DISCOVERY OF FORGIVENESS. 75 more to do with God, or those who cleaved to him. " The sinners in Zion are afraid, fearfulness bath sur- prised the hypocrites; who among us shall dwell with devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with ever- lasting burnings ?" Isaiah, 33 : 14. The persons spoken of are sinners, great sinners, andhypocrites; conviction of sin, and the desert of sin, was fallen upon them; a light to discern forgiveness they had not; they appre- hend God only as devouring fire and everlasting burn - ingsone that would not spare, but would assuredly inflict punishment according to the desert of sin; and hence there was no abiding, no enduring his presence. The condition into which this consideration brings the souls of sinners when conviction grows strong upon them, the Holy Ghost declares, Micah, 6 : 6, 7. " Where- with shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself be- fore the high God l shall I come before himwith burnt- offerings, with calves of a year old ? will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my first -born for my trans- gression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?" Sense of sin presseth, forgiveness is not discovered, and how does the poor creature perplex itself in vain, to find out a way of dealing with God ! Will a sedulous and diligent observation of his own ordinances and institu- tions relieve me ? " shall I come before him with burnt - offerings, and calves of a year old V' Alas ! thou art a sinner, and these sacrifices cannot make thee perfect, or acquit thee ! Heb. 10 : 1. Shall I do more than ever he required of any of the sons of men ? " O that I had thousands of rams, and ten thousands of rivers of oil, to offer him!" Alas! if thou hadst all the bulls and goats in the world, it is not possible that their blood should take away sin. ver 4. But I have heard of them who have snatched away their own children from their mo- thers' breasts, and cast them into the fire until they were
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