THE TRUE PENITENT. 505 from the wind, a covert from the tempest, as rivers of waters in a dry place, and as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. "Come then, be not of them that draw back from me to perdition, but of them who believe to the saving of the soul. Far from casting away thy little confi- dence, which hath great recompence of reward, hold it fast; resist even unto blood, striving against 'the damning sin of unbelief; trust in me for ever, for in me, Jehovah thy righteousness, is everlasting strength ; and let meno longer complain, that thou (one of my oppressed people in spiritual Egypt) wilt have none of me, and wilt not even come to me, that thou mightest have life more abundantly. Not by works of righteousness which thou hast done, but according to my mercy, I saved thee. I am the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. What my gracious purpose planned before time, I have executed in time. My life and death have com- pleted the wonderful bridge, by which thou canst go over the great deep fixed between a holy God and thy sinful soul. Concerning a main arch of this mighty work, with one of my last breaths I said, It is finished and I now confirm the glad tidings with regard to the whole. With my right hand, and with my holy arm, I have gotten myself the victory, and parted for thee, not the waves of the Red Sea, but the dreadful billows of the fiery gulph. And now I_return to see thee safe over. Leave only the world and sin behind, and, walking by faith, follow me through the regeneration to a throne of glory. "Whence arises, sinner, this backwardness to trust in my promise, and venture after me ? Dost thou sus- pect the sincerity of my tenders of grace? And by thinking, that I secretly except thee from my mercy,` when I offer. it thee openly, dost thou still make me a dissembler, a liar? O wrong me not so far. I am the Truth itself; I abhor dissimulation in my creatures: and I, that say a man should not use deceit, shall I use deceit? shall I have concord with Belial? Shall there 16 '3 S
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