‘My dear Mr. Rogers,—Will you pardon my intruding on you for a few minutes? I fear I did not explain clearly enough my meaning as to the question you put to us yesterday. Lest there should be any mistake, I will now shortly state what I think.
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‘Forgiveness is promised to sincere repentance—that is, repentance followed by amendment—but this forgiveness is granted for the sake of the expiation made by our divine Lord and Saviour. The death of Christ is the only ground of hope for any of us, and that ground is sure and certain. The atonement and the intercession—that is the only refuge—but as the efficacy of that atonement is unlimited, so is the mercy of the Redeemer. “His blood,” we are assured, “cleanseth from all sin,” but the penitent must seek pardon and acceptance, trusting not in himself or his own virtue, or his repentance, but only on the mercy of the Supreme Being extended to us through the merits and mediation of his Son. To him must be our prayer. I will not enlarge further, but I should be sorry to be at all misunderstood on such a subject, though I feel it a subject too sacred for me to touch.
‘You will, I am sure, receive kindly these few words, as they are meant kindly and come from a sincere and affectionate friend.
‘With every good wish, believe me, ever yours,
