RULES FOR OBTAINING FORGIVENESS. 277 aggravations : Christ knows all these also ; and declares that he that believes shall be forgiven ; and it is meet his word should stand. I know, when a soul brings it- self to be judged by the word of the Gospel, it does not always equally receive and rest in the sentence given. But when Christ is pleased to speak the word with power to men, they shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and be comforted by it. Let the soul, then, that is rising out of depths, and pressing towards a sense of forgiveness, lay itself down before the word of Christ in the Gospel. Let him attend to what Christ speaks; and if, for a while, it has not power to quiet his heart, let himwait a season, and light shall arise to him out of darkness. Christ will give his sentence into his con- science with such power and efficacy that he shall find rest and peace in it. 2. Christ also judgeth by his Spirit: not only in making this sentence of the Gospel to be received effec- tually in the soul, but by his peculiar actings upon the heart and soul of a believer. " \ e have received the Spirit of God that we mayknow the things that are free- ly given us of God." 1 Cor. 2 : 12. The Spirit of Christ acquaints the soul that this and that grace is from him, that this or that duty was performed in his strength. I-Ie brings to mind what at such and such times was wrought in men by himself, to give them support and relief in depths and darkness. And when it has been clearly discovered to the soul by the Holy Ghost, that any thing wrought in it or done by it has been truly saving, the comfort of it will abide in the midst of many shakings and temptations. 3. He also, by his Spirit, bears witness with our spi-
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