EVIDENCES OF FORGIVENESS. 137 the import of their call1 0 sinners, come and deal with. God by repentance ! Does it not openly speak forgive- ness in Godl and, if it were otherwise, could men possibly be more frustrated or deceived 1 would not the institu- tion of repentance be a lie 1 Such a delusion may pro- ceed from Satan, but not from Him who is the fountain of goodness, holiness and truth. His call to repentance is a full demonstration of his readiness to forgive. Acts, 17 : 30-32. It is true, many in this matter deceive them- selves. They raise themselves to an expectation of im- munity, not on gospel -grounds; and their disappoint- ment will be a great part of their punishment. But God deceives none; whoever comes to him on his proposal of repentance shall find forgiveness. It is said of some, indeed, that he " will laugh at their calamity, and mock when their fear, cometh." Prov. 1 : 26. He will aggra- vate their misery, by giving them to see to what their pride and folly have brought them. But who are they? Only such as refuse his call to repentance, with the pro- mises of acceptance annexed. There is then no cause why those who are under a call to repentance should question whether there be for- giveness in God. Come, saith the Lord, leave your sinful ways, turn unto me, humble yourselves with broken and contrite hearts. Alas ! say convinced sinners, we are poor, dark, and ignorant ; or, we are old in sin, or,great sinners, or backsliders, or have fallen often into the same sins : can we expect there should be forgiveness for us 1 Why, you are under God's invitation to repent- ance ; and to disbelieve forgiveness, is to call the truth, holiness, and faithfulness of God in question. If you will not believe forgiveness, pretend what you please, it is in truth because you hate repentance. You do but deceive your own souls when you pretend that you come not to repentance because you cannot believe for- giveness : for, in the very institution of this duty, God
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