Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
From that, "a multitude of sins." Many sins do not hinder our pardon or conversion. God's ‘free gift is of many offences unto justification,’ Romans 5:16; and it is said, Isaiah 55:7, ‘He will multiply to pardon.’ For these six thousand years God hath been multiplying pardons, and yet free grace is not tired and grown weary. The creatures owe a great debt to justice, but we have an able surety; there is no want of mercy in the creditor, nor of sufficiency in the surety. It is a folly to think that an emperor's revenue will not pay a beggar's debt. Christ hath undertook to satisfy, and he hath money enough to pay. We are of limited dispositions, and therefore straiten the abundance of grace in our thoughts. But God is not as man, Hosea 11:9. The master can forgive talents when the servant would not forgive pence; and ten thousand talents, when we grudge at a hundred pence, Matthew 18:24 with 28. Mercy is a treasure that cannot easily be spent. We have many sins, but God hath many mercies: ‘According to the multitude of thy compassions,’ Psalm 51:2. When conscience is bowed down with a load of guilt, we may say, as Esau, ‘Hast thou but one blessing, O my father?’ Certainly mercy is an ocean that is ever full, and ever flowing. The saints carry loads of experiences with them to heaven. Free grace can show you large accounts and a long bill, cancelled by the blood of Christ. The Lord interest you in this abundant mercy, through the blood of Christ and the sanctification of the Spirit! Amen.
