322 FORGIVENESS OF SIN. 1. The remembrance ofpast sins lies in the bosom of many afflictions. So it was with Job : " Thou makest me to possess the sins of my youth." See his plea, chap. 13 : 23-27. In the midst of his troubles and dis- tresses, God revived upon his spirit a sense of former sins, even the sins of his youth, and made him to pos- sess them : he filled his soul with thoughts of them, and anxiety about them. This made him fear lest God was his enemy, and would continue to deal with all severity-. So was it with Joseph's brethren in their distresses; " They said one to another, We are verily guilty con- cerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul when he besought us, and we would not hear, therefore is this distress come upon us." Gen. 42 : 21. And "Behold, his blood is required." ver. 22. Their distress revives a deep perplexing sense of the guilt of sin many years before, and that under all its aggravat- ing circumstances, which spoiled them of their relief and comfort, filling them with confusion and trouble, though absolutely innocent as to what was come on them. The same appeared in the widow of Zarephath, with whom Elijah sojourned during the famine. Upon the death of her son, which it seems was somewhat extra- ordinary, she cried out to the prophet, " What have I to do with thee, thou man of God ? Art thou come to call my sins to remembrance, and to slay my son 1" 1 Kings, 17: 18. It seems, some great sin she had for- merly contracted the guilt of, and now upon her sore affliction in the death of her only child, the remem- brance of it was recalled and revived upon her soul. Thus deep calleth unto deep at the noise of God's wa-
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