My reader, perhaps, would be ready to think it a gross affront to his character, were I to assert, that he stands on the very same terms with this thief, in regard to acceptance with God; and that the most upright of men have nothing more to plead, before their Maker than he had. Yet this is a certain truth. For salvation is entirely by grace; and grace is unconditional favor. Grace, therefore, has no regard to any real or supposed difference among men. All whom it relieves are considered as on the same level; the most moral, and the most profligate being equally without help and hope in themselves. We may therefore conclude, that whoever looks for salvation by any other grace than that which saved this thief, will meet with a dreadful disappointment.

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