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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Psalms XXXII].</TITLE>
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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1710)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>P S A L M S</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>PSALM XXXII.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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This psalm, though it speaks not of Christ, as many of the psalms we
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have hitherto met with have done, has yet a great deal of gospel in it.
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The apostle tells us that David, in this psalm, describes "the
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blessedness of the man unto whom God imputes righteousness without
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words,"
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+4:6">Rom. iv. 6</A>.
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We have here a summary, I. Of gospel grace in the pardon of sin
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+32:1,2">ver. 1, 2</A>),
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in divine protection
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+32:7">ver. 7</A>),
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and divine guidance,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+32:8">ver. 8</A>.
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II. Of gospel duty. To confess sin
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+32:3-5">ver. 3-5</A>),
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to pray
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+32:6">ver. 6</A>),
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to govern ourselves well
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+32:9,10">ver. 9, 10</A>),
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and to rejoice in God,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+32:11">ver. 11</A>.
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The way to obtain these privileges is to make conscience of these
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duties, which we ought to think of--of the former for our comfort, of
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the latter for our quickening, when we sing this psalm. Grotius thinks
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it was designed to be sung on the day of atonement.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Ps32_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps32_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps32_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps32_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps32_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps32_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Who Are Blessed.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1> <! -- Date --> </FONT></TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<CENTER>
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<P>A psalm of David, Maschil.</P>
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</CENTER>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 Blessed <I>is he whose</I>
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transgression <I>is</I> forgiven, <I>whose</I> sin <I>is</I> covered.
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2 Blessed <I>is</I> the man unto whom the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> imputeth not
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iniquity, and in whose spirit <I>there is</I> no guile.
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3 When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring
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all the day long.
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4 For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is
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turned into the drought of summer. Selah.
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5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not
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hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>; and
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thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.
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6 For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a
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time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great
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waters they shall not come nigh unto him.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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This psalm is entitled <I>Maschil,</I> which some take to be only the
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name of the tune to which it was set and was to be sung. But others
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think it is significant; our margin reads it, <I>A psalm of David
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giving instruction,</I> and there is nothing in which we have more need
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of instruction than in the nature of true blessedness, wherein it
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consists and the way that leads to it--what we must do that we may be
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happy. There are several things in which these verses instruct us. In
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general, we are here taught that our happiness consists in the favour
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of God, and not in the wealth of this world--in spiritual blessings, and
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not the good things of this world. When David says
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+1:1">Ps. i. 1</A>),
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<I>Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,</I>
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and
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:1">Ps. cxix. 1</A>),
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<I>Blessed are the undefiled in the way,</I> the meaning is, "This is
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the character of the blessed man; and he that has not this character
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cannot expect to be happy:" but when it is here said, <I>Blessed is the
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man whose iniquity is forgiven,</I> the meaning is, "This is the ground
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of his blessedness: this is that fundamental privilege from which all
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the other ingredients of his blessedness flow." In particular, we are
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here instructed,</P>
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<P>
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I. Concerning the nature of the pardon of sin. This is that which we
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all need and are undone without; we are therefore concerned to be very
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solicitous and inquisitive about it.
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1. It is the forgiving of transgression. <I>Sin is the transgression of
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the law.</I> Upon our repentance, the transgression is forgiven; that
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is, the obligation to punishment which we lay under, by virtue of the
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sentence of the law, is vacated and cancelled; it is <I>lifted off</I>
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(so some read it), that by the pardon of it we may be eased of a
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burden, a heavy burden, like a load on the back, that makes us stoop,
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or a load on the stomach, that makes us sick, or a load on the spirits,
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that makes us sink. The remission of sins gives rest and relief to
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those that were <I>weary and heavily laden,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+11:28">Matt. xi. 28</A>.
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2. It is the covering of sin, as nakedness is covered, that it may not
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appear to our shame,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+3:18">Rev. iii. 18</A>.
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One of the first symptoms of guilt in our first parents was blushing at
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their own nakedness. Sin makes us loathsome in the sight of God and
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utterly unfit for communion with him, and, when conscience is awakened,
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it makes us loathsome to ourselves too; but, when sin is pardoned, it
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is covered with the robe of Christ's righteousness, like the coats of
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skins wherewith God clothed Adam and Eve (an emblem of the remission of
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sins), so that God is no longer displeased with us, but perfectly
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reconciled. They are not covered from us (no; <I>My sin is ever before
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me</I>) nor covered from God's omniscience, but from his vindictive
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justice. When he pardons sin he <I>remembers it no more,</I> he
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<I>casts it behind his back,</I> it <I>shall be sought for and not
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found,</I> and the sinner, being thus reconciled to God, begins to be
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reconciled to himself.
