View source for If you meet that poor wretch who thrust his spear into My side!,.

'''Back to [[Christ's Comfort for Weary Pilgrims!]]'''
----
<p>(Benjamin Grosvenor, "The Temper of Jesus Christ towards His Enemies, and His Grace to the Chief of Sinners")<br>
  <br>
  "Repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in His name to all nations, <em>beginning at Jerusalem." </em>Luke 24:47<em><br>
    <br>
    </em>It is very affecting that the <em>first offers of grace</em> should be made to those who, of all people in the world — had done it the most harm! One would rather have expected the apostles should have received another kind of charge, and that Christ <em>should</em> have said, "Let repentance and forgiveness of sins be preached — but do NOT carry it to Jerusalem, that wicked city, that has been the slaughter-house of my prophets, whom I have often sent. Last of all, I myself, the Son, came — and with wicked hands, they have crucified and murdered Me! They may do the same to you! Do <em>not</em> let the gospel enter those wicked gates, through which they led Me, its Author, to crucifixion!"<br>
  <br>
  But Christ singles out exactly these — to make <em>monuments of His mercy</em>, and commands the first offer of eternal life to be made to them! As if our Lord had said: "Lest the poor house of Israel should think themselves abandoned to eternal despair — as cruel and vile as they have been — go, make the first offer of grace to them! Let those who spilled My blood — be welcome to its healing virtue. Tell them that there is repentance and forgiveness,<em> even for them!"</em><br>
  "Nay, <strong>if you meet that poor wretch who thrust his spear into My side</strong>, tell him that there is another way, a better way of coming to My heart — even My heart's love! Tell him, that if he will repent, and look upon Me whom he has pierced, and will mourn — then I will cherish him in that very bosom which he has wounded! Tell him that he shall find the blood which he has shed — to be an ample atonement for the sin of shedding it! And tell him from Me, that he will put Me to more pain and displeasure by refusing this offer of My blood — than when he first drew it forth!"<br>
  <br>
  "For I have not come to call the righteous, but <em>sinners </em>to repentance!" Matthew 9:13
----
'''Back to [[Christ's Comfort for Weary Pilgrims!]]'''