Forgiven!: The True Story of Brownlow North [Brochure]

Full Text of This Product

The True Story of Brownlow North

“Blessed is the man whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.” Psalm 32:1

Brownlow North, (1810-1904), lived his first 44 years as an irresponsible and thoughtless aristocrat—so much so that, despite his attractive personality, he had a reputation for dissapation and excess. But, he also had friends and family who prayed for him all of those years. One evening, feeling ill and fearing death, he began to seek God earnestly. Through reading God’s Word and the with the help of his Christian friends, He found Christ and forgiveness. He recognized himself as a changed man, proclaimed himself a changed man, and soon,began trying to bring others to Christ. In time, he became a very effective and prominent preacher of the gospel.

One day, as he entered the building where he was to preach, he was handed a note that carried this warning: “Brownlow North, you miserable hypocrite! Do you remember what took place at … on such a date, and your part in it; also at … on such a date, and again at … on such a date, and your part on each of these occasions?”

Complete details of what did happen were given, and then the letter concluded: “Now, you wretched hypocrite! You know that every word of this letter is true. Will you, after reading it, dare to go into that pulpit and rant and rave and preach what you call the gospel?”

Mr. North felt the force of the letter deeply, but he put it into his pocket, and when the time came for him to speak, he read this Bible verse: “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” He paused, and then, with deep feeling, he finished reading the verse, “Of whom I am chief” (1 Timothy 1:15).

“My friends,” he said, “when I entered this building tonight, a letter was put into my hands. I do not know who the writer may be, but he is evidently one who knows a great deal about my past. This letter refers to three distinct occasions in which it charges me with participating in depraved behavior. I won’t pollute your ears by quoting the details of this letter. The writer concludes his painful communication by saying, ‘Now, you wretched hypocrite! You know that every word of this letter is true. Will you, after reading it, dare to go into that pulpit and rant and rave and preach what you call the gospel?’ ”

“Dear friends, there are three things that I have to say about this letter. First, it is all true. Would to God that I could deny the charges it makes. Would to God that I could undo the past, but that’s not possible for even God Himself. God knows it’s true, and I confess with sorrow and shame that it’s true.

“The second thing I have to say is that it’s all forgiven! God knows it’s forgiven, and I know that it’s forgiven.”

“The third thing I have to say is that if God, for Jesus Christ’s sake, can forgive the sins of a sinner like Brownlow North, there is not a sinner in this world too great for God to forgive him all his sins.”

Your sins may or may not be as glaring as those of Browlow North, but they can be forgiven just as freely by the same pardoning God, if you come to Him in true repentance. If you die unforgiven, you will experience the blackness of darkness forever. Still, God in mercy wants you for Himself.

“Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation [satisfying sacrifice] through faith in His blood, to declare … His righteousness: that He might be just, and the Justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” Romans 3:24-26.

“The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7.

Forgiven? All forgiven? Yes, God has said it. Forgiven! Do you believe it? Do you accept it? Have you thanked Him?

“Blessed is the man whose transgression [offense] is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the LORD imputeth [charges] not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile [deceit].” Psalm 32:1-2.

{Also available in smaller gospel tract format, BTP #41581)