of Life deject you? Read in the Gofpel these words of Chrift: " Bleffed are they that mourn, for they fhall be comforted" Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you reft take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, and ye fhall find reft unto your Souls."-Do the Sorrows of Sin oppress your Spirit ?-Having a true penitent Heart and lively Faithreceive this comforting Affurance: "Thy Sins be forgiven thee." And-"who

can forgive Sins but God only?"-Therefore, "let not your heart be troubled: but as ye believe in God, believe alfo in Chrift."-The " bruised reed he will not break, and smoking flax he will not quench." He will not give an additional Pang to the heart already refigned to Sorrow; neither will he totally extinguish the latent spark of Virtue. But, on the contrary, the former he will cheer with heavenly Comfort; and the latter he will waft into a holy flame: He will turn the heavinefs of the Unhappy into Joy; and restore the fad Penitent to that Grace which he experienced,

who

who gratefully "wafhed his feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head."

66

In the hour of Affliction or penitential remorfe, he is ever near; and the devout aspirations of the Heart are then noticed by him with peculiar regard. His ear is then open to our Prayers, and his Comforts prepared for our Sorrows. At fuch times we are more difpofed to feek him; and, "if he was found of them that fought him not ;" he will not, when we feek him with earnestness and fincerity, hide his face in the needful time of trouble." For (as Mofes told the Jewish Nation)" the Lord our God is a merciful God: he will not leave us in the time of trouble, nor forfake us.' "He will not deal with us after our Sins nor reward us according to our Wickedness. For, look how high the heaven is, in comparison of the earth: fo great is his Mercy toward them that fear him. Look how wide alfo the east is from the weft; fo far hath he fet our Sins from us. For, like as a Father

pitieth

pitieth his own Children: even fo is the Lord merciful to them that fear him."

66

These gracious Affurances of Mercy may convince us that our "heart" need "not be troubled from a consciousness of Guilt, if we abjure it, fincerely repent of it, and return to virtue.—“ I am not fent," fays Chrift, 'but unto the loft fheep of the house of Ifrael. "I came to feek and to fave that which was loft. "He that cometh to me I will in no wife caft out.' And he hath told us that there is joy in the prefence of God over one Sinner that repenteth."Thefe comfortable words our Saviour Chrift faith to all that truly turn to him. -Hear alfo what St. Paul faith: "This is a faithful faying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Chrift Jefus came into the World to fave Sinners." Hear alfo what St. John faith: "If any man fin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jefus Chrift the righteous, and he is the Propitiation for our fins. "If we fay

we have no fin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we

confefs

confefs our Sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our Sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."-In language fimilar to that in these paffages, the fublime Prophet affures us "That though our Sins be as fcarlet, they fhall, on our fincere repentance, become white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they fhall be as wool."

If it were not for fuch gracious Affurances as thefe, many an awakened Sinner would fall into Despair; and (as is too often the cafe with those who mistake the true fpirit of the Gospel) would rush, uncalled, into Eternity, as to a refuge from his Confcience.-.

Struck with Compunction for his Crimes, he would feel Penitence without Hope of Pardon, and the re-kindling flame of Virtue, without a Prospect of its reward.

But, when he is told that, "if he confeffeth and FORSAKETH his Sins, he fhall find Mercy;" that if he "believeth in Christ, he shall not perish, but have everlafting life," his dreadful apprehenfions are removed, and the glories of

Religion

Religion enliven his Soul. In grateful raptures he exclaims with David to his God and Saviour: "In the multitude of Sorrows that I had in my heart, thy Comforts have refreshed my Soul."

Repose then, O Chriftian! in thy Redeemer, an unfhaken Confidence.-If thy Sins have been many, and even atrocious, "let not thy heart be troubled." He will forgive, if thou wilt repent and forfake them: "He pardoneth and abfolveth all them that truly repent, and unfeignedly believe his holy Gospel."

Repose, O Chriftian! in thy Redeemer, an unshaken Confidence.-If thy Afflictions are heavy and severe, "let not thy Heart be troubled." Believe in Him; and he will give thee Strength to bear them, will leffen their Weight, or remove thee from them: when, the more he has afflicted, the more he will reward. "Hitherto fhall they come, and no further." He will fet them their bounds which they fhall not pass; neither turn again to overwhelm thy foul. Whatever be thy forrows-whether occafioned