But in the midst of all this trouble, he makes mention of,
II. His consolation —
Whilst deeply bemoaning his sin, he was assured that God was privy to all the workings of his soul, beholding his desires, and hearing all his groans. Now this was a great consolation to him, because he well knew,
1. That God, in the groanings of a penitent, recog- nizes the voice of his own eternal Spirit —
[Groans are the natural expressions of inward pain and anguish ; and when they arise from a sense of sin, they are indications of a penitent heart. But no pious disposition is found in man till it is planted there by the Holy Ghost. God is " the Author of every good and perfect gift," and must " give us to will, no less than to do" whatever is acceptable in his sight. As for groanings on account of sin, they are more especially said to be the fruits of the Spirit, who thus " helpeth our infirmities, and enables us to express those feelings which are too big for utterance V To vian such inarticulate sounds would convey no distinct idea ; but God imderstands them perfectly, because " he knoweth the mind of the Spirit : " and he dehghts in them, because it is in this way that " the Spirit maketh intercession for us," and because these very intercessions are " according to the will of God^."
What a consolatory thought is this to one that is overwhelmed with a sense of sin ! " He knows not what to pray for as he ought ; " and perhaps the load upon his spirit disables him for uttering what his unembarrassed judgment would dictate : but he recollects that God needeth not any one to interpret to him our desires : he understands a sigh, a tear, a look, with infal- lible certainty : he sees all the self-lothing and self-abhorrence that is contained in such expressions of the penitent's feelings ;
^ 1 Cor. xi. 30. « Job xx. 12—14.
f Rom. viii. 26. s Rom. viii. 27.