And as they sat and did eat, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, One of you which eateth with me shall betray me. And they began to be sorrowful, and to say unto him one by one, Is it I? and another said, Is it I?
— Msrk 14:18-19
When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
— Matthew 19:25-26
And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
— Luke 18:13
And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.
— Genesis 32:26
Does a Sinner Have Grounds for the Lord’s Pardon and Comforts?, by Samuel Pike and Samuel Hayward. The following contains Case Six of their work, “Religious Cases Of Conscience Answered In An Evangelical Manner.” Published in 1755.
Case 6. Whether a person who has been a great sinner, has any ground to expect pardon and the comforts of the Holy Ghost; and whether he may partake of the ordinances of God?
This question is supported by the following letter:
“Rev. Sir — I take this opportunity to ask for your judgment on the state of my soul, which is as follows: I am a young person who has had a religious education; but alas! I soon followed the base inclinations of my own heart, and balked at nothing, however vile —till it pleased God, by a conversation with a good man on the evil nature of sin, to fasten deep convictions on my mind. Then what terrors, torture, and anguish I felt! How my mind was filled with horrid blasphemies! So that I concluded I was given up to a reprobate mind, and there was no place for repentance, however carefully I sought it with tears. I continued in this awful condition eighteen months, when it pleased God to magnify the riches of his grace to the very chief of all sinners, in sending the glorious Comforter to set my soul at liberty, and make me rejoice with unspeakable joy. But notwithstanding this, when I look back, and consider my great vileness, I am ready to question the reality of my pardon. Therefore, I have sent you the above question. May the Lord enable you to give a comfortable and speedy answer to it.”
This is a case that we frequently meet with. It is a case that deserves our serious consideration, as it may tend to encourage many distressed sinners in a proper application to Jesus Christ for salvation, and give them the most admiring and animating views of the riches of divine grace manifested in it. In hopes that these ends may be answered in some measure, I would consider these two things:
Whether a person who has been a great sinner, has any ground to expect pardon, and the comforts of the Holy Ghost? And,
Whether he may partake of all the ordinances of God?
I. I am to show whether a person who has been a great sinner, has any ground to expect pardon and the comforts of the Holy Ghost. If he continues hardened, and is obstinately determined to live in the gratification of any criminal lust and passion; he has no reason to expect either pardon or the consolations of the Holy Ghost. But under a conviction of sin, if he applies to the Mediator, is willing to receive him, and submit to him in all his characters (which I apprehend is the case with this person), then we may readily answer this question in the affirmative, and support it by the following considerations.
1. It is perfectly consistent with the grace and mercy of God, that he should pardon the greatest sinners, and visit them too (if he pleases) with the consolations of his Spirit; therefore there is ground for hope. The grace of God is absolutely free in the salvation of his people. When he chose them from eternity, he viewed them in the character of rebels, and therefore unworthy of his favour and deserving his everlasting wrath. And when he comes to them in time to apply salvation, he finds them dead in trespasses and sins. Free grace laid the foundation, and free grace will finish the spiritual building, and lay the top stone on it. When our Lord asks his Father why he had revealed the mysteries of his kingdom to such babes as his disciples, and had hidden them from the wise and prudent, he says, “Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight,” Mat 11.25, resolving it all into the free sovereign pleasure of God. If God is then absolutely free in our salvation, and does not refuse its blessings in consideration of the least demerit or unworthiness in us, then he may as well pardon the greatest sinners, as those who have not run into such excess of riot — especially, if we consider that God exalts the riches of his grace in our salvation, Isa 55.7; Rom 5.17, 23 and that indeed, this is the great end he has in view in the whole of our salvation.
