CHAPTER 12. The conception of sin through its deceit - Wherein it consisteth -The consent of the will unto sin - The nature thereof - Ways andmeans whereby it is obtained - Other advantages made use of by the deceit of sin - Ignorance - Error.

An instructive sermon, from 1556, to assist saints suffering in very difficult trials. From John Calvin's Sermons on Deuteronomy.-From John Hendryx of Monergism, --John Calvin preached 200 sermons on Deuteronomy. They have been dropped down the memory hole. In 1583, a translation of them appeared in English. This was ignored, then forgotten. Over four centuries later -1987-, the Banner of Truth Trust reprinted an English edition, which was barely readable in 1583, and was worse in the facsimile copy. Today, a used copy sells for -400 or more.

I will heal their apostasy- I will freely love them, for My anger has turned away from them.

O the purity of that holiness which chose rather to punish the sins of the elect in His only begotten Son, than suffer them to go unpunished- O the abyss of His love to the world, for which He spared not His dearest Son, in order to spare sinners- O the depth of the riches of unsearchable wisdom, by which He exercises mercy towards the penitent guilty, without any stain to the honor of the most impartial Judge- O the treasures of love in Christ, whereby He became a curse for us, in order to deliver us therefrom- How becoming the justified soul, who is ready to dissolve in the sense of this love, with full exultation to sing a new song, a song of mutual return of love to a justifying God.

Pink wrote, -But let it be pointed out at the onset that, any reader who has never seen himself under the white light of God's holiness, and who has never felt His Word cutting him to the very quick, will be unable to fully enter into the force of what we are about to write. Yea, in all probability, he who is unregenerate is likely to take decided exception unto much of what will be said, denying that any such difficulty exists in the matter of a merciful God pardoning one of His offending creatures. -

Pink wrote, -There was a time, not so long ago, when the blessed truth of Justification was one of the best known doctrines of the Christian faith, when it was regularly expounded by the preachers, and when the rank and file of church-goers were familiar with its leading aspects. But now, alas, a generation has arisen which is well-nigh totally ignorant of this precious theme.- In 32 years of narrating, attention has been given numerous times to the new birth, the doctrine of regeneration and also sanctification. Because of recent studies on the heresies of the Federal Vision Theology and The New Perspective on Paul, I wanted to finally narrate some chapters on justification by faith.

One midnight - -towards the end of his life, too- Shepard was found lying on his face in - a swoon of sweat and tears,- with a copy of the New England Gazette crushed together in his hands. He had just been reading an -especially beautiful sermon of Mr. Thomas Hooker's- - And Principal Whyte says that until I see myself to be - the most to be abhorred, the most malicious, the most wolf-like, the most inwardly rent and distorted, the most hateful and the most hating, the most self-tormenting and the most Shepard-Iike sinner-on this side hell,- I must not pass judgment on Mr. T. S. for-his jealousy of Mr. T. H. Agreed. - O my ransomed soul- - Shepard cried on his death-bed, - one hour in heaven will make me forget all my hell upon earth- -

The heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead. Eccles. 9-3--Thomas Adams -1583-1652- was an English clergyman and reputed preacher. He was called -The Shakespeare of the Puritans- by Robert Southey. Adams was a Calvinist in theology.

therefore, for God -to hide his face,- must imply his withholding the tokens of his favour and must be esteemed a mark of his displeasure. Thus Isaiah uses it, -Your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.- -1sa. 59-2- And again, -Thou hast hid thy face from us,- as not regarding the calamities we suffer, -and hast consumed us because of our iniquities.-

You will not only be cast away from God, but from the favour of God. It is said, 'In thy favour is life'. Ah- child of God, say what would you sell this favour of God for- Ah- the favour of God can lighten up the pale cheek of the dying saint with seraphic brightness, and can make him rejoice, even on the scaffold and at the stake. But, sinner, you will be cast away from the favour of God, God will send you nothing but the black cloud of his frown for ever and ever.