useful instruction. Mercy is to be sought in the first place. To look for sanctification first, and make that a ground whereon to hope for mercy, would subvert the whole Gospel of Christ. We mean not to say, that we should build such an observation as this on the mere circumstance of the petitions occurring in that particular order ; for that circumstance would by no means justify any such conclusion : but from that circumstance we may fitly take occasion to make such an observation which is sanctioned and confirmed by every part of the inspired writings. And we cannot too strongly impress it on the minds of all, that in constructing the spiritual edifice, we must ever be careful to distinguish between the foundation and the superstructure, and to assign to each its appropriate place and office ]
2. To Christian practice —
[Here the just improvement of the petitions is clear and obvious : they teach us to be humble Christians, practical Christians, consistent Christians.
We should be humble Christians. The manner in which the petition for mercy is expressed conveys an idea of deep humility. It is as if he had said, " Lord, I am unworthy that thou shouldst look upon so base, so vile a creature as I am: well might my sins provoke thee to hide thy face from me for ever: but O ! look upon me, according to the multitude of thy tender mercies." Thus it is that we should ever seek for mercy. It is impossible for us ever to lie too low before our God. To the latest hour of our lives we should preserve the spirit of the publican, who, wdrilst he sought for mercy, " dared not so much as to lift up his eyes to heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner ! "
We should also be practical Christians. To think that we can be interested in the mercy of God whilst we are continuing in sin, is a horrible, a fatal delusion. Let not any one entertain such an idea for one moment. Christ's work is finished indeed as it respects himself; but not as it respects us : there is a work to be wrought in us, as well as that which has been wrought for us : and whatever we may imagine about the secret purposes of God, this is revealed as an immutable decree, that " without holiness no man shall see the Lord"
To crown the whole, we must be consistent Christians. To harbour any sin, of whatever kind it be, will prove us hypocrites. " If we regard iniquity in our hearts, God will never hear us," never accept us. The right hand or right eye must be sacri- ficed, as well as those sins which may be more easily put away
— O let us seek to be " Israelites indeed, in whom there
is no guile," and to be " sincere and without offence until the day of Christ ! "]