Ver. 4.-The assurance cif God's forgiveness. The psalmist had this, and his history is recorded for our help--for the help of all those who desire this assurance. I. NOTE TO WHOM THIS BLESSED .ASSURANCE IS GIVEN. 1. Not to every one. For many do not care for it-they think there is no need; they persuade themselves that God is easy, and will readily forgive. But this presumption is not God's assurance, for it gives them no settled rest; they have awful misgivings at times. It lasts only so long as their light notions of sin last. W"hen they wake up to the reality of sin, then they are in despair. It awakes no love to God (cf. Luke vii. 47); it produces no hatred of sin; if it did, it would lead to that which St. John says, "He that bath this hope in him, purifieth himself even as he is pure." Others there are who will not believe. How hard it is to persuade distressed souls that God does forgive I 2. But this assurance is given to such as are described in this psalm. (1) They have had a very deep sense of sin-have been in "the depths." (2) They have cried earnestly unto the Lord. (3) They confess that God's judgment on sin is righteouH, and that their con- demnation would be just. (4) They have come to believe that the love of God is deeper than his displeasure with the sinner. And (5) they have cast themselves in utter faith on that love. These are they to whom Gorl's assurance comes. II. THE EVIDENCE ON WHICH IT BESTS. 1. It needs evidence; for conscience is a,,.ainst it; God's love is against it; the testimony of nature ·and science is against it; e;rthly governments do not forgive; we ourselves do not thus forgive. 'l'herefore evidence for it is needed. 2. Such evidence is furnished by many facts. (1) God has spared us thus far-that we are able and at timeR are willing to forgive those who have wronged us. But if we, then yet more God. (2) Chiefly the plain declarations of God's ·word; the sacrifice of Christ; the experience of those that are forgiven,-they feel it in their hearts; they enjoy the peace of God; its influence is all-sanctifying on their own soul,-it binds them over to God. Such is the evidence for, etc. Ill. 'l'nE RESULTS THAT FOLLOW. God will be feared, that is, with the fear which love begets in a dear child. Such fear springs from no other source, but ever from this.-S. C. Ver. 7.-" Plenteous redemption." The text declares that with the Lord there is this, and we observe- !. IT IS UNDOUBTEDLY TllUE. 1. The Scriptures affirm it. It is not alone the declaration of this Scripture, but of many more besides. 2. And experience, that of myriads of believers in all ages, attests the same truth. They will tell us with one accord that they have found it so. 3. And it is plenteous because it is redemption from all evil. (1) From the guilt and condemnation of sin. Utter and complete for- giveness is ours through the death of Christ our Lord. (2) From the power and tyranny of sin. The blood of Christ keeps cleansing the soul of the rr an who walks in the light, and is ever trusting in Christ, from all sin (1 John i. 7). (11) From sorrow's crushing power; for Christ is revealed to us as knowing all our sorrows, sympathizing with us, helping us in them, and for us turning their evil into good. " All things l'B, OXX.X. 1-8.] 'tHE BOOK OF PSALMS. 249
work together for good," etc. (Rom. viii. 28). (4) From the fret and worry of life; the believer is taught the lesson of continued trust, and so to be anxious for nothin"' (Phil. iv. 6, 7). (5) From the power of death; for the believer does not die in the sens; in which of old time death was understood, for he who believes enters no Hades, no intermediate sto.te, but, as Jesus said, be never dies-bis body mo.y-but be himself departs, and is at once with Christ, which is far better. '.!'hue is there plenteous redemption. 4. .And it is accessible to all. (Isa. Iv. 1.) It is the free gift of God. II. BuT MANY DO NOT CABE FOR IT. They would like a redemption from pain anrl distress; but they do not care for a redemption from sin,-they love and bold on to it too much; holiness excites no desire in their hearts; they love sin. Ill. AND MANY OF THOSE WHO DO OARE CAN HARDLY BE GOT TO IIELTE'l"E IN IT. They cannot realize that it is a free gift. For: 1. They kup thinking tha.t they must do something in the way of righteousness and holiness if they are to be saved. They want to bring something of their own to God, in return for which they shall be saved. 2. And there is mV,Ch to foster this unbelief. (1) Free gifts out of pure good will are not the way of the world. You must bring your money and pay the price. (2) And all other religions demand the due tale of good works and meritorious deeds. (3) For all excellence-physical, artistic, intellectual, moral-we have to toil and do the needful work. (4) And our pride protests against an eleemosynary salvation. 3. But such unbelief cannot be troe. (1) For think first of him with whom this redemption i~. It is the Lord. But can we imagine him bargaining, haggling, coming to terms, over our salvation,. as if be were a seller, and not a giver? (2) And of ourselves. What have we got that could by any imagination be supposed adequate for the purchase? What is all our righteousness? (3) Of the gift itself. It is so great that it can only be ours by gift; in no other way could we have it. IV. BUT THIS GRACE OF GoD, IN BESTOWING ON US FREELY THIS PLENTEOUS Bl':DEMPTI0N, IS JUSTIFIED BY ITS RESULTS. 1. It wakes up in the recipient an over- whelming gratitude. But this is a mighty incentive to all holy obedience. 2. It enables us to go to the vilest of men and proclaim Gocfs mercy waiting for them. We could not do this were it not all of grace. 3. It forbids alike both boasting and despair. 4. It ,hows a clear path to the fullest salvation the world can know. I can be holy as he is holy, because of this free gift received through faith. 6. It redounds to the glory of God.-S. C.