II. OUT OF THE DEEP OF SIN
Innumerable troubles are come about me. My sins have taken such hold upon me, that I am not able to look up; yea, they are more in number than the hairs of my head, and my heart hath failed me.
Ps. xl. 15.I acknowledge my faults, and my sin is ever before me. Against Thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in Thy sight.
Ps. li. 3.I said, I will confess my sins unto the Lord; and so Thou forgavest the wickedness of my sin .
Ps. xxxii. 6.Blessed is the man whose iniquity is forgiven, and whose sin is purged.
Ps. xxxii. 1.There is forgiveness with Thee, therefore shalt Thou be feared.
Ps. cxxx. 1.God is not against you but for you, in all the struggles of life; He wants you to get through safe; wants you to succeed; wants you to conquer; and He will hear your cry out of the deep and help you. And therefore when you find yourselves wrong, utterly wrong, do not cry to this man or that man, Do you help me; do you set me a little more right before God comes, and finds me in the wrong and punishes me. Cry to God Himself, to Christ Himself; ask Him to lift you up; ask Him to set you right. Do not be like St. Peter before his conversion, and cry, Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord; wait a little till I have risen up, and washed off my stains, and made myself somewhat fit to be seen.No. Cry, Come quickly, O Lordat oncejust because I am a sinful man; just because I am sore let and hindered in running my race by my own sins and wickedness; because I am lazy and stupid; because I am perverse and vicious, therefore