III. The conversion of profane ones highly probable
which is possible, and easy for the Spirit of God to do; and this being once done, abundant pardon is assured. If you say, you cannot think it; God tells you in the very next words, that his thoughts are not your thoughts; but as far above them, as the heavens are higher than the earth. Read to the same purpose, Isa. 1:18. Rev. 3:20. John 7:27.
III. And to make the possibility of remission yet clearer, know, for your encouragement, that as vile, infamous, and prodigious sinners as yourselves, are recorded, and found amongst the instances and examples of forgiven sinners in scripture. Paul was once a fierce and cruel persecutor and blasphemer, yet he obtained mercy, 1 Tim. 1:13,
14. That sinful woman, recorded, Luke 7:37, 38 was an infamous, and a notorious sinner; yet her sins which were many, were forgiven her, ver. 47. Manasseh was a monster of wickedness, as you may read, 2
Chron. 33 yet found mercy. And if you view that catalogue of sinners, given in 1 Cor. 6:9, 10. you will seem to find among them the very forlorn hope of desperate sinners, advanced nearest to hell of any men upon earth; yet see, ver. 11 what is said of some of them: "And such were some of you; but ye are washed, but ye are justified."
All these things plainly shew (I say not the certainty that you shall be, but) the possibility that you may be pardoned; which is a mercy and encouragement unspeakable.
III.
The Conversion of Profane Ones Highly Probable AND because Satan labours to discourage them that are gone in sin so far as you are, by cutting off all hopes of mercy from them, and
bringing them to this desperate conclusion; damned we know we shall, and must be; and therefore as good be damned for more, as less. If we had lived sober, and civil lives, we might have had some hope; but because we have no hope, it is as good for us to take our full swing in sin, as to think of returning by repentance and conversion, so late in the day as this is.
To obviate this deadly snare of Satan, I shall here further add, That there is not only a possibility of your recovery, but, in some respect, a strong possibility, that such as you may be converted and saved, than there is for those who have led a smoother, and more civil life in the world, and wholly trust to their own civility for their salvation, instead of the imputed righteousness of Christ.
This plainly appears, by that convictive expression of Christ to the Scribes and Pharisees, Mat. 21:31. "Verily, I say unto you, that the publicans and harlots go into the kingdom of heaven before you."
Publicans, the most infamous amongst men; and harlots, the worst of women; yet these are sooner wrought over to Christ by faith and repentance, than the more civil, and self-righteous Scribes and Pharisees.
And indeed, it is far easier to come at the consciences of such sinners by conviction than at the others; they having nothing to ward off the stroke of conviction, it must fall directly, and immediately upon their consciences. The most smooth and civil part of the world, trust to their own righteousness; and this self-confidence, like armour of proof, resists all attempts to bring them to Christ for righteousness.
Nothing fixes men in a state of evil, more than a strong conceit that their condition is good.
But such as you are, whose whole lives have been polluted with profaneness, and all impiety, your consciences will more easily