I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.–Isa. 43:25
With tears of joy and love, my once dearly beloved and much honored friend, now with Jesus, the late reverend Mr. Jones, minister of St. Saviour's, told me that the awful charges which precede, and the free and unmerited grace which is proclaimed in this text, made the first impressions of the Saviour's love upon his heart. O that the Lord of all grace may grant some comfort from it to-day. Here grace shines with meridian splendor: here grace gloriously reigns over all the aboundings of sin: here grace sweetly triumphs over all the baseness and unworthiness of the sinner.
In the two former verses God arraigns the sinner, reads a black catalogue of indictment against him, and concludes with, Thou hast made mc to serve with thy sins, thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities." The sinner is struck dumb: he dares not deny it; the Judge proceeds to pass sentence. What is it? Vengeance and damnation? What else could be expected? Be astonished, O heavens! shout for joy, O sinners upon earth! I, even I, am he–what! who will be avenged of thee It Yes: but it is love which takes vengeance upon thy sins, and will melt down thy hard, thy base heart– that blotteth out thy transgressions. What, my soul, the very God whom thou hast "made to serve with thy sins and wearied with thine iniquities," will HE blot them all out? Yes, as a black cloud is dispelled by the sun, or driven away by the wind; or as an immense debt is discharged by the stroke of the pen of a merciful creditor, never, never more to appear against or be demanded of the debtor.
For, O wonder of love! he saith farther, And will not remember thy sins. I cannot forget my sins; how then can my Lord'! He laid them upon his Son, thy surety. They were all atoned for by him. Why all this? For the sake of thy works, or any thing thou hast done 1 Spurn the thought. Hear thy Lord, For mine own sake, I have blotted out thy sins through thy Redeemer's blood. The Father blots them out for the sake of his righteousness and truth. The gracious Spirit blots them out of the conscience, for the glory of the Father and the Son, and because he is the Comforter. O what bound less bliss is here! Believe, rejoice, and love.