the world more difficult. IVe naturally prefer any other plea that can be devised : and, even when we find that we have not in ourselves any worthiness on which we can rely, we are still averse to rest on the name of Jesus. We either deem it iiisiijfi' cient to procure acceptance for our prayers, or make our iinwor- thiness a reason for declining to urge it as our plea with any con- fidence before God. But, unless we renounce every other hope, and rest entirely on the mediation and intercession of Christ, our prayer will never enter into the ears of our heavenly Father — ]
Observations :
1. The vilest of sinners has no reason to despair — [The confession, petition, and plea, which David presented at the throne of Grace, are suited to the very chief of sinners : nor, as the subsequent experience of David proves, can there be any state in which they shall not prevail. Let none then despond. Be it so. Our iniquities are great; but are they greater than Christ's merits, or beyond the reach of God's mercy ? If not, let us exalt our adorable Saviour, and determine, if we perish, to perish crying for mercy in the name of Jesus.]
1. The most eminent saints liave no ground to boast —
[There never was a creature that had any righteousness of his own to plead. And if God has had mercy upon any. It was purely and entirely for his own name sake§. Could we ascend to heaven, and ask the glorified saints what had been the ground of their acceptance, they would all '^ cast down their crowns at the feet of Jesus," and shout, with one consent, "Sal- vation to God and to the Lamb''!" — Let the saints on earth then lie low before God, and say continually, " Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy naine be the praise."]
3. Persons of every description must guard dili- gently against pride and unbelief —
[Sin, of whatever kind, is both evil in itself and dangerous to us. But the consequences of pride and unbelief are pecu- liarly fatal. Thare is not any other sin which may not be for- given, provided we seek mercy with real penitence and faith. But if we be too proud to confess our sins, and to plead the name and merits of Jesus for the forgiveness of them, we insure and seal our own condemnation. Let us then guard against all sin ; but especially against these, which rivet all our other sins upon us. So shall we ol)tain favour with God, and *' be to him for a name and for a praise for evermore'."]
« Ezek. xxxvi. 22, 32. '' Rev. iv. 10. & vii. 10. J Jer. xiii. 1 1 ."