86 FORGIVENESS OF SIN. this be so. Their confidence is not the result of a deep inquiry after peace and rest; it is antecedent to trial and experience; and so is not faith, but opinion. For although faith be not experience, it is inseparable from it. Distress in the conscience has beenprevented by this opinion, not removed. The reason why most men are not troubled about their sins to any purpose, is a persuasion that God is merciful andwill pardon; when, indeed, none can real- ly, on gospelgrounds, have that persuasion, but those who have been deeply troubled for sin. Those who make this discovery by faith have had conflicts in their own spirits, and, being deprived of peace, have made dili- gent search whether forgiveness were to be obtained. The persuasion they have of it, be it more or less, is the issue of a trial they have had in their own souls, of an inquiry how things stood between God and them, as to their acceptance with him. This is a vast difference : the one class might possi- bly have had trouble in their consciences about sin, had it not been for their opinion of forgiveness: this has prevented or stifled their convictions, not healed their wounds, which is the work of the Gospel ; but it has kept them from being wounded, and lulled them into se- curity. Yea, here lies the ruin of most who perish under the preaching of the Gospel: they have received the general notion of pardon ; it floats in their minds, and promptly presents itself to their relief on all occasions. Does God at any time, in the dispensation of the word, under an affliction, or the outbreaking of some hein- ous sin, begin to deal with their conscience ; before their conviction can ripen they choke it, and heal their conscience with this notionof pardon. Many a man, be- tween the house of God and his dwelling, is thus cured. You may see them go away shaking their heads, and striking on their breasts, and, before they come home, be as whole as ever : " Well ! God is merciful, there is
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