RULES FOR OBTAINING FORGIVENESS. 307 season to him that is weary. But for persons to fill up their minds and imaginations with their own difficulties and complaints, not endeavoring to mix the words that are spoken for their relief and direction with faith, but going on still in their own way, this is of no advantage; and yet some, I fear, may please themselves in such a course, as if it had somewhat of religious eminence in it. Others, it may be, drive the same trade in their thoughts, though they make not outwardly such corn- plaints. They are conversant, for the most part, with heartless despondings; and in some they are multiplied by their natural constitution, or bodily infirmity. Ex- amples of this kind occur to us every day: Nov what is the advantage of these things'? What did Zion get when she cried, " The Lord path forsaken Ise, and my God bath forgotten me ?" or Jacob, when he said, "My way is hid from the Lord, and my judgment is passed over frommy God?" Doubtless they erred concerning themselves. How did David rouse himself when he found his mind inclined to such a frame! For having said, " Why dost thou cast me off; O God ? why go I mourning because of the oppression of mine enemy?" he quickly rebukes himself; saying, "Whyart thou cast down, O my soul, and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God." Psalm42: 9, 11. We must say, then, to such heartless complainers, as God did to Joshua, "Get you up, why lie you thus up- on your face V' Do you think to mend your condition by wishing it better, or complaining that it is so bad 1 Are your complaints of want of an interest in forgive- ness a sanctified means to obtain it 1 Not at all. You
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