law once ; but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I diedd:" that is, before I understood the spirituality of the law, I thought my obedience to it so perfect that I was in no danger of condemnation for my offences against it : but when my eyes were opened to see the extent of its demands and the defects of my obedience, I saw at once that I was deservedly under a sentence of death and condemnation.
Thus it is with multitudes who are exemplary in their moral conduct : in the midst of all their confidence they deceive them- selves; and whilst they take credit to themselves for being right in the sight of God, they shew, that they have never yet received " the truth as it is in Jesus," and that, consequently, " the truth is not in them."]
Let us now turn our attention to,
II. The happy condition of the self-condemning penitent —
The " confession " which characterizes a true pe- nitent, of course is not to be understood of a mere acknowledgment, but an acknowledgment accom- panied with suitable contrition, and with a humble faith in the Lord Jesus. It imports such a confession as was made by the high-priest on the great day of annual expiation, when he laid his hands on the scape-goat, and confessed over him all the sins of all the children of Israel, whilst all of those whose sins he so transferred were " afflicting their souls before Gode." I may add, that this confession implies also a forsaking of the sins so confessed ; as it is said, " He that covereth his sins shall not prosper ; but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy f."
Now respecting all such penitents, I do not hesitate to say, that,
1. Whatsoever they need shall certainly be vouch- safed unto them —
[Two things the penitent panteth after ; namely, the for- giveness of his sins, and the renovation of his soul after the Divine image. And, behold, these are the very things pro- mised to him in our text : " If we confess our sins, God will forgive our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." How reviving to the contrite soul is such a declaration as this! Here is no limitation as to the number or heinousness of the
d Rom. vii. 9. e Lev. xvi. 21, 29, 30. f Prov. xxviii. 13. VOL. XX. B B