EVIDENCES OF FORGIVENESS. 145 sadder catalogue. Yet "some" of all these classes were justified and pardoned. 3. Suppose this enumeration of sins does not reach the condition of the soul, because of some special aggra- vation of its sin, not expressed, let such a one add that of our Savior, " I say unto you, all manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men, but the blas- phemy against the Holy Ghost." Matt. 12:31. They are not, they shall not, be all actually remitted and par- doned to all men; but they are all pardonable to those that seek to obtain pardon for them according to the Gospel. There is with God forgiveness for them all. Now, certainly any particular sin, that only excepted, comes within the compass of "all manner of sin and blasphemy ;" and so, consequently, some who have been guilty of it are in heaven. We take it for â good token and evidence of a vir- tuous healing water, when, without fraud or pretence, we see the crutches of cured cripples and impotent per- sons hung about as a memorial of its efficacy. And it is a great demonstration of the skill of a physician, when many come to a sick person and tell him, We had the same disease with you, it had the same symptoms, the same effects, and by his skill and care we ,are cured. ®h ! saith the sick man, bring him to me, I will venture my life in his hand. Now, all the saints of heaven stand about a sin-sick soul, for in this matter we are encom- passed with a cloud of witnesses. Heb. 12 :1. And what do they witness ? What say they to a poor guilty sin- ner l As thou art, so were we ; so guilty, so perplexed, so obnoxious to wrath, so fearing destruction from God! And what course did you take to obtain the blessed con- dition Wherein you now are l They all reply, We went to God, through Christ, for forgiveness, and found plenty of grace, mercy and pardon in him for us all! The rich man in the parable thought it would be a great means Forgiveness. 7
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