63. And why should it seem a thing incredible to you, who have known the power of God unto salvation; (whether he hath wrought thus in your soul or no; _for there are diversities of operations, but the same Spirit_) that _the dead should hear the voice of the Son of God_, and in that moment live? Thus he useth to act, to shew that when he willeth, to do is present with him. _Let there be light_, said God, _and there was light. He spoke the word, and it was done. Thus the heavens and the earth were created, and all the hosts of them._ And this manner of acting in the present case, highly suits both his power and love. There is therefore no hindrance on God’s part; since _as his majesty is, so is his mercy_. And whatever hindrance there is on the part of man, when God speaketh, it is not. Only _ask_ then, O sinner, _and it shall be given thee_, even the faith that brings salvation: and that, without any merit or good work of thine; for _it is not of works, lest any man should boast_. No; it is of grace, of grace alone. For _unto him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted to him for righteousness_. 64. “But by talking thus you encourage sinners.” I do encourage them――to repent: and do not you? Do not you know how many heap sin upon sin, purely for want of such encouragement? Because they think, “they can never be forgiven: there is no place for repentance left?” Does not your heart also bleed for them? What would you think too dear to part with? What would you not do? What would you not suffer, to bring one such sinner to repentance? Could not your love _endure all things_ for them? “Yes――if you believed it would do them good; if you had any hope that they would be better.” Why do you not believe it would do them good? Why have you not a hope that they will be better? Plainly, because you do not love them enough; because you have not that charity, which not only endureth, but at the same time believeth and hopeth all things. 65. But that you may see the whole strength of this objection, I will shew you without any disguise or reserve, how I encourage the chief of sinners: my usual language to them runs thus: O ye that deny the Lord that bought you, yet hear the word of the Lord. You seek rest, but find none. Even in laughter your heart is in heaviness. How long spend ye your labour for that which is not bread, and your strength for that which satisfieth not? You know, your soul is not satisfied. It is still an aking void. Sometimes you find (in spite of your principles) a sense ♦of guilt, an awakened conscience. That grisly phantom, religion, (so you describe her) will now and then haunt you still. Righteousness looking down from heaven, is indeed to us no unpleasing sight. But how does it appear to you? _Horribili super aspectu mortalibus astans?_