Hence in like manner it follows, 1that the greatness, heinousness of past sins is no bar to believing and accepting Christ upon Gospel terms. Let no sinner be dismayed by the atrocity, and heinousness of sins past, from coming unto Jesus Christ for remission and peace. I am aware what mischievous use Satan makes of former sins, to discourage Souls from the work of Faith, by heaping them together, he raiseth up a Mountain betwixt Christ and the distressed Soul; but behold this day Christ leaping over these Mountains, and skipping over these Hills. Could this objection be rolled out of the way, sinners would go on in hope; but certainly if God have given thee a broken Heart, and a willing Mind, the greatness of thy sin need not discourage thee from believing. For (1.) thou hast sufficient encouragement, from the sufficiency of the causes of pardon, whatever thy particular enormities have been; there is a sufficiency in the impulsive cause, the Free Grace and Mercy of God, Exod. 34. 6, 7. Micah 7. 18, 19. Isa. 55. 7, 8, 9. It is well there is Mercy enough in God to heal and cover all, and there is no less sufficiency in the meritorious cause of pardon, the Blood of Jesus Christ, which taketh away all sin, 1 John 1. 7. 1 John 29. And it must needs be so, because it is Divine Blood, Acts 20. 28. Neither is there any defect in the applying cause, the Spirit of God, who hath already begun to work upon thy Heart, and is able to break it and bow it, and bring it home fully to Christ; and to complete the work ⟨p. 255⟩of Faith upon thee with power; thou complainest, thou canst not mourn, nor believe as thou wouldst; but he wants no ability to supply all the defects of thy repentance and faith. Well then, if the mercy of God be sufficient to pardon the sin of a Creature; if the Blood of Christ, the Treasures and Revenues of a King be able to pay the debts of a Beggar; if the Spirit of God, who works by an Almighty Power, be able to convince thee of righteousness, as well as sin, John 16. 9. I say, if all the three causes of forgiveness be sufficient, every one in its kind; the first to move; the second to purchase; and the third to apply; what hinders but thy trembling Conscience should go to Christ; and thy discouraged Soul move onward, with hope, in the way of believing, whatever thy former enormities have been? (2.)
Hence in like manner it follows, 1that the greatness, heinousness of past sins is no bar to believing and accepting Christ upon Gospel terms. Let no sinner be dismaid by the atrocity, and heynousness of sins past, from coming unto Jesus Christ for remission and peace. I am awar what mischievous use Satan makes of former sins, to discourage Souls from the work of Faith, by heaping them together, he raiseth up a Mountain betwixt Christ and the distressed Soul; but behold this day Christ leaping over these Mountains, and skiping over these Hills. Could this objection be rouled out of the way, sinners would go on in hope; but certainly if God have given thee a broken Heart, and a willing Mind, the greatness of thy sin need not discourage thee from believing. For (1.) thou hast sufficient encouragement, from the sufficiency of the causes of pardon, whatever thy particular enormities have been; there is a sufficiency in the impulsive cause, the Free Grace and Mercy of God, Exod. 34. 6, 7. Micah 7. 18, 19. Isa. 55. 7, 8, 9. It is well there is Mercy enough in God to heal and cover all, and there is no less sufficiency in the meritorious cause of pardon, the Blood of Jesus Christ, which taketh away all sin, 1 Iohn 1. 7. 1 Iohn 29. And it must needs be so, because it is Divine Blood, Acts 20. 28. Neither is there any defect in the applying cause, the Spirit of God, who hath already begun to work upon thy Heart, and is able to break it and bow it, and bring it home fully to Christ; and to compleat the work ⟨p. 255⟩of Faith upon thee with power; thou complainest, thou canst not mourn, nor believe as thou wouldst; but he wants no ability to supply all the defects of thy repentance and faith. Well then, if the mercy of God be sufficient to pardon the sin of a Creature; if the Blood of Christ, the Treasures and Revenues of a King be able to pay the debts of a Beggar; if the Spirit of God, who works by an Almighty Power, be able to convince thee of righteousness, as well as sin, Iohn 16. 9. I say, if all the three causes of forgiveness be sufficient, every one in its kind; the first to move; the second to purchase; and the third to apply; what hinders but thy trembling Conscience should go to Christ; and thy discouraged Soul move onward, with hope, in the way of believing, whatever thy former enormities have been? (2.)
- 1II. Infer.
