guilty.” [35a]  Under the Gospel dispensation, it is emphatically said, “God is love:” [35b] that “God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” [35c]  Let not, therefore, the heinousness of past sins, and the sense of present unworthiness, deter any from coming to the Saviour: for “God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” [35d]  And that gracious Saviour has authoritatively declared, what is the sole condition of acceptance, through His infinite merits: “Verily, Verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me hath everlasting life:” [35e] and has tenderly invited all to flee unto Him who labour under the yoke of sin, or the burden of sorrow; “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest: take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls: for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” [36a]  Before the nativity of our blessed Lord, the command was conveyed by an angel, “Thou shalt call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins.” [36b]  Agreeably to which, He Himself says, “I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” [36c]  And St. Paul prefaces his delivery of the great truth he was commissioned to teach, in a manner befitting its importance: “This is a true saying, and worthy of all men to be received, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” [36d]  If the Gospel did not contain a free pardon for sin, little would it be in accordance either with its name, good news, or with the proclamation of the heavenly host, which heralded the birth of the Messiah: “Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people, for unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” [36e]  To every penitent the promise is addressed—“Him that cometh to Me, I will in no wise cast out.” [36f]  The Divine mercy towards repentant sinners knows no restrictions; the cleansing power of the Saviour’s blood, no limitations.

If there be any self-convicted and self-condemned sinner, still hesitating to throw himself upon the mercy of God in Christ, let him hear the Psalmist, who has represented under the most striking and affecting images, the love of God towards man: “The Lord is full of compassion and mercy; long-suffering and of great goodness.  He will not always be chiding, neither keepeth He his anger for ever.  He hath not dealt with us after our sins, nor rewarded us according to our wickednesses.  For look how high the heaven is in comparison of the earth, so great is His mercy also toward them that fear Him.  Look how wide also the east is from the west, so far hath He set our sins from Him.  Yea, like as a father pitieth his own children, even so is the Lord merciful unto them who fear Him.  For He knoweth whereof we are made, He remembereth that we are but dust.” [37a]  Let him hear St. John, who has stated the full extent of Christ’s atoning and mediatorial power: “If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, and He is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” [37b]  Let him hear St. Paul, who has supplied a sure ground of unfailing trust in God: “He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” [37c]  Should any one still hesitate to come unto Christ as their Saviour, let him hear His merciful expostulation, “Ye will not come to me that ye might have life.” [38a]  Let him listen to His gracious enquiry, “Wilt thou be made whole?”  And if he still cannot persuade himself, that there is mercy in store for such a sinner as himself, let him at last draw comfort from the assurance, that “the Son of Man is come to save that which is lost,” [38b] and seeks after perishing sinners, as the faithful shepherd after the sheep which have wandered from the fold.  Nor is this all: not only does our gracious Lord seek after guilty and lost sinners, but “likewise there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” [38c]  What a proof have we here of the value of the soul in the sight of God!  His incarnate Son dying to redeem it from eternal misery; when restored to His Father’s right hand, watching over it with constant care; and seeking, with tender gentleness, to bring back