42 FORGIVENESS OF SIN. solution a soul in depths must come unto, if ever it ex- pect deliverance. For the most part, " men's wounds stink, and are corrupt, because of their foolishness." As the Psalmist complains, Psalm 38 : 5, they are wounded by sin, and through spiritual sloth they neglect their cure; this weakens them, and disquiets them day by day ; yet they endure all rather tan they will come out of their carnal ease to deal effectually with God. It was otherwise with David, " Why," saith he, " art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring 1 0 my God, I cry in the day-time, and in the night season, and am not silent." Psalm 22 : 1, 2. What ails the man! Can he not be quiet, night or day! never be silent, never hold his peace 1 And if he be somewhat disquieted, can he not containhimself, but he must roar and cry out; yea, must he roar thus "all the day long," Psalm 32 : 3, and " groan all the night," as Psalm 6 61 What is the cause of all this roaring, sighing, and tears 1 Ah ! let him alone, his soul is bitter in him ; he has fallen into depths; the Lord is withdrawn from him; yea, he is full of anxiety on account of sin; there is no quiet- ness nor soundness in him; and he must thus earnestly and restlesslyapply himself for relief. Alas! what stran- gers for the most part are men to this state of soul ! How little of the workings ofthis spirit is found amongst us! And is not the reason of it, that we value the world more, and heaven and heavenly things less, thanhe did! that we think we can live without a sense of the love of God in Christ ! and is it not hence that we see so many withering professors without communion with God, who will go oh ready toperish, rather than, with this holyman, thus stir up themselves to meet the Lord. " My soul," saith he, " is full of troubles, and my life draweth nigh unto the grave." And how did he act in this heavy, dis- consolate condition ! " 0 Lord God of my salvation, I have cried day and night unto thee, lit myprayer come
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