"
II. This brings us to our second topic, man's gracious recovery to the
favor of his offended God.
I know not how to present to you this glorious work, better than by
the following figure. Suppose a vast graveyard, surrounded by a lofty
wall, with only one entrance, which is by a massive iron gate, and
that is fast bolted. Within are thousands and millions of human
beings, of all ages and classes, by one epidemic disease bending to
the grave. The graves yawn to swallow them, and they must all perish.
There is no balm to relieve, no physician there. Such is the condition
of man as a sinner. All have sinned; and it is written, "The soul that
sinneth shall die." But while the unhappy race lay in that dismal
prison, Mercy came and stood at the gate, and wept over the melancholy
scene, exclaiming--"Oh, that I might enter! I would bind up their
wounds; I would relieve their sorrows; I would save their souls!" An
embassy of angels, commissioned from the court of heaven to some other
world, paused at the sight, and heaven forgave that pause. Seeing
Mercy standing there, they cried:--"Mercy! canst thou not enter? Canst
thou look upon that scene and not pity? Canst thou pity, and not
relieve?" Mercy replied: "I can see!" and in her tears she added, "I
can pity, but I can not relieve!" "Why canst thou not enter?" inquired
the heavenly host.
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