[1] Man is not straitened upon the side of the Divine mercy.
The obstacle in the way of his salvation is in himself; and
the particular, fatal obstacle consists in the fact that he
does not feel that he needs mercy. God in Christ stands
ready to pardon, but man, the sinner, stands up before Him,
like the besotted criminal in our courts of law, with no
feeling upon the subject. The Judge assures him that He has
a boundless grace and clemency to bestow; but the sinful,
hardened man is not even aware that he has committed a
dreadful crime, and needs grace and clemency. There is food
in infinite abundance, but no hunger upon the part of the
man. The water of life is flowing by in torrents, but men
have no thirst. In this state of things nothing can be done
but to pass a sentence of condemnation. God cannot forgive
a being who does not even know that he needs to be
forgiven. Knowledge, then, self-knowledge, is the great
requisite; and the want of it is the cause of perdition.
This "reasoning together" with God, respecting our past and
present character and conduct, is the first step to be
taken by any one who would make preparation for eternity.
As soon as we come to a right understanding of our lost and
guilty condition, we shall cry, "Be merciful to me, a
sinner; create within me a clean heart, O God." Without
such an understanding--such an intelligent perception of
our sin and guilt--we never shall, and we never
can.--_Shedd._