$O SINS AND SORROWS SPREAD BEFORE GOD. complaining representations of his circumstances that he makes before the throneof God. 1. If I could but come near themercy-seat, I would confess how great my sins are, and I would pray for pardoning grace. I would say, " How vile I am by nature ;" I would count my ori- ginal descent from Adam the great transgressor, and humble myself at the foot of a holy God, because I am the descendant of such a sinner. I would tell him how muchviler I have made myself by practice ; " I have been an enemy in my mind byna- ture, and guilty of many- wickedworks, whereby I have farther estranged myself fromhim." I would tell my God how multi- plied my transgressions have been before I knew him, and how aggravated they have been since I have been acquainted with him. I would acquaint him with the frequency of my returning guilt, how I have` sinned against mercies, against re- proofs, against warningsreceived often from his word, and often from his providence. I may appeal to the souls of many present, whether they have not had the greatestfreedom of confession of their sins, when they have been nearest to God, even though he be a God of holiness. At other times, they have not onlybeen averse to con- fess to any friend, but even unwilling to talk over to themselves the aggravationof their iniquities, or to mention them in prayer : but when they are brought thus near the throne of God, they unbosom themselves before him, they pour out their sins and their tears together, with a sweet andmournful satisfaction. " I behold," says thesaint, " the great atonement, the bloodofJesus, and there- fore I may venture to confess my great iniquities, for the satis- faction is equal tothem all. When I behold God upon his seat, I behold the Lamb in the midst of the throne as it had been slain, and he is my Peace-maker. I see his all-sufficient sacrifice, his atoning -blood, his perfect, his justifying righteousness." The soul then answers the call of God with great readiness, when God says in Is. i. 18. Come let us reason together: though your wins have been as scarlet, theyshall be as wool. " I am ready," says the soul, " to enter into such reasonings ; " I am ready to confess before thee, that my sins are all crimson and scarlet, but there is cleansing blood with thy Son : Blood that has washed the garments of a thoutand sinners, and made them white as snow ; and it has the same virtue still to wash mine too : I trust in it, and rejoice when I behold that blood sprinkled upon the mercy- seat, and therefore I grow confident inhope, and draw yet nearer to God, a reconciled God, since histhrone has the memorials of a bleeding sacrifice upon it." 2. If I couldget near the seat of God, Iwould tell him how many my enemies are, and how strong ; howmalicious, and how
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