322 Hebrews, X. 3. [2308.

for mercy through the appointed sacrifices. A sense of sin was not to weaken their hope of God's mercy, on the one hand ; nor was their confidence in God's mercy to weaken their sense of sin, on the other hand : both were to be retained in constant and united exercise ; that so, whilst they " rejoiced with trembling," they might tremble with rejoicing. Now, this is a state of mind by no means so common as might be wished. The generality of Christians, if they could feel to- wards God as a loving, obedient, and devoted spouse towards her husband, would conceive that they had attained the highest state of which they are capable. But, to make that image fully suited to our case, we must suppose the spouse to have been originally taken from the lowest and most degraded state by her husband ; and, after her union with him, to have dis- honoured him, and debased herself, by the grossest enormities. We must further suppose her husband to have followed her with the most affectionate entreaties to return to him ; to have assured her of his most entire forgiveness ; and, having prevailed on her to return, to be exercising towards her all imaginable kindness, without ever once uttering a single word of upbraid- ing. Now, suppose her to become faithful and obedient, and you will have a juster conception of the Christian's state. Though her husband has forgiven her, can you imagine that she has forgiven herself? On the contrary, does not every act of love on her husband's part fill her with deeper humility and self-abhorrence, for having ever acted so basely towards one of so exalted a character? Does not her whole inter- course with him, from day to day, augment her admiration of him, and her lothing of herself? Yes ; though forgiven, she never for a moment forgets what she is, or what she deserves : and her whole soul is prostrate before God and man, even in the midst of her fondest endearments or her sublimest joys. Here is the Christian character : here is the character which I wish you all to attain. Do not mistake ; you need not rush into gross sins in order to have a foundation for it : the adul- teries of every one of you are manifest enough, without any fresh iniquities : you need only see how you have treated your divine Husband, and what base lusts you have harboured in your bosoms, from your youth up even until now, and you will see that you have need to " walk softly before God all your days," and to '•' lothe yourselves before him in dust and ashes." This is " walking humbly with God." This will not abate either your confidence or your joy : but it will temper the one with fear, and the other with contrition.]