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3. It is the not imputing of iniquity, not laying it to the sinner's
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charge, not proceeding against him for it according to the strictness
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of the law, not dealing with him as he deserves. The righteousness of
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Christ being imputed to us, and we being made <I>the righteousness of
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God in him,</I> our iniquity is not imputed, God having <I>laid upon
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him the iniquity of us all</I> and made him <I>sin for us.</I> Observe,
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Not to impute iniquity is God's act, for he is the Judge. <I>It is God
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that justifies.</I></P>
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<P>
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II. Concerning the character of those whose sins are pardoned: <I>in
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whose spirit there is no guile.</I> He does not say, "There is no
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<I>guilt</I>" (for who is there that lives and sins not?), but no
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<I>guile;</I> the pardoned sinner is one that does not dissemble with
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God in his professions of repentance and faith, nor in his prayers for
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peace or pardon, but in all these is sincere and means as he says--that
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does not repent with a purpose to sin again, and then sin with a
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purpose to repent again, as a learned interpreter glosses upon it.
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Those that design honestly, that are really what they profess to be,
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are Israelites indeed, in whom is no guile.</P>
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<P>
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III. Concerning the happiness of a justified state: <I>Blessednesses
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are to the man whose iniquity is forgiven,</I> all manner of blessings,
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sufficient to make him completely blessed. That is taken away which
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incurred the curse and obstructed the blessing; and then God will pour
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out blessings till there be no room to receive them. The forgiveness of
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sin is that article of the covenant which is the reason and ground of
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all the rest. <I>For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+8:12">Heb. viii. 12</A>.</P>
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<P>
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IV. Concerning the uncomfortable condition of an unhumbled sinner, that
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sees his guilt, but is not yet brought to make a penitent confession of
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it. This David describes very pathetically, from his own sad experience
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+32:3,4"><I>v.</I> 3, 4</A>):
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<I>While I kept silence my bones waxed old.</I> Those may be said to
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keep silence who stifle their convictions, who, when they cannot but
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see the evil of sin and their danger by reason of it, ease themselves
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by not thinking of it and diverting their minds to something else, as
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Cain to the building of a city,--who <I>cry not when God binds
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them,</I>--who will not unburden their consciences by a penitent
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confession, nor seek for peace, as they ought, by faithful and fervent
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prayer,--and who choose rather to pine away in their iniquities than to
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take the method which God has appointed of finding rest for their
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souls. Let such expect that their smothered convictions will be a fire
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in their bones, and the wounds of sin, not opened, will fester, and
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grow intolerably painful. If conscience be seared, the case is so much
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the more dangerous; but if it be startled and awake, it will be heard.
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The hand of divine wrath will be felt lying heavily upon the soul, and
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the anguish of the spirit will affect the body; to the degree David
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experienced it, so that when he was young his bones waxed old; and even
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his silence made him <I>roar all the day long,</I> as if he had been
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under some grievous pain and distemper of body, when really the cause
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of all his uneasiness was the struggle he felt in his own bosom between
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his convictions and his corruptions. Note, <I>He that covers his sin
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shall not prosper;</I> some inward trouble is required in repentance,
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but there is much worse in impenitency.</P>
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<P>
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V. Concerning the true and only way to peace of conscience. We are here
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taught to confess our sins, that they may be forgiven, to declare them,
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that we may be justified. This course David took: <I>I acknowledged my
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sin unto thee,</I> and no longer <I>hid my iniquity,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+32:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>.
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Note, Those that would have the comfort of the pardon of their sins
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must take shame to themselves by a penitent confession of them. We must
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confess the fact of sin, and be particular in it (<I>Thus and thus have
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I done</I>), confess the fault of sin, aggravate it, and lay a load
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upon ourselves for it (<I>I have done very wickedly</I>), confess the
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justice of the punishment we have been under for it (<I>The Lord is
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just in all that is brought upon us</I>), and that we deserve much
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worse--<I>I am no more worthy to be called thy son.</I> We must confess
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sin with shame and holy blushing, with fear and holy trembling.</P>
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<P>
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VI. Concerning God's readiness to pardon sin to those who truly repent
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of it: "<I>I said, I will confess</I> (I sincerely resolved upon it,
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hesitated no longer, but came to a point, that I would make a free and
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ingenuous confession of my sins) <I>and</I> immediately <I>thou
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forgavest the iniquity of my sin,</I> and gavest me the comfort of the
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pardon in my own conscience; immediately I found rest to my soul."
