Nothing but the cross!

(William S. Plumer, "The Rock of Our Salvation" 1867)

"They will look on Me whom they have pierced, and they will mourn" Zechariah 12:10

Nothing but the cross will . . .
  melt a hard heart,
  or bend a stubborn will,
  or give a death-blow to corruption.

A sight of Hell never frightened one out of the love of sin.
The thunders of Sinai never made a rebellious heart submit to God.

Pliny, the naturalist, says that blood readily extinguishes fire. However that may be — the blood of Christ not only quenches the flaming wrath of God, but it also extinguishes the fires of unhallowed desires in the soul. It begets hatred to sin — and love to holiness.

When the Romans saw Caesar's bloody robes, they said, "His murderers shall die!" And when by faith, the sinner sees how his sins crucified the Lord of glory — he will mortify his sins!