It is a sin
to begin to despair before one sets his foot over the threshold of
hell-gates. For them that are there, let them despair, and spare
not; but as for thee, thou hast no ground to do it. What, despair of
bread in a land that is full of corn; despair of mercy, when our God
is full of mercy; despair of mercy, when God goes about by his
ministers, beseeching sinners to be reconciled to him?
Thou scrupulous fool, where canst thou find that God was ever false
to his promise, or that he ever deceived the soul that ventured
itself upon him? He often calls upon sinners to trust him, though
they walk in darkness, and have no light. Isa. 50:10. They have his
promise and oath for their salvation, that flee for refuge to the
hope set before them.
Despair, when we have a God of mercy and a redeeming Christ alive!
For shame, forbear; let them despair that dwell where there is no
God, and that are confined to those chamhers of death which can be
reached by no redemption.
A living man despair, when he is chid for murmuring and complaining!
Lam. 3:39. Oh, so long as we are where promises swarm, where mercy
is proclaimed, where grace reigns, and where Jerusalem sinners are
privileged with the first offer of mercy, it is a base thing to
despair.
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