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ARE YOU fOMlYmA^^'

A QirESTIO]\r FOR EVERyBODT.

BY THE

EEV. J. C. BILE, B. A.,

Rector of Belmingham, Suffolk,

.^'

Author of "Living or Dead ?"

"ASSDRANCE," &C.

Price Two Pence.

iWontwal:

PRINTED BY W. SALTER & Co.

1851.

imi&k

ARE YOU FOfiGIVEN?

"YOUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN YOU."

1 John a. 12.

Reader,

Do you see the question which
stands at the head of this page ? It is just possible
you may not understand its meaning. Perhaps
you may think, " Whom have I injured ?— Whom
. have I defrauded ?— Whom have I wronged?—
Whose confidence have I forfeited ?— What need
have I of forgiveness ?"

I answer, it is not an earthly forgiveness I am
asking about, but a heavenly one. I do not inquire
whether you are forgiven in the sight of men, but
whether y^ u are forgiven in the sight of God. The
question I desire to press home on your conscience
is simply this, " Are you a pardoned soul ?"

Come now, and give me your attention, while I
speak to you about the forgiveness of sins. The
subject is one that can never be considered too soon.
We lately saw the pestilence slaying its thousands
and tens of thousands of our countrymen. The
strongest were carried off in a few hours. The
cleverest physicians found their skill entirely un-
availing. We live yet, and we may be thankful.
We hve yet, and surely we should be thoughtful.
Our turn may come next. Our graves may soon be
ready for us. Come then, I say once more,
and let me speak to you about the forgiveness of sins.
I. Let me show you first of all your need of
forgiveness.

37^7

All men need forgiveness, because all men are
sinters He thatdoL -t know this knows notb^^^^
in relieion. It is the very A B C ol Christianity,
that a man should know hii right place, and under-

'''we'lrfTgreat sinners. Sinners we were
bonl and sinner! we have been all our live^^ Me
take to sin naturally from the very first. J>° cn"^
Iver ne^ds schooling and education to teach t to
do wrong. No devil or bad companion ever leads
us no such wickedness as our own hearts. And
rtie wages of sin is death. We must either be for-

'"^ell°TgX''^inners in the sight of God.
w7have broken ^is holy law. We have trans-
gressed His precepts. We have "o; ^0"^ H'^^j^'j;
There is not a commandment m all the ten wmcn
Joes no condemn us. If we have not broke., lUn
deed «e have in Nvord, we have m thought and ,m

not one of us that would be acquitted. And as rt is

r;Ser-=:uhtaS-o.;s
:S:re^rdfa;^h-:S.rv:ho^

lYnow nothing beyond Aeir outW appea a„c^
I see some bent on pleasure, and '"""^ °" ™"_
some who look rich, and some who look poor-
some Xg in their carriages some hurrying ^ong
some loi J, .^^ „j .„g^. j^ach

Tas h tow^n "s"nd end,, all iike hidden fromme^
But one thing I know for a certainty as I ookupon
them —thev are all smners. Ihere is noi a su
am^ng them all but is guilty before God There
Teathes not the man or woman m that crowd bu
must die forgiven, or else rise agam to be con-
demned for ever at the last day. breadth of

When I look through the length and breaatn oi
rr;nrBritain I must make the same report,
l^reat criiain, i muou ^ tvt--*u ■l?r^rp^nnr^. from
From the Land's End lo uic x^oxu. ^-^'•'— . --

^I^f

the Isle of Wight to Caithness, from the Queen on
the throne to the pauper in the vvork-liouse, we are
all sinners. We have got a name among the empires
of the earth. We send our ships into every sea
and our merchandize into every town in the world'
We have bridged the Atlantic with our steamers.
We have made night in our cities like day with gas
We have changed England into one great County
by railways. We can exchange thought between
London and Edinburgh in a few seconds by the
electric telegraph. But with all our arts and
sciences, with all our machinery and inventions, with
all our armies and navies, with all our lawyers and
statesmen, we have not altered the natures of our
people ; we are still in the eye of God an island full
of sinners.

When I turn to the map of the world, I must
say the same thing. It matters not what quarter I
examine, I find men's hearts are everywhere the
same, and everywhere wicked. Sin is"" the family
disease of all the children of Adam. Never has
there been a corner of the earth discovered, where
sm and the devil do not reign. Wide as the dif-
ferences are between the nations ot the earth thev
have been found to have one great mark in common
Europe and Asia, Africa and America, Iceland and
India, Pans and Pekin, all alike have the mark of
sm. The eye of the Lord looks dov.a on this globe
ot our s as it rolls round the sun, and sees it covered
with corruption and wickedness. What He sees in
the moon and stars, in Jupiter and Saturn, I cannot
tell, but on the earth I know He sees sin. (Psalm
XIV. 2, 3.)

Reader, you may not perhaps like what I am
saying. I have no doubt such language as this
sounds extravagant to some. You think I am goina
much too far. But mark well what I am about tS
say next, and then consider whether I have not used
the words of soberness and truth.

What then, I ask, is the life of the best Chris-
tian amongst us all? What is 'it but one great
career of short-comings ? What is it but a daily

acting out the words of our Prayer Book, " leaving
undone things that we ought to do, and doing things
that we ougiit not to do?" Our faith, how feeble !
Our love, how cold ! Our works, how few ! Our
zeal, how small [ Our patience, how short-breathed '
Our humility, how threadbare! Our self-denial
how dwarfish ! Our knowledge, how dim ! Our
spirituality, how shallow ! Our prayers, how formal !
Our desiies for more grace, how faint ! Never did
the wisest of men speak more wisely than when he
said, " there is not a just man upon earth that doeth
good and sinneth not." (Eccles, vii. 20.) " In many
things," says the apostle James, " we o&nd all."
(James iii. 2.)

And what is the best action that is ever done by
the very best of Christians ? What is it after all but
an imperfect work, when tried on its own merits ?
It is, as Luther says, no better than a splendid sin.
It IS always more or less defective. It is either
wrong in its motive, or incomplete in its perform-
ance,— not done from perfect principles, or not ex-
ecuted in a perfect way. The eyes of men may
see no fault in it, but weighed in the balance of God
it would be found wanting, and viewed in the light
of heaven it would prove full of flaws, It is like
the drop of water which seems clear to the naked
eye, but placed under a microscope is discovered to
be full of impurity. David's account is literally
true, " there is none that doeth good, no not one."
(Psalm xiv. 3.)

And then, what is the Lord God, whose eyes are
on all our ways, and before whom we have one day
to give account ? " Holy, holy, holy," is the re-
markable expression applied to Him by those who
are nearest to Him. (Isaiah vi. 3. Rev. iv. 8.) It
sounds as if no one word could express the intensity
of His holiness. One of His prophets says, " He
is of purer eyes than to behold evil, and cannot look
on iniquity." (Habak. i. 13.) We think the angels
exalted beings, and far above ourselves ; but we are
told in Scripture, " He charged His angels with
folly." (Job iv. 18.) We admire the moon and

Stars as glorious and splendid bodies ; but we read,
" Behold even to the moon, and it shineth not ; yea
the stars are not pure in His sight," (Job xxv. 5.)
We talk of the heavens as the noblest and purest
part of creation; but even of them it is written,
" the heavens are not clean in His sight." (Job
XV. J 4.) Reader, what is any one of us but a mis-
erable sinner in the sight of such a God as this ?

