Abundantly Pardon by Mrs. M. J. Bahler

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Dec 17, 1885

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 11, No. 48.

Abundantly Pardon.

By Mrs. M. J. Bahler

"Our God will abundantly pardon." What a thought! What depth of love it expresses! Did you ever grieve or wrong a friend, who, when asked to forgive the offense, looked at you coldly and suspiciously, and slowly said, "Yes; I will forgive you"? And did you feel that that was abundant pardon? Nay, verily; such a pardon left no sunlight in either heart. But perchance you may have known what I have known,—a pardon expressed in such tender tones and by such loving looks that you felt that it healed the wound, even though it could not remove the scar. If so, you can appreciate in some small degree what abundant pardon is.

And God will abundantly pardon our sins if we hate them, if we turn from them. But if we cherish our sins, and still seek him, he cannot pardon; for he cannot cleanse, and he will cleanse those whom he pardons. The sinner comes to him all defilement and sin-stains, yet hating the thoughts and practices that have brought him into this condition. Consequently, the first thing God does after granting pardon is to cleanse the heart; but if we love that which defiles, he cannot cleanse us. He will never force us to give up that which we love. He will permit us to come so near to him that we can see how guilty we are, can see his great glory and our sinful condition; but if we cling to our sins, he must leave us as we are. If we are unwilling to be cleansed, then we cannot share the abundant pardon of our God.

Do we not want this abundant pardon? Oh, what depths of sin do we find ourselves walking in! We see how amazing is the difference between our characters and that of Him who "was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." As our condition is revealed to us by the searching light of God's pure law, we moan in anguish. Such defilement it seems to us can never be cleansed away; but sweetly come the words: "Who forgiveth all thine iniquities?" "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;" "Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out;" and so we come, trusting his abundant mercy.

Then let us praise his holy name for this abundant pardon promised in his word.

"Oh, 'twas love, 'twas wondrous love! The love of God to me; It brought my Saviour from above, To die on Calvary."

When we realize our sinful condition as it is, then, and not till then, can we realize the wondrous love, the great salvation. Oh! let us earnestly plead: "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right Spirit within me."

"Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord, To thy precious bleeding side." MRS. M. J. BAHLER.