DEAR Sir,—I received your kind letter, and thank you for it.
You want nothing but an opened eye to see the glory of Christ’s redemption; and He must give it, and will bestow it, when it is most for His glory and your advantage. Had you Daniel’s holiness, Paul’s zeal, John’s love, Magdalen’s repentance (and I wish you had them all), yet altogether they would give you no title to a pardon. You must at last receive it as a ruined sinner, even as the cross-thief received it. No graces or services of your own can give you a right to pardon; you must come to Jesus for it, weary and heavy-laden; and if you are afflicted for sin, and desirous of being delivered from its guilt and power, no past iniquities in your life, nor present corruptions of your heart, will be a bar to pardoning mercy. If you are truly seeking salvation by Jesus, we shall be disposed, as we are really bound, to seek after holiness.
But remember, though holiness is the walk to heaven, Christ is the way to God; and when you seek for pardon, you must go wholly out of your walk, be it good or bad, and look only to Him who is the way. You must look to Him as a miserable sinner, justly condemned by His law, a proper brand for hell, and looked to be plucked from the fire by rich and sovereign grace. You have just as much worthiness for a pardon as the cross-thief had, which is none at all; and in your best estate you will never have any more. A pardon was freely given to him upon asking for it freely, and given instantly because no room was left for delays; and a pardon is as ready for you as for him, when you ask for it as he did, with self-loathing and condemnation; but the proper seasons of bestowing the pardon are kept in Jesus’ own hand. He makes His mercy manifest to the heart when it will most glorify His grace and benefit the sinner. Only continue asking for mercy; and seek it only through the blood of the cross, without any eye to your own worthiness, and that blood in due time will be sprinkled on your conscience, and you shall cry, Abba, Father. Present my kindest love to my dear brother, Mr. Romaine. The Lord continue his life and usefulness. Kind respects and Christian salutation to Mrs. Olney. Grace and peace be with both, and with your affectionate and obliged servant.—J. Berridge.