August 28

"Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away." Psalms 65:3.

This is the language of complaint and of triumph. It was uttered by a Jew, but every Christian can make it his own. For as in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man, in every age and under every dispensation.

As to the complaint, there are two ways in which iniquities may prevail against the Christian. The first is in the growing sense of his guilt. This may be occasioned by afflictions, which bring our sins to remembrance, or by any thing that increases self-knowledge, for this must always show us more of our unworthiness and depravity. Suppose a man in a dungeon abounding with noxious reptiles. While all is dark there, he sees none of them; but as the light dawns, he begins to see them, and as the light increases, he sees more of them. The light seems to bring them and to multiply them; but it only discovers what was there before. Some pray that God would show them all the corruptions of their heart; but this would probably drive them into distraction or despair. They could not bear the whole disclosure, especially at first; and therefore they are made sensible of them by little and little.

The second is in the power of their acting. This prevalence cannot be entire, for sin shall not have dominion over them, but it may be occasional and partial. An enemy may make a temporary irruption, and do injury, though he may soon be expelled again. In a war, checks and discomfitures are not incompatible with general and final success, as we see in the history of the Romans. The Israelites were repulsed at Ai; but they returned to the assault with more caution and wisdom, and succeeded. And thus, whatever advantages the foe may gain against Christians, the God of peace will bruise Satan under their feet shortly. David does not say, iniquities prevail with me, but against me. As to many, they prevail with them. They drink in iniquity, as the ox drinketh in water. They draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart-rope. But a Christian is made willing in the day of God's power, and therefore can say, "To will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good, I find not. When I would do good, evil is present with me." Ahab is said to have sold himself to work wickedness. But it is otherwise with a poor slave in Africa. He is kidnapped or taken by force, and disposed of to some demon-trafficker in flesh and blood. He resists and weeps, but they prevail against him. And says Paul, I do not sell myself, but I am sold under sin. So then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me? Poison in a serpent never produces sickness, but it does in a man; it is natural to the one, but not to the other. Sin does not distress the sinner; but it offends beyond every thing else the renewed mind.

The words are broken and abrupt; but when the church adds, "As for our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away," they are assuredly the triumph of faith, after a plunge of distress and a pause of thoughtfulness. There are two ways, according to the Scripture, in which God purges our transgressions, and they always go together. The one is by pardoning mercy. Thus David prays, "Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities." Thus the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin. And they that believe on him are justified from all things.

The other is by sanctifying grace. "I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols will I cleanse you." And this is as much the work of God as the former. He subdues our iniquities as well as forgives them. He not only ordains peace for us, but works all our works in us.

The Christian is persuaded of this gracious deliverance, and therefore expresses himself with confidence. And a foundation is laid for this confidence, and such a firm and scriptural foundation as that he may feel himself perfectly safe in the midst of danger. Under the deepest sense of his desert, he may joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom he has now received the atonement; and with regard to all the conflicts of indwelling sin, he may take courage, and sing, "I shall not die, but live; and declare the works of the Lord.

"My spirit holds perpetual war.

And wrestles and complains;

But views the happy moment near

That shall dissolve its chains.

Cheerful in death, I close my eyes,

To part with every lust;

And charge my flesh, whenever it rise,

To leave them in the dust."