[" We have sinned against God " as much as any people upon earth : " our backslidings have been very many," and " our iniquities do indeed testify against us." Look through
the land ; see what profaneness everywhere abounds !
We have indeed professed on many solemn fast-days to repent, and turn unto the Lord ; but our humiliation has not survived the day appointed for it, nor has any national reformation been
visible amongst us If we enter, every one of us, into
our own hearts, we may see an epitome of all that is passing in the world: we may say with the Psalmist, "My heart sheweth
me the wickedness of the ungodly b" What ingratitude
for mercies, what impenitence under sin, what unmindfulness of God's presence, what disregard of his word, what evil dis- positions, corrupt affections, and vile propensities, may be laid to our charge ! Let any one say, Whether these and innu- merable other sins, do not testify against him We would
hope that there are but few amongst us who have not resolved, and for a time endeavoured, to repent : but has not our " good- ness been as the morning-cloud, or the early dew that passeth away ? " Have not our " backslidings been multiplied ? " And could we have thought, some years ago, that we should have made so small a progress in the Divine life, or, perhaps, that we
should at this day have been as far from God as ever ?
Let us then make these acknowledgments to God with most unfeigned contrition, and lie before him in dust and ashes.]
With equal propriety also we may imitate,
II. Their mournful expostulations —
Nothing indeed can be more offensive to God than arrogant expostulations" ; but nothing more accept- able than such as are presented with unfeigned hu- mility—
Such were those with which the Jewish penitents addressed the Lord —
[The titles, by which they address the Deity, are expres- sive of the deepest reverence : God is indeed the hope, the only (< hope of his people :" and he is their imlling and all- sufficient " Saviour in the time of trouble." Nor did they intend to question either his inclination or ability to save them; but only to say, Wilt thou be like a stranger that cares not for us ; or like one, who, though mighty in himself, is yet, through perturbation of his mind, or the insuperable difficulty of the case, unable to afford succour? Similar expostulations were frequently used by David d; and however they may at first
b Ps. xxxvi. 1. Prayer-Book Translation. c Isai. lviii. 3.
d Ps. xliv. 23 — 27. and lxxiv. 10, 11.