our Saviour ſo ſpeaks. Mark … 28, 29. This is that which is called the Sin … Death, which puts the man out of our Praye… 1 Joh. 5. 16. And this is that which is deſcrib… to us. Heb. 6 4, 5. Nor indeed is this Sin unp… donable, becauſe its Guilt out-bids the value of … Atonement, but becauſe by it, the man puts hi… ſelf out of the road of forgiveneſs, according … the Divine Ordination, and by a malicious … nouncing of the Goſpel, and the Spirit of G… in it, after great illuminations, and an high p… feſſion, he provokes God to give him over to ha… neſs of heart, and ſearedneſs of Conſcience, whe… by he is Sealed to final impenitence, there be… a total and final withdrawing of the Spirit fro… him. Concerning which, I ſhall only ſay th… much, that the perſon who is troubled and grieved in himſelf, for fear leſt he have commit…ed this Sin, hath therein a good evidence that …e hath not, ſince the Goſpel ſeems to give that …s one inſeparable concomitant of it, viz. an ob…inate and a malicious hatred of the Goſpel way …f Salvation. But, this ſin only excepted, all o…her ſins whatſoever are pardonable: yea, and we …ave the inſtances of ſuch, as have been guilty …f them, and yet obtained forgiveneſs: Let me … little open this in the following remarks.
1. The greateſt and vileſt ſins in themſelves …ay be forgiven. Our Catechiſm tells us, that …me ſin… are in themſelves more heinous than others; …nd the Scripture is full for it. Not but that all …s are equally tranſgreſſions of the Law, and …onſequently incur the guilt of Eternal Death: …et if we conſider and compare ſome with o…ers, there is in the things themſelves more of …e malignity of the heart diſcovered in ſome …an in others: God therefore tells the Prophet, …at he will ſhew him greater abominations, Ezek. … 6, 13, 15. It is a ſin to be angry without cauſe; …ut greater to commit actual Murder; a ſin to …urmur againſt God, but greater to blaſpheme; …c. Now the greateſt and moſt abominable of …eſe are not out of the reach of a pardon: and …e may well argue, that if Gods forgiveneſs ex…nds to thoſe that are greater, it is not out bid …y thoſe that are leſſer; there are ſcarlet and …imſon ſins, and yet theſe may be waſhed away, …a. 1. 18. I might here inſtance in thoſe that are deſervedly reputed the moſt odious and ſcandalous, and point you to ſuch as have been horrib… guilty of them, and yet obtained mercy, and a… now glorified Saints in Heaven: we have … whole heap of them numbred together, a… ſuch an obſervation made on them, 1 Cor. 6… 10. 11. Murder is an horrible ſin, and … blood of the innocent cryes to heaven for veng… ance, and yet David obtained a pardon for th… he prays, Pſal. 51. 14. Deliver me from blood g… tineſs: and the Prophet tells him, 2 Sam. 12. … Thou ſhalt not dy Idolatry is a fearful ſin, a… that which is terribly threatned in the Word … God; and yet God invites ſuch to return up… the promiſe of pardon, Jer 3. begin. Blaſphemy i… ſin of the firſt rate, for men to rend and te… and reproach the Name of the Great God; a… yet all manner of blaſphemies, the fore cited … excepted, may be forgiven, Mat. 12. 31. P… though a blaſphemer, obtained mercy, 1 Tim. 1. … Witchcraft is an odious crime, for men to … themſelves to Satan, and practice his helliſh a… God would not have ſuch ſuffered to live; a… yet there is mercy for ſuch too: Such an o… was Manaſſeh, 2 Chron. 33. 6. and what e… were they? Acts 19. 19. I might inſtance in m… things, but theſe may ſuffice?
2. Sins committed with the greateſt and m… horrid aggravations, do not exclude men fr… pardon; that the ſame ſins in themſelves, … more or leſs heinous according to their circu… ſtances, is evident by the Word of God, J… 15. 22, 24. and the light of nature tells us that the more there is of preſumption or ingratitude; that the more obligations are broken, the more is the Guilt that is contracted thereby; and by this occaſion the ſin that is leaſt in it ſelf, may grow up into a formidable great one; and yet, when all theſe are added to encreaſe …he Guilt, they will not make the ſin amount …o unpardonable; it may yet be forgiven; Here I might multiply; but I ſhall only point …o three or four more comprehenſive ones.
