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 satis- fied 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 ivill despise every thing short of that. Do not then 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 sor- row, 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 salvation, 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 enthu- siast, and mil " cast out your name as evil" But your
comfort is, that God \nU not despise you. If the Psalmist had merely affirmed this, it would have been a rich ground of con- solation: but he makes it a matter of appeal to God; "A broken and contrite spirit, thou, 0 God, wUl not despise." What a glorious truth ! When you are so vile and contemptible in your own eyes that you blush and are confomided before God, and " dare not even lift up yotu: 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 onlv-begotten Son into the world '^; and read the account given of the very first sermon that Jesus ever preached^ : and hear to whom in particular he addressed his invitations^: consider these, I say, and then reject the consolation if you can.]
3. For instruction to the more advanced Christian —
[Is a broken and contrite heart the sacrifice with which you must come to God ? Know that it is that which you must continue also to oflTer him to the latest hour of yoiu* lives. You are not to lose the remembrance of your shame and sorrow, but to " lothe yourselves after that God is pacified towards you%" yea, and because that God is pacified towards you. The more abundant is his mercy towards you, the more should you ablior yourself for having ever sinned against so gracious a God. You
t 2 Cor. vii. 10. " Jer. xxxi. 18 — 20. ^ Isai. Ixi. 1 — 3
y Luke iv. 17—21. ^ Matt. xi. 28. ^ Ezek. xvi. 63.