converts on the day of Pentecost and in the Jailer §
And similar displays of mercy may we ourselves hope for, if only we humble ourselves before him, and seek to be clothed in the Redeemer's righteouness : for " he is rich in mercy unto all who call upon him."]
Having stated thus his own experience, David proceeds to tell us,
III, What improvement we should make of it — •
Unspeakably encouraging is the record here given Us. We should take occasion from it,
1. To seek the Lord for ourselves — •
[*^ The godly" will make their prayer unto God ; and the ungodly also should do it. if any man ever had reason to de- spair, David had, after having so grievously departed from his God. But he cried unto the Lord, and obtained mercy at his hands. Shall the ungodly then say, My sins are too great to be pardoned ? Or shall " the godly," after the most horrible back- slidings, sit down in despair, and say, "There is no hope?" No :
the example of David absolutely forbids this At the
same time it shews the folly of delaying repentance : for there is no peace to the soul in an impenitent state : neither here nor hereafter can we be happy in any other way than that which God has marked out for us. If penitential sorrow be painful, it never corrodes like impenitent obduracy : there is in it a melting of soul that participates of the nature of holy joy : and, if " weep- ing do endure for a night, joy is sure to come in the morning." If then we would be truly happy, let us flee to Christ as the Refuge set before us : he is " the Lord our Righteousness ;" and the vilest sinner upon earth shall find his " blood able to cleanse us from all sin," and his righteousness sufficient to clothe our souls, so that the " shame of our nakedness shall never appear." Bnt let us take care,]
2. To
' See 2 Sam. xii. 13. « Acts xvi, 34.