make our hearts forgiving and kind like the heart of Jesus. If we do this as we ought, we shall gradually overcome the selfish, revengeful feelings of our hearts; and shall, by and by, be prepared to pray, as Jesus taught us to pray; "Forgive us our tresWe are passes, as we forgive those who trespass against us." often afraid to pray in this manner, lest it should bring down a curse upon us, instead of a blessing. How happy shall we be, if we may but entertain such views and feelings, and attain to such a state of mind, that we can consistently and safely pray: "forgive as our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us!"

Again. The doctrine that God is so merciful-that he so abounds in forgiveness, should excite our fervent gratitude, and should encourage us in all circumstances, to repair to him, and trust in him, as a merciful, pardoning God.

We can never get any just conceptions of the greatness of divine mercy in the forgiveness of sin, or feel due gratitude to God for that mercy, unless we have some just conceptions of the amount of sin to be forgiven. Here we find the reason why men in general, from youth to old age, entertain such low thoughts of the pardoning mercy of God. It is because they have no proper conviction of sin; no just views of the greatness of their guilt, and of the evils they deserve, as transgressors. This is the reason why they treat the gospel message with such indifference, and why the death of Christ and all the wonders of redemption pass by them as trivial concerns. For what great importance can they attach to the forgiveness of guilt so small as theirs? Why should they be anxious for a reconciliation with a God, against whom they have committed only a few trifling offences? What occasion can there be for such a wonderful stir about the salvation of men? What occasion for such deep counsels in the courts above, such strange movements in the divine government, such loud voices in heaven and earth, proclaiming glory to God in the highest, and pardon to the guilty? What occasion especially for the Son of God to come down from heaven and endure the pains of crucifixion, to purchase forgiveness while it appears to them that there is nothing in their case calling for this, and that the sin

found in them is so small that it might be easily overlooked. This all comes to pass, because, although they really owe a fearful debt-a debt of ten thousand talents, it seems to them, according to their way of reckoning, that they owe but a few farthings.

But as soon as sinners, under the teaching of the Spirit, have their consciences awakened from their slumbers; as soon as they are truly convinced of sin, and have any just conceptions of the holiness and justice of God, and of the retributions they are to expect from him a few days hence; oh! then, what fear and anguish take hold upon them! And how astonished are they at the quietness and security they have felt, while the wrath of God has all the time been abiding on them, and the abyss of endless ruin has been open before them! To persons in such a state, the doctrine of forgiveness is quite another matter, and to believe in it is quite another matter. If with this view of the justice of God, and their own ill-desert, they do truly receive the gospel message of forgiveness; and if they repose such confidence in that message of heavenly mercy, as to overcome all the decisions of natural conscience, and all their inward terrors and fears; and if they see the excellence and glory of the plan of divine grace, and cordially embrace it; and if God is then pleased, in his own way, to give them some tokens of pardoned sin, and they plainly see that they are delivered from wrath that God is their friend, and heaven their eternal portion; how will such persons feel, and what will they say?" Wonder and joy will fill their hearts, and praise employ their tongues." "Come," they will "all say, ye that fear the Lord, and I will tell you what he hath done for my soul." They will call upon heaven and earth, upon angels and men, upon sun, moon, and stars, and trees, and mountains to join with them in praising God, who has so mercifully interposed to pardon their sins, and to save them from eternal death; and they will indulge the glad hope, that they shall render him purer, higher praise, when they arrive at heaven.

But here not unfrequently comes in a danger to persons under deep and distressing convictions of sin. When they clearly ap

prehend the greatness of their guilt, and the terrors of the judgment to come, they are often inclined to think that there can be no forgiveness for them; that their sins are so many and so aggravated, and their depravity so deep and dreadful, that divine mercy cannot reach them. While they are in this state, discouraging, desponding apprehensions rush into their guilty minds; and although they have so often heard, that God is merciful, and ready to forgive, they still think that their case is desperate; that for sinners like them, there is no hope. This is the natural decision of an awakened conscience, which fixes merely upon the evil of sin, the penalty of the law, and the demands of divine justice, while the gospel message of forgiveness is not duly entertained.

