The riches of the patience and forbearance of God! how long- (continued)
AndO that this goodness of God might lead us to repentance! for though we have trespassed against our God, yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing. Romans 2:4. Ezra 10:2.
You have said it, and have confirmed it with an oath, that you have no pleasure in the death ofsinners, but rather that they should turn and live: Therefore will we rent our hearts and not our garments, and turn to the Lord our God; for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, who knows if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him. Ezekiel 33:11.Joel2:13, 14.
11. WE MUST HUMBLY PROFESS OUR SORROW AND SHAME FOR SIN, AND HUMBLY ENGAGE OURSELVES IN THE STRENGTH OF DIVINE GRACE, THAT WE WILL BE BETTER AND DO BETTER FOR THE FUTURE.
Lord, we repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand; to which you have exalted your Son Christ Jesus to give repentance and remission ofsins. Matthew 3:2. Acts 5:31.
We have heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now our eye sees you; wherefore we abhor ourselves and repent in dust and ashes. Therefore, will we be like the doves of the valleys, everyone mourning for his iniquities. Job 42:5, 6. Ezekiel 7:16.
O that our heads were waters, and our eyes fountains of tears, that we might weep day and night for our transgressions and might in such a manner sow in those tears, as that at last we may reap injoy; may now go forth weeping, bearing precious seed, and may in due time come again with rejoicing, bringing our sheaves with us.
Jeremiah 9:1. Psalm 126.5, 6.
Our iniquities are gone over our heads as a heavy burden, they are too heavy for us; but weary and heavy laden under this burden we come to Christ, who has promised that in him we shall find rest for our souls. Psalm 38:4. Matthew 11:28, 29.
O that knowing every man the plague of his own heart, we may look unto him whom we have pierced, and may mourn, and be in bitterness for him as one that is in bitterness for a first-born. That we may sorrow after a godly sort, with that sorrow which worketh repentance unto salvation, not to be repented of; and that we may remember and be confounded, and never open our mouth anymore, because of our shame when you are pacified towards us. 1 Kings
8:38. Zechariah 12:10.
2 Corinthians 7:10. Ezekiel 16:63.
And, O that we may bring forth fruits meet for repentance! and may never return again to folly! for what have we to do any more with idols? Sin shall not have dominion over us, for we are not under the law, but under grace. Matthew 3:8. Psalm 85:8. Hosea
We have gone astray like lost sheep; seek your servants, for we do not forget your commandments. Psalm 119 (v. 176).
PETITIONS AND REQUESTS of the third part of prayer, which is petition and supplication for the good things which we stand in need.
Having opened the wounds of sin, both the guilt of it, and the power of it, and its remainders in us, we must next seek unto God for the remedy, for healing and help, for from Him alone it is to be expected, and He will for this be enquired of by us. And now we must affect our hearts with a deep sense of the need we have of those mercies which we pray for, that we are undone, forever undone, without them; and with a high esteem and value for them, that we are happy, we are made for ever, ifwe obtain them; that we may like Jacob wrestle with Him in prayer as for our lives, and the lives of our souls. But we must not think in our prayers to prescribe to Him, or by our importunity to move Him. He knows us better than we know ourselves and knows what He will do. But thus we open our wants and our desires, and then refer ourselves to His wisdom and goodness: And hereby we give honor to Him as our protector and benefactor, and take the way which He Himself hath appointed of fetching in mercy from Him, and by faith plead His promise with Him, and ifwe are sincere herein, we are through His grace qualified according to the tenor of the new covenant to receive
His favors, and are to be assured, that we do and shall receive them.
Ezekiel 36:37. John 6:6. Mark 11:24.