Surely we ought all to cease from proud thoughts
about ourselves. We ought to lay our hands upon
our mouths, and say with Abraham, "I am dust and
ashes," and with Job, " I am vile," and with Isaiah,
II We are all as an unclean thing," and with John,'
If we say that we have no sin we deceive our-
selves, and the truth is not m us," (Gen, xviii. 27;
Jobxh4; Isaiah Ixiv. 6 ; 1 Tohn i. 9.) Where is
the man or woman in the whole catalogue of the
Book of life, that will ever be able to say more than
this, " I obtained mercy ?" What is the glorious
company of the apostles, the goodly fellowship of
the prophets, the noble army of martyrs, what are
they all but pardoned sinners ? Surely there is but
one conclusion to be arrived at, we are all great sin-
ners, and we all need a great forgiveness.

See now what just cause I have to tell you that
to know your need of forgiveness, is the first thin^
in true religion. Sin is a burden, and must be takeu
off. Sin IS a defilement, and must be cleansed
away. Sm is a mighty debt, and must be paid.
Sm is a mountain standing between us and heaven,
and must be removed. Happy is that mother's child
amongst us that feels all this ! The first step towards
heaven is to see clearly that we deserve hell. There
are but two alternatives before us, we must either
be forgiven, or be miserable for ever.

See too how little many persons know of the
design of Christianity, though they live in a Chris-
tian land. They fancy they are to go to church to
learn their duty, and hear morality enforced, and for
no other purpose. They forget that the heathen
philosojphers could have told them as much as this
They forget that such men as Plato and Seneca

gave instruction, which ought to put to shame the
Christian liar, the Christian drunkard, and the Chris-
tian thief. They have yet to learn that the leading
mark of Christianity is the remedy it provides for
sin. This is the glory and excellence of the Gospel.
It meets man as he really is. It takes him as it
finds him. It goes down to the level to which sin
has brought him, and offers to raise him up. It tells
him of a remedy equal to his disease, a great for-
giveness for great sinners.

Reader, I ask you to consider these things well,
if you have not considered them before. It is no
light matter whether you know your soul's necessi-
ties or not. It is a matter of life and death. Try,
I beseech you, to become acquainted with your own
heart. Sit down and think quietly what you are m
the sight of God. Bring together the thougths,and
words, and actions of any day in your hfe, and
measure them by the measure of Gods word.
Judge yourself honestly, that you may not be con-
.lemned at the last day. Oh ! that you might find
out what you really are ! Oh ! that you might learn
to pray Job's prayer, " Make me to know my trans-
gression and my sin " (Job xiii. 23.) Oh ! that you
might see this great truth, that until you are for-
given, your Christianity has done nothmg for you

at all ! . , , ,

II. Let me point out to you, in the second place,

the way of forgiveness, .

I ask your particular attention to this point, tor
none can be more important. Granting for a moment
that you want pardon and forgiveness, what ought
you to do? Whither will you go? Which way
will you turn ? Every thing hinges on the answer
you give to this question.

Will you turn to ministers, and put your trust m
them ^ They cannot give you pardon : they can
only tell you where it is to be found. They can set
u^fL^ v'^-i t^1'- >^''f>ifl of life : but you yourself must
eat it. They can show you the path ol peace : but

you
had

yourself
power

must walk into it. The
to cleanse the leper, but only

Jewish ^

declare

him cleansed. The Christian minister hus no power
to forgive sins, he can only pronounce who they are
that are forgiven.

Will you turn to sacraments and ordinances, and
trust in them ? They cannot supply you with
forgiveness, however diligently you may use them.
By sacraments faith is confirmed and grace m-
creased, in all who rightly use them. But they
cannot justify the sinner. They cannot put away
transgression. You may go to the Lord's table
every Sunday in your Hfe ; but unless you look
far beyond the sign to the thing signified, you will
after all die in your sins. You may attend a daily
service regularly, but if you think to establish a
righteousness of your own by it, in the slightest
degree, you are only getting further away from God
every day.

Will you trust in your own works and endea-
vours, your virtues and your good deeds, your
prayers and your alms ? They will never buy for
you an entrance into heaven. Tliey will never pay
y ur debt to God. They arc all imperfect in them-
selves, and only increase your guilt. There is no
merit or worthiness in them at the very best.
" When ye have done all those things which are
commanded you," says the Lord Jesus, " say we
are unprofitable servants." (Luke xvii. 10.)

Will you trust in your own repentance and
amendment? You are very sorry for the past.
You hope to be better for the time to come. You
hope God will be merciful. Alas ! if you lean on
this, you have nothing- beneath you out a broken
reed. The judge docs not pardon the thief because
he IS sorry for what he did. To-day's sorrow will
not wipe off the score of yesterday's sins. It is not
an ocean of tears that would ever cleanse an uneasy
conscience and give it peace.

Where then must a man go for paidon? Where
«s forgiveness to be found ?^ Listen, reader, and by
God's help I will tell you. 'rhere is a way both
sure and plain, and into that way I desire to guide
every inquirer's feet.

\ 1 »

That way is, simply to trust in the Lord Jesus
Christ, as your Saviour. It is to cast your soul, with
all its sins, unreservedly on Christ, to cease com-
pletely from any dependance on your own works and
doings, either in whole or in part, and to rest on no
other work but Christ's work, no other righteousness
but Christ's righteousness, no other merit but Christ s
merit, as your ground of hope. Take this course,
and you are a pardoned soul. " To Christ says
Peter, " give all the prophets witness, that through
His name whosoever believed in Him shall receive
remission of sins." (Acts x. 43,) " Through this
man," said Paul at Antioch, "is preached unto you
the forgiveness of sins, and by Him all that believe
are justified from all things." (Acts xiii. 38.) in
Him," writes Paul to the Colossians, " we have
redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness
of sins." (Col. i. 14.)

The Lord Jesus Christ, in great love and compas-
sion, has made a full and complete satisfaction ior
sin, by His own death upon the cross. Ihere He
offered Himself as a sacrifice for us, and allowed the
wrath of God, which we deserved, to fall on His own
head. For our sins He gave Himself, suffered, and
died, the just for the unjust, the innocent lor the
guilty, that He might deliver us from the curse ot a
broken law, and provide a complete pardon for all
who are willing to receive it. And by so domg, as
Isaiah says, He has borne our sins, as John the bap-
tist says,'He has taken aivay sin, as Paul says. We
has pursed our sins, and put away sin, and as Daniel
says. He has made an end of sin, md finished
transgression. (Isaiah liii. U. John i. 29. Heb. i. 3.

ix. 26. Dan. ix. 24.) ,

And now the Lord Jesus is sealed and appointed
by God the Father to be a Prince and a Saviours to
gf.,A rPTni««inn of sins to all who Will havc it. l^he
keys of death and hell are put in His hand, llie
government of the gate of heaven is laid on His
shoulder. He Himself is the door, and by him all
that enter in shall be saved. (Acts v. 31. Kev. i. le.
John X. 9.)