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Note, God is more ready to pardon sin, upon our repentance, than we are
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to repent in order to the obtaining of pardon. It was with much ado
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that David was here brought to confess his sins; he was put to the rack
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before he was brought to do it
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+32:3,4"><I>v.</I> 3, 4</A>),
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he held out long, and would not surrender till it came to the last
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extremity; but, when he did offer to surrender, see how quickly, how
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easily, he obtained good terms: "I did but say, <I>I will confess, and
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thou forgavest.</I>" Thus the father of the prodigal saw his returning
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son <I>when he was yet afar off,</I> and ran to meet him with the kiss
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that sealed his pardon. What an encouragement is this to poor
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penitents, and what an assurance does it give us that, <I>if we confess
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our sins,</I> we shall find God, not only <I>faithful and just,</I> but
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gracious and kind, <I>to forgive us our sins!</I></P>
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<P>
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VII. Concerning the good use that we are to make of the experience
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David had had of God's readiness to forgive his sins
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+32:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>):
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<I>For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee.</I> Note,
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1. All godly people are praying people. As soon as ever Paul was
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converted, <I>Behold, he prays,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+9:11">Acts ix. 11</A>.
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You may as soon find a living man without breath as a living Christian
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without prayer.
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2. The instructions given us concerning the happiness of those whose
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sins are pardoned, and the easiness of obtaining the pardon, should
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engage and encourage us to pray, and particularly to pray, <I>God be
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merciful to us sinners.</I> For this shall every one that is well
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inclined be earnest with God in prayer, and <I>come boldly to the
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throne of grace,</I> with hopes to <I>obtain mercy,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+4:16">Heb. iv. 16</A>.
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3. Those that would speed in prayer must seek the Lord in <I>a time
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when he will be found.</I> When, by his providence, he calls them to
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seek him, and by his Spirit stirs them up to seek him, they must <I>go
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speedily to seek the Lord</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Zec+8:21">Zech. viii. 21</A>)
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and lose no time, lest death cut them off, and then it will be too late
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to seek him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+55:6">Isa. lv. 6</A>.
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<I>Behold, now is the accepted time,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+6:2,4">2 Cor. vi. 2, 4</A>.
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Those that are sincere and abundant in prayer will find the benefit of
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it when they are in trouble: <I>Surely in the floods of great
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waters,</I> which are very threatening, <I>they shall not come nigh
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them,</I> to terrify them, or create them any uneasiness, much less
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shall they overwhelm them. Those that have God <I>nigh unto them in all
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that which they call upon him for,</I> as all upright, penitent,
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praying people have, are so guarded, so advanced, that no waters--no,
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not great waters--no, not floods of them, can come nigh them, to hurt
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them. As the temptations of the <I>wicked one touch them not</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Jo+5:18">1 John v. 18</A>),
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so neither do the troubles of this evil world; these fiery darts of
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both kinds, drop short of them.</P>
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<A NAME="Ps32_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps32_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps32_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps32_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps32_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Devout Confidence.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1> <! -- Date --> </FONT></TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>7 Thou <I>art</I> my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from
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trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance.
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Selah.
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8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou
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shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.
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9 Be ye not as the horse, <I>or</I> as the mule, <I>which</I> have no
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understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle,
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lest they come near unto thee.
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10 Many sorrows <I>shall be</I> to the wicked: but he that trusteth
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in the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, mercy shall compass him about.
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11 Be glad in the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout
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for joy, all <I>ye that are</I> upright in heart.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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David is here improving the experience he had had of the comfort of
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pardoning mercy.</P>
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<P>
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I. He speaks to God, and professes his confidence in him and
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expectation from him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+32:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
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Having tasted the sweetness of divine grace to a penitent sinner, he
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cannot doubt of the continuance of that grace to a praying saint, and
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that in that grace he should find both safety and joy.
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1. Safety: "<I>Thou art my hiding-place;</I> when by faith I have
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recourse to thee I see all the reason in the world to be easy, and to
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think myself out of the reach of any real evil. <I>Thou shalt preserve
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me from trouble,</I> from the sting of it, and from the strokes of it
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as far as is good for me. <I>Thou shalt preserve me from</I> such
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trouble as I was in <I>while I kept silence,</I>"
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+32:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
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When God has pardoned our sins, if he leaves us to ourselves, we shall
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soon run as far in debt again as ever and plunge ourselves again into
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|
the same gulf; and therefore, when we have received the comfort of our
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remission, we must fly to the grace of God to be preserved from
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|
returning to folly again, and having our hearts again hardened through
|
|
the deceitfulness of sin. God keeps his people from trouble by keeping
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them from sin.
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2. Joy: "Thou shalt not only deliver me, but <I>compass me about with
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songs of deliverance;</I> which way soever I look I shall see occasion
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|
to rejoice and to praise God; and my friends also shall compass me
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|
about in the great congregation, to join with me in songs of praise:
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|
they shall join their songs of deliverance with mine. As <I>every one
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|
that is godly shall pray with me,</I> so they shall give thanks with
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me."</P>
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<P>
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II. He turns his speech to the children of men. Being himself
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converted, he does what he can to <I>strengthen his brethren</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:32">Luke xxii. 32</A>):
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<I>I will instruct thee,</I> whoever thou art that desirest
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instruction, <I>and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+32:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>.
