great importance for the due regulation of our own minds, and for the right counselling of those who are under tlie hidings of God's face.
The excellency and efficacy of this remedy may be seen in,]
IV. His speedy recovery — .
[Many there are who go mourning almost all their lives. And wherefore ? Is it that God arbitrarily, and without occasion, hides his face from them ? No : it is owing to this very thing which we have been speaking of, namely, their restraining of prayer before God, and not using the proper means of regaining his favour. Indeed many are brought into absolute despair by the very means which they use to remove their apprehensions : they go to the consideration of God's secret decrees, when they should be mourning over their miscarriages, and imploring par- don for Christ's sake. Hence they are led to argue thus : " If an elect vessel, how could I be in such darkness and distress ? But I am in this darkness, therefore God has not elected me ; and there is no hope for me." ^ut behold the effect of humiliation and contrition ! See how speedily God returned to the soul of his servant, in answer to his fervent supplications ! The prayers were scarcely offered, before David was enabled to say, " Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing; thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness." And thus would it be with all of us, if we would pursue the method which this holy man adopted. " God delighteth in the prosperity of his ser- vants :" and, as a parent feels relief to his own soul when he can return in love to his offending child, so does God, when he can again lift up the light of his countenance on those, from whom he has been constrained for a season to withhold its. Xhe fatlier's reception of his prodigal son is a sure and delightful specimen of the favour which all will experience, as soon as ever they are brought to the footstool of Divine grace with cries for mercy in the all-prevailing name of Jesus Christ. The testimony of David in this very psalm shall be confirmed in you : '' His anger endureth but a moment : in his favour is life : weeping may en- dure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning''."
The speedy restoration of God's favour to him immediately drew forth,]
V. His grateful acknowledgments — •
[To bring him back to a state of holy peace and joy was the very end for v/hich God so graciously renewed to him the expressions of his love : it was, says David, " to the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent." He calls his tongue " his glory," because that is the member by which above all he could glorify his God : and he determines instantly
to ^ See Jer. xiii. 2". & Ps. Ixxxi. 13 — 16. '' ver. 5.