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25-Pack of Large Print Gospel Tracts, 14-Point Type
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The Strange Story of George Wilson
About two hundred years ago a man named George Wilson was sentenced to be hanged for robbing the United States mails and for murder. Andrew Jackson, who was then the President, exercised his prerogative and sent Wilson a pardon. Wilson, however, refused the pardon, and insisted that it was not a pardon unless he accepted it.
The Attorney General said that the law was silent on this point, and the matter was referred to the United States Supreme Court. Chief Justice Marshall gave the following decision: “A pardon is a paper, the value of which depends on its acceptance by the person implicated. It is hardly to be supposed that one under sentence of death would refuse to accept a pardon, but if it is refused it is no pardon. George Wilson must be hanged!” And so he was.
We may wonder why Wilson refused the pardon, and we may think that his decision was strange and foolish; but it is no more strange and foolish than the fatal decisions made daily by the thousands who refuse the pardon that God freely offers them.
The Attorney General said that the law was silent on this point, and the matter was referred to the United States Supreme Court. Chief Justice Marshall gave the following decision: “A pardon is a paper, the value of which depends on its acceptance by the person implicated. It is hardly to be supposed that one under sentence of death would refuse to accept a pardon, but if it is refused it is no pardon. George Wilson must be hanged!” And so he was.
We may wonder why Wilson refused the pardon, and we may think that his decision was strange and foolish; but it is no more strange and foolish than the fatal decisions made daily by the thousands who refuse the pardon that God freely offers them.
Men need pardon because they are offenders against God. Sin (the sin which we so often and so casually ignore) is a terrible offense in God’s sight, and all have sinned. All, therefore, need pardon. None can earn it, for men are not only sinners but “without strength.”
“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” Romans 5:6
But the Lord “is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” God has not left us to perish without hope. On the ground of the atonement made by His own Son, He offers a free pardon to all men. He offers it to you, as you are, here and now.
However, if you do not accept that pardon, it will do you no good. I beg you, therefore, do not let this priceless pardon slip away from you through indifference or through mere stubbornness of heart.
“He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.” John 1:11-12