Christ, in one word, has purchased a full forgive-
ness, if you and I are willing to receive it. He has
done all, paid all, suffered all that was needful to
reconcile us to God. He has provided a garment of
righteousness to clothe us. He has opened a foun-
tain of living waters to cleanse us. He has removed
every barrier between us and God the Father, taken
every obstacle out of the way, and made a road
by which the vilest may return. All things are now
ready, and the sinner has only to believe and be
saved, to eat and be satisfied, to ask and receive, to
wash and be clean.

And faith, simple faith, is the only thing required,
in order that you and I may be forgiven. That we
will come to Jesus as sinners with our sins, trust in
Him, rest on Him, lean on Him, confide in Him,
commit our souls to Him, and forsaki3<ig all other
hope, cleave only to Him,, this is all and every thing
that God asks for. Let a man only do this, and he
shall be saved. His iniquities shall be found com-
pletely pardoned, and his transgressions entirely taken
away. Every man and woman that so trusts is wholly
forgiven, and reckoned perfectly righteous. His sins
are clean gone, and His soul is justified in God's
sight, however bad and guilty he may have been.

Faith is the only thing required, not knowledge.
A man may be a poor unlearned sinner, and know
little of books. But if he sees enough to find the
foot of the cross, and trust in Jesus for pardon, I will
engage he shall not miss heaven. To know Christ
is the corner-stone of all religious knowledge.

Faith, I say, and iiot conversion. A man may have
been walking in the broad way up to the very hour he
first hears the Gospel. But if in that hearing he is
awakened to feel his danger, and wants to be saved,
let him come to Christ at oner and wait for nothing.
That very coming is the beginning of conversion.

railh, 1 repeat, and not nouncss. A man may
feel all full of sin, and unworthy to be saved. But
let him not tarry outside the ark till he is better.
Let him come to Christ without delay, just as he
is. Afterwards he shall be holy.

Reader, I call upon you to let nothing move you
from this strong ground, that faith in Christ is the
only thing needed for your justification. Stand
firm here, if you value your soul's peace. I see
many walking in darkness and having no light, from
confused notions as to what faith is. They hear that
saving faith will work by love and produce holiness,
and not finding all this at once in themselves, they
think they have no faith at all. They forget that
these things are the fruits of faith, and not faith itself,
and that to doubt whether we have faith because we
do not see them at once, is like doubting whether a
tree be alive, because it does not bear fruit the very
day we plant it in the ground. I charge you to settle
it firmly in your mind that in the matter of your
forgiveness and justification there is but one thing
required, ahd that is simple faith in Christ.

I know well that the natural heart dislikes this
doctrine. It runs counter to man's notions of religion.
It leaves him no room to boast. Man's idea is to
come to Christ with a price in his hand, his regularity,
his morality, his repentance, his goodness, and so, as
it were, to buy his pardon and justification. The
Spirit's teaching is quite different ; it is, first of all
to believe. Whosoever believeth shall not perish.
(John iii. 16.)

Some say, such doctrine cannot be right, because
it makes the way to heav'en too easy. I fear that
many such persons, if the truth were spoken, find
it too hard. I believe in reahty it is easier to give
a"fortune in building a cathedral like York minster,
or to go to the stake and be burned, than thoroughly to
receive justification by faith without the deeds of the
law, and to enter heaven as a sinner saved by grace.

Some say this doctrine is foolishness and enthu-
siasm. I answer, this is just what was said of it
1 800 years ago, and is a vain cavil now, as it was
then. So far from the charge being true, a thousand
facts can prove this doctrine to be from God. No
doctrine certainly has produced such mighty effects
in the world, as the simple proclamation of free for-
giveness through faith in Christ.

_ ■*

This is the glorious doctrine that was the strength
of the Apostles when they went forth to the Gentiles
to preach a new religion. They began a few poor
fishermen, in a despised corner of the earth. They
turned the world upside down. They changed the
face of the Roman empire. They emptied the
heathen temples of their worshippers, and made the
whole system of idolatry crumble away And what
was the weapon by which they did it all ? It was
free forgiveness through faith in Jesus Christ.

This is the doctrine which brought light into
Europe 300 years ago, at the time of the blessed
Reformation, and enabled one solitary Monk, Martin
Luther, to shake the whole church of Rome,
Through his preaching and writing the scales fell
from men's eyes, and the chains of their souls were
loosed. And what was the lever that gave him his
power? It was free forgiveness through faith in
Jesus Christ.

This is the doctrine that revived our own church
in the middle of last century, when Whitefield, and
the Wesleys, and Berridge, and Venn broke the
wretched spirit of slumber that had come over the
land, and roused men to think. They began a
mighty work, with little seeming likelihood of suc-
cess. They began, few in number, with small
encouragement from ihe rich and great. But they
prospered. And why ? — Because they preached
free forgiveness through faith in Christ.

This is the doctrine which is the true strength of
any church on earth at this day. It is not orders,
or endowments, or liturgies, or learning, that will
keep a church alive. Let free forgiveness through
Christ be faithfully proclaimed in her pulpits, and
the gates of hell shall not prevail against her. Let
it be buried or kept back, and her candlestick shall
soon be taken away. When the Saracens invaded
the lands where Jerome and Athanasius, Cyprian
and Augustine, once wrote and preached, they found
bishops and liturgies, I make no question. But J
fear they found no preaching of free forgiveness of
sins, and so they swept the churches of those lands

/•lean away. They were a body without a vital
principle, and therefore they fell. Let us never
forget the brightest days of a church are those when
Christ crucified is most exalted. The dens and
caves of the earth, where the early Christians met to
hear of the love of Jesus, were more full of glory
and beauty in God's sight than ever was St. I'eter s
at Rome. The meanest barn at this day, where the
true way of pardon is offered to sinners, is a far
more honourable place ihaii the catliedral )f Cologne
or Milan. A church is only useful so far as she
exalts free forgiveness through Christ.

