perused. And I call on all of you to lay this matter to heart ; and now with all diligence to " search the Scriptures," in which ye think ye have, and in which assuredly ye have, eternal life revealed to you.]
2. An application to God for mercy with all humi- lity and earnestness —
[Daniel was considerably above eighty years of age when he arrayed himself " in sackcloth and ashes," and betook himself, in the most solemn manner, to fasting and prayer. Shall ive then account this service too self-denying for us? Did he mourn so deeply for the sins of others, and shall tve not mourn for our own? Shall a short ejaculation be thought sufficient for us, when scarcely invention itself could furnish terms sufficient to express his sense of their guilt ? Shall we offer excuses for ourselves, when he, the holiest man that day on earth, was filled with shame and confusion of face? Think with yourselves, what would be your feeling, if God now, by revelation, made known to this assembly all that had ever passed in your hearts? Would you not be filled with con- fusion? Would you not be glad to hide your heads, aye, and to spend the remainder of your days in solitude, unknow- ing and unknown? Why then do you not abase yourselves before God ? He views you, not as we do, but as ye really are: and if your eyes be opened to discern your real character, I hesitate not to say that you will " lothe yourselves," yea, and " abhor yourselves in dust and ashes." Nor will ye account a whole life of prayer and supplication too much to obtain the mercy of your God.]
3. An entire casting of yourselves upon the mercy of God in Christ Jesus —
[Remember, that God must be sought as he is revealed to us in Christ Jesus. The temple, towards which Daniel turned his face, was a type of Christ, " in whom all the fulness of the Godhead dwells," and through whom alone the Father is accessible to sinful man. " There is no way to the Father, but through Christ1;" " but of those who come to God through him, not one shall ever be cast outk."
You must be especially careful to renounce every other plea. If you rely in any measure whatever on your own righteousness, you never can find acceptance with him1. If Daniel relied entirely on the mercy of his God, so must you. The Apostle Paul " desired to be found in Christ, not having his own righteousness, but the righteousness which is of God
1 John xiv. G. k John vi. 37. ] ver. 18.