before him he sees them with grief and sorrow of mind; he sees them in their dark and malignant nature; he sees them accompanied with indignation and wrath from the justice of God; he sees them till his eyes flow down with tears, and till he is ready to smite on his breast, and say, "God be merciful to me a

sinner."

Verse 4. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. We learn from this verse that all sin is committed, in an especial manner, against God, as the supreme lawgiver and ruler of the world. The crying sins of which David had been guilty, were committed against mankind, against Uriah, against Bathsheba, against his faithful subjects, against the well-being and peace of society; but his sin was more especially evil in the sight of God, because it was secret, and because it so clearly manifested the corruption and ingratitude of his own heart. He was supreme in his kingdom, and none could venture to call him to account. Yet there was One in heaven who knew all the secret desires and purposes of his heart; One who had exalted him to his present

° Luke xviii. 13.

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dignity; and One who in justice and righteousness would condemn him for his sins. This divine judge of all the earth will "do what is right;" he will be just when he speaketh, and clear when he judgeth.

Having thus far considered the penitential prayer and confession of David, it only remains for us to apply the subject more immediately to ourselves. 1st. We may learn from the occasion on which this Psalm was written, that the word of God is the great instrument of producing conviction and sorrow for sin. David did not confess the evil of his doings till Nathan came unto him with a message from the Lord. Thus in every age, under the influence of the Spirit of grace, "the word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."p " All Scripture being given by inspiration of God, is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." When it has been carefully read, and faithfully preached by the servants of God, it has produced most astonishing effects on the hearts and lives of men. It was the message of God by Nathan P Heb. iv. 12.

92 Tim. iii. 16.

which bowed the heart of David, and which brought him to such humble confessions and sorrowful contrition. It was a message from God which filled the impious king of Babylon with such terror and amazement, when he saw the hand writing his sentence of condemnation on the wall. It was the reasoning of St. Paul "on righteousness, temperance, and a judgment to come," which caused Felix to tremble; when the sins of his past life, his injustice, rapaciousness, and impurity were set before his eyes.

r

2. The word of God addresses us also as sinners, and calls all men every where to repent. Repent ye," said John the Baptist, kingdom of heaven is at hand." t

66

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"for the

"Except ye repent," said our Lord, " ye shall all likewise perish."" 'Repent ye therefore," said Peter to his countrymen, "and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord." St. Paul also declared to the Ephesian Elders, that he went about "testifying both to the Jews and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ."*

But allowing that repentance was necessary for the unbelieving Jews and immoral Heathens, is it also necessary for us, who live in a Christian country, and who profess ourselves to be members of an excellent Church? My brethren, if we have never transgressed the laws of God and man, we have no occasion to repent: but if we have sinned, we are called upon to exercise sincere and habitual repentance. "If we say that we have no sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us." Let us carefully examine our hearts and lives, and we shall find that "in many things we all offend;" that "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." If we have not committed the heinous sins of adultery and murder, like David; if we have not been guilty of fornication and uncleanness, like the ignorant heathens; if we have not been overtaken by intemperance and excess, with those that are slaves to "rioting and drunkenness ;"---yet, have we always obeyed the holy law of God in thought, word, and deed; have we at all times "adorned the doctrine of God our Saviour" in such a manner as never to omit what we ought to do, and never to do those things which he has forbidden ? Have no evil thoughts lodged within our hearts;

y 1 John i. 8. z James iii. 2.

a Rom. iii. 23.

have no idle and improper words escaped from our lips; have our hands been always engaged in the works of righteousness; and have our feet always walked, without any transgression, in the way of truth, purity, and rectitude? No; we must also plead guilty.

3. We ought to adopt the penitent confession of David. If, on a careful and sincere examination of our hearts and lives by the word of God, we discover our sins and transgressions, and perceive that they are numerous, and great, and aggravated, as being committed against God who is so good, so gracious, so just, and so powerful; then let us pray in the humble and penitent language of David which we have now been considering; Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving kindness, according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. We are assured by the Gospel of Christ that a way has been opened for the admission of all true penitents to the throne of grace; for although repentance can make no atonement, we are encouraged to believe that we may have redemption through the blood of Christ, even the forgiveness of all our sins. "Repentance and remission of sins are preached in his name among all nations." "I

b Luke xxiv. 47.