SPIRITt1AL PEACE AND COMFORT. 343 quieted by groundless fears, or too deep apprehensions of the wrath or justice ofGod, ofthe evil of sin, and of their unworthiness, and for want of fuller apprehensions of the loving kindness of God, and the tender, compassionate nature of Christ. We can scarce han- dle such souls too gently. God would have all to be tenderly dealt with, that are tender of displeasing and dishonoring him by sin. God's own language may teach all ministers what language we should use to such, Isa. lvii. 15-21. " Thus saith the high and lofty One, that inhabiteth %eternity, whose name is Holy ; I dwell in thehigh and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. For I will not contend forever, neither will I be always wroth. For the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made, &c. But the wicked are like the troubled sea when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up . mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked." Much more tender language may such expel from Christ in the gospel, where is contained a fuller revelation of his grace. If Mary, a poor, sinful woman, lie weeping at his feet, and washing them with her tears, he hathnot the heart to spurn her away ; but openly proclaims the forgiveness of her many sins. As soon as ever the heart of a sinner is turned from his sins, the heart of Christ is turned to him. The very sumof all the gospel is contained in those precious words, which fully express this : " Come unto me, all ye that labor, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me ; for I am meek and lowly in heart ; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light;" Matt. xi. 28-30. When the prodigal (Luke xv. 20.) doth once come home to his father, with sorrow and shame, confessing his unworthiness, yea, but re- solved to confess It, his father preventeth him, and sees him afar off, and stays not his coming, but runs andmeets him. And when he comes to him, he doth not upbraid him with his sins, nor say, Thou rebel, why hast thou forsaken me, and preferred harlots and luxurybefore me? Nay, he doth not so much as frown upon him, but compassionatelyfalls on his neck and kisseth him. Alas ! God knows that a poor sinner in this humbled, troubled case, bath bur- den enough on his back already, and indeed more than he is able of himself to bear. The sense of his own sinful folly and misery is burden enough. If God should add to this his frowns and ter- rors, and should spurn at a poor sinner that lies prostrate at his feet, in tears or terrors, who, then, should be able to stand before him, or to look him in the face ? But he will not break_the bruis- ed reed ; he will not make heavier the burden of a sinner. He calls them to come to him for ease and rest, and not to oppress
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=