of his fulness we are all to receive," according to our respective necessities. This was David's encouragement. Had he not known this, he would have sat down in utter despair. It is a consciousness of this that emboldens a penitent to draw nigh to God, and to ask for mercy at his hands. A soul that is gone beyond the reach of mercy, hates God with a perfect hatred, and " never repents to give him glory1:" but the soul that hopes in his mercy, feels towards him a filial fear and reverence ; and this holy fear is ever augmented in proportion to the hope that is cherished in the soul. Hence, when God says respecting his people, " I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me ; and I will pardon all their iniqui- ties, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have trans- gressed against me ;" he adds, " And it shall be to me a name of joy, a praise, and an honour before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do unto them. And they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness, and for all the prosperity, that I procure unto itm."]
In this view of David's experience we may see,
1. Our dependence on God —
[To whom can we go in a time of trouble? Who can afford us even the smallest help, especially under a sense of sin, and under a dread of God's displeasure ? We may possess all that the world can give, but it will not for a moment soothe the agonies of a guilty conscience. Of all things under the sun, in this view, it must be said, " Miserable comforters are ye all ! " Our help is in God alone. " He is the only fountain of life : and in his light alone can we see light11."]
2. Our obligations to him —
[When we see so holy a man as David brought into " depths" where he feels as one ready to perish, what thanks can we render unto God, that we are enabled to pass through life in peaceful tranquillity, and with a cheerful hope of eternal life ! None but those who have experienced the hidings of God's face, and the terrors of his wrath, can have any concep- tion what it is to be reduced to such a state. Does David say, " Fearfulness hath taken hold upon me, and an horrible dread hath overwhelmed me?" Why, then, is not that the condition of our souls ? Who does not deserve it ? Who might not well be left to sustain it throughout his whole life ? If we were saved from perdition at last, it would be a mercy, for which we should have cause to bless God to all eternity. But to enjoy peace here, and the light of God's countenance, verily this is a blessing for which we can never be sufficiently thankful.
But there is yet a richer blessing vouchsafed unto us ; and
1 Rev. xvi. 9, 11. m Jer. xxxiii. 8, 9. n Ps. xxxvi. 9.