paper, and knows in his conscience he is not forgiven.
the whole subject before your own heart, and ask yourself, "Am I forgiven ? Either I am, or I am not. Which of the two is it ?"
You believe, perhaps, there is forgiveness of sins. You believe that Christ died for sinners; and that He offers a pardon to the most ungodly. But are you forgiven yourself 1 Have you yourself laid hold on Christ by faith, and found peace through His blood ? What profit is there to you in forgiveness, except you get the benefit of it ? What does it profit the shipwrecked sailor, that the life-boat is alongside, if he sticks by the wreck, and does not jump in and escape ? What does it avail the sick man, that the doctor offers him a medicine, if he only looks at it and does not swallow it ? Except you Jay hold of your own soul, you will be as surely lost as if there was no forgiveness at all.*
Reader, if ever your sins are to be forgiven, it must be now, - now in this life, if ever in the life to come, - now in this world, if they are to be found blotted out when Jesus comes again. There must be actual business between you and Christ. Your sins must be laid on Him by faith. His righteousness must be laid on you. His blood must be applied to your conscience, or else your sins will meet you in the day of judgment, and sink you into hell. Oh ! Reader, how can you trifle when such things are at stake ? How can you be content to leave it uncertain whether you are forgiven ? Surely that a man can make his will, insure his life, give directions about his funeral, and yet leave his soul's affairs in uncertainty, is a wonderful thing indeed.
2. Let me next give a solemn warning to every one who reads this paper, and knows in his conscience he is not forgiven.
Your soul is in awful danger. You may die this year. And if you die as you are, you are lost forever. If you die without pardon, without pardon you will rise again at the last day. There is a sword over your head that hangs by a single hair. There is but a step between you and death. Oh! I wonder that you can sleep quietly in your bed.