highly inexpedient : it is a fruitful source of pride, discourage- ment, and hypocrisy. But in the confidence of friendship we may unbosom ourselves one to another, and declare, to the abundant edification both of ourselves and others, what God has done for our souls. In seasons of temptation and spiritual trouble, we may by such a communication administer unspeak- able comfort to an afflicted brother ^ Nor is it necessary that we advert particularly to ourselves : if we give the result of oui- experience, the effect will be the same. The light we have received should not be hid under a bushel : if we have " freely received, we should freely give."]
s 2 Cor. i. 6.
Ps. Ixvi. 18 — 20. If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me. But verily God hath heard me : he hath attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed he God, who hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me!
THE communion of saints is an exalted privilege; and *^ they who fear the Lord will speak often one to another" upon the subjects which are most interest- ing to their souls. To magnify the grace of God, and to encourage one another in the ways of holiness, will be delightful to them, and will tend exceedingly to their mutual improvement. Hence David invited his pious brethren to hear the communications which he had to make on this all-important subject: " Come and hear, all ye that fear God! and I will declare what he hath done for my soul." Then he tells them of God's answers to his prayers ; but at the same time informs them, that there was one condition only on which either they or he could hope for the acceptance of their prayers, namely, that they put away all sin without hesitation and without excep- tion : for " if they regarded iniquity in their heart, the Lord would not hear them."
From the whole of this communication we see,
H. God's abhorrence of sin, when harboured and indulged — " God is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity*:"
a Hab. i. 13.