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This, in another of his penitential psalms, he resolves that when God
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should have restored to him the joy of his salvation he would teach
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|
transgressors his ways, and do what he could to convert sinners to God,
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|
as well as to comfort those that were converted,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+51:12,13">Ps. li. 12, 13</A>.
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When Solomon became a penitent he immediately became a preacher,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ec+1:1">Eccl. i. 1</A>.
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Those are best able to teach others the grace of God who have
|
|
themselves had the experience of it: and those who are themselves
|
|
taught of God ought to <I>tell others what he has done for their
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|
souls</I>
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|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+66:16">Ps. lxvi. 16</A>)
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|
and so teach them. <I>I will guide thee with my eye.</I> Some apply
|
|
this to God's conduct and direction. He teaches us by his word and
|
|
guides us with his eye, by the secret intimations of his will in the
|
|
hints and turns of Providence, which he enables his people to
|
|
understand and take direction from, as a master makes a servant know
|
|
his mind by a wink of his eye. When Christ turned and looked upon Peter
|
|
he guided him with his eye. But it is rather to be taken as David's
|
|
promise to those who sat under his instruction, his own children and
|
|
family especially: "<I>I will counsel thee; my eye shall be upon
|
|
thee</I>" (so the margin reads it); "I will give thee the best counsel
|
|
I can and then observe whether thou takest it or no." Those that are
|
|
taught in the word should be under the constant inspection of those
|
|
that teach them; spiritual guides must be overseers. In this
|
|
application of the foregoing doctrine concerning the blessedness of
|
|
those whose sins are pardoned we have a word to sinners and a word to
|
|
saints; and this is rightly dividing the word of truth and giving to
|
|
each their portion.</P>
|
|
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|
<P>
|
|
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|
1. Here is a word of caution to sinners, and a good reason is given for
|
|
it.
|
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|
(1.) The caution is, not to be unruly and ungovernable: <I>Be you not
|
|
as the horse and the mule, which have no understanding,</I>
|
|
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+32:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>.
|
|
|
|
When the psalmist would reproach himself for the sins he repented of he
|
|
compared himself to a <I>beast before God</I> (<I>so foolish have I
|
|
been and ignorant,</I>
|
|
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+73:22">Ps. lxxiii. 22</A>)
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|
|
|
and therefore warns others not to be so. It is our honour and happiness
|
|
that we have understanding, that we are capable of being governed by
|
|
reason and of reasoning with ourselves. Let us therefore use the
|
|
faculties we have, and act rationally. The horse and mule must be
|
|
managed <I>with bit and bridle, lest they come near</I> us, to do us a
|
|
mischief, or (as some read it) that they may come near to us, to do us
|
|
service, that they <I>may obey us,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jam+3:3">Jam. iii. 3</A>.
|
|
|
|
Let us not be like them; let us not be hurried by appetite and passion,
|
|
at any time, to go contrary to the dictate of right reason and to our
|
|
true interest. If sinners would be governed and determined by these,
|
|
they would soon become saints and would not go a step further in their
|
|
sinful courses; where there is renewing grace there is no need of the
|
|
bit and bridle of restraining grace.
|
|
|
|
(2.) The reason for this caution is because the way of sin which we
|
|
would persuade you to forsake will certainly end in sorrow
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+32:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Many sorrows shall be to the wicked,</I> which will not only spoil
|
|
their vain and carnal mirth, and put an end to it, but will make them
|
|
pay dearly for it. Sin will have sorrow, if not repented of,
|
|
everlasting sorrow. It was part of the sentence, <I>I will greatly
|
|
multiply thy sorrows.</I> "Be wise for yourselves therefore, and turn
|
|
from your wickedness, that you may prevent those sorrows, those many
|
|
sorrows."</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. Here is a word of comfort to saints, and a good reason is given for
|
|
that too.
|
|
|
|
(1.) They are assured that if they will but trust in the Lord, and keep
|
|
closely to him, <I>mercy shall compass them about</I> on every side
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+32:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>),
|
|
|
|
so that they shall not depart from God, for that mercy shall keep them
|
|
in, nor shall any real evil break in upon them, for that mercy shall
|
|
keep it out.
|
|
|
|
(2.) They are therefore commanded to <I>be glad in the Lord, and</I> to
|
|
<I>rejoice</I> in him, to such a degree as even to <I>shout for
|
|
joy,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+32:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>.
|
|
|
|
Let them be so transported with this holy joy as not to be able to
|
|
contain themselves; and let them affect others with it, that they also
|
|
may see that a life of communion with God is the most pleasant and
|
|
comfortable life we can live in this world. This is that present bliss
|
|
which the upright in heart, and they are only, are entitled to and
|
|
qualified for.</P>
|
|
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|
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