them a : and every one who really knows himself, will exclaim with Job, " Behold, I am vile, I repent, and abhor myself in dust and ashes V]
4. A fleeing to Christ from the guilt and power of sin —
[As long as we retain a hope of healing our own souls, we have not that " repentance which is unto life :" we evi- dently have low thoughts of sin, both of its guilt and power. We must be brought to an utter despair of washing away our sin by our tears, or of breaking its force by our resolutions. We must see that there is no hope for us but in the atoning blood of Christ, and in his all-sufficient grace : and we must rely simply on him, saying, " In the Lord have I righteousness and strength0."]
The importance of this to man is obvious : but it is not so clear, II. Why the angels take so deep an interest in it —
Whether the spirits of departed men have any knowledge of what passes in this world, may well be doubted : but it is certain that the angels are in- timately connected with mankind, and take a lively interest in the things relating to them. They view the return of a penitent with peculiar delight ;
1. Because it tends so greatly to the benefit of
man —
[The angels cannot but be apprised of the misery into which the once happy, but now apostate, spirits are fallen : and they know that a participation of that misery is reserved for impenitent sinners. Whether they feel any pity towards a sinner in the midst of his rebellion, we cannot say : but we apprehend, that they rather look upon him with holy indigna- tion, and stand ready to execute any judgment that God may see fit to inflict upon himd. But their benevolent hearts rejoice, if they see any one fleeing from the impending judg- ments, and setting his face in good earnest towards the heavenly kingdom. They congratulate him in their minds, and exult in the thought of having him to all eternity a partner of their joys.]
2. Because it opens fresh scope for the exercise of
their own love —
[It is essential to benevolence to delight in opportunities of exerting itself for the benefit of the objects beloved. Now,
a Ezek. xx. 43. and xvi. C3. b Job xl. 4. and xlii. G.
c Isai. xlv. 24. d Acts xii. 23.