"It was triumph! The devil lost all power to torture him; for, with
the sweet assurance of his forgiveness came the peace that passeth
understanding. What is there for great criminals? Only the cross of
Christ? O the miracle of love, that found out for us such an escape!"
"And you think that the man really believed himself to be forgiven
by God?"
"I am sure that he knew he was forgiven."
"It is wonderful. Why, then, do not all Christians have this
knowledge?"
"It is their privilege to have it; but how few of us have that royal
nature which claims all our rights! The cross of Christ! There are
still Jewish minds to whom it is a stumbling-block; and still more
minds of the Greek type to whom it is foolishness."
"But is not this doctrine specially a Methodist one?"
"If St. Paul was a Methodist, and St. Augustine, and Martin Luther,
and the millions of saved men, to whom God has counted 'faith' in his
word and mercy 'for righteousness,' then it is specially Methodist.
What says the Lord? 'Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace
with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ.' I do not say but what there
are many good men without this assurance; but I do say, that it is
the privilege of all who love and believe God. John Wesley himself
did not experience this joy until he heard the Moravian, Peter Bohler,
preach.
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