None should now be discouraged at a view of the greatness of their sins, or question the reality of those spiritual enjoyments God has given to them, just because they are unworthy of them. The riches of the grace of God infinitely exceed all the demerit of sin, and triumph in the full pardon of the most heinous transgressions. I think I see the awakened sinner impressed with a deep sense of his vileness, and hear him objecting to the pardon of his great unworthiness. But my soul! Are you indeed exceedingly vile? Are your sins exceedingly numerous, and attended with every aggravation? Are you the unworthiest of creatures? Then the more exceedingly abundant will the grace of God appear in your pardon, comfort, and salvation; and the more the great end he has in view in the salvation of sinners will be answered; and the more glory will redound to him. Under a view of this infinite, abundant grace, you may sweetly encourage yourself, and say —
“It is true, Lord, I am unworthy; indeed, I would call myself the unworthiest of your creatures. But, Oh! I would not, I dare not even distrust and say that I am too great a sinner for a God of so much grace to pardon. Wouldn’t this lessen the riches of your mercy, Lord? Oh! if I am the greatest sinner you ever yet saved, then I will be the wonder of heaven; I will claim a right above all my fellow- saints to adore the riches of your grace. And you, Lord, will be admired by all, for your mercy manifested to a creature so unworthy.”
2. It is consistent with the glory of all the divine perfections to pardon and comfort the greatest sinners; therefore they have ground for hope. If anything appears to forbid it, it is the justice, the holiness of God, etc., the necessity of inflicting punishment on the offender to secure the moral government of God from any stain or abuse. If there had been no Mediator, no surety to stand in the sinner’s stead, to make satisfaction and purchase spiritual and eternal blessings, then these would have stood as everlasting obstructions to the pardon and salvation of the sinner. But as there is a Mediator provided; as this Mediator is God and man; as he has in our nature obeyed the law, and borne the punishment that sin deserved; as the sacrifice he offered had an infinite virtue in it, and so was accepted — so there is a way open for bestowing upon the sinner, indeed upon the greatest sinner, every saving blessing, in perfect consistency with the honour of the law and the Lawgiver. For the virtue of this infinitely atoning sacrifice exceeds the utmost malignity and demerit of sin. What glorious encouraging news this should be for every guilty creature! Behold mercy and truth meeting together, righteousness and peace kissing each other, all being perfectly harmonious in the salvation of the most unworthy!
See justice laying aside its awful sword, and joining with grace and mercy in holding out the golden sceptre! See the law receiving the highest honour by the obedience of the Lawgiver! See all the demands of every attribute of the Deity fully answered in Christ’smediation — the glory of each secured, and yet encouragement given to the vilest sinners to hope for and seek salvation! Behold, God is just, and yet He is the justifier of those who believe in Jesus, Rom 3.26. He is faithful and just in the forgiveness of sins, and in cleansing from all unrighteousness! 1Joh 1.9. And can you now despair of salvation, or say that God cannot or will not visit you with the consolations of his Spirit? Have you ever considered the sacrifice that has been offered, its appointment by the Father, its atoning virtue, its perfect acceptableness? And can you say that your sins are too great to be forgiven? My dear but doubting friend, have you applied to Christ, as a suitable, all-sufficient Saviour, and been enabled to commit your soul without reserve into his hands — to be justified, sanctified, and eternally saved? Let me then tell you, God can be just, even in pardoning your sins, however great; and in comforting and saving your soul, however unworthy. When we look upon our unworthiness, abstractedly from Christ, we are filled with sad confusion. But when we look to Jesus the Mediator, our fears are scattered, and our souls revived with the hopes of a glorious immortality. You do not question the virtue of the blood of Jesus, surely! His blood cleanses from all sin, 1Joh 1.7. God, considered absolutely in himself, would appear as a consuming fire to us in our guilty condition; his justice and his truth would make us tremble. But view him through this Mediator, and you will see his wrath appeased, and his countenance wearing a glorious smile. You will see his justice and truth too on your side, even speaking peace to your troubled conscience, and securing your pardon and salvation. You sensible and awakened sinners, look upon a crucified Redeemer! View his bloody agony in the garden! See the mighty God hanging on the cross! And then rejoice and say, “Oh, there is hope for us! We will not give up our souls as lost, so long as the blood of Christ has an infinite virtue in it. We will humbly hope that God will pardon such sinners as we are, though we deserve the lowest hell; and He will wash our polluted souls in that overflowing fountain that is set open for sin and uncleanness.”
