(3.) Still less do the words apply to the person of _tender conscience_, _who knows and mourns the burden of his sin_. There are those in the Church of Christ whose earnest desire it is to be God’s servants, but who are so conscious of deep corruption, that they can scarcely hope they have an interest in their Saviour, and can therefore scarcely venture on the enjoyment of his sacrament. They have felt their sin, but their sorrow is that they have not felt it more; they hope they believe, but are obliged to confess their unbelief; they have known something of repentance, but yet it has been so feeble, that they can scarcely think it real; and the longing of their soul has been fixed upon their Lord; but still there has been such apathy and coldness, that they cannot presume to call that longing by the holy name of love. Now, how should such persons act? Should they wait till their repentance has become deeper, their faith stronger, and their love more worthy of a Saviour’s grace? or should they come at once as poor, guilty, helpless creatures, and so cast themselves for a full and free salvation before the Lamb of God? The question involves the whole doctrine of Christ’s Gospel. If he had required preparatory fitness before the sinner could be pardoned through his blood, then we must have answered, “Wait till you are better.” But since, on the other hand, he grants a pardon first, and then adds holiness as its consequence; since the pardon promised under the Gospel is immediate and free, granted because Christ Jesus was the sinner’s perfect substitute upon the cross, and because the work he then wrought was perfect, it follows thence as the sure and certain consequence, that the broken-hearted sinner must not wait till he is better; but as he is, and without a moment’s delay, must throw himself before an All-sufficient Saviour, and cry, “Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.” It forms the very essence of the Gospel; that as “they that are whole need not a physician, but they that are sick,” so Christ “came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” As sinners, therefore, we trust his grace, and as sinners come to his communion, longing for holiness, but yet not waiting till we gain it; striving to love him better, and therefore not standing distant from his mercy-seat, but rather keeping close to it, that we may gain a fuller knowledge of his love; earnestly praying for a greater fulness and strength of faith; but meanwhile commemorating his work with what we have, in the earnest and humble hope that he may perfect that which is lacking, and fulfil the work of faith with power.