Psalms 143

REFLECTIONS UPON PSALM CXLIII.—If ever we hope for God’s acceptance of us, it must not be for any thing in us, but purely of grace, for his dear Son’s sake, according to the promises of his word. The most righteous cannot bear the severity of God’s justice. They who best know their own hearts will ever be the first to condemn themselves, and to cry for mercy at God’s hand. And they who plead guilty before the law, and flee to the grace of the gospel in Christ shall be justified from all things. When our distress is greatest, God’s power and grace shall be the more magnified in our deliverance. Though it be hard to exercise courageous faith under sore troubles, yet remembrance of God’s kindness to ourselves or others, in former times, is very encouraging. And they who thirst for his presence, favour, and love, shall never be sent away empty from his throne of grace; whatever manifestations of mercy, direction, instruction, deliverance, guidance, quickening for themselves, and destruction of enemies, they may ask. 7 I