This is the doctrine which of all others is the
mightiest engine for pulling down the kingdom of
Satan. The Greenlanders were unmoved, so long
as the Moravians told them of the creation and the
fall of man ; but when they heard of redeeming love,
their frozen hearts melted like snow in sprmg.
Preach salvation by the sacraments, exalt the church
above Christ, and keep back the doctrine of the
atonement, and the devil cares little,--his goods are
at peace. But preach a full Christ and a free ^oardon,
and then Satan will have great wrath, for he knows
he has but a short time. John Berridge said he went
on preaching morahty and nothing else, till he lound
there was not a moral man in his parish. But when
he changed his plan, and began to preach the love ot
Christ to sinners, then there was a stirring ot the
dry bones, and a mighty turning to God,

This is the only doctrine which will ever bring
peace to an uneasy conscience, and rest to a troubled
soul. A man may get on pretty well without it so
long as he is asleep about his spiritual condition.
But once let him awake from his slumber, and noth-
ing will ever calm him but the blood of atonement
and the peace of Christ. How any one can under-
take to be a minister of religion without a hrm grasp
of this doctrine, I never can understand, a or my-
self, I can only say, I should think my office a most
painful one, if I had not the message of free forgive-
ness to convey. It would be miserable work indeed
to visit the sick and dying, if I could not say, lie-

hold the Lamb of God, believe on the Lord Jesu8
Christ, and thou shalt be saved." The right hand of
a Christian minister is the doctrine of free forgive-
ness through faith in Christ. Give us this doctrine,
and we have power : we will never despair of doing
good to men's souls. Take away this doctrine, and
we are weak as water. We may read the prayers,
and go through a round of forms, but we are like
Samson with his head shorn, our strength is gone.
Soul's will not be benefitted by us, and good will not
be done.

Reader, I commend the things I have been saying
to your notice. I am not ashamed of free pardon
through faith in Christ, whatever some may say
against the doctrine. I am not ashamed of it, for
its fruits speak for themselves. It has done things
that no other doctrine can do. It has effected moral
changes which laws and punishments have failed to
work, which magistrates and policemen have laboured
after in vain, which mechanics' institutes and secular
knowledge have proved utterly powerless to produce.
Just as the fiercest lunatics in Bethlehem hospital
became suddenly gentle when kindly treated, even
so the worst and most hardened sinners have often
become as little children, when told of Jesus loving
them and willing to forgive. I can well understand
Paul ending his Epistle to the erring Galatians with
that solemn burst of feeling, " God borbid that I
should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus
Christ." (Gal. vi. 14.) The crown has indeed
fallen from a Christian's head, when he leaves the
doctrine of justification by faith.

See now how you should ask yourself whether yon
have really received the truth which I have been
dwelling on, and know it by experience. Jesus, and
faith in Him, is the only way to the Father. He
that thinks to climb into paradise by some other
road, will find himself fearfully mistaken. Other
foundation can no man lay for an immortal soul than
thai of which I have been feebly speaking. He that
ventures himself here is safe. He that is off this
rock has got no standing ground at all.

See too how you should seriously consider what
kind of a ministry you are in the habit of attending,
supposing you have a choice. You have reason
indeed to be careful. It is not all the same where
vou go, whatever people may say. There are many
places of worship, I fear, where you might look long
for Christ crucified, and never find Him. He is
buried under outward ceremonies, thrust behind the
baptismal font, lost sight of undei the shadow of the
church. " They have taken away my Lord, and I
know not where they have laid Him." Take heed
where you settle yourself. Try all by this single
test : " Is Jesus and free forgiveness proclaimed
here ?" There may be comfortable pews, there may
be good singing, there may be learned sermons.
But if Christ's Gospel is not the sun and centre of
the whole place, do not pitch your tent there. Say
rather with Isaac, " Here is the wood and the fire,
■.ut where is the Lamb ?" Be very sure this is not
the place for your soul.

Reader, remember these things, and you will be
wise. I have set before you the way of life. I have
told you where pardon is to be found ? Oh ! beware,
lest an offer being made you of free forgiveness, any
of you should come shoit of it.

III. Let me in the third place encourage all
who wish to be forgiven.

I dare be sure this paper will be read by some one
who feels he is noi yet a forgiven soul. My heart's
desire and prayer is that such an one may seek his
pardon at once."' And I would fain help him forward,
by showing him the kind of forgiveness offered to
him, and the glorious privileges within his reach.

Listen to me then, while I try to exhibit to yoa
the treasures of Gospel forgiveness. I cannot
describe its fulness as I ought. Its riches are indeed
unsearchable. (Eph. iii. 8.) But if you will turn
away from it, you shall not be able to say in tiie day
of iudgment, you did not at all know what it was.

Consider then for one thing, that the forgiveness
set before you is a great and broad forgiveness.
Hear what the Prince of Peace Himself declares.

all

" All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men,
and blasphemies, wherewith soever they shall blas-
pheme." (Mark iii. 28.) " Though your sins be
as scarlet, they shall become white as siiow ; though
they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."
(Isaiah i. 18.) Yes! though your trespasses be
more in number than the hairs of your head, the
stars in heaven, the leaves of the forest, the blades
of grass, the grains of sand on the sea shore, still
they can all be pardoned. As the waters of Noah's
flood covered over and hid the tops of the highest
Iiills, so can the blood of Jesus cover over and hide
your mightiest sins. " His blood cleanseth from
all sin." ( 1 John i. 7.) Though to you they seem
written with the point of a diamond, they can all be
effaced from the book of God's remembrance by that
precious blood. Paul names a long list of abomina-
tions which the Corinthians had committed, and then
says, " such were some of you, but ye are washed."
(1 Cor. vi. 11.)

Furthermore, it is a full and complete forgive-
ness. It is not like David's pardon to Absalom, —
a permission to return home, but not a full restora-
tion to favour. (2 Sam. xiv. 24.) It is not, as some
fancy, a mere letting off", and letting alone. It is
a pardon so complete, that he who has it is reckoned
as righteous as if he had never sinned at all. His
iniquities are blotted out. They are removed from
him as far as the east from the west. (Psalm ciii.
12.) There remains no condemnation for him.
The Father sees him joined to Christ Liid is well
pleased. The Son beholds him clothed with his
own righteousness, and says, " Thou art all fair,
there is no spot in thee." (Cant. iv. 7.) Blessed
be God that it is so. I verily believe if the best of
us all had only one blot left for himself to wipe
out, he would mis? eternal life. If the holiest
child of Adam were in heaven all but his little
finger, and to get in depended on himself, I am
sure he would never enter the kingdom. If Noah,
Daniel, and Job had had but one day's sins to wash
away, they would never have been saved. Praised

be God that in the matter of our pardon there is
nothing left for man to do. Jesus does all, and
man has only to hold out an empty hand and to
receive.

Furthermore, it is a free and unconditional
forgiveness. It is not burdened with an " if,"
like Solomon's pardon to Adonijah, " If he will show
himself a worthy man." (1 Kings i. 52.) Nor
yet are you obliged to carry a price in your hand, or
bring a character with you to prove yourself deserving
of mercy. Jesus requires but one character, and that
is that you should feel yourself a sinful, bad man.
He invites you to " buy wine and milk without money
and without price," and declares " Whosoever will
let him take the water of life freely." (Isaiah Iv. 1.
Rev. xxii. 17.) Like David in the cave of Adullam,
He receives every one that feels in distress and a
debtor, and rejects none. (1 Sam. xxii. 2.) Are
}'0u a sinner ? Do you want a Saviour ? Then
come to Jesus just as you are, and your soul shall live.

