THE TRUE PENITENT. 473 iniquities, as Cain, Pharaoh, and Haman ; or madly lay violent hands upon themselves, as Ahithophel and Judas. This sorrow cannot be too much guarded against, as it not only destroys many persons, but does immense hurt to religion. For those who are glad of any pre- tence to pour contempt upon godliness, taking occa- sion from the instances of this sorrow, harden their own hearts, and prejudice all around them against the blessed godly sorrow, which every minister of the gospel endeavours to excite; maliciously representing it as one and the same with the mischievous sorrow of the world. Their mistake will be evident, if we trace godly sorrow back to its source. It does not spring merely from fear or punishment ; but chiefly from humbling views of God's holiness, the impurity of the human nature, the exceeding sinfulness of sin, and the tran- scendant excellency of the law, which condemns the sinner. And this happy sorrow differs not less from the other in its effects, than it does in its cause. The per- sons who are blessed with it, far from murmuring, or fretting at the divine commandment, see it to be holy, just,__and good, both in its perceptive and penal part. They so absolutely acquiesce in it, that they would not alter it if they could. They clear God, accuse themselves, subscribe their own sentence, and acknow- ledge, " It is of the Lord's mercies, that we are not consumed." Each of them can say, " Wherefore should a living man complain, a man for the punish- ment of his sins? It is good that he should both hope, and quietly wait for God's salvation : I will therefore watch to see what he will say unto me; for he will speak peace unto his people." Thus, in a constant use of all the ordinances of God, they meekly wait, wrestling with their unbelieving fears, till victorious faith comes by hearing of the matchless love of Jesus Christ; and then, fearing the Lord and his goodness, 15 3 0
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