1. Though men have fallen into all manner of ſins, and thoſe the moſt vile, yet there is …orgiveneſs. Some men have been noted for …ne, ſome for another; but when men Sell …hemſelves to all wickedneſs; Sins againſt the …ight of nature and conſcience, this renders them …xceeding great. When every one brings guilt …ſupportable along with it, what muſt ſo ma…y do? when they have added iniquity to ſin, …s drunkenneſs to thirſt, this declares men to be …eyond meaſure vile, and fills up their indict…ent with a fearful company of Articles; and …et ſuch a man ought not to deſpair of, but …eek to God in hope for a pardon; how ma…y ſins of the firſt magnitude are charged up…n Manaſſeh? 2 Chron. 33. begin. What a pro…igious monſter of iniquity was he grown up … be? and yet is he left as an inſtance of Gods pardoning grace, to give us to under…and how far it can extend it ſelf in ſhewing …ercy.
2. Though they have lived a long while in ſuch ſins and multiplied them; they have not only fallen into them, but made a trade of them… and purſued them to old age; it hath been the courſe they have followed from their youth upward; they have accuſtomed themſelves to it; the… is a vaſt difference between being overtaken wi… a Sin, and making it ones way and courſe; an… every repeated act of a ſin, enflames the recko… ing, and fills up the Ephah; yea, by this mea… men grow more and more hardned, and ſo the… grow worſe and worſe; and yet when men ha… done their utmoſt on this account, God may, a… ſometimes doth come and turn them to himſe… and beſtow a compleat remiſſion upon them… and for this alſo Manaſſeh is an amazing inſtanc… hence Gods offer is not only to ſuch as ha… played the harlot once, but many a time, and ha… made a trade of it, Jer. 3. begin.
3. Though men have long withſtood the ca… of the Goſpel, and ſtrivings of the Spirit wi… them, yet they may be forgiven. To ſin agai… Goſpel light, is far more provoking than to Sin … gainſt the meer light of nature; to deſpiſe a… not regard the means of Grace, in which Go… ſets before men the things of their peace, a… againſt the Spirit, who comes in and with tho… means, and pleads with Sinners by Convictio… Awakenings, Terrors, &c. is a moſt ſtupend… aggravation of Sin; much more then for ſu… to live and ly in ſcandalous Sins, and follow t… abominations of the Heathen; to Sin in … Land of Uprightneſs; for men that ſit under the Goſpel, and are followed with calls, and counſels, and promiſes, and threatnings, not only to live in Unregeneracy, but to addict themſelves to, and allow themſelves in Drunkenneſs, Swearing, Whoredom, Sabbath-breaking, and all manner of debauchery and profaneſs, is a moſt unaccountable wickedneſs; this is to do worſe than the Heathen: and yet ſuch as theſe are not hopeleſs; God hath forgiveneſs for ſuch too. What Indictments did God bring in againſt Ephraim by the Prophet? and yet ſee how he declares himſelf, Hoſ. 11. 8, 9. How ſhall I give thee up, Ephraim! &c. and doubtleſs our Saviours deſign is to commend this precious truth to us, in the Parable of the Prodigal, Luk. 15. 11, &c.
4. Though men have relapſt into great and grievous ſins after Converſion, there is forgiveneſs for them; there is a ſtate of Justification, in which a perſon ſtands acquitted from Condemnation, which abides immutable; and Gods Children do not fall out of it, by any falls that they take; but there are ſad falls which they are ſometimes hurt by; great ſins they are overtaken with, and ſometimes complicated: ſuch was Davids, to which he is ſuppoſed to have reſpect in …his Pſalm: & it is a fearful thing for ſuch an one ſo to ſin; ſee how aggravated it was, 2 Sam. 12. 7, 8. What love is ſinned againſt? what mercy …s deſpiſed? what obligations are broken by it? …nd yet God forgave him upon his purpoſe to …sk it, verſe 5. and how heinouſly did Solomon fall? and we have that Aſteriſm on it, 1 Kin… 11 9. God had appeared to him twice; and y… God forgave him. Aarons Calf, and Aſa's Per… cution of the Prophet, are alſo inſtances for thi… and is not here enough to prove the truth, that … is ſo? if the things mentioned are not in the… ſelves excluſive of a pardon, what can be ſupp… ſed more likely to do it than they?
