272 FORGIVENESS OF SIN. It is often one part of the soul's depths to have false apprehensions of its condition. Sin is a madness. Eccles. 9 : 3. Madness does not sooner nor more effec- tually discover itself in any way than in possessing men with strange conceits and apprehensions of themselves. So does this madness of sin, according to its degrees and prevalence. Hence some cry, Peace, peace, when sudden destruction is at hand. 1 Thess. 5 : 3. It is that madness, under the power of which they are, which gives them such groundless imaginations of themselves and their own condition. And some say they are lost for ever, when God is with them. Do then your duty, and let Christ judge of your state. Your interest is too great to be committed to any other. When eternal welfare or wo are at stake, for a man to give up himself implicitly to the judgment of men fal- lible like himself, is stupidity; but there is no danger of being deceived by the sentence of Christ. The truth is, whether we will or not, he will judge; and accord- ing as he determines, so shall things be found at the last day. John, 5 : 22. " The Father judgeth no man," that is, immediately, and in his own person, "but hath committed all judgment unto the Son." All judgment that respects eternity, whether it be to be passed in this world or in that to come, is committed tohim. Accord- ingly in this chapter he judgeth both of things and per- sons : of things, ver. 24, " He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, bath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life." Let men say what they please, this sentence shall stand; faith and eternal life are in- separably conjoined. And so of persons, ver. 38, "You
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