N01303:41
Grace defended. A censure on the ungodliness, by which the glorious grace of God,…
Grace defended. A censure on the ungodliness, by which the glorious grace of God, is too commonly abused. A sermon preached on the twenty fifth day of December, 1712. Containing some seasonable admonitions of piety. And concluded, with a brief dissertation on that case, whether the penitent thief on the cross, be an example of one repenting at the last hour, and on such a repentance received unto mercy? / By Cotton Mather, D.D. ; [One line from Isaiah]
Boston: printed by B. Green for Samuel Gerrish, 1712
Conclusion: A Few Thoughts on that QUESTION; Whether the Penitent Thief on the Cross, be not an Exa…
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
A Few Thoughts on that QUESTION; Whether the Penitent Thief on the Cross, be not an Example of One Repenting at the Last Hour, and on such a Late Repentance received unto Mercy?
I Am far from a Peremptory Denial of it. I cannot prove, that we have not such an Example here given unto us. Who can tell what Sovereign Grace may do? We cannot Limit the Holy One from doing such a Thing. 'Tis a Possible Thing; And the Glorious Lord may leave us in the Story a Room for such a Possibility, that the Sinful Children of Men overtaken by their Last Hour in their Sins, may not be abandoned unto a total Despair of Mercy. And that their Surviving Friends may not Sorrow as those that have no Hope, on their occasion▪ But at the same time, there are many things which render it Probable, that the Penitent now before us, will prove no such Example, and that the Impious Procrastination of Repentance, which is too commonly encouraged from this Example, will be found utterly spoiled of all its pretended Encouragement. It has been a Matter of just ⟨p. 27⟩Resentment unto the Friends of Piety, that the Thief on the Cross, going a Villain thither, and at the Last Hour finding Repentance and Forgiveness there, has been the Goliaths Sword, and a sort of Enchanted Spear, by which the cause of Persisting Impenitency, has been maintained in the World. I am willing to Disarm the Enemy of his boasted Weapon.
I Am far from a Perempto•y Denial of it. I cannot prove, that we have not such an Example here given unto us. Who can tell what Soveraign Grace may do? We cannot Limit the Holy One from doing such a Thing. 'Tis a Possible Thing; And the Glorious Lord may leave us in the Story a Room for such a Possibility, that the Sinful Children of Men overtaken by their Last Hour in their Sins, may not be abandoned unto a total Despair of Mercy. And that their Surviving Friends may not Sorrow as those that have no Hope, on their occasion▪ But at the same time, there are many things which render it Probable, that the Penitent now before us, will prove no such Example, and that the Impious Procrastination of Repentance, which is too commonly encouraged from this Example, will be found utterly spoiled of all its pretended Encouragement. It has been a Matter of just