that sin is a tremendous evil, and that, however it may be " rolled under the tongue for a season as a sweet morsel," "it will bite at last like a serpent, and sting like an adder ? "]
Let us, not, however, be so intent on the power of sin to wound the soul, as to forget,
II. The power of grace to heal it —
What were the sins which had broken David's bones ? Adultery and murder. And was it possible that they should be forgiven, and that the person who had committed them should ever " hear again of joy and gladness?" Yes: there is nothing too hard for God's power to effect ; nothing too great for his mercy to bestow.
The provision made for sinners in the Gospel is adequate to the necessities of all —
[This is a blessed truth, and full of the richest consola- tion. If there were any bounds to the mercy of God, or to the merits of his dear Son, millions of the human race must sit down in utter despair. But, when we learn that Christ is " a propitiation for the sins of the whole world," and that " his blood cleanseth from all sin ; " when we are informed also, that persons who are accepted in the Beloved, stand before God " without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, and are holy and without blemish ; " none can say, " There is no hope for me." On the contrary, even David himself is authorised to say, " Purge me with hyssop, and / shall be clean ; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow"'\
The man who lays hold on the Gospel shall have all his sorrows turned into joy —
[Of this, David himself was an eminent example. Even he could say, " Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing ; thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness '^." Who can tell the full efficacy of " the balm of Gilead?" Who can fully declare what peace and joy are imparted to the sinner, when God lifts upon him the light of his reconciled countenance ? Verily, the peace that is then imparted 1o his soul "passeth all understanding;" and "the joy" that flows in upon him " is unspeakable and glorified." Behold the converts on the day of Pentecost, or the jailer, when once the Saviour was revealed to him : how speedily were all their sorrows dissipated, and their griefs turned into the subhmest joy ! And cannot many amongst ourselves attest
d Ps. XXX. 11.