transgression, and sin"." See also his marvellous displays of this attribute towards the children of men : to what an extent it could reach P, and with what rapidity it could fly to the dis- charge of its delightful office i. Hear the language in which God " reasons'" with sinners: (O, blessed reasoning ! I pray God it may convince us all, and not leave so much as a shadow of doubt upon our minds !) " Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow : though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wooP." Yes, Brethren, however discouraging your inward conflicts may be, ye may well " encourage your- selves in the Lord your God^"]
2. From the sufficiency of the means ordained by God—
[God had appointed sacrifices as an atonement for sin : and, though "they could never take away sin," or "make a man perfect as pertaining to the conscience*," they directed the offerers to that one great sacrifice which was in due time to be offered on the cross, and which was a sufficient " propi- tiation for the sins of the whole world "." And, in the view of that sacrifice, David, with all his enormous guilt upon him, could say, " Purge me with hyssop, and /shall be clean ; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow^," Who then amongst us shall despair of mercy, if only we seek it in the Saviour's name ? Indeed it is not mercy only, but justice also, that shall plead for us, if we approach our God in the name of Christ : for we are told that " if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness y." Here, then, let the drooping sinner take courage ; and to his complaints, that *' iniquities prevail against him," add the consolatory truth, " As for my trans- gressions, O Lord, thou shalt purge them away." Thou hast "opened a fountain for sin and for uncleanness^;" and I believe that it shall be sufficient even for me ; and that " the blood of Jesus Christ, thy Son, shall cleanse me from all sin^."]
To all of you, then, I would say,
1. Acquaint yourselves with your own ways, that you may be truly humbled —
[There can be no humility without self-knowledge : nor must any one be satisfied with an examination of his outward conduct : {that, like St. Paul's in his unconverted state, may
° Exod. xxxiv. 6, 7. ^ 2 Chron. xxxiii. 19. fi 2 Sam. xii. 13. ^ Isai. i. 18. « j Sam. xxx. 6.
t Heb. ix. 9, 14. and x. 4, 14. u 1 Johnii. 2.
^ Ps. li. 7. y 1 John i. 9. ^ Zech. xiii. 1.
a 1 John i. 7.