1 . For the conviction of the impenitent — [Worldly sorrow has more or less been the portion of us all:
but how few have "sorrowed after a godly sort !" The generality have never laid to heart their sins at all : and they who have felt some compunction, have for the most part been satisfied with a little transient sorrow, and something of an outward reformation of life. But let this be remembered, that when it is said, "God will not despise the sacrifice of a broken and contrite heart, it is manifestly implied, that he tvill despise every thing short of that. Do not theji deceive yourselves with an expectation that God will accept your feigned or partial humiliation: your penitence must be deep, and your change radical: your sorrow for sin must far exceed any worldly sorrow, and must bring you incessantly to the foot of the cross, as your only refuge and your only hope : nor will any repentance short of this be " a repentance unto sal- vation, but only a repentance eternally to be repented of^."]
2. For consolation to the penitent — ■
[When once you become truly penitent, men will begin to despise you : they will look upon you as a poor weak enthusiast, and will " cast out your name as evil" But your com- fort is, that God will not despise you. If the Psalmist had merely affirmed this, it would have been a rich ground of conso- lation : but he makes it a matter of appeal to God ; " A broken and contrite spirit, thou, 0 God, will not despise." What a glorious truth ! When you are so vile and contemptible in your own eyes that you blush and are confounded before God, and " dare not even lift up your eyes unto heaven," God looks upon you with pleasure and complacency, and acknowledges you as his dearly beloved child*. Do you want evidence of this? See for whom God sent his only-begotten Son into the world"; and read the account given of the very Jirst sermon that Jesus ever preached"^ '. and hear to whom in particular he addressed his invitations^: consider these, I say, and then reject the conso- lation if you can.]
3. For instruction to the more advanced Chris- tian—
[Is a broken and contrite heart the sacrifice with which you must come to God? know that it is that which you must con- tinue also to offer him to the latest hour of your lives. You are not to lose the remembrance of your shame and sorrow, but to " lothe yourselves after that God is pacified toward you%" yea, and because that God is pacified towards you. The more abun- dant is his mercy towards you, the more should you abhor your- self for having ever sinned against so gracious a God. You
cannot
^ 2 Cor. vii. 10. ' Jar. xxxi, IS — 20. " Isai. Ixi. 1 — 3.
^Lukeiv. 17 — 21. " Matt. xi. 28. * Ezek. xvi. 63.
202 PSALMS, Lvii. 7— 11. [374.
cannot but have seen in others, and probably felt within your- selves, a disposition to depart from this ground, and to indulge a spirit of self-sufficiency and pride. I intreat you to examine
yourselves witlf respect to it It is a common evil, and is
very apt to lurk in us unperceived. — But if we see it not our- selves, we shall without fail discover it to others; or, if they should not discover it, God will behold it, and that too with utter abhorrence^. Watch over yourselves therefore, and pray that you may grow continually in lowliness of mind, in tender- dess of conscience, in meekness of temper, and in purity of heart. The more you resemble little children, the higher will you be in the kingdom of God''.]
* Prov. xvi, 5. & 1 Pet. v. 5. '' Matt, xviii. 4.