ing to all-they are interesting to you. Be not satisfied even with attending to a discussion such as that to which this little treatise relates, and giving a speculative decision on one side or other of the argument. Bring the question, the all-important question, home, HAVE I ETERNAL LIFE? That you should have this life is to you of infinite and everlasting moment:-that you should know that you have it, is of as great consequence to your true happiness in time, as the other is to your blessedness in eternity. May God in mercy lead you to both the possession and the knowledge, by leading you to Christ! 13 ESSAY II. ON THE EXTENT OF THE ATONEMENT, AND THE forgiveness of sins, which I consider as the leading and introductory blessing of all that are included in salvation, is one whose general nature there can be no difficulty to understand. It is the full and everlasting remission of guilt; that is, such a pardon as cancels its entire amount, leaving no charge standing to the account of the sinner,-and such a pardon, as shall never be recalled, so as to leave him again exposed to condemnation.-These two attributes of fulness and perpetuity are essential to its real value. First-Fulness. When Jehovah pardons, he pardons not partially, but completely. The act of indemnity includes transgressions of all descriptions and of all degrees,-degrees both of intrinsic turpitude and of circumstantial aggravation. His pardoning mercy "Blots out all past offences quite, Its language is "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." "Who is a God," says the prophet, "like unto thee, who pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again; he will have compassion upon is; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast |