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God pardoned him. been, we might have expected that there would have been some period of probation, during which God would suspend his forgiveness." But the Lord's ways are not our ways, nor his thoughts our thoughts." Does the prodigal return humbled and contrite to the home he had deserted, the Divine Father represents himself as hastening to meet him, and regardless of his poverty and degradation, embracing him as a dear son and a pleasant child, and interrupting his confessions of unworthiness, by the most unbounded testimonies of parental love and pardoning grace. Mark the same promptitude of compassion in the case of the dying thief. Had the dying Jesus made any long tarrying, the assurance of forgiveness would have been too late to cheer his passage through the dark valley. It was the hour of his need, and the suffering penitent found grace to help. Surely, my brethren, it should lead and quicken you to repentance, to know that not merely God is willing to forgive, but ready to forgive. This is particularly noticed by David himself, as a marvellous expression of the Divine love and mercy :-" I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord, and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin.”

Enormous as his crimes had

2. But it may be further observed that David's acceptance was attested. God might have forgiven him, and yet have left him, at least for a season, in suspense as to the fact. But no, the moment the pardon is sealed it shall be delivered.

And this I believe to be the general purpose and inclination of the Lord. Were all his people as self-abased as David, were their sorrow for sin as committed against his Divine Majesty as deep, and their confession of sin as unreserved, I doubt not that it would be the good pleasures of his will to reveal to them by his Spirit, that their iniquities were forgiven, and their sins covered for Christ's sake, and to witness to their spirits, that they were the reconciled sons of God.

3. Lastly, observe that the graces vouchsafed to this penitent was complete. Not merely the Lord hath forgiven, but the Lord hath put away thy sin. Enormous and aggravated as were his crimes, they were from that moment blotted out, even as the morning cloud which for a little season darkens the horizon and veils the sun, but is quickly swept away by the freshening breath of heaven. Thus it is with every justified believer in Jesus. His iniquities are all laid on the head of the scape-goat and carried far away into the wilderness. It is one of the stipulations of the new covenant of grace "Their sins and inquities will I remember no more"-" I will cast them behind my back, I will cast them into the depths of the sea."

Such then, being some of the characteristics of the true penitent, I beseech you to examine yourselves, my brethren, and see whether you have indeed repented of your sins. If not, and if the goodness of God as exhibited in the text, does

not move you to contrition, and prompt you to unfeigned confession, what can I say more to quicken and constrain you? I might indeed remind you again and again, that except ye repent, ye shall all surely perish; awfully, hopelessly, eternally perish. But I would rather invite you, yet once more and say," Consider your ways--flee from the wrath to come-flee to Jesus. Behold the

Lord waiteth that he may be gracious unto you. Behold now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." Hasten to that dear Saviour, who is exalted at the right hand of God for this very purpose-hasten to him, and as a Prince he will freely bestow the gift of repentance, and as a Saviour he will grant remission of sins.

SERMON V.

I. SAMUEL xv. 30.

"THEN HE SAID, I HAVE SINNED: YET HONOUR ME NOW, I PRAY

THEE, BEFORE THE ELDERS OF MY PEOPLE, AND BEFORE ISRAEL, AND TURN AGAIN WITH ME, THAT I MAY WORSHIP THE LORD THY GOD."

It is always a safe and instructive process to investigate any important doctrine both positively and negatively-to inquire, respecting any particular duty, or grace, or disposition, not merely what it is, but what it is not. By no means does the great enemy accomplish more evil than by his specious counterfeits of good. He would as soon let a man have faith as not, provided it were a dead, inoperative, unsanctifying faith. He will cheerfully suffer you to come up to the temple and pray, so long as your prayer is that of the Pharisee, rather than of the Publican. You may be very zealous for the Lord of Hosts; if only it be Jehu's zeal, and not Elijah's. With your mouth you may show much love, so that

F

your

heart

at the same time goeth after your covetousness. You may appear moreover to mourn for sin, if yours be that sorrow of the world which worketh death, and not the godly sorrow which needed not to be repented of. Bearing in mind then, that true repentance is the strait gate by which we enter upon the narrow way to heaven, in other words, that it is the very first step to salvation, it will at once appear of the utmost importance that we should have a clear understanding respecting its nature, and not deceive ourselves on so vital a point. To this end, I purpose, through God's assistance in these successive discourses on the subject, to mark the distinction between what is genuine, and what is spurious, by alternate illustrations of each. David was the character selected on the last occasion, as furnishing a striking portrait of the true penitent. His predecessor in the throne, and his ruthless and ungrateful persecutor Saul, is brought before you to-day, as an example of insincere contrition. May the Lord give to each of us grace to apply the example as a test for self-examination!

The history of the context is soon told. Saul had received through Samuel a most plain and positive command from God, to smite the Amalekites. This nation had proved themselves the enemies of Israel, in the days of their pilgrimage, and now the hour of retribution was come. The measure of their iniquity was full; the cup of God's wrath was full likewise, and this was the set time when they must drink it.

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