The main matter which terrifies and torments most that are troubled in mind, is the enormity of their offences, the intolerable burthen of their sins, God’s heavy wrath and displeasure so deeply apprehended, that they account themselves reprobates, quite forsaken of God, already damned, past all hope of grace, incapable of mercy, diaboli mancipia, slaves of sin, and their offences so great they cannot be forgiven.  But these men must know there is no sin so heinous which is not pardonable in itself, no crime so great but by God’s mercy it may be forgiven.  “Where sin aboundeth, grace aboundeth much more,” Rom. v. 20.  And what the Lord said unto Paul in his extremity, 2 Cor. xi. 9.  “My grace is sufficient for thee, for my power is made perfect through weakness:”  concerns every man in like case.  His promises are made indefinite to all believers, generally spoken to all touching remission of sins that are truly penitent, grieved for their offences, and desire to be reconciled, Matt. ix. 12, 13, “I came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance,” that is, such as are truly touched in conscience for their sins.  Again, Matt. xi. 28, “Come unto me all ye that are heavy laden, and I will ease you.”  Ezek. xviii. 27, “At what time soever a sinner shall repent him of his sins from the bottom of his heart, I will blot out all his wickedness out of my remembrance saith the Lord.”  Isaiah xliii. 25, “I, even I, am He that put away thine iniquity for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.”  “As a father” (saith David Psal. ciii. 13) “hath compassion on his children, so hath the Lord compassion on them that fear him.”  And will receive them again as the prodigal son was entertained, Luke xv., if they shall so come with tears in their eyes, and a penitent heart. Peccator agnoscat, Deus ignoscit. “The Lord is full of compassion and mercy, slow to anger, of great kindness,” Psal. ciii. 8.  “He will not always chide, neither keep His anger for ever,” 9.  “As high as the heaven is above the earth, so great is His mercy towards them that fear Him,” 11.  “As far as the East is from the West, so far hath He removed our sins from us,” 12.  Though Cain cry out in the anguish of his soul, my punishment is greater than I can bear, ’tis not so; thou liest, Cain (saith Austin), “God’s mercy is greater than thy sins.  His mercy is above all His works,” Psal. cxlv. 9, able to satisfy for all men’s sins, antilutron, 1 Tim. ii. 6.  His mercy is a panacea, a balsam for an afflicted soul, a sovereign medicine, an alexipharmacum for all sins, a charm for the devil; his mercy was great to Solomon, to Manasseh, to Peter, great to all offenders, and whosoever thou art, it may be so to thee.  For why should God bid us pray (as Austin infers) “Deliver us from all evil,” nisi ipse misericors perseveraret, if He did not intend to help us?  He therefore that [6761]doubts of the remission of his sins, denies God’s mercy, and doth Him injury, saith Austin.  Yea, but thou