2. I proceed now to give the ground … reaſons of the Doctrine: and there are t… aſſertions that will be ſerviceable for this p… poſe.
1. That the vertue of Chriſt's Sacrifice … ſufficient for the forgiveneſs of all ſins; … we may gather ſome intimation of what G… purpoſe was, when we conſider what provi… he hath made. However, here is reaſon ſ… cient to evidence that all Sin may be pardo… when we are acquainted that there is eno… in the remedy for it. Here obſerve th… things.
1. That there is no forgiveneſs without ſ… faction made to the Juſtice of God; the … ſtands out againſt every Sinner, and conde… him to dy: and that Law was the Rule of … lative Juſtice between God and man, and … not be baulked without violence offered to … Righteouſneſs. It therefore is aſſerted, Heb… 22. Without blood there is no Remiſſion; for, … God forgives the Sinner freely, in the app… tion of it to the Subject, yet forgiveneſs … be firſt laid in for him, and that by a ſuf… ent price paid for him, or elſe there were no room for ſuch an Application, as the caſe ſtands between God and man in the Firſt Covenant; ſo that if there could have been no ſatisfaction made, there could not have any forgiveneſs been conferred, but the Law muſt have unavoidably paſt into execution upon the guilty Creature.
2. That God hath accepted of his Son to make this ſatisfaction. Jeſus Chriſt hath undertaken it, and his Father is well pleaſed with it. The Sinner himſelf was firſtly reſponſible for it, and God might have made his demands of him, and no other; but it hath pleaſed him to look to his Son for it. This was indented for in the Covenant of Suretyſhip; the Father offered it, and the Son complied with it, and there were Articles concluded about it, …ſa. 53. 10. God Sent his Son about it, and he came accordingly, Gal. 4. 4, 5. his buſineſs was …o take away his peoples ſins, Joh. 1. 29. and one …hing that belonged to this, was the taking away their Guilt by forgiveneſs: and when he was engaged in this affair, his Father witneſſed …o his acceptance of him in it, Mat. 3. 17.
3. That in Chriſt's ſatisfaction, there is a …ufficiency to expiate the Guilt of all ſin. Such …as the vertue of this One Sacrifice, which he …ffered up to the Juſtice of God, Heb. 1…. 14. …ence is he ſaid to be able to ſave to the utter…oſt, Heb. 7. 25. It was not only enough for …maller treſpaſſes, but for the Chief Sins and Sinners, 1 Tim. 1. 15. and this will be very evident, if we conſider what he did for the expiation o… the Guilt of our Sins; and that was, he ſuffere… for them, the whole puniſhment that was b… Law due to us for them; it is fully expreſt, i… Iſa. 53, 4, 5, 6. he underwent the whole weigh… of the Wrath which we ſhould have undergone… he was made ſin for us, 2 Cor. 5. 21. and then le… us add to conſider, that he was the Son of Go… a Divine Perſon, that ſuffered all this; though … was his Humane Nature that bare it, yet the perſo… that ſuſtained it was God, and therefore it is ca… led his blood, Acts 20. 28. and this put an infini… value and vertue into his Obedience: So th… there is a ſtock of pardon laid in, that cannot … exhauſted: all the ſin of all the Sinners in t… World, cannot exhauſt it.
2. That the Goſpel deſign is moſt of all a… vanced, by his forgiving of all Sin; and this … reaſon ſufficient why he not only can, but w… do it. Here obſerve,
1. That the Goſpel great deſign is the illuſtra… on of the ſpecial Grace of God. By Gods ſpe… Grace, I intend that which is to be ſhewn in … Salvation of fallen man; there is common gr… expreſt in many other things, but this is th… which God hath a peculiar deſign of comm… ding to the undone creature; and this is th… which is diſcovered in the Goſpel; the gr… contrivances in Gods Eternal Decree, with … ſpect to his Elect, had an aim at this, Eph. 1. … and thoſe aſtoniſhing Providences which w… concerned in our fall by the Firſt Adam, and being repaired again by the Second, were media ſubordinated to this purpoſe; all was to make way for the Grace of God to appear in its moſt ſplendent luſtre: So that our whole Salvation is aſcribed to this grace, Eph. 2. 8.
