142 FOURTH SERMON it is a wilderness unto us, a place of emptiness and temptations. II. The backwardness of man towards grace ; we go not to God till we are brought to extremities and all other helps fail us. The poor prodigal never thought of looking after a father, till he found himself in a fatherless condition, and utterly destitute of all relief, Luke xv. 17, 18. III. The right disposition and preparation unto mercy, which is to be an orphan, destitute of all self - confidence, and broken off from all other comforts. " When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, I the Lord will hear them," Isa. xli. 17. God will `` repent for his people when he seeth that their power is gone," Deut. xxxii. 36. when there is an ex- tremity fit for divine power to interpose. Christ is set forth as a physician, which supposeth sickness ; as a fountain, which supposeth uncleanness ; as meat, which supposeth emptiness ; as clothing, which sup- poseth nakedness. He never finds us till we are lost sheep ; when we have lost all, then we are fit to follow him, and not before. IV. The roots of true repentance. The sense of want and emptiness in ourselves, the apprehension of favour and mercy in God. Conviction of sin in us, and of righteousness in him, John xvi. 9, 10. Of crookedness in us, and of glory in him, Isa. xl. 4, 5. Hereby room is made for the entertainment of mercy ; where sin abounds, grace will more abound ; and the more the soul finds itself exceedingly miser- able, the more will the mercy of God appear exceed- ingly merciful, Rom. v. 20. and hereby God showeth his wisdom in the seasonable dispensing of mercy then when we are in the greatest extremity, as fire is hottest
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