Greetings sis Reis, et al;
Mr. Hawker's remarks are mightily blessed. He (as he often does)
gets right at the ROOT of the matter and sets forth the essence of this
passage. There is no other principle which is hated more by religious
minded men, than that of the free grace of GOD shown to the vilest of
sinners. There is no sliding scale, grade on the curve, or singling out
various sins more or less than others. All have sinned and come short
of the glory of GOD. Some may be considered "great" sinners, and other
lesser sinners in the sight of men but not so in the sight of a HOLY
GOD. HE looks upon the heart, and sees therein a mass of corruption in
each of the sons of Adam. That HE should show mercy to some is simply
the product of HIS goodness and not anything found in them. HE will
show mercy to whom HE will and it will in no wise be bestowed because of
"merit". May we tremble before HIM and seek HIM while HE may be found.
Blessings, mike
On 10/1/2022 1:58 PM, Soraya Reis wrote:
*"And when they had nothing to pay he frankly forgave them both." Luke 7:42 *
*My soul, nothing can be more grateful, and commendatory to the state of thine insolvency; than the recollection of what thy God and Saviour hath taught in this beautiful parable; that the debtor of five hundred pence, and the debtor of fifty, being both equally incapable of discharging the respective claims upon there, are equally considered as objects of mercy, and are therefore both alike forgiven. And this, indeed, is the distinguishing property of grace. It is totally distinct from merit; yea, in direct opposition to it. Hadst thou the least pretensions to divine favour, or couldest thou have put forth the least helping hand towards thine own salvation; grace then would have been no more grace. The frank forgiveness of all debt, carries with it the plainest testimony of man's total helplessness, and the sovereign freedom of divine love. And hence, when the sinner, of every description and character, is brought into this glorious privilege of redemption, the whole result is "to the praise of the glory of his grace, who hath made us accepted in the Beloved." *
*What a beautiful and interesting view is this of the gospel of Jesus! It is full, and free, and suited to every case, and answering to the state and circumstances of every poor sinner. For as all have sinned and come short of God's glory; so all, being unable to make the smallest restitution, are equally objects suited to divine mercy: and, whatever other causes operate, certain it is, that the greatness or smallness of the debt, in a state of total insolvency, becomes no bar to pardon. So runs the charter of grace, and the proclamation from the court of heaven. Let all that are poor, and insolvent, and helpless, and conscious of their lost state, come alike to the footstool of the mercy-seat. The Son of God will have his court surrounded with such; and every one to whom his free salvation is welcome, that poor creature, be his circumstances what they may, shall be welcome to take it; whether him that oweth ten thousand talents, or whether him that oweth fifty: having nothing, either of them, to pay, the Lord frankly forgives both! Oh! the unsearchable riches of grace! Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift! *
*Robert Hawker (1753-1827) *
