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The tenth stumbling block, that a poor doubting Christian doth many tim••s meet with, is this, Oh but I have been a blasphemer my self for many years, and have caused others to blas∣pheme also: and how do you think that I can expect pardon and mercy from the Lord whose name I have so frequently and fearfully dishonoured?
Answ. Were there not a height and a depth, a breadth and a length in Gods par∣doning mercy, and had he not pardoned others left upon record in Scriptures,
then there were cause to doubt and fear indeed, that he would not pardon thee for thy blasphemies; but thou hast no cause to doubt of thy interest in him, and pardon from him, and that for these two reasons.
1. Because he hath promised to par∣don thy blasphemies, and all other sins, Mat. 12. 31.
2. Because he hath left thee an example in his Word, of one that blasphemed him∣self, and compelled others to blaspheme, and yet he received pardon, and became a most glorious Saint; see Act. 26. 11. compared with 1 Tim. 1. 13.
It is said of Paul in Scripture, that he punished the Saints oft in every City, and compelled them to blaspheme, and being ex∣ceeding mad against them, persecuted them even unto strange Cities, Act. 26. 10, 11. and yet the Lord had mercy on him, and called him when he was in his course of destroying his Church, Act. 9. 1, 2, 3. & 26. 12, 13. Nay the per∣secutors and murtherers of Jesus Christ himself, finde mercy, and are converted, Act. 2. 36, 37. Oh let heaven and earth, men and Angels, admire this mercy, he pityed him that was cruell to his
Saints, yea, he pardoned them that cru∣cified his Sonne, who would despair when Christ opens to us such a doore of hope? &c.