and prayed for them with the most pious solicitude^
O that those who think lightly of such sins would ponder the
cautions given them by Solomon s ■ — and learn betimes
to " abstain from fleshly lusts, which tvar against the soul /"]
2. For encouragement —
[Great as was the sin of Samson, and justly as he merited the judgments which he brought upon himself, he found mercy of the Lord at last : and sure we are, that every penitent, whatever his crimes may have been, shall obtain mercy, if only he flee for refuge to that Saviour whose " blood cleanseth from all sin." We mean not by this observation to encourage any in the indulgence of sin, from a hope that they shall at last repent of it and be saved : for how do they know that they shall live to repent, or that, if their lives be prolonged, repentance will be given them ? But, if any are desirous of humbling them- selves for sin before God, let them not despair of mercy : let them rather expect, that God, who delighteth in mercy, will be gracious unto them ; that he will refresh their weary souls in their deepest extremity ^ ; and that, before he take them hence, he will give them victory over all their spiritual enemies ; so that with their dying breath they shall sing, " Thanks be to God who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ !"]
f Prov. v. 22. s Prov. v. 1—13. and vi. 25 — 28. and vii. 6—27.
h Isai. xli. 17, 18.