Again, it is an offered forgiveness. I have read
of earthly kings who knew not how to show mercy,
of Henry the Eighth of England, who spared neither
man or woman ; of James the Fifth of Scotland,
who would never show favour to a Douglas. The
King of kings is not like them. He calls on man to
come to Him, and be pardoned. " Unto you, O men,
I call, and my voice is to the sons of men." (Prov.
viii. 4.) " Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to
the waters." (Isaiah Iv. 1.) " If any man thirst,
let him come unto me and drink." (John vii. 37.
" Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy
laden, and I will give you rest." (Mat. xi. 28.) Oh !
reader, it ought to be a great comfort to you and me
to hear of any pardon at all ; but to hear Jesus
Himself inviting us, to see Jesus Himself holding
out His hand to us, — the Saviour seeking the sinner
before the sinner seeks the Saviour, — this is encour-
agement, this is strong consolation indeed

Again, it is a willing forgiveness.
of pardons granted in reply to long entreaty, and
wrung out by much importunity. King Edward

iiiivu nCuru

the Third of England would not spare the citizens
of Calais till they canne to him with halters round
their necks, and his own queen interceded for them
on her knees. But Jesus is *' good and ready to
forgive," (Psalm Ixxxvi. 5.) He delighteth in
mercy. (Micah vii. 18.) Judgment is His sirange
work. He is not willing that any should perish. (2
Peter iii. 9.) He would fain have all men saved, and
come to the knowledge of the truth. (1 Tim. ii. 4.)
He wept over unbelieving Jerusalem. " As I live,"
He says, " I have no pleasure in the death of the
wicked. Turn ye, turn ye, from your evil ways :
why will ye die ?" (Ezek. xxxiii. 11 .) Ah ! reader,
you and I may well come boldly to the throne of
grace. He who sits there is far more willing and
ready to give mercy than you and 1 are to receive it.

Besides this, it is a tried forgiveness. Thousands
and lens of thousands have sought for pardon at the
mercy- seat of Christ, and not one has ever returned
to say that he sought in vain. Sinners of every
name and nation, — sinners of every sort and descrip-
tion, have knocked at the door of the fold, and none
have ever been refused admission. Zacchaeus the
extortioner, Magdalen the harlot, Saul the persecutor,
Peter the denier of his Lord, the Jews who crucified
the Prince of life, the idolatrous Athenians, the
adulterous Corinthians, the ignorant Africans, the
blood-thirsty New Zea^anders, — all hv/e ventured
their souls on Christ's promises of pardon, and none
have ever found them fail. Ah ! reader, if the way
I set before you were a new and unlravelled way,
you might well feel faint-hearted. But it is not so.
It is an old path. It is a path worn by the feet of
many pilgrims, and a path in which the footsteps are
all one way. The treasury of Christ's mercies has
never been found empty. The well of living waters
has never proved dry.

Besides this, it is a. present forgiveness. All that
believe in Jesus are at once justified from all
things. (Acts xiii. 38.) The very day the younger
son returned to his father's honse, he was clothed
with the best robe, had the ring put on his hand.

and the shoes on his feet. (Luke xv.) The ver^ day
Zacchaeus received Jesus he heard those comlortable
words, " this day is salvation come to this house."
(Lukexix. 9.) The very day that David said, " I
have sinned against the Lord," he was told by Na-
than, " The Lord also hath put away thy sin." (2
Sam. xii. 13.) The very day you first flee to Christ,
your sins are all removed. Your pardon is not a
thing far away, to be obtained only alter many years.
It is nigh at hand. It is close to you, within your
reach, all ready to be bestowed. Believe, and that
very moment it is your own. " He that beiieveth is
not condemned." (John iii. 18.) It is not said,
" He shall not be," or " will not be," but " is not."
From the time of his believing condemnation is gone.
" He that beiieveth hath everlasting life." (John iii.
36.) It is not said, " He shall have," or " will
have," it is " hath.'" It is his own as surely as if
he was in heaven, though not so evidently so to his
own eyes. Ah ! reader, you must not think forgive-
ness will be nearer to a believer in the day of judg-
ment than it was in the hour he first believed. His
complete salvation from the power of sin is every
year learer and nearer to him ; but as to his forgive-
ness and justification, it is a finished work from the
very minute he first commits himself to Christ.

Last and best of all, it is an everln. sting forgive-
ness. It is not like Shimei's pardon, a pardon that
may some time be revoked and taken away. (1 Kmgs
ii. 9.) Once justified, you are justified for ever.
Once written Hown in the book of life, your name
shall never be uluteo. out. The sins of God's chil-
dren are sai > t:- Ho cast into uie depths of the sea, —
to be sought for and not found, — to be remembered
no more, — to be cast behind God's back. (Mic. vii.
19. Jerem. 1. 60. xxxi. 34. Isaiah xxxviii. 17.) Some
people fancy they may be justified one year and con-
demned another, — children of adoption at one time,
and strangers by and by, — heirs of the kingdom in

tiiu ucgiiiiiiiig VL uicii uuys, aiiu yci strvuin-c oi iiic

devil in their end. I cannot find this in the Bible ;
as the New Zealander told the Romish priest, I do

»»

•4

not see it in the book. It seenis to me to ov6iturn
the good news of the Gospel altogether, and to tear
up its comforts by the roots. I beli-^ve the salvation
Jesus offers is an everlasting salvation, and a
pardon once sealed with His blood shall never be
reversed.

Reader, I have set before you the nature of the
forgiveness offered to you. I have told you but a
little of it, for my words are weaker than my will.
The half of it remains untold. The greatness of it
is far more than any report of mine. But I think I
have said enough to show you it is worth the seeking,
and I can wish you nothing better than that you may
strive to make it your own.

Do you call it nothing to look forward to death
without fear, and to judgment without doubtin^^s,
a^.d to eternity without a sinking of heart? jDo
yon call it nothing to feel the world slipping from
youi' grasp, and to see tne grave getting ready for
you, and the valley of the shadow of death opening
before your eyes, and yet not be afraid ? Do you
call it nothing to be able to think of the great day
of account, the throne, the books, the Judge, the
assembled worlds, the revealing of secrets, the final
sentence, and yet to feel " I am safe ?" This is
the portion, and this the privilege of a forgiven
soul.

Such ar: one is on a rock. When the rain of God's
wrath descends, and the floods come, and the winds
blow, his feet shall not slide, his habitation shall be
sure.

Such an one is in an ark. When the last fiery
deluge is sweeping over all things on the surface of
the earth, it shall not come nigh him. He shall be
caught up and borne securely above it all.

Such an one is in a hiding place. When Gou
arises to judge terribly the earth, and men are
calling to rocks and mountains to fall upon them
and cover them, the everlastinff arms shall bft
thrown around him, and the storm shall pass over
bis head. He shall abide under the shadow of the
Almighty.

