386 FORGIVENESS OF SIN. victions of its necessity, I shall a little insist on some such considerations of God and ourselves as may not only evince the necessity of this duty, but so satisfy us of its reasonableness that we may be engaged to it and preserved in it. Two things to this purpose we may consider in God, in Jehovah, whom we are to wait for : 1. His being, and the absolute and essential properties of his nature; 2. Those attributes of his nature which respect his dealing with us; both which are suited to beget in us affections and a frame of spirit according with the duty proposed: I. Let us consider the glorious Being of Jehovah, withhis absolute incommunicable essential excellences; and then try whether it does not become us in every condition to wait for him, and especially in that under consideration. This course God himself took with Job to recover him from his discontents and complaints, to reduce him to quietness and waiting. He sets before him his own glorious greatness as manifested in the works of his power, that thereby, being convinced of his own ignorance, weakness and infinite distance in all things from him, he might humble his soul into the most submissive dependence on him and waiting for him. And such was the result: "I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes." Job, 42 : 6. His soul now comes to be willing to be at God's disposal, and therein he found present rest and a speedy healing of his con. dition. It is the " high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is holy," Isa. 57 : 15, with whom we have to do : he that " sitteth upon the circle of the
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