secondly, From whence flowed those comforts or consolations which refreshed his soul; and, thirdly, consider the practical use and benefit of his example as applied to ourselves.

First, then, The Psalms most fully portray the conflicts and sorrows of the royal penitent; and we learn that these were not only his temporal afflictions and the assaults of his enemies, but that they arose more especially from a deep sense of his guilt and sinfulness, as he declared, "My sins have taken such hold upon me that I am not able to look up: yea, they are more in number than the hairs of my head, and my heart hath failed me;" which accords with the expression, the multitude of his sorrows: and again, "I have roared for the very disquietness of my heart;"" Igo mourning all the day long."

This sense of his sins, we find, filled him with the most profound humility and selfabasement; and also thankfulness for the mercy which had spared him: and he appears to have been apprehensive of further sinning, and anxious to be preserved from falling. This made him so frequently search into his own heart, and pray earnestly to God to be cleansed from all iniquity; to be renewed unto holiness; to have a

A

right spirit within him, to direct, to uphold, and to lead him in the way everlasting. The aspirations of his soul were unceasing; and after he became con vinced of his transgressions he constantly lifted up his heart in the language of penitence, thanksgiving, and praise, or in an ac knowledgment of his faults and abhorrence of his sins. When reproved by the prophet he exclaimed, "I have sinned against the Lord" and he did not feel the less guilty. when Nathan said, "The Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die : how.. beit, because thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child which is born unto thee shall surely die;" and also foretold him, that the sword should not depart from his house, which was literally fulfilled. Thus we see in the sacred volume, how uniformly sin hath been punished in the most approved servants of God.

To the chastening hand of the Lord, David bowed in humble acquiescence; at one time saying, "I became dumb, and opened not my mouth, because thou didst it ;" and at another, "I know that thou of very faithfulness hast caused me to be troubled."

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In nothing was he more remarkable than

for his contrition: and those psalms which are called the penitential, will remain a lasting memorial of it to the latest ages; and that man who can from his heart adopt their language with the most fervour and sincerity, is the nearest to the kingdom of God. "For if we acknowledge our transgressions, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." The Psalmist, therefore, did not sorrow as one without hope; his was that godly sorrow which worketh repentance unto life, and on the promises of God made to the fathers David founded his confidence. Thus had he faith in the faithfulness of God, and believing he rejoiced, and enjoyed such peace in believing as assured and refreshed his soul: which leads to our second head for consideration; namely, From whence flowed those comforts or consolations which refreshed his soul? These, we see, arose, first, from a reliance on the promises of God (as he said, "In God's word will I rejoice, in the Lord's word will I comfort me"); secondly, from a knowledge of pardon, with those communications of divine grace and spiritual consolations which are promised and vouchsafed to all the genuine and devoted servants of God: thus communing, their hearts are refreshed

he say,

as with the dew of heaven. Though possibly no one ever enjoyed so high a degree of spiritual comfort as the Psalmist, well might "Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, and whose sin is covered and thus could he glory in the God of his salvation. And many there are who will inherit and partake of this blessedness, as we know many have rejoiced in the same hope with joy unspeakable and full of glory. The Holy Spirit, the Comforter, which is promised to all Christians, is called a Spirit of consolation; and when spiritual life is imparted to the soul, one of the fruits of the Spirit is joy; and spiritual life in the soul, is eternal life begun. The joy of the Holy Ghost which enlivens them here, is the same in kind as the joy of their Lord into which they will enter hereafter it is by St. Paul called "everlasting consolation;" it is joy that is full of glory holy consolation is glory begun in the soul. This consolation keeps the soul upon the wing, and increases her strength; it is the very life of the soul.

The great blessings which David had in possession, and which all believers possess, and the greater which they have in hope, form the sustenance of their consolation: it is their inestimable privilege to have

peace with God, to rejoice in hope of the glory of God, and to glory even in tribulation. St. Paul, like the Psalmist, though sorrowful, was always rejoicing, and says, "Blessed be the God of all comfort, who comforteth us in all our tribulation !"

To partake of this comfort and holy consolation is the most desirable privilege of a Christian; it is that divine communication to the soul which none but true Christians can experience and to the attainment of these invaluable benefits we are all invited through the mediation of the Son of God. Like David, we may rejoice and glory in the God of our salvation; in his word may we trust and derive comfort; from the same Spirit we may receive everlasting consolation. But, thirdly, we must consider the practical use and benefit of his example as applied to ourselves. First, then, let us inquire, Have we any faith, any contrition and sorrow for sin, like unto his? Have we ever felt unable to look up under a deep sense of guilt and sinfulness? It is true, many of us may be free from some of the enormities which cast a shade over a part of his life, and which he so constantly bewailed; but surely none will deny that he hath cause to utter the penitent sinner's language, and to be sorry for his sin. He only who hath mourned