Such an one is in a city of refuge. The accuser
of the brethren can lay no charge against him.
The law cannot condemn him. Tliere is a wall
between him and the avenger of blood. The
enemies of his soul cannot hurt him. He is in a
secure sanctuary.

Such an one is rich. He has treasure in heaven
which cannot be affected by worldly changes, com-
pared to which Peru and California are nothing at all.
He need not envy the richest merchants and bankers.
He has a portion that will endure when bank-notes
and sovereigns are worthless things. He can say,
like the Spanish ambassador, when shown the trea-
sury at Venice, " My master's treasury has no
bottom." He has Christ.

Such an one is insured. He is ready for any
thing that may happen. Nothing can harm him.
Banks may break, and governments may be overturn-
ed. Famine and pestilence may rage around him.
Sickness and sorrow may visit his own fireside. But
still he is ready for all, — ready for health, ready for
disease, — ready for tears, ready for joy,-— ready for
poverty, ready for plenty, — ready for life, ready for
death. He has Christ. He is a pardoned soul.
"Blessed" indeed "is he whose transgression is for-
given, and whose sin is covered." (Psalm xxxii. 1.)

Reader, how will you escape if you neglect so
great salvation ? Why should you not lay hold on
it at once, and say. Pardon me, even me also, O my
Saviour. What would you have, if the way I hav'^
set before you does not satisfy you ? Come while
the door is open. Ask, and you shall receive.

IV. Let me give you in the last place some marks
of having found forgiveness.

I dare not leave out this point. Too many per-
sons presume they are forgiven, who have no evi-
dences to show. Not a few cannot think it possible
they are forgiven, who are plainly in the way to
heaven, though they may not see it themselves. I
would fain raise hope in some, and self-inquiry in
others ; and to do this let me tell you the leading
marks of a forgiven soul.

•

accuser
ist him.
1 a wall
. The
3 is in a

heaven
3s, com-
ng at all.
bankers,
nk-notes
can say,
,he trea-

has no

for any
rm him.
)verturn-
md him.
de. But
eady for
eady for
•eady for
led soul,
on is for-
xxii. 1.)
3glect so

hold on
0, O my
,y I hav^
ne while
ire.
ne marks

lany per-
e no evi-
possible
3 way to
elves. I
nquiry in
e leading

Forgiven souls hate sin. They can enter most
fully into the words of our Communion Service,
"the remembrance of sin is grievous unto them, and
the burden of it is intolerable." It is the serpent
which bit them : how should they not shrink from it
with horror ? It is the poison which brought them to
the brink of eternal death : how should they not
loathe it with a godly disgust ? It is the Egyptian
enemy which kept them in hard bondage : how
should not the very memory of it be bitter to their
hearts? It is the disease of which they carry
the marks and scars about them, and from which
they scarcely recovered : well may they dread it,
flee from it, and long to be delivered altogether from
I its power. Remember how the woman in Simon's
house wepl over the feet of Jesus. (Luke vii. 38.)
Remember how the Ephesians publicly burned their
wicked books. (Acts xix. 19.) Remember how
Paul mourned over his youthful transgressions, " I
am not meet to be called an Apostle, because I per-
secuted the Church of God." (1 Cor. xv. 9.) Ah !
reader, if you and sin are friends, you and God are
not yet reconciled. You are not meet for heaven,
for one main part of heaven's excellence is the
absence of all sin.

Forgiven souls love Christ. This is that one
thing they can say, if they dare say nothing else, —
they do love Christ. His person, His office, His
work, His name, His cross. His blood, His words.
His example. His day. His ordinances, all, all are
precious to forgiven souls. The ministry which
exalts Him most, is that which they enjoy most.
The books which are most full of Him, are most
pleasant to their minds. The people on earth they
feel most drawn to, are those in whom they see
something of Christ. His name is as ointment
poured forth, and comes with a peculiar sweetness to
their ears. (Cant. i. 3.) They would tell you they
cannot help feeling as they do. He is their Redeem-
er, their Shepherd, their Physician, their King, their
strong deliverer, their gracious guide, their hope, their
joy, their all. Were it not for Him lliey would be of

all men most miserable. They would as soon con-
sent that you should take the sun out of the sky, as
Christ out of their religion. Those people who talk
of "the I-ord," and "the Almighty," and "the
Deity " ana so forth, but have not a word to say
about Christ, are in any thing but a right slate of
mind. Wiiat saiih the Scripture ? " He that hon-
oureth not the Son, honoureth not the Father which
hath sent Him. (John v. 23.) " If any man love
not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be anathema. —

1 Cor. xvi. 22.

Forgiven souls are humble. They cannot forget
that they owe all they have and hope for to free grace,
and this keeps them lowly. They are brands plucked
from the fire,— debtors who could not pay for them-
selves,— captives who must have remained m prison
for ever, but for undeserved mercy,— wandering
sheep who were ready to perish when the shepherd
found them,-and what right then have they to be
oroud f I do not deny that there are proud saints,
feut this I do say, they are of all God's creatures the
most inconsistent,-and of all God s children, the
most likely to stumble and pierce themselves with
many sorrows. Forgiveness more often produces
the spirit of Jacob :— " I am not worthy of the least
of all the mercies, and of all the truth which thou
hast shewed unto thy servant ;" (Gen.xxxii. 10.) and
of Hezekiah, "I shall go softly f my years;
(Isaiah xxxviii. 15.) and of the Apostle Paul, I am
less than the least of all saints,-chief of sinners.
(Ephes. iii. 8. ;-l Tim. i. 15.) Reader, when you
and I have nothing we can call our own but sin and
weakness, there is surely no garment that becomes

us so well as humihty. , • r i • •

Forgiven souls are holy Their chief desire is
to please Him who has saved them, to do His will,
to glorify Him in body and in spirit which are His.
" What shall I render unto the Lord for all His bene-
fits," is a leading principle in a pardoned heart. It
was the remembrance of Jesus showing mercy, that
^. J. -D-,,,! ^« l^boiii-Q sn nhnndant. and in doing good
so unwearied. It was a sense of pardon that made

n con-
sky, as
ho talk,
id "the
I to say
state of
lat hon-
ir which
an love
3ma." —

Dt forget
le grace,
plucked
)r them-
n prison
andering
shepherd
3y to be
d saints,
tures the
Iren, the
<res with
produces
the least
lich thou
10.) and
years ;"
il, "lam
sinners."
irhen you
Lt sin and
becomes

desire is
His will,
I are His.
His bene-
lieart. It
ercy, that
ioing good
that made

ZaccliKUS say, " Tlic hall of my goods I ^ive to the
poor, and if I have taken anything from any man
by false accusation, I restore him fourfold." (Luke
xix. 8.) Reader, if you point out to me believers
who are in a carnal, slothful stale of soul, 1 reply
in the words of Peter, " They have forgotten they
were purged from their old sins." (2 Pet. i. 9.)
But if you show me a man deliberately living an un-
holy and licentious life, and yet boasting that his sins
are forgiven, I answer he is under a ruinous delusion,
and is not forgiven at all. I would not believe he
is forgiven, if an angel from lieaven affirmed it, and
I charge you not to believe it too. Pardon of sin
and love of sin are like oil and water, they will
never go together. All that are washed in the
blood of Christ, are also sanctified by the Spirit of
Christ.