2. That the forgiveneſs of Sins is an expreſſion of rich Grace. The not doing of it without the ſatisfaction of Chriſt, is no obſtruction of the Grace of it, as ſome fondly dream, but doth the more en…ance it. What is Grace, but an act of free favour beſtowed on the Subject, which he no way deſerved, nor could have laid any claim unto, had it not been ſo conferred? and ſuch is this forgiveneſs: hence ſaid to be done freely, Rom. 3. 24. The pardoned Sinner deſerved to dy; all miſeries belonged to him; he had nothing to offer to atone God to himſelf withal; Chriſt freely ſatisfied for him, and God freely applies the merit of this to him: and it muſt needs be rich Grace, for we have already obſerved, that the man is made a bleſſed one by it.
3. That the more and greater ſins it extends unto, the more illuſtrious is the Grace of it. There is ſo much of malignity in the leaſt ſin, and ſo juſt a provocation given to God by it, and the merit of death in it is ſo righteous, that it is a wonder that God ſhould forgive one Sin: how then is this admiration juſtly encreaſed, when the Sins of the Creature, have riſen to a moſt formidable multitude and magnitude? Paul puts a great Emphaſis on this, 1 Tim. 1. 13, 14. Who was a blaſphemer, a Perſecutor, injurious, &c. and the Grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant, &c. What is the forgiving of an Hundred pence, to ten Thouſand Talents? Paul tells us that he was by this made a pattern, verſe 16. and David makes this an argument to plead for pardon withal, Pſal. 25. 11. Pardon mine iniquity, for it is great; we are therefore told, that where Sin abounded, grace much more abounded, Rom. 5. 20. hereby the great love of God is manifeſted, and the incomputable value of Chriſt's Obedience is diſcovered.
4 Hence the exhibition and offer of this pardon is made to the greateſt Sinners; the Goſpel invites all without exception, whatſoever they have been or done. See how God invites, and what an argument he uſeth to back this invitation, Iſa. 55. 7, 8. 9. q. d. you may think your Sins to be ſo many and great, that there is no hope for you; but remember, I have other manner of thoughts about it, and I can do that which you cannot ſo much as think; hence he uſeth that encouragement, Iſa. 45. 22. I am God… Hoſ. 11. 9. I am God and not man; yea, he promiſeth that, upon their accepting of his offer, he will not remember one of their ſins againſt them any more, Jer. 31. 34. but pardon them all. Chap. 33. 8. and the reaſon is, becauſe he doth it for his own name ſake, Iſa. 43. 25. and what more needs to be ſaid for clearing of this truth?
USE I. For Caution: Be we adviſed to beware of abuſing this precious Doctrine, by encouraging our ſelves to live and ly in Sin. Such is the baſeneſs in the heart of ſinful men, and ſo ready is Satan to inſinuate himſelf into it, …hat they are exceeding apt to take encouragement to Sin, from that which ſhould be the moſt heart breaking incentive of them to ha…red againſt it. Oh! ſay they, is there forgiveneſs for all Sin, then there is no danger, Let us follow the ſight of our eyes, and the way of our hearts; let us ſin that grace may abound: as the Apoſtle brings them in with abhorrence, Rom. 3. 8. & 6. 1. How many Drunkards, Swea…ers, Whoremaſters, Profane Wretches haden themſelves in their wickedneſs by this? and if we tell them of their vileneſs, they have a ready anſwer, there is forgiveneſs, and they fear not; but let ſuch conſider.
1. This is to turn the Grace of God into wan…onneſs. It is the higheſt affront that can be given to the rich mercy of God, and in nothing can you give him more horrible provocation. This is to make the ſtrongeſt poyſon of the moſt refreſhing cordial. It is the beſt news that ever was reported in the world, that great Sinners may have a pardon; but this is to make …t the worſt and moſt pernicious to you; and …ndeed this miſimprovement carries the moſt fearful ſymptom of Reprobation in it, Jude 4.
