66 FORGIVENESS OF SIN. invites the Corinthians to, "If we would judge our- selves, we should not be judged." 1 Cor. 11: 31. This is a person's pronouncing sentence on himself, accord- ing to the tenor of the law. The soul brings not only its sin, but itself also, to the law. It puts itself, as to merit and desert, under the stroke and severity of it. Hence arises a full justification of God, in what sen- tence soever he shall be pleased to pronounce in the case before him. These three things to which attention has now been called, show the state and first actings of a gracious soul rising from its depths. They are all of them sig- nally expressed in Hosea, 14: 1-4, where we have a signal recovery exemplified. And this makes way for the exaltation of grace, the great thing in all this dis- pensation aimed at by God. Ephes. 1: 6. That which he is now doing, is to bring the soul to "glory in him," which is all the return he bath from his large and in- finitely bountiful expense of grace and mercy. Now, nothing can render grace conspicuous and glorious un- til the soul come to this. Grace will not lie high, until the soul be laid very low. And this also prepares the soul for receiving mercy in a sense of pardon, the great thing aimed at on the part of the sinner; and it prepares it for every incumbent ditty. This brings the soul to wait on God with diligence and patience. If things presently answer not our expectation, we are ready to think we have done what we can ; if it will be no better, we must bear it as we are able; which spirit God abhors. The soul in this state waits the pleasure of God, as we shall see in the close of the psalm. Oh! says such a one, if ever I obtain a sense of love, if ever I enjoy one smile of his countenance more, it is unspeakable grace. It is good for me quiet- ly to wait and hope for his salvation: and it drives the soul to prayer; yea, a soul always in this frame, prays
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