498 A SERIOUS ADDRESS TO scarlet, they shall be as white as snow ; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." Why does not thy drooping heart, O sinners, leap for joy, or melt with. gratitude, at these tender invita- tions of thy Saviour ? Thinkest thou, they do not belong to thee? Bost thou suppose, that Jesus, who is all purity and holiness, must turn away with abhorrence from such a guilty, polluted, and abo- minable creature, as thou art ?one so void of all, good, so full of all evil, so completely lost and un- done, as thou seest thyself? Art thou afraid that thy relapses into sin have been so frequent, and thy back - slidings so multiplied, that hope, which comes to all, can no more come to thee? Or does the enemy of thy soul suggest thou art careless, hardened, or sunk in stupid unbelief ? lJoes he insinuate, thou hast so long trifled with divine grace, art gone such lengths in horrid wickedness, or hast contracted such unconquerable habits of indulging thy carnal mind, or following thy vain imaginations, that infi- nite mercy can no longer pardon thy sins, or infinite power change thy nature? Art thou even tempted to believe thou hast committed the sin against the Holy Ghost, and art almost, if not altogether, given up to a reprobate mind? O check those gloomy, de- spairing thoughts ; resist the devil; and give place to more true and honourable sentiments of Jesus. Wherefore dost thou doubt, O thou of little faith? Is any thing too hard fór the Lord ? Are not all things . possible with God? Can the Almighty,, who became incarnate to die, as man iti thy place, want either ability or willingness to help thee, be thy case ever so deplorable and desperate? Are not darkness or light, sickness or death,' all one to him, who is the light of the world, and the Prince of life; and who with a word or touch raised the dead, whether they were yet warm on abed, or cold in a coffin, or already pu- trifled in a grave? Confine not then, poor dejected sinner, thy Saviour's boundless mercy within the narrow limits of thy un-
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