Does a Sinner Have Grounds for the Lord's Pardon and Comforts?, by Samuel Pike and Samuel Hayward.

Описание: 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.

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

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.

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