3. If we ever find any sense of sin, any humiliation for it, and any desires for salvation, in the way God has determined to bestow it, then we may conclude that there is pardon and salvation for us. Some persons are afraid that they have committed the unpardonable sin. Satan makes this awful suggestion to their minds, and they go under distressing apprehensions of it from day to day, and are ready to think that all ground of hope is gone. But whatever the unpardonable sin is, without inquiring into its nature, we may conclude without hesitation that we have not been guilty of it, if we find any humbling sense of sin, any relentings for it, any desires for salvation, and any willingness to receive the Lord Jesus Christ, as he is represented in the Gospel. For here I would ask — How did you come to have a humbling sense of sin? Where do these desires for salvation come from? Where does this subjection of the soul to Jesus Christ come from? Isn’t all this from the Spirit of God? A view of the threatening law may terrify and alarm us; but it is the peculiar work of the Spirit of God, bringing home the Gospel to our hearts, that fills our souls with self-loathing, and draws out our hearts in holy longings for communion with, and a conformity to Christ! And why does the Spirit of God do this? Isn’t it a plain intimation that we haven’t sinned the unpardonable sin? Isn’t it an encouragement to us to hope that there is salvation for us? Isn’t it a token for good, that God will give us the blessings we desire to enjoy? There may be some convictions, and often are, in those who perish. But would God show us the odiousness of sin; would he humble us for it; and fill us with desires for deliverance from it; would he show us the excellence of Jesus Christ, and make us willing to receive him in all his characters; and then leave us to perish? No he does not. You thirsty sinners have His promise to plead, Mat 5.6. You willing souls have Christ’s own words to encourage you, 2Joh 7.37. If you are willing, Christ is too.
Inquire then, does Christ have your will? Do you see a beauty in him, and is your soul drawn in affection to him? This is an assurance that he will pardon and save you, and give you all those consolations by the way, that he sees are needful for you. The greatness of your sins will be no objection to him.
4. God has pardoned, comforted, and saved great sinners. As God has graciously represented himself as a God who pardons iniquity, transgression, and sin — that is, all sorts of sins — so he has done it in all ages and generations. Let us look into the Old Testament, and we will find it furnishing us with many instances. Thus Lot was guilty of drunkenness and incest, Gen 19.33, etc. David was chargeable with adultery and murder; and he was pardoned and comforted too. Solomon fell into idolatry. Manasseh was guilty of such abominations that exceeded even those among the heathens; yet he is made a monument of mercy, 2Chr 33. And we have a most striking and remarkable instance of rich distinguishing grace in Ephraim. Isa 57.17-18: “For the iniquity of his covetousness I was angered, and struck him. I hid myself, and was angry; and he went on in the waywardness of his heart.” What could we expect to hear an offended God saying if not this, to let him alone to receive the fruit of his doing! Shall I manifest my grace to such an obstinate rebel? He might have spoken in such awful language as this. But behold the might of God, how astonishing it is! “I have seen his ways, and will heal him; I will lead him also, and will restore comforts to him and to his mourners.”
The timorous soul may say these are instances under a dark dispensation, and therefore they do not address the case. Let us now look into the New Testament, therefore. And here, the first instance that strikes us is Peter’s denying his Lord, and with dreadful oaths and imprecations. Mat 26.72, etc. We have another instance in Saul the Pharisee, a fiery persecutor, a bold blasphemer. Yet he not only obtained pardoning mercy, but enjoyed much of the consolations of the Holy Ghost. And he says of his conversion, that it was a pattern of what Christ would do in later ages — that is, that He would pardon and save the greatest sinners, 1Tim 1.16. But we have all sorts of sinners mentioned among the sanctified Corinthians. 1Cor 6.9-11, “Such were some of you;” that is, some were fornicators; others idolaters; adulterers; effeminate; of lascivious tempers and practices; others were abusers of themselves with mankind, or guilty of the detestable sin of Sodom; others were thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers, and extortioners. But you are now the triumph of rich and sovereign grace; being justified; and in some measure sanctified, too.