2. God will forgive none but in a way conſiſtent with his Holineſs. Remember, that as there is a pardon to be had with God, for all ſin, ſo there is a way in which it is to be obtained, and out of the way it is vain to expect it: and God will not advance one Attribute to the wrong or injury of another. Now Gods Holineſs is precious to him, and he hath a regard to that in all, and becauſe of this, he cannot abide ſin, Hab. 1. 13. Pſal. 5. 4, 5. he did not come to ſave his people in, but from their ſins, Mat. 1. 21. whom he pardons, them he will alſo purify; that therefore is the character of one that hath a grounded hope, viz. he purifieth himſelf, as he is pure, 1 Joh. 3. 3.
3. Hence, if you live and dy in your ſins, this forgiveneſs will be none of yours. God can exalt his forgiving mercy on ſuch as ſhall be everlaſting monuments of it, though you periſh; and he will do it on ſuch as ſhall make a better improvement of it than you do: and though all ſin may be forgiven now, yet there is a time coming, when there will be no forgiveneſs; and there is no readier a way for you to bring your ſelves into that diſmal condition, than to offer ſuch an affront to the Grace of God which is now tendred you. Remember, this Grace now waits upon you; but when once time ends with you, you ſhall hear of it no more; and i… you dy under the dominion of ſin, you will certainly dy under the guilt of it: and there is no readier way to provoke God to cut you off with a ſwift deſtruction, than thus to offer indignity to the proclamation of pardon, that he hath made unto you.
USE II. Let this ſerve to encourage droop…g Souls, that are under deſpondency by reaſon … the greatneſs of their ſins. When the Spirit … God comes in with his Convictions, and ſets …ens ſins in order before them, to make them …ow their miſery, and need of pardon: Satan …ually ſets in, and a miſgiving, heart entertains …m, and now, he that made light of ſin before, …gins to fall into the other extream, and looks …on it with thoſe conſiderations that put him …on deſpairing of ever obtaining mercy. Every … now looks formidably great, and all the ag…avating circumſtances come in, and he looks …on them through the magnifying glaſs of an …cuſing conſcience, and tempting Devil; and now …ere is no hope for him; there never was ſuch … Sinner as he; he hath committed ſuch and ſuch …ormous ſins, that there are none like them; …e hath multiplied tranſgreſſions beyond count; …e hath ſinned againſt ſo much light, ſo many …arnings, counſels, reproofs; he hath been a …ntemner of the means, a ſcorner of the offers …f Grace; he hath ſinned againſt uncountable …ercies, that ſhould have led him to repentance, a…ainſt powerful convictions of Conſcience, and …any reſolutions made to the contrary; he hath …roken Covenant with God, and hath lived a …ong while in ſin, and ſent the Spirit away griev…d many a time, ſo that now he hath ſinned him …uite away, and he will come no more: he hath …nned out his day of grace, and there now remains nothing for him, but a fearful expectation of the fiery indignation of God; there is none that knows what a ſinner he hath been, elſe they would give him no encouragement. To any that are in ſuch a condition, let me, from this Doctrine, offer theſe things to your conſideration.
1. You have not out ſinned the vertue of Chriſt's Satisfaction. If you had arrived at that, you might well deſpair and dy; but as long as there is vertue enough in that for your pardon, there is hope, and you ſhould improve it; your ſins have been horribly great, but Chriſt's merits are ſtill greater. It would be a reproach to the value of Chriſt's oblation, if that could not buy off the greateſt Sinner from Condemnation. If you could run on the ſcore with revenging Juſtice, beyond his ability to make payment, how ſhould he be one able to ſave to the uttermoſt? Remember, Chriſt paid an infinite price, and that which is ſo, cannot be out done.
2. You have not ſo ſinned, but that God can magnify his mercy in forgiving you. It will be no reproach to his Juſtice, becauſe Chriſt hath done enough to anſwer that; and it will be … wonderful manifeſtation of his Grace: God wi… be for ever admired in your pardon and ſalvation… the more and more aggravated ſins are forgive… you, the more will his kindneſs appear to you… and the more praiſes will be to his name for ever: and your love will be the more enlarged to… him, becauſe he hath forgiven you much, Luk. 7. 47… and God highly prizeth the Attribute of hi… Grace.
