WAITING ON GCD. 371 the soul, whose condition, and the working of whose faith, is here described. We proceed then to consider THE DUTY OF WAITING ON GOD FOR. FORGIVENESS. This the Psalmist expresses to have been both his duty and his practice. And he does it sò emphatically that I know not that any duty is any where in the scrip- tures recommended to us with such lively representa- tions. Call to mind then what has been said concerning the state of the soul inquired into its depths, entan- glements and sense of sin, with its application to God about those things, as also what has been said of the nature of forgiveness, with the revelation that is made of it to the faith of believers; and that this may be done where the soul has no refreshing sense of its own inte- rest therein. It knows not 'that its own sins are for-. given, although it believes that there is forgiveness with God. Now, the principal duty incumbent on such a soul is that laid down in our first proposition, namely, patient wailing and expectation. And here, 1. The nature of the duty itself is to be declared. And, 2. The necessity and usefulness of its practice is to be evinced and demonstrated. As to the nature of this duty, we may observe that it does not consist in any particular acting of the soul, but in its whole spiritual frame and deportment in reference to the end desired. And this waiting, which is compre- hensive of the especial duties of the soul in the case described, comprehends these three things : I. Quiet- ness hi opposition to haste and tumultuousness of spirit. 2. Diligence in opposition to spiritual sloth, despon- dency and neglect of means. 3. Expectation in oppesi-
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