Thus we see that all sorts of sins, even the most unnatural, have been pardoned. And can you now say, my friend, that yours are too great to be forgiven, or that God would not comfort such an unworthy creature as you are? Are there many peculiar aggravations attending your sins? Were they committed after great mercies and deliverances? So were Lot’s and Solomon’s. Have they been committed with great deliberation? So were David’s. Have they been often repeated? Peter repeated his three times. In sum, all these instances show that God can consistently pardon, indeed, that he does pardon the greatest of sinners, and favours them too with the consolations of his Spirit. Sometimes, indeed, great sinners have felt great terrors; but these have often been sweetly succeeded by great joys. In the life of Colonel Gardiner we read of the sore and long distress he was under. But God was pleased, after some time, to scatter the cloud, to change the scene, and to turn his bitter cries into cheerful praises. Thus we should not be discouraged at the greatness of our sins.
5. That we may know whether those consolations with which we have been favoured, are the consolations of the Spirit, we must inquire what influence they had upon us. You see, God in perfect consistency with all his perfections, bestows the blessings of salvation on the unworthiest of his creatures. So that you may be more particularly satisfied about yourself — that those consolations you have enjoyed came from God — look back at the frame of mind you were in then, and inquire what influence they had on you. If the joys you felt made you careless, and left in you a greater relish for sin; if you can with greater ease pursue the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eye, and the pride of life; then you have reason to conclude that all was a delusion. But if you were humbly seeking salvation when your soul was thus set at liberty; if the joys you felt made sin appear odious, endeared the Redeemer more; if you were more weaned from the world, filled with admiration at a view of distinguishing grace, and put more upon prayer and other means towards promoting the power and life of religion in your heart — then you may conclude that God has been comforting your soul with those consolations with which he comforts his people. And consequently, you have no reason to be discouraged at a view of the greatness of your sins, as if they were effectual obstructions to the manifestations of pardoning and saving grace. Having thus endeavoured to answer the first question, I will now proceed to the second:
II. May someone who has been a great sinner, but has been enabled to apply to Jesus for salvation, partake of all the ordinances of the Lord? This is a question easily answered. If the greatness of our sins does not exclude us from pardoning mercy, then it does not exclude us from the ordinances of God. If through grace, we have an interest in and a title to the glories of an eternal world, then we may by that same grace claim a right to all the privileges of God’s house here. If you were not baptized in your infancy, it is certainly your duty now, that so you may publicly enlist yourself under the banner of the mighty God. As to the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper, if you have been humbled for sin, and desire to be delivered from it; if you have been enabled to surrender yourself to Jesus; if you desire to love him more, and to grow in conformity to his image, and you would wait upon Christ in all His ordinances, so that these ends may be answered — then it is your duty to come to the table of the Lord. And you may do it with a comfortable expectation of the blessing and presence of Christ to make the ordinance effectual to strengthen every grace of the Spirit in you, and to train you up more and more for the heavenly inheritance. You are not to consider the greatness of your sins, when you are inquiring whether it is your duty to wait upon Christ in this ordinance. Rather, you are to consider the frame and temper of your mind, the ends you have in view, and the principles from which you act. These are to determine your duty, and not your unworthiness.
