May 11

Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.—Psalms 51:9.

HAVE I, in sincere penitence, forsaken the sins for which I ask God's forgiveness? Is the remembrance of them grievous to me? Is it my earnest prayer that I may be pardoned for them, for Christ's sake, and cleansed from them in his atoning blood? Trusting in him, by faith, do I take to myself the comfort of pardon, and endeavor, by the aid of his Spirit, so to live as to find for myself, and give to others, the evidence that I am forgiven?

Repentance begins in humiliation of heart, and ends in reformation of the life. He that cries to have sin taken away, confesses that it lies upon him, and pleads for pardon and acceptance through him whose blood cleanseth from all sin. He that sincerely asks forgiveness will earnestly strive for holiness. He will look to Christ, not only for justification, but also for sanctification.

Thou who art merciful, as well as just, Incline thine ear to me, a child of dust! Not what I would, O Lord, I offer thee, Alas! but what I can, As but a sinful man.

Accept then, I entreat, my humble prayer. Four things which are not in thy treasury I lay before thee, Lord, with this petition— My nothingness, my wants, My sins, and my contrition;

Oh! meet my needs for all, from thy rich mercy free! —SOUTHEY.