That Jesus Christ, by what he has done, has paid full price to God
for sinners and obtained eternal redemption for them, is evident, if
you consider how the preaching thereof has been from that time to
this a mighty conqueror over all kinds of sinners. What nation, what
people, what kind of sinners have not been subdued by the preaching
of a crucified Christ? He upon the white horse with his bow and his
crown has conquered, doth conquer, and goeth forth yet conquering
and to conquer.
The doctrine of forgiveness of sin conquered his very murderers.
They could not withstand the grace; those bloody ones that would
kill him whatever it cost them, could stand no longer, but received
his doctrine, fell into his bosom, and obtained the salvation which
is in Christ Jesus. "They shall look upon him whom they have
pierced, and mourn for him as one mourneth for his only son, and
they shall be in bitterness for him as one is in bitterness for his
first-born." Now was the scripture eminently fulfilled, when the
kindness of a crucified Christ broke to pieces the hearts of them
that had before been his betrayers and murderers. Now was there a
great mourning in Jerusalem; now was there wailing and lamentation,
mixed with joy and rejoicing.
Though Paul was mad, exceeding mad against Jesus Christ of Nazareth,
seeking to put out his name from under heaven; yet the voice from
heaven, "I am Jesus, I am the Saviour," how did it conquer him, make
him throw down his arms, fall down at Christ's feet, and accept of
the forgiveness of sins freely by grace, through redemption by faith
in his blood.
How was the sturdy jailer overcome by a promise of forgiveness of
sins by faith in Jesus Christ. It stopped his hand of self-murder,
it eased him of the gnawings of a guilty conscience and fears of
hell-fire, and filled his soul with rejoicing in God.
What shall I say? no man could as yet stand before, and not fall
under, the revelation of the forgiveness of sins through a crucified
Christ; as hanged, as dying, as accursed for sinners, he draws all
men unto him, men of all sorts, of all degrees.
Shall I add, how have men broken through all difficulties to Jesus,
when he hath been discovered to them! Neither lions, nor fires, nor
sword, nor famine, nor nakedness, nor peril; "neither death nor
life; nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers; nor things
present, nor things to come; nor height, nor depth, nor any other
creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is
in Christ Jesus our Lord."