This is a lovely state of mind, and as opposite to that which many religious people manifest, as light to darkness. Many whose religious principles differ widely from the self-applauding Pha- risee, resemble him very nearly in his spirit and conduct : but let us, on the contrary, imitate the publican, who, " not ven- turing so much as to lift up his eyes to heaven, smote upon his breast, and cried, God be merciful to me a sinner."]
2. His humility and contrition —
[He felt himself a guilty and undone creature, deserving of God's everlasting displeasure : and hence he cried so repeatedly for mercy and salvation. And here again we see how the same views and dispositions are inculcated in the services of our Church. Let any one peruse the confession which is daily
offered or that which we are taught to utter at the table
of the Lord or let him read the responses after every
one of the Ten Commandments or the repeated cries,
"Lord, have mercy upon me! Christ, have mercy upon me! Lord, have mercy upon me ! " and he will see at once, what a beautiful harmony there is between our Liturgy and the Holy Scriptures ; and what distinguished saints all her members would be, if the Spirit of her Liturgy were transfused into their minds. This is the state of mind which, above all, we would recommend to those who desire to find acceptance with God : for " to this man will God look, even to him who is of a broken and contrite spirit p:" this is the sacrifice which, above all, God requires, and which he has assured us "he will never despise*1."]
3. His faith and love —
[David did not so view his own sinfulness as to distrust the mercy of his heavenly Father ; but rather took occasion from his own sinfulness to magnify still more the free and supera- bounding grace of God. In this, his example is especially to be followed. Nothing can warrant us to limit the mercy of our God. O how " ready is he to forgive " returning penitents ! Of this, the conduct of the father towards the repenting pro- digal is a lively and instructive image. In that parable, the compassion of God towards returning sinners is, as it were, exhibited even to the eye of sense. Let us then, whatever be our state, bear this in mind, that unbelief is a sin which binds all our other sins upon us. Never, under any circumstances, should we harbour it for a moment. It is enough to have resisted God's authority, without proceeding further to rob him of the brightest jewels of his crown — his grace and mercy. The goodness of God, as described in our text, and in another subsequent part of this psalm1, — is a sulfi-
p Isai. lvii. 15. and lxv. 2. <i Ps. li. 17. r ver. 15.