him. It is a proof of a noble mind when you can ask pardon from another for having done amiss. Whenever grace comes into the heart it will lead you to make amends for any injury which you have done either by word or deed to any of your fellow men; and you cannot expect that you shall be forgiven by God until you have forgiven men, and have been ready to make peace with those who are now your enemies. That is a beautiful trait in the character of a true Christian. I have heard of Mr. John Wesley, that he was attended in most of his journeyings by one who loved him very much, and was willing, I believe, to have died for him. Still he was a man of a very stubborn and obstinate disposition, and Mr. Wesley was not perhaps the very kindest man at all times. Upon one occasion he said to this man, “Joseph, take these letters to the post.” “I will take them after preaching, sir.” “Take them now, Joseph,” said Mr. Wesley. “I wish to hear you preach, sir; and there will be sufficient time for the post after service.,” “I insist upon your going now, Joseph.” “I will not go at present.” “You will not!” “No, sir.” “Then you and I must part,” said Mr. Wesley. “Very good, sir.” The good men slept on it. Both were early risers. At four o’clock the next morning, the refractory helper was accosted with, “Joseph, have you considered what I said — that we must part?” “Yes, sir.” “And must we part?” “Please yourself, sir.” “Will you ask my pardon, Joseph?” “No, sir.” “You will not?” “No sir.” “Then I will ask yours, Joseph!” Poor Joseph was instantly melted, and they were at once reconciled. When once the grace of God has entered the heart, a man ought to be ready to seek forgiveness for an injury done to another. There is nothing wrong in a man confessing an offence against a fellow man, and asking pardon for the wrong he has done to him. If you have done anything, then, against any man, leave your gift before the altar, and go and make peace with him, and then come and make peace with God. You are to make confession of your sin to God. Let that be humble and sincere. You cannot mention every offence, but do not hide one. If you hide one it will be a millstone around your neck to sink you into the lowest hell. Confess that you are vile in your nature, evil in your practice, that in you there is no good thing. Lay as low as ever you can at the footstool of divine grace, and confess that you are a wretch undone unless God has mercy upon you.
19. Then, the next duty is faith. While you are laying there in the dust turn your eye to Christ and say, “Black as I am, and hell deserving as I confess myself to be, I believe that Jesus Christ died for the penitent; and inasmuch as he died, he died that the penitent might not die. I believe your merits to be great; I believe your blood to be efficacious; and more than that, I risk my eternal salvation — and yet it is no risk — I venture my eternal salvation upon the merit of your blood. Jesus, I cannot save myself. Cast the skirts of your blood red atonement over me. Come, take me in your arms; come, wrap me in your crimson vest, and tell me I am yours. I will trust in nothing else but you. Nothing I can do or ever did shall be my dependence. I rely simply and entirely upon your mighty cross, upon which you died for sinners.”
20. My dear hearers, as to any probability of your being lost after such a confession and such a faith, I assure you there is neither possibility nor probability of it. You are saved; you are saved in time, you are saved in eternity. Your sins are forgiven; your iniquities are all put away. In this life you shall be fed, and blessed and kept. Remaining sin within you shall be overcome and conquered; and you shall see his face at the last in everlasting glory, when he shall come in the glory of his Father, and all his holy angels with him. “Whoever believes on the Son of God has eternal life, and shall never come into condemnation.” “He who believes on the Lord Jesus and is baptized, shall be saved; and he who does not believe shall be damned.”
21. And now in conclusion, I have tried to explain simply and plainly the story of how God’s justice is satisfied, and has become the sinners friend, and I look for fruit, for where the gospel is simply preached it is never preached in vain. Only let us go home and pray now, that we may know the Saviour. Let us pray that others may know him too. If you are convicted of sin, my dear friends, do not lose a moment. Go to your room as soon as you get home, shut your door, go alone to Jesus, and there repeat your confession, and once more affirm your faith in Christ; and you shall have that peace with God which the world cannot give, and which the world cannot take away. Your troubled conscience shall find rest: your feet shall be on a rock; and a new song shall be in your mouth, even praise for evermore.
From where this fear and unbelief? —
Have you, oh Father, put to grief
Your spotless Son for me?
And will the righteous Judge of men
Condemn me for that debt of sin,
Which, Lord, was charged on thee?
Complete atonement you have made,
And to the utmost farthing paid
Whate’er your people owed;
How then can wrath on me take place
If shelter’d in your righteousness,
And sprinkled with your blood?
If you have my discharge procured,
And freely, in my room, endured
The whole of wrath divine;
Payment God cannot twice demand, —
First, at my bleeding Surety’s hand,
And then again at mine.
Turn, then, my soul to your rest!
The merits of your great High Priest
Speak peace and liberty:
Trust in his efficacious blood;
Nor fear your banishment from God,
Since Jesus died for you.
The Believer’s Challenge
No. 256-5:249. A Sermon Delivered On Sunday Morning, June 5, 1859, By C. H. Spurgeon, At The Music Hall, Royal Surrey Gardens.
Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, yes rather, who is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. {Romans 8:34}
1. The protest of an innocent man against the charge of an accuser may well be strong and vehement. But here we have a more uncommon and a more sublime theme. It is the challenge of a justified sinner protesting with holy and inspired fervour that his character is clear and his conscience clean, even in the sight of heaven. Yet it is not the natural innocence of his heart, but the perfect mediation of the Lord Jesus Christ, which gives him this amazing confidence. May the Spirit of God enable me to expound to you this most blessed portion of God’s Word.
2. We have before us in the text the four marvellous pillars upon which the Christian rests his hope. Any one of them would be all sufficient. Though the sins of the whole world should press on any one of these sacred columns, it would never break or bend. Yet for our strong consolation, that we may never tremble or fear, God has been pleased to give us these four eternal rocks, these four immovable foundations upon which our faith may rest and stand secure. But why is this? why does the Christian need to have such firm, such massive foundations? For this simple reason: he himself is so doubtful, so ready to distrust, so difficult to be persuaded concerning his own security. Therefore God has, as it were, enlarged his arguments. One blow might, we should have imagined, have
