a mostly german debate on conversion and salvation there can be no salvation without an holy life, and no final happiness without habits and dispositions for it.”699 A few of his words represent well his view on late repentance: ”desperate”, ”not … the glimmer of an hope”, ”inconsistent with such an hope”, and ”absolutely desperate and hopeless”.700 Harwood also forcefully rejected all suggestions that the criminal, St Dismas, at the cross besides Jesus in any way could be an example for others. Either his conversion had been well prepared before Golgotha or it was a unique event allowed by God because there was no other time for this criminal to confess his crime. Suggesting that God would allow sinners to find salvation shortly before death is to suggest that God repudiate the moral rules he has given to those created by him – that God in reality is immoral. No, only holiness is the route to salvation. God demands it, and to suggest any other route would lead to a situation is which nobody can be saved.701 There were, however, at least one voice clearly opposing these interpretations of the scene at the crosses and of conversion: David Edwards in a sermon given in the presence of two condemned in Ipswich in April 1769 on the often disputed text of Lk 23:42-43. Despite that there was no earlier sign of any repentance in the prisoners they were soon to be promised Paradise through the mercy and love of God as they were converted, saved, and snatched ”as a brand out of the burning”.702 The promise of Christ is certain and not to be doubted.703 Among the examples cited is also the transformation of Saul to St Paul and a lesson of the scene at Golgotha is:”From the extraordinary conversion of the Thief upon the cross, we may learn not to despair of the conversion of the vilest sinner.”704 A later English example of how St Dismas continued to concern commentators is a sermon given by John Courtney in Sanderstead in 1817 after executions had taken place in the vicinity. He said that ”the accep699 Harwood 1767 p 111. 700 Harwood 1767 p 148 sq. 701 Harwood 1793 p 36 sqq, 43 sq. 702 Edwards 1775 p 30 sqq (quotation p 34). 703 Edwards 1775 p 49. 704 Edwards 1775 p 59. 197
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