And not only awakened sinners, under deep convictions, but Christians also, when they become duly sensible of their exceeding criminality in backsliding from God, and in violating their obligations to redeeming grace, or when they discover, more fully than before, the unsubdued wickedness of their own hearts, and the indescribable evils of their condition-such persons are all liable, more or less, to fall in with the suggestions of a guilty conscience and an unbelieving heart; -suggestions which are exceedingly dishonorable to the boundless mercy of God, and hazardous to the interests of the soul.

Now in regard to persons in such a state-it is important not only to proclaim to them the great mercy of God, but to take pains to lift them up out of their despondency, and to induce them, in view of the unbounded goodness of God, to press through all discouragements to his mercy seat, and, with penitent hearts, to sue for pardon.

If there are any persons present, who are involved in these difficulties, or exposed to them; -any who have such an impression of the numberless evils of their hearts and lives, that they are ready to give way to discouragement, and to think that sinners like them cannot be forgiven;- to such persons I beg leave to offer a few remarks.

I would ask you, then, whether your desponding views and

feelings are derived from the word of God. The Bible is a holy book, and reveals a just and holy God. But does it shut the door of mercy against convinced and broken-hearted sinners? Does it tell them that their condition is desperate? When God pro

claims his name, and declares that he is merciful and gracious, forgiving iniquity, and transgression, and sin; does he set limits to his forgiveness, and say, it can go so far, and no farther? When God says: "Though your sins be like scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool;" does he point to sins which are more than scarlet and crimson, and which cannot be forgiven? When the Prophet declares that God will multiply pardons; does he say, he will extend his pardoning mercy to so many sins, and then stop? When he pardoned Saul of Tarsus, and others among the chief of sinners; did he signify, that there were any, who rose so much above the chief of sinners, that they could not be pardoned ?

Tell me, distressed and desponding soul, does not God know his own heart? When he plainly tells you that he is rich in mercy, and delights to forgive; does he say it to mock your miseries? When he promises pardon to all who truly seek it; have you any reason to doubt the truth of his promises? Do you despair of Divine mercy, because any sinner, even the most guilty, ever sought mercy in vain? Are there not multitudes now in heaven, who were once as guilty and wretched and helpless as you are? And is the mercy of God exhausted, so that he cannot pardon and save as he did in days that are past?

What more shall I say? Do you not know, that in this world of mercy, where atoning blood has been shed, despairing thoughts are very dishonorable to God? Can you think that you treat your heavenly Father as you ought, when you doubt whether he is powerful enough, or merciful enough to do what he has promised? Remember my friends, that the God with whom you have to do, is a great God-great in power and wisdom and holiness, and great in goodness. He has riches of grace; he has unfath omable depths of mercy, an ocean of love. You may very pro perly ask, who among the children of men, could forgive offences

like yours? But you may look to God for compassion and grace which is infinitely higher than any in the heart of man. There is nothing more displeasing to God, than to call in question the greatness of his mercy, or its sufficiency for your salvation. Better doubt the omnipotence of God better doubt his eternity, or his infinite knowledge, than to doubt the riches of his grace. The work of pardoning and saving sinners through the blood of Christ, is a work on which God has specially set his heart. In this work he intends to do such wonders of mercy as will fill the universe with astonishment and joy. And if you who are so sinful and wretched, will go to the throne of grace, and in your humble confessions present before God a depth of guilt which the human mind can never fathom, and will heartily pray the prayer of the publican-"God be merciful to me, a sinner;" he will say to you, "be of good cheer; thy sins which are many, are forgiven thee." He will certainly do this; and it will be to the praise of the glory of his grace.

But my dear friends, whether you will hear, or whether you will forbear; whether you will believe the gospel, or die in your sins; -it shall be known to you and to the world, that God abounds in goodness; that his mercy is higher than the heavens; and that whosoever cometh to him, he will in no wise cast out. And if at the last day at the winding up of the present scene of things-the Lord grant it may not be so- but if at the last day, any of us or all of us, shall fall short of heaven; it will be known to the universe, that it was our own fault, and was not owing to any want of mercy in God.