3. You have not out ſinned the examples of his pardoning mercy. It is an encouragement to …hink, that whatſoever you have to ſay againſt …our ſelves, in this reſpect, you may find a paralel …nſtance for it in the word of God, of ſuch who …ere in the ſame Condemnation, and yet are forgiven, …s hath already been pointed at in the Explication. And what God hath done, he can do, for His Arm is not ſhortned; and it is to be hoped he will …o, for he is as gracious now as ever.
4. You have not out ſinned the Goſpel call. …t is Gods rich forbearance that you have not, but …hrough mercy you have not. Why then do you …and drooping and deſponding! be of good cheer, …e calls you; he ſends to you, he makes you …he offers of his Salvation; the proclamation of …ardon is not out, there is room for you to come …n and have it; you grieve him that you ſuſpect …is willingneſs, you cannot better pleaſe him, …han to adventure and caſt your ſelves upon his mercy.
USE. III. Let this then be glad tidings to great Sinners, and put you upon going to God for …his forgiveneſs. Is it to be had with him? why …hen do you not ſeek it of him? Are there no …rievous Sinners among us? yea, ought not every …ne that lives impenitent under the means of Grace, to account himſelf ſo? And are there none …hat have exceeded in notorious Crimes? and …re you no whit taken with this good news? …hy then do you ſit ſtill, and not make out after …? Conſider,
1. If your Sin be not forgiven you, you are undone. Guilt, not removed, will drag you down to the bottomleſs pit: The weight of one Sin unpardoned is enough to ſink you for ever. If God had not found out a way to padon Sin, all the race of mankind had been in a deſperate condition. If you appear before Chriſt, in the great day, in your Sins, you will not be able to ſtand in the Judgment.
2. The more and greater your Sins have been the more fearful will be your Condemnation… Great Sinners have moſt of all need to fly to Go… for a pardon; for the puniſhment of ſuch is lik… to be far more Intolerable than that of others. Yo… ſhould therefore look upon the aggravations o… your Sins, to be the more Potent incentives … drive you to God, for forgiveneſs.
3. If you do not make haſt, it will quickly b… too late. It muſt be done while God ſits on … throne of Grace, or elſe it cannot be done at al… when he hath ſat out his patience, and given o… the Oath, there is then no pardon to be had. A… great Sinners have the greateſt reaſon to be afrai… leſt the day ſhould be done ſpeedily: for of … Sinners, ſuch have leaſt hope to eſcape; and ſu… Sins give ſpecial provocation to an Holy God … make a ſpeedy work with them. Be then awake… ed, and perſwaded forth-with to fly to the City … Refuge.
USE. IV. Learn we hence not to be d… couraged from uſing means for the Salvation … others notwithſtanding their grievous Sinning againſt God. There is in every gracious Soul an earneſt deſire after the good and welfare of others; their Children, Friends, Neighbours; which puts them upon endeavours with and for them, longing that they may be freed from Condemnation, and obtain forgiveneſs of God: but when they have uſed all means, and waited with much patience, and find all to work contrary with them, and they grow worſe under all, and are now fallen into more horrible and ſcandalous Sins, and habituated to them, and it may be to deſpiſe Counſel, and hate to be reproved; they are ready to give them up for gone, and abandon all farther endeavours for them, reputing them hopeleſs. But here is that which may prevent ſuch deſperate concluſions, and put you upon renewing your endeavours again: Remember there is forgiveneſs with God even for ſuch as they are; they are not gone ſo far, but that God may ſtill turn them at laſt and have mercy upon them. Their Sins are aſtoniſhing, but not beyond the line of forgiveneſs; their hearts are hardned, but not beyond the ability of God to ſoften them; they have provoked him to caſt them off for ever, but who knows but that he may yet come and exalt his infinite Grace in giving them a pardon? Let this hope then revive your Spirits, and, though you do it with fear and trembling, yet be the more ardent and earneſt with and for them: Counſel them affectionately, warn them with greateſt Solemnity, and pray for them with all importunity: plead Gods Power, and his Grace too, and how much he can ſhew it forth to his eternal praiſe in extending i… to them: and put him in mind of the infinit… vertue and value of the Sacrifice of Chriſt, le… him not alone; who knows but you may prevail… and either in this life, or when you are gone t… Heaven, ſee a joyful return of your endeavou… to your eternal ſatisfaction?