sins' :~ so ih_: . humbly confess our sins. God will be
faithful and just in forgiving our sins, and in cleansing us from .. . uu: _:...-- - ;;:re in tin -- experience to I was brought low, and he helped «<?.""]
En the -of our text we sc IY. The improvement which he made of his whole snee — He determined henceforth to make God " the of his soul —
there is no rest for the soul in any other. We m
renew our attempts to seek it in tins lower world, but we shall
fend none, except in the ark of God. Indeed the great use of
troubles is to bring us to a conviction of tins truth : and. what-
r we may have suffered rrom " the sorrows of death." or
be pains of heIL~ we may bless and adore our God lor the
- - n : : :: ii: -. - " «t : . --. -.- -: .._ . ..r -- '_ inrss
in tutu
* Rom. m. . . '1 John i 9.
090. kTBFUI. RECOLLE4 J77
ri'o the same "Rest* must Iso continually
u return" —
[As the needle of a compass which has sustained some violent concussion will continue its tremulous motion till it returns to the pole again, so must our souls do, if at any time through the violence of temptation they be diverted for a season from their God. Not a moments rest should we even wish to have, till we find it in him alone. In all his perfections we have " chambers into which we may enter," and in which we may enjoy security from every impending danger. His omniscience will prevent surprise : his omnipotence will defeat our most potent adversaries: his love will comfort us under our most painful circumstances: and his faithfulness will preserve us even to the end. Let our troubles then drive us to him, and our experience of past mercies determine us to " cleave unto him with full purpose of heart."!
Address —
[We now revert to the resolution announced by the Psalmist at the very beginning of the psalm : " Because the Lord hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live." This shews how justly he appreciated the Divine goodness ; that he regarded it as an inexhaustible fountain, from whence the whole creation may incessantly " draw water with joy." The very command which God him- self has given us, attests the same, and proves, that it is no less our privilege than our duty to " pray without ceasing," to " pray, and not faint." O Brethren, let every answer to prayer bring you back again more speedily to the throne of grace ; and every communication of blessings to your souls make you more importunate for further blessings, till " your cup runneth over," and you are " filled with all the fulness of God-"]