104 FORGIVEI\ESS OF SI.tiT. things be 1 It can but gather cockle-shells, like him of old, at the shore of this ocean ; offer a few criticisms upon the outward letter; and so bring an evil report upon the land, as did the spies. All it can do is but to hinder faith from venturing into it; crying, Spare thy- self, this attempt is vain, these things are impossible. This blinded reason faith puts aside when it engages the soul in this great work. And the soul, that it may come to a discovery of forgiveness, denies itself, and all its own reasonings, and gives up itself to the infinite fulness of goodness and truth. Though faith cannot go to the bottom of these depths, yet it enters them, and finds rest in them. Nothing but faith is suited to rest, to satiate and content itself in bottomless, unsearchable depths. This is what I looked for, saith faith, even for that which is infinite and unsearchable ; for. I know that there is abundantly more beyond me that I do not com- prehend, than what I have attained to ; I know that no- thing else will do good to the soul. This puzzles and overwhelms reason; and what it cannot compass it will neglect or despise. It is either amazed and confounded, and dazzled, like weak eyes at too great a light; or, for- tifying itself by inbred pride and obstinacy, it concludes that this preaching of the cross, of forgiveness from the love of God by the blood of Christ is folly, a thing not for a wise man to take notice of or to trouble himself about. So it appeared to the wise Greeks of old, 1 Cor. 1:23. Hence, when a soul is brought under the power of a real conviction of sin, so that he would anxiously be freed from its chains, it is then the hardest thing in the world to persuade such a soul of this forgiveness. Any thing appears more rational to it ; any self-righ- teousness in this world, any purgatory hereafter. Many have forsaken forgiveness on this account; masses, penances, merits, have appearedmore eligible; yea, men who have no other desire but to be forgiven,
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