occasion, has wept for sin? but. Where is the person whose heart is habitually broken and contrite, so as to have no hope, no peace, but in the atoning blood of Christ ; and who, notwithstanding* God is reconciled towards him, still lothes himself for his iniquities and abominations ? The man who had fled to a city of refuge ventured not out of the gates of the city any more (till the death of the High Priest), lest the pursuer of blood should fall upon him and destroy him. And if we, through fear of God's displeasure, have fled for refuge to Jesus, as to the hope set before us, we shall be care- ful to " abide in him," lest the sword of vengeance overtake us, and we perish.]
3. Who is there amongst you that imfeignedly and unreservedly endeavours to fulfil his will ?
[A desire to please God cannot but be associated with a fear of his Divine Majesty. Say, then, where is the person who from day to day endeavours to ascertain his will, and labours to perform it? I am not inquiring after one who never errs ; for such a character as that I could have no hope to find on earth ; since " in many things we all offend ;" and " there is no man that liveth and sinneth not." But one who labours conscientiously to approve himself to God, I may hope to find. Search amongst you. Brethren ; see whether such an one be not to be found. I am not willing that the consolations in my text should be spoken in vain : I want to engage the attention of the person to whom they are addressed, and to pour them into the ear for which they are more especially de- signed. But do not too hastily obtrude yourselves, and say, ' I am he.' Consider once more. Are you so studious of God's will, and so determined to perform it, that no consideration of ease, or interest, or pleasure, can induce you to violate any one of his commands? And, if in any thing a more perfect way can be pointed out to you, are you ready to walk in it, not- withstanding any difficulties you may have to encounter, or any trials to which you may be exposed ?]
If there be one whose conscience bears witness to him that his state before God is such as I have described, then I have found the person for whose comfort the Psalmist made the declarations in my text, and for whose benefit I shall, II. Unfold the benefits that are accorded to him —
Stand forth, my Brother ; for in the name of the Most High God I declare unto you, that,
1. You shall be taught and guided in the way that God approves —
534.] Tllli PORTION OF THOSE WHO FEAR GOD. 165
[It may be, that at present your views of divine truth are but obscure ; and that you have but little capacity to comprehend the deep things of God, and but little oppor- tunity to investigate them. Yet I say to you, in the name of the Lord, that you shall be guided into all truth, as far as shall be necessary for the welfare of your soul ; and that God's way shall be made so plain before your face, that, not- withstanding you be " a wayfaring man, and, in respect of human sciences, a fool, you shall not err therein*." In particu- lar, you shall have the Lord Jesus Christ revealed to you, as " the Way, the truth, and the life :" and, " having received him " into your hearts, you shall " tvalk in him, rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith as you have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving ^" This is the very first step to which the teaching of Almighty God will lead you ; as our Lord has said : " It is written in the pro- phets. All thy children shall be taught of God. Every one, therefore, that hath heard and learned of the Father, cometh tmto me'^." In the course of your pilgrimage many difficulties will arise, wherein you will need direction from above : but God engages that in all those emergencies " you shall hear a voice behind you, saying. This is the way, walk ye in it ; when you would otherwise be turning to the right hand or to the left^." As the pillar and the cloud went before the Israelites throughout all their journey ings in the wilderness for forty years, till they arrived safe in the Promised Land, so will " God guide you by his counsel, till he has safely brought you to