372 FORGIVENESS OF. SIN. tion to despair, distrust, and other actings of unbelief. 1. Quietness, or composure of spirit. Hence this wait- ing is sometimes expressed by silence : " It is good both to hope (in the Heb.) and to be silent, for the sal- vation of the Lord," Lam. 3 : 26, that is, to wait quietly, as we have rendered the word. And the same word we sometimes rénder rest : "Rest on the Lord," Psalm 37 : 7, (in the Heb. be silent unto him,) where it is joined with hoping or waiting, as what belongs to its nature; and so in sundry other places. And this God in an espe- cial manner calls souls unto in straits and distresses : ".In quietness and confidence," saith he, " shall be your strength." Isaiah, 30 : 15. And the effect of the righ- teousness of God by Christ is said to be " quietness and assurance for ever." Isaiah, 32 : 17. First quiet- ness, and then assurance. Now, this silence and quiet- ness which accompanies waiting, yea, which is an essential part of it, is Opposed to haste. Haste is the soul's undue lifting up itself, proceeding from a weariness of its condition, to press after an end of its troubles, not according to the conduct of the Spirit of God. Thus, when God calls his people towaiting, he expresses the contrary by the lifting up of the soul : " Though the vision tarry, wait for it; be- hold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him, but the just shall live by his faith." Hab. 2 : 3, 4. God has given the soul a vision of peace through the disco- very of forgiveness with him; but he will have us wait for an actual participation and enjoyment of it. He that will not do so, but lifts up his soul, that is, in making haste beyond the rule and method of the Spirit of God in this matter, his heart is not upright in him, nor will
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