Forgiven souls are forgiving. They do as they
have been done by. They look over the offences of
their brethren. They endeavour to walk in love, as
Christ loved them, and gave Himself for them.
They remember, how God for Christ's sake forgave
them, and endeavour to do the same toward their
fellow creatures. Has He forgiven them pounds,
and shall they not forgive a few pence ? Doubtless
in this, as in everything else they come short ; — but
this is their desire and their aim. A spiteful, quar-
relsome Christian is a scandal to his profession. It
is very hard to believe that such an one has ever sat
at the foot of the cross, has ever considered how he
is praying against himself every time he uses the
Ijord's prayer, and saying as it were, " Father, do
not forgive me my trespasses at all." But it is still
harder to understand what such an one would do in
lieaven, if he got there. All ideas of heaven in
which forgiveness has not a place, are castles in the
air, and vain fancies. Forgiveness is the way by
which every saved soul enters heaven. Forgiveness
is the only title by which he remains in heaven.
Forgiveness is the eternal subject of song with all
the redeemed who inhabit heaven. Surely an unfor-
giving soul in heaven Vv'ould find his heart completely

out of tune. Surely we know nothing of Christ's
love to us but the nanne of it, if we do not love our
brethren.

Reader, I lay these things before you. I know
well there are great diversities in the degree of men's
attainments in grace, and that saving faith in Christ
is consistent with many imperfections. But still I do
believe, the marks I have just been naming, will
generally be found more or less in all forgiven souls.

I cannot conceal from you, these marks should
raise in many minds great searchings of heart. I
must be plain. I fear there are thousands of persons
called Christians, who know nothing of these marks.
They are baptized. They keep their church. They
would not on any account be reckoned infidels. But
as to true repentance and saving faith, union with
Christ and sanctification of the Spirit, they are names
and words of which they know nothing at all.

Now if this paper is read by such persons, it will
probably either alarm them, or make them very
angry. If it makes them angry I shall be sorry.
If it alarms hem 1 shall be glad. I want to alarm
them. I wai to awaken them from their present
state. I wan I them to take in the great fact, that
they are not yet forgiven, they have not peace with
God, and are on the high road to destruction.

I must say this, for I see no alternative. It seems
neither Christian faithfulness, nor Christian charity,
to keep it back. I see certain marks of pardoned souls,
laid down in Scripture. I see an utter want of these
marks in many men and women around me. How
then can I avoid the conclusion that they are not yet
forgiven ? And how shall I do the work of a faithful
watchman, if I do not write it down plainly in so many
words ? Where is the use of crying peace, peace,
when there is no peace ? Where is the honesty ol
acting the part of a lying physician, and telling people
there is no danger, when in reality they are fast draw-
ing near to eternal death ? Surely the blood of souls
would be required at my hands, if I wrote to you any-
ihing less than the truth. If the trumpet give an un-
certain sound, who shall prepare himself for the battle.

Examine yourselves ihen, before this subject is
iorgotten. Consider of what sort your religion is.
Try it by the marks I have just set before you. I
have endeavoured to make them as broad and gene-
ral as I can, for fear of causing any heart to be sad
that God has not made sad. If you know anything
of them, though it be but a little, I am thankful, and
entreat you to go forward. But if you know noth-
ing of them in your own experience, let me say in
all affection, I stand in doubt of you. I tremble for
your soul.

1. And now before I conclude, let me put a home
question to every one who reads this paper. It shall
be short and plain, but it is all-important, " Are you
forgiven ?"

I have told you all I can about forgiveness. Your
need of forgiveness, — ^^the way of forgiveness, — the
encouragement to seek forgiveness, — the marks of
having found it, — all have been placed before you.
Bring the whole subject to bear upon your own heart,
and ask yourself, " Am I forgiven ? Either I am,
or I am not. Which of the two is it ?"

You believe perhaps, there is forgiveness of sins.
You believe that Christ died for sinners, and that
He offers a pardon to the most ungodly. But aie
you forgiven yourself? Have you yourself laid hold
on Christ by faith, and found peace through His
blood ? What profit is there to you in forgiveness,
except you get the benefit of it ? What does it profit
the shipwrecked sailor, that the life-boat is alongside,
if he sticks by the wreck, and does not jump in and
escape ? What does it avail the sick man, that the
doctor offers him a medicine, if he only looks at it
and does not swallow it down ? Except you lay
hold for your own soul, you will be as surely lost, as
if there was no forgiveness at all.

Reader, if ever your sins are to be forgiven, it
must be now, — now in this life, if ever in the life to
come, — now in this world, if they are to be found
blotted out when Jesus comes again. There must
be actual business between you and Christ. Your
, sms must be laid on Him, by faith. His righteousness

must be kid on you. His blood must be applied to
your conscience, or else your sins will meet you in
the day of judgment, and sink you into bell. Oh !
reader, how can you trifle, when such things are at
stake ? How can youl)e content to leave it uncer-
tain whether you are forgiven ? Surely that a man
can make his will, insure his life, give directions
about his funeral, and yet leave his soul's affairs in
uncertainty, is a wonderful thing indeed.

2. Let me next^ive a solemn warning to every
one who reads this paper, and knows in his con-
science he is not forgiven.

Your soul is in awful danger. You may die this
year. And if you die as you are, you are lost for
ever. If vou die without pardon, without pardon
you will rise again at the last day. There is a sword
over your head that hangs by a single hair. There
is but a step between you and death. Oh ! I wonder
that you can sleep quietly in your bed.

You are not yet forgiven. Then what have you
got by your religion ? You go to church. You
have a Bible, you have a prayer-book, and perhaps
a hymn-book.^ You hear sermons. You join in
services. It may be yon go to the Lord's table.
But what have yoii really got after all ? Any hope ?
Any peace ? Any joy? Any comfort ? Nothing,
literally nothing ! " You have got nothing but m'^re
temporal things, if you are not a pardoned soul.

Yon are not yet forgiven. But you trust God
will be merciful. And why should He be merciful,
if you will not seek Hira in His own appointed
way ? Merciful He doubtless is, wonderfully merci-
ful to all who come to Him in the name of Jesus.
But if you choose to despise His directions, and
make a" road to heaven of your own, you will find to
your cost there is no mercy for you.