Permit me, then, to call you to an examination. You have been a great sinner. And have you been humbled on this account? Are you filled with shame and self-abhorrence? Have you, in the frame of the prodigal son, thrown yourself before an offended God, confessing as he did, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Oh, no! It is more, Lord, than I deserve to be treated as a hired servant. I deserve to be banished forever to the infernal regions. But Lord, stretch out your hand, pluck me as a brand out of the burning, take me into your family, and let me not perish for ever. I am loathsome; but clothe me with change of raiment, so that the shame of my nakedness does not appear. I am unclean; but wash me in that fountain that is set open. Lord! I would be yours. Adorable Mediator! I would love you. Behold! Here I surrender myself entirely to you. But I am not indeed worthy of your acceptance. For Lord, you must do all for me and in me. Yet, as I have your promise, I lean on that for my encouragement.”
Isn’t this your case, my friend? Have you thus been enabled to come to Jesus? Then you have a right to all the ordinances of the Lord. Come humbly, under a sense of your own unworthiness of the divine favour. And yet come cheerfully, casting yourself upon the Lord, expecting that, in waiting upon him, he will fulfil his promises of grace in your complete and everlasting salvation.
Having thus answered these two questions, I would close with three reflections —
1. From this we learn that, of all the works of God, those of our redemption and salvation by Jesus Christ are the most glorious. In the creation, God has manifested his wisdom, power, and goodness. But here you see the manifold wisdom of God; here you see the riches of his grace. When we consider the character of those who are saved, what the blessings of salvation are, and the method which God took to secure these blessings, we cannot help but be filled with the highest wonder. What heights, what depths of wisdom and love: that God will pardon and save rebels! that he has formed a plan for doing this, consistent with his justice and holiness!
“While others are viewing the various phenomena of nature, my soul, let me behold this mystery of divine grace! Let me see an incarnate God, and view the King of Glory stooping to take upon him the form of a servant, to obey and suffer in the room of guilty rebels! Let me see, in consequence of this, grace displaying itself in the salvation of sinners, conquering hard hearts, pardoning the greatest transgressions, plucking brands out of the burning, and raising the vilest creatures from a state of dishonour, distress, and misery, to be kings and priests unto God!”
Oh, what entertainment, what pleasure this must give to a rational mind! It is the song of the saints above, the admiration of creatures who have arrived at a state of the utmost perfection. They are forever employed in searching into and admiring the mysteries of the grace of God. And shall we not esteem these fit subjects of our contemplation here? Oh, the blindness and stupidity of those who see no beauty, no glory, in the scheme of salvation!
2. From this we learn that none should despair of salvation, because of the greatness of their sins. There is a secret despair which lies in the breast of the sinner, and it slays its thousands, even its tens of thousands. When any conviction is made upon the mind, it is immediately suggested to the poor sinner, that it is in vain for him to hope for mercy; his sins have been attended with such aggravating circumstances that no pardon will be granted. Besides, the difficulties of the divine life are so great, that he can never expect to surmount them. Therefore, he may as well continue his pursuits, and enjoy as much pleasure as he can, and give up all thoughts of being a Christian. With these suggestions, the sinner stifles every conviction, and eagerly pursues sensual gratifications, regardless of the awful consequence. Is this the case with any of you? You may immediately conclude that it is an invention of Satan to further secure you under his power. Your sins are not too great to be forgiven; nor are the difficulties of the Christian life insurmountable to those who depend on the strength of Christ. Many have been pardoned who have been as vile as you. Therefore, do not despair, and so continue in sin. Oh, that I could convince you, sinner! I would use all possible means. I would endeavour to set before you all the riches of the grace of God, take you to the cross of Christ, and show you an infinite sacrifice. I would present you with a long catalogue of atrocious sinners, pardoned and saved. Do not entertain the dangerous thought, then, that there is no mercy for you; but attend to the important convictions made at any time upon your mind, and look to Jesus to justify and save you.
3. Though what has been said tends to encourage every sinner to look to Jesus for salvation, yet it encourages none to continue in sin. Those who conclude from this, “Let us sin that grace may abound,”are in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. There is no mercy, no salvation for those who continue in sin. “Whoever covers his sins, shall not prosper; but whoever confesses and forsakes them, shall have mercy.” Pro 28.13
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