when he came into His kingdom。〃 He asked that his soul might be cared
for； his sins pardoned； and himself thought of in another world。 Truly
this was a wonderful change！
And then mark what kind of answer he received。 Some would have said he
was too wicked a man to be saved； but it was not so。 Some would have
fancied it was too late： the door was shut； and there was no room for
mercy； but it proved not too late at all。 The Lord Jesus returned him
an immediate answerspoke kindly to himassured him he should be with
Him that day in paradisepardoned him pletelycleansed him
thoroughly from his sinsreceived him graciouslyjustified him
freelyraised him from the gates of hell； gave him a title to glory。
Of all the multitude of saved souls； none ever received so glorious an
assurance of his own salvation as did this penitent thief。 Go over the
whole list； from Genesis to Revelation； and you will find none who had
such words spoken to him as these〃To…day shalt thou be with Me in
paradise。〃
I believe the Lord Jesus never gave so plete a proof of His power
and will to save； as He did upon this occasion。 In the day when He
seemed most weak； He showed that He was a strong deliverer。 In the hour
when His body was racked with pain； He showed that He could feel
tenderly for others。 At the time when He Himself was dying； He
conferred on a sinner eternal life。
Now； have I not a right to say； Christ is 〃able to save to the
uttermost them that e unto God by Him〃？ （Heb。 vii。 25。） Behold the
proof of it。 If ever sinner was too far gone to be saved； it was this
thief。 Yet he was plucked as a brand from the fire。
Have I not a right to say； Christ will receive any poor sinner who
es to Him with the prayer of faith； and cast out none？ Behold the
proof of it。 If ever there was one that seemed too bad to be received；
this was the man。 Yet the door of mercy was wide open even for him。
Have I not a right to say； By grace ye may be saved through faith； not
of works： fear not； only believe？ Behold the proof of it。 This thief
was never baptized； he belonged to no visible Church； he never received
the Lord's Supper； he never did any work for Christ； he never gave
money to Christ's cause！ But he had faith； and so he was saved。
Have I not a right to say； The youngest faith will save a man's soul；
if it only be true？ Behold the proof of it。 This man's faith was only
one day old； but it led him to Christ； and preserved him from hell。
Why then should any man or woman despair with such a passage as this in
the Bible？ Jesus is a Physician who can cure hopeless cases。 He can
quicken dead souls； and call the things which be not as though they
were。
Never should any man or woman despair！ Jesus is still the same now that
He was eighteen hundred years ago。 The keys of death and hell are in
His hand。 When He opens none can shut。 ＇42＇
What though your sins be more in number than the hairs of your head？
What though your evil habits have grown with your growth； and
strengthened with your strength？ What though you have hitherto hated
good； and loved evil； all the days of your life？ These things are sad
indeed； but there is hope； even for you。 Christ can heal you： Christ
can raise you from your low estate。 Heaven is not shut against you。
Christ is able to admit you； if you will humbly mit your soul into
His hands。
Are your sins forgiven？ If not； I set before you this day a full and
free salvation。 I invite you to follow the steps of the penitent thief：
e to Christ and live。 I tell you that Jesus is very pitiful； and of
tender mercy。 I tell you He can do everything that your soul requires。
Though your sins be as scarlet； He can make them white as snow； though
they be red like crimson； they shall be as wool。 Why should you not be
saved as well as another？ e unto Christ and live。
Are you a true believer？ If you are； you ought to glory in Christ。
Glory not in your own faith； your own feelings； your own knowledge；
your own prayers； your own amendment； your own diligence。 Glory in
nothing but Christ。 Alas！ The best of us know but little of that
merciful and mighty Saviour。 We do not exalt Him and glory in Him
enough。 Let us pray that we may see more of the fulness there is in
Him。
Do you ever try to do good to others？ If you do； remember to tell them
about Christ。 Tell the young； tell the poor； tell the aged； tell the
ignorant； tell the sick； tell the dyingtell them all about Christ。
Tell them of His power； and tell them of His love； tell them of His
doings； and tell them of His feelings； tell them what He has done for
the chief of sinners； tell them what He is willing to do to the last
day of time： tell it them over and over again。 Never be tired of
speaking of Christ。 Say to them broadly and fully； freely and
unconditionally； unreservedly and undoubtingly； 〃e unto Christ； as
the penitent thief did： e unto Christ； and you shall be saved。〃
II。 The second lesson we are meant to learn from this passage is
this。If some are saved in the very hour of death； others are not。
This is a truth that never ought to be passed over； and I dare not
leave it unnoticed。 It is a truth that stands out plainly in the sad
end of the other malefactor； and is only too often forgotten。 Men
forget that there were 〃two thieves。〃
What became of the other thief who was crucified？ Why did he not turn
from his sin； and call upon the Lord？ Why did he remain hardened and
impenitent？ Why was he not saved？ It is useless to try to answer such
questions。 Let us be content to take the fact as we find it； and see
what it is meant to teach us。。
We have no right whatever to say this thief was a worse man than his
panion： there is nothing to prove it。 Both plainly were wicked men；
both were receiving the due reward of their deeds； both hung by the
side of our Lord Jesus Christ； both heard Him pray for His murderers；
both saw Him suffer patiently。 But while one repented； the other
remained hardened； while one began to pray； the other went on railing；
while one was converted in his last hours； the other died a bad man； as
he had lived； while one was taken to paradise； the other went to his
own placethe place of the devil and his angels。
Now these things are written for our warning。 There is warning； as well
as fort in these verses； and that is a very solemn warning too。
They tell me loudly； that though some may repent and be converted on
their deathbeds； it does not at all follow that all will。 A deathbed is
not always a saving time。
They tell me loudly； that two men may have the same opportunities of
getting good for their souls； may be placed in the same position； see
the same things； and hear the same thingsand yet only one of the two
shall take advantage of them； repent； believe and be saved。
They tell me； above all； that repentance and faith are the gifts of God
and are not in a man's own power； and that if anyone flatters himself
he can repent at his own time； choose his own season； seek the Lord
when he pleases； and； like the penitent thief； be saved at the very
lasthe may find at length he is greatly deceived。
And it is good and profitable to bear this in mind。 There is an immense
amount of delusion in the world on this very subject。 I see many
allowing life to slip away； quite unprepared to die。 I see many
allowing that they ought to repent； but always putting off their own
repentance。 And I believe one grand reason is； that most men suppose
they can turn to God just when they like！ They wrest the parable of the
labourer in the vineyard； which speaks of the eleventh hour； and use it
as it never was meant to be used。 They dwell on the pleasant part of
the verses I am now considering； and forget the rest。 They talk of the
thief that went to paradise； and was saved； and they forget the one who
died as he had livedand was lost。 ＇43＇
I entreat every man of mon sense who reads this paper； to take heed
that he does not fall into this mistake。
Look at the history of men in the Bible； and see how often these
notions I have been speaking of are contradicted。 Mark well how many
proofs there are that two men may have the same light offered them； and
only one use it； and that no one has a right to take liberties with
God's mercy； and presume he will be able to repent just when he likes。
Look at Saul and David。 They lived about the same time； they rose from
the same rank in life； they were called to the same position in the
world； they enjoyed the ministry of the same prophet； Samuel； they
reigned the same number of years！Yet one was saved； and the other
lost。
Look at Sergius Paulus and Gallio。 They were both Roman governors； they
were both wise and prudent men in their generation； they both heard the
Apostle Paul preach！ But one believed and was baptisedthe