228 FORGIVENESS OF SIN. revealed to him : so the Psalmist states it, " If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquity, O Lord, who shall standV' Psalm 130 : 3. He is full of thoughts of the desert of sin, and of inevitable and eternal ruin, in case God should deal with him according to the strictness of the law. In that state forgiveness with God is sug- gested to him by the Holy Ghost. We know how the Pharisees resisted our Savior in reference to this truth. "Are we," say they, " blind also V' No, saith h; "Ye say, we see, therefore your sin remaineth." John, 9 : 40, 41. It is to no purpose to talk of forgiveness to such persons as you are, you must of necessity abide in your sins : I come not to call such righteous persons as you are, but sinners to repentance ; who not only are so, but are sensible of their being so, and of their undone condition : " The whole have no need of the physician, but the sick." Whilst you are seeming righteous and whole, it is to no end to tell you of forgiveness; you cannot understand it, nor receive it. It is impossible, then, that any one should truly believe forgiveness in God, unless he be truly convinced of sin in himself. If the fallow ground be not broken up, it is to no purpose to sow the seed of the Gospel. There is neither life, power, nor sweetness, in this truth, unless a door be opened for its entrance by conviction of sin. Let us then, on this ground also, continue our in- quiry of the ordinary boasters of their skill in this mys- tery. You believe there is forgiveness with God: yes; but have you been convinced of sin 1 yes; you know well enough that you are sinners. Answer then but once more to the nature of this conviction which you say you have : is it not made up of these two ingre- dients 1 1. A general notion that you are sinners, as all men also are. 2. Particular troublesome reflections upon yourselves, when, on any eruption of sin, con- science accuses, rebukes, condemns. You will say, Yes,
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