IV. His speedy recovery —
[Many there are who go mourning abnost all their lives. And wherefore ? Is it that God arbitrarily, and without occa- sion, hides his face from them? No : it is owing to this very thing which we have been speaking of, namely, their restrain- ing prayer before God, and not using the jjroper 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 pardon 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.' But 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 w^as 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 servants : " and, as a parent feels reHef 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 it". The father'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 testi- mony of David in this very psalm shall be confirmed in you: *' His anger endureth but a moment: in his favour is life : weep- ing may endure 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 which 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 employ it in his praise : " O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever." Blessed resolution ! O that every one of us would instantly adopt it! O that God would
s See Jar. xiii. 27. and Ps. Ixxxi. 13 — 16. ^ ver. 5.