whose hearts are humbled under a deep sense of sin; and who, by the Spirit and grace of God, are brought to their right minds. Is it thus with you? It is a question of no trivial concern, but of serious magnitude. You perceive from the case of the Jews, represented by Ephraim, that if a professor of religion, by sin dishonour his profession, God will visit him with severe rebukes; yet these, for some time, may be disregarded;-that the first dawn of true penitence is earnest prayer; and prayer answered greatly assists repentance, deepens the work, and makes it lasting;-that when penitent, we are best prepared for the tenderness of Divine compassion: it works towards us in all the indulgent pity of parental affection to a repenting child. The Father of spirits feels what his word affirms-"I will surely have mercy upon him."

II. The abundant EXERCISE of Divine mercy.

Mercy is a large word; it means much; it conveys the most extensive and encouraging ideas. Doubtless it implies that the objects of it are sinners; for sinners only need mercy: they only are capable of receiving mercy. It implies also the absence of merit, and this even in penitents. There is no desert. in our deepest contrition: it fits us for the reception of Divine favour, but cannot entitle to it. Ephraim had already received mercy; but more was needed, and more is promised, which is the case in every instance of penitence and return to God. There is mercy in the enlightening of the mind, and rousing of the conscience, in convictions of sin, and earnest concern about salvation; yet this is not all; the soul is thus prepared for much more mercy, for its more abundant display, the unspeakably more happy

experience of its influence and effects. To the penitent, mercy is exercised,

1. In bestowing pardon. None but such are qualified to enjoy pardon, or have any scriptural ground to expect the blessing. "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper; but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy:"-" Let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon*."

The properties of Divine forgiveness are highly interesting. To one burthened with sin, and anxious for relief, how reviving to know that it is free! descending to the most guilty, as streams from a fountain, and as light from the sun! Pardon is indeed procured by a price which the Saviour presented: "we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins;" but to us it is" without money and without price." The God of pardon declares: "I, even I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake;" not for any worthiness in us. The motive is purely in himself; the medium is the sacrifice of his Son, and the glory of his own perfections his ultimate design.

How encouraging to be assured that it is full! pardon the most complete; extending to all manner of sins, and the greatest multitude of them. "Who is a God like unto the Lord, pardoning iniquity, transgression, and sin;" crimes of every description, of every degree of magnitude and cause he delighteth in mercy."

aggravation, "be"Come now, and

let us reason together, saith the Lord;" give me proof that you are penitent, and sincerely desirous of

* Prov. xxviii. 13; Is. lv. 7.

forgiveness, and “

though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."

But it is also final and everlasting. He that blotteth out transgressions, "remembers them no more." He that casteth them behind his back, buries them in the depths of the sea.' What abundant mercy is this to poor trembling penitents! When their sins are sought for, there" shall be none;" when they are inquired after, they" shall not be found;" cancelled completely by the precious blood of the Lamb, and obliterated for ever from the book of God's remembrance. In all this you perceive mercy of the highest worth, and of the most permanent duration.

2. Mercy is exercised in promoting peace; that rest of conscience which is the close attendant of pardon, and accompanies the scriptural hope and evidence of it. Thus it is said to the penitent: ." I have seen his ways, and will heal him; I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him, and to his mourners. To all of this description how appropriate the promise! "I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him." This tranquillity of conscience, this comfort of the Spirit, this joy of the Holy Ghost, attending a sense of pardoned sin, who can estimate its worth? May you and I be experimentally acquainted with it, nor lose it by our folly! God has mercy on the truly penitent, in that he seals their pardon, he soothes their fears, he gives them rest and peace in believing; yet this rest and peace are not enjoyed in an equal degree, nor without frequent interruptions, owing to the imperfection of our faith, and our lapses into sin.

We are happy in such proportion as we are holy: thus it is that " the Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirits, that we are the children of God." We receive "not the spirit of bondage again to fear, but the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father."

3. Mercy is exercised in affording preservation.— What is it that preserves amidst the snares and sins which surround us? Not our own wisdom: not our own strength: not any device or influence of ours: we “are kept by the power of God, through faith, unto salvation;" and surely there is mercy, rich mercy, in the exercise of this power towards the feeblest worms! We see others stumble and fall, fall into the foulest sins, and sink to rise no more; but how is it that this is not our case? Divine mercy upholds us: "When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O Lord, held me up." This makes us watchful, keeps us on our guard against the enemies and temptations which assail us. This leads us to Jesus, and preserves us dependent on him for all that belongs to our security and comfort. It brings us to believe the promise, and to rely on its accomplishment: "My grace is sufficient for thee; my strength is made perfect in weakness."-" My sheep shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand."-"The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me. Thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever; forsake not the work of thine own hands.""Let us therefore come boldly to the Throne of Grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."

III. The absolute CERTAINTY of Divine mercy.
"I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the

Lord." No words can be more explicit, or better adapted to relieve the mind and cheer the heart of a dejected penitent.-Observe,

1. The greatness of God secures it:-" saith Jehovah."

When Jehovah affirms, who dare contradict? When he asserts that it shall be, who can oppose his purpose, or retard the execution of his will? "Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?" We are at no loss for an answer: "With God nothing is impossible." What encouragement is here! Omnipotence is on the side of the penitent; the Omnipotence of mercy and love. He hath mercy on whom he will have mercy : he is great in power, glorious in strength: none can stay his hand, or say unto him, in the dispensation of his benefits, What doest thou?

2. The goodness of God secures it.

The name, Jehovah, is as replete with goodness as it is with greatness. It denotes the all-sufficiency of his nature, an all-sufficiency of grace. He proclaims his matchless Name: "The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth; keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin *." See the goodness of Jehovah, how it conquers the greatest difficulties, and removes the strongest obstacles, in the way of mercy to guilty men! See this goodness provide a Saviour, and constitute him "mighty to save"-" able to save to the uttermost!" See it rise above the deepest unworthiness, the most aggravated offences! If mercy, rich mercy, is communicated to the impenitent,

* Exod. xxxiv. 6, 7.