You are not yet forgiven. But you hope you
shall be some day. I cannot away with that expres-
sion. It is like thrusting off the hand of conscience,
and seizing it by the throat to stop its voice. Why
are you more likelv to seek forgiveness at a future
rime ? Why should vou not seek it now ? Now is

ihe time for gathering the bread of Hfe. The day
of the Lord is fast drawing near, and then no man
can work. (Exod. xvi. 26.) The seventh trumpet
will soon sound. The kingdoms of this world will
soon become the kingdoms of our God and of His
Christ. Woe to the house which is found without
the scarlet line, and without the mark of blood upon
the door ! (Josh, ii. 18. Exod. xii. 13.)

Well ! you may not feel your need of forgiveness
now. But a time may come uhen you will want it.
The Lord in mercy grant that it may not then be too
late.

3. Let me next give an earnest invitation to all
who read this paper, and desire forgiveness.

I know not who you are, or what you have been
in time past, but I say boldly, Come to Christ by
faith, and you shall have a pardon. High or low,
rich or poor, young men and nifiidens, old men and
children,— you cannot be worse than Manasseh and
Paul before conversion, than David and Peter after
conversion,— come all of you to Christ, and you
shall be freely forgiven.

Think not for a moment that you have some great
thing to do before you come to Christ. Such a notion
is of the earth, earthy ; the Gospel bidf^ you como
jist as^you are. Man's idea is to make his peace
with God by repentance, and then come to Christ at
last : the Gospel way is to receive peace from Christ
first of all, and begin with Him. Man's idea is to
amend and turn over a new leaf, and so work his way
up to reconciliation and friendship with God : the
Gospel vv^ay is first to be friends with God through
Christ, and then to work. Man's idea is to toil up
the hill, and find life at the top : the Gospel way is
first to live by faith in Christ, and then to do His
will.

And judge ye, every one, judge ye, which is true
Christianity? Which is the good news ? Which is
the glad tidings ? First the fruits of the Spirit, and
then peace ; or first peace, and then the fruits of the
Spirit ? First sanctification and then pardon ; or first
pardon and then sanctification ? First service and

then life ; or first life and then service ? Reader,
your own heart can well supply the answer.

Come then willing to receive, and not thinking
how much you can bring. Come willing to take
what Christ offers, and not fancying you can give
any thing in return. Come with your sins, and no
other qualification but a hearty desire for pardon, and
so sure as the Bible is true you shall be saved.

You may tell me you are not worthy, you are
not good enough, you are not elect. I answer, you
are a sinner, and you want to be saved, and what
more do you want ? You are one of those whom
Jesus came to save. Come to Him, ard you shall
have life. Take with you words, and He will hear
you graciously. Tell Him all your soul's necessities,
and I know He will give heed. Tell Him you have
heard He receiveth sinners, and that you are such.
Tell Him you have heard He has the keys ot life in
His hand, and entreat Him to let you in. Tell Him
you come in dependence on His own promises, and
ask Him to fulfil His word, and do as He has said.
Do this in simplicity and sincerity, and my soul for
your's, you shall not ask in vain. Do this, and you
shall find Kim faithful and just to forgive your oins,
and to cleanse you from all unrighteousness.

4. Last of all let me give a word of exhortation
to all forgiven souls.

You are forgiven. Then know the full extent of
your privileges, and learn to rejoice in the Lord.
You and I are great sinners, but then we have a
great Saviour. You and I have sinned sins that
are past man's knowledge, but then we have the
love of Christ which passeth knowledge to rest upon.
You and I feel our hearts to be a bubbling fountain
of evil, but then we have another fountain of greater
power in Christ's blood, to which we may daily
resort. You and I have mighty enemies to contend
with, but then the Captain of our salvation is mightier
still, and is ever with us. Why should our hearts
be troubled ? Why should we be disquieted and
cast down ? O men and women of little faith that
we are ! Wherefore do we doubt ?

■i\<

Let us strive every year to grow in grace, and
m the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is
sad to be content with a little religion. It is hon-
ourable to covet the best gifts. We ought not to be
satisfied with the sanae kind of hearing, and reading-,
and praying which satisfied us in years gone by.
We ought to labour every year to throw more heart
and reahty into every thing we do in our religion.
To love Christ more intensely, — to abhor evil more
thoroughly,— to cleave to what is good more closely,
to watch even our least ways more narrowly,— to
declare very plainly that we seek a country,— to put
on the Lord Jesus Christ, and be clothed with Him
in every place and company, — to see more,-^to feel
more,— to know more, — to do more,— these ought to
oe our aims and desires, every year we begin. Truly
there is room for improvement in us all.

Let us try to do good to the souls of others more
than we have done hitherto. Alas ! it is poor work
indeed to be swallowed up in our own spiritual con-
cerns, and taken up with our own spiritual ailments,
and never to think of others. We forget that there
IS such a thing as religious selfishness. Let us
count It a sorrowful thing to go to heaven alone, and
let us seek to draw companions with us. We ought
never to forget that every man, woman, and child
around us will soon be either in heaven or hell. Let
us say to others as Moses did to Jethro, " Come
with us, and we will do thee good." (Num. x. 29.)
Oh ! it is indeed a true saying, " He that watereth
shall be watered himself." (Prov. xi. 25.) The
selfish Christian has little idea what he is missing.

But above all let us learn to live the life of faith
in Jesus more than we have hitherto. Ever to be
found by the fountain side,— ever to be eating Christ's
body by faith, and drinking Christ's blood by faith,—
ever to have before our minds Christ dying foi our
sins,— Christ rising again for our justification, —
Christ interceding for us at God's right hand,—
Christ soon coming again to gather us to Himself,-
this is the mark which we should have continuallv
before our eyes. We may fall short, but let us aim

high. Let us walk in the full light of the Sun of
righteousness and then our graces will grow. Let
us not be like trees on a north wall, weak and un-
fruitful and cold. Let us rather strive to be like the
sun-flower, and follow the great fountain of light
wherever He goes, and see Him with open face.
Oh ! for an eye more quick to discern His leadings !
Oh ! for an car more ready to hear His voice !

Let us say to everything in the world that inter-
feres between ourselves and Jesus, " stand aside ;"
and let us dread allowing ourselves in the least evil
habits, lest insensibly they rise up like a mist and
hide Him from our eyes. In His light alone shall
we see light and feel warmth, and separate from Him
we shall find the world a dark and cold wilderness.
We should call to mind the request of the Athenian
philosopher when the mightiest monarch on earth
asked him what he desired most: " I have," said he,
" but one request to make, and that is that you would
stand from between me and the sun." Let this be
the spirit in which yon and I are found continually.
Let us think lightly of the world's gifts. Let us
sit calmly under its cares. Let us care for nothing,
if we may only ever see the King's face, if we may
cnly ever abide in Christ.

And now reader, with every kind and Christian
wish for your soul's happiness, I commend you to
the only wise God, our Saviour. He is able to keep
you from falling, and to present you faultless before
the presence of His glory with exceeding joy. (Jude
24.) I ask to be always remen bered in your
prayers, and remain,

Your affectionate friend.

J. C. KYLE.