2. Supplies of his grace. You had a rich present of his grace sent to
dealt with a baser heart in the world than yours. Wasn't Paul as unlikely to become a convert as any of your relatives who wallow in their blood? Who would have thought that Onesimus would run from his master and be caught in Christ's arms? Nor should you despair of yourself. Should a soul in anguish, covered with penitential blushes, consider itself cast out of the riches of God's affectionate grace?
Should any man blaspheme the merciful heart of Jesus Christ so much as to seek relief from a knife, a halter, or a deep well? Even if you were in hell, David tells you that God is with you, even there in His essential presence, even if you were hell itself. For where the devil dwells, that is hell, yet if the soul throbs, sighs, and groans under it, His infinite grace will break down the door and come in upon you. And we know that neither she who had seven demons nor he who had a legion was strong enough to keep out Christ.
Secondly, Comfort of this subject. If God has made you, a great sinner, the object of his mercy, you may be assured of:
1. Continuation of his love. He pardoned you when you were an enemy, will he leave you now that you are his friend? He loved you when you had erased his image and picture to a great extent from your soul, will he hate you now that he has restored that image and drawn it with fresh colours? He justified you when you were ungodly, and will he cast you off since he has been at such pains for you and written in you a counterpart of his own divine nature in the work of grace? Were his compassions first moved when you had no grace, and will they not sound louder since you have grace? Would a father embrace his son when his garments smelled of swine, and cast him off after he has put on him a royal robe? Will Pharaoh's daughter pity
Moses when he is in the ark and scorn him when he is dressed?
2. Supplies of his grace. You had a rich present of his grace sent to you when you could not pray for it, and will he not much more give you whatever is needful when you call upon him? He found you when you did not seek him, and will he hide himself from you when you are inquiring after him? A wise builder does not begin a work when