how to do it consistently with his own honour f. Let us not then he misunderstood, as though, in accommodating ourselves to the language of our text, we deviated at all from that reverence which is due to the Supreme Being.
It is here intimated then, that, whilst impenitence continues, he knows not how to exercise mercy to the sinner : hut it is also intimated, that, when once persons are humhled for their wickedness, he is at no loss at all how to act towards them : he can then give full scope to the merciful disposition of his own heart, and can pour out all his benefits upon them without any dishonour to his own name. Yes ; that point attained, the law is honoured by the sinner himself; the atoning blood of Christ may be applied freely to cleanse him from his guilt ; the mercy vouchsafed to him will not be abused ; the heavenly hosts will be made to shout for joy ; and God himself will be glorified to all eternity. There is no obstacle whatever to the freest and fullest exercise of love towards such a Being ; and therefore God knows both what to do, and how to do it to the best effect.]
2. From the experience of penitents in all ages —
[Look at those in our text : God had threatened that he would go with them no more, but commit them to the guidance of a created angel. This had produced upon them a very deep impression : the fear of being deserted by him had wrought more powerfully upon them than the slaughter of three thou- sand of their number on the day before §. They humbled them- selves in the way that God had commanded ; and, behold ! the mercy, so ardently desired by them, and by Moses, was granted : " My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest'1." Look at all other penitents from the foundation of the world : was ever so much as one spurned from the footstool of divine grace ? Was ever one sent empty away ? Even where the repentance was far from genuine, considerable respect was paid to it, and the blessing sought for was bestowed1. How much more where the repentance itself has been deep, and the contrition manifest ! Not even the greatest accumulation of guilt that ever was known, was suffered to outweigh the tears of penitence, or to shut up the tender mercies of our God from a contrite soulk. The Saviour was sent into the world for the very purpose of saving them that are lost ; and he assures " all who are weary and heavy laden with a sense of their sins, that, on coming to him, they shall find rest unto their souls."]
Application —
f Jer. iii. 19. 8 ver. 1 — 4. h ver. 14. > 1 Kings xxi. 27 — 29. k 2 Kings xxi. 16. with 2 Chron. xxxiii. 1 — 13.