You may beg God to restore you to health from sickness; to give you competence instead of poverty; and he may see fit not to grant your prayer. But if you put up the publican's petition: "God be merciful to me a sinner;" if you entreat with David: "Deliver me from blood-guiltiness O God, thou God of my salvation;" you will certainly obtain an answer. For the forgiveness of sin is a spiritual blessing, and it can never do you any injury to grant it. Your prayer for health or earthly prosperity, if answered, might harm your soul for time and eternity. But there is no danger to your soul in pardoning its sins; and now that Christ has made an atonement for sin, there is no danger to the Divine government in such a remission.

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