done wickedly.' This verse is the keynote of the whole Psalm. It is so different to the one preceding it, the cvth, where God is revealed in the continuity of His covenant relationship to His people, and His loving regard to them under all circumstances, whatever the nature of the circumstances might be. But in this cvith Psalm we see the Israelites sinningmurmuring-provoking-rebelling-inventing ways to show their hostility to God, and to wander from His ways. But in the midst of this seething mass of rebellion against the Most High a godly remnant was preserved-"a remnant according to the election of grace"-a favoured number, who were restrained from sinning like the common mass, yet who took their place with them in the confession, "We have sinned with our fathers." Do you notice that? Fathers and children on one dreadful level. These children differ from the majority of those of the present day who think themselves endowed with wisdom superior to their fathers, and who treat their fathers as old fools. The reign of grace knows nothing of this spirit, though many of us who glory in the reign of grace have been betrayed into it. The Good Lord of grace pardon His poor children in this thing. "We have sinned with our fathers, we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly.' This was the confession of a forgiven, yet sinning people, who needed forgiveness every day; and forgiveness He gave them, for, "Many times did He deliver them; but they provoked Him with their counsel, and were brought low for their iniquity. Nevertheless. He regarded their affliction, when He heard their cry" (Ps. cvi. 43-44).

We will look at one more confession of sin, and that appearing in a marvellously strange light, in Ps. XXV. II: "For Thy Name's sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great." This seems

astounding, and astounding it is in the judgment and experience of all those who know, feel, and understand, the relationship of convinced and forgiven sinners to their Pardoning God and Forgiving Father. In the light of that relationship sin becomes exceeding sinful-its burden intolerable-its plague insufferable-detestable beyond endurance. This calls forth the petition-" pardon mine iniquity." This secures the confession-"it is great.' We have manifold illustrations of this in Holy Scripture, and none more sweetly forcible than those of the prodigal and the publican. The prodigal sinned against light and love and a Father's gracious liberality; He asked and received of his Father's living, and then, as all self-sufficient recipients can do, and do, he "wasted his substance with riotous living." All spent-famine felt-in want perishing with hunger, his father's house is brought to mind. He frames a confession mixed with legality. He starts for home. "A great way off his father saw himhad compassion-ran-fell on his neck-kissed him." This was pure grace, which drew forth the confession purged from its legality-" Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son." Do you notice this is pure confession, with no petition, plea, nor promise. Grace was ready with everything needful for reception, provision, and future preservation. Grace humbles and exalts (Luke xv. 11-24). Now turn to the parable spoken to self-righteous souls in Luke xviii. 10-14. Two men appear. One is so much in love with himself that he has no time for anything but to tell God he is so good. The other knows nothing of goodness in himself. Without outward show, or parade to excite attention, he "smote upon his breast"-indicating the intensity of feeling experienced deep down in his heart's

recesses "saying, God be merciful to me a sinner"; or, "GOD BE PROPITIOUS TO ME-THE SINNER." In his own estimation he was the sinner not to be matched upon earth-the first of the first rank-not to be rivalled-chief of sinners. He knew by the convincing power of God's Holy Spirit that he deserved not God's notice only to condemn him and sentence him to everlasting despair and destruction. He knew also that access to God and acceptance with Him could be his only through expiation, propitiation, and reconciliation, by the obedience and blood of his Surety. In this he was justified, cleared, accepted and exalted, while the good doer, tithe payer, and ceremonial observer was humbled to regions far lower than he liked. We are now brought to consider the very cream of the Gospel

II. Forgiveness-" He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins." This is a subject which commands general favour. In one of the creeds of Christendom thousands are led to say, "I believe in the forgiveness of sins." But do they believe it? Well, they may believe in that article of the creed; but do they believe in Him to Whom belongs the sole prerogative to forgive? With such we have nothing to do. The Master says to me, "What is that to thee? Follow thou Me." Let us follow, or go along with Him, in the consideration of this blessed subject. In Him alone we have the forgiveness of sins, and this according to the riches of His grace. "To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses." The Spring and Fount of forgiveness is God Himself. This He reveals in His Blessed Book, where He hides not from His children the counsel of His will, nor the covenant of His grace. Of His Beloved Son He caused Paul to write, "In Whom we have redemption through His blood" (Eph. i. 7), and the price of His people's redemption He

styles, "the blood of the everlasting covenant" (Heb. xiii. 20). From this covenant flows forth the irrevocable announcement concerning the whole election of grace, "I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more (Jer. xxxi. 34; Heb. viii. 12). All this is through the provision and performances of a God-designed and Willing Surety. All the sins of all God's eternally - loved ones heaped upon Him, brought Him to the hell of their desert-to the agony and bloody sweat of Gethsemane-to the desertion and desolation of curse-crowned Calvary. He was made SIN. Not made to sin. Sin He never thought or did; but God constituted and dealt with Him as such. He was made A CURSE for us that we should be blessed. Yes, blessed with the sweets of full, free, and everlasting forgiveness. This is enjoyed only in Christ -with Christ-by Christ-for His Name's sake. As the Head of the body He put away the sin of the members. As the Bridegroom of His bride the Church He paid all her debts. As the Shepherd of His flock He bore all the sins of His sheep into the land of eternal forgetfulness. Accepted of God in His Person and work, the Covenant-Surety stands. In Him, God's own stand forgiven, justified, graced and accepted. "In Whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace" (Eph. i. 7).

I wish you here to grasp and enjoy with me something of the perfection and perpetuity of divine forgiveness. It knows nothing of limit or restriction. Our God does not forgive in part. He forgives wholly. His work in this matter is like Himselfperfect. Did you ever think or dwell upon this marvellous expression-LIMITLESS FORGIVENESS? David knew the preciousness of it when he sang, "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His

benefits: WHO FORGIVETH ALL THINE INIQUITIES
(Ps. ciii. 2, 3). How many? ALL.
Not many.
Not some. ALL! Forgiveness is an act of bound-
less, infinite grace. It takes in and turns out sins
of every shade and size. Sins from the womb to
the tomb. Sins in public-sins in private-sins in
the sanctuary-sins in seclusion-sins in the pulpit
-sins in the pew-sins bold and daring-sins
cowardly and sneaking. All forgiven! All forgiven!
Forgiveness is grand in its design, glorious in its
declaration, overwhelming in its communication.
Here we can join in praise with dear John Kent-
"Here's pardon full for sin that's past,

It matters not how black the cast;
And, O my soul, with wonder view,
For sins to come here's pardon, too."

Now notice how perfectly Paul is one with David in Col. ii. 13: "And you, being dead in your sins, and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath He quickened together with Him, having forgiven you ALL TRESPASSES." The sins of God's own are debts all paid, and the receipt of the same was given in full by the Surety on curse-crowned Calvary, and is enjoyed in the heart as revealed by His Glorifier-God the Holy Ghost. Listen to the charming declaration of the God of Israel by the weeping prophet: “And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against Me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against Me" (Jer. xxxiii. 8). It must be so, as sure as God's own word is true" recorded in Jer. 1. 20, "In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found: for I will pardon them whom I reserve." Hezekiah knew the blessedness of sins not

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