The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-10-16

1NTRODUCTION.--Th INSPIRED pen
man records with great falthfulness the
sin of David against Uriah, and de,
clares that with this exception he did
that which was right in the eyes OF the
Lord. Kings xy;6) It Is rema !, %
blamelessly. All who read about the
horrd crimc should remember this start
ling statement. There Is one other TACT
he grievously sinned he was deeply penn,
tent. Whereas. many go forward and
hide the evil. In this instance all was
done that could be done to atone 1or IL.
We must not suppose that penltence re-
moves all the results OF ones trahsgres-
sequences go on forever. But this Is the
first condition for. restoration to Divine
favor, and a necessity preliminary to the
work Of renewal 1t has been long pc
lieved by the learned that the Psaim
by David when he was under conviction.
We have styled It his prayer. as g more
appropriate title than that given by the
Lesson Committee The petitions are
irregular. the same desire recurring.
MERcY.-(verses !. 81 The first feeling
OF penitent is that he has offended
God, and that he is utterly helpless to
remove the nrat condemnation. Hence.
there is but ono course possible-he must
cast himself upon the Divine clemency.
Coming Just as he 10 he can plead n 8aa
On that ground alone may he expect
mercy and pardon. He is encouraged
to that course by remembrance that Coo
is gracious. and the record OF his tenaer
dealing with the erring Is the fpundation
OF hope. elsa. xlii:25) 1t was with TINS
cording to tho multitude Of thy tender
nercies," matters Of history. he cried:
'.blot out my transgressions' blot OUT
all mine iniquities." Hero the nsure
is taken from the custom which mas
been ever OF old. in which entries mace
OF Indebtedness: and the dark acc1 1,a h,ot
his deeds was before his eyes. 10 o'o.
II out would be to destroy the record, 10
forgive the offcnse. psalm ciii:12)
CLEANSING 2. Z, 100 The SIN
ner perceives that he has not only aus
pleased God and thereby exposed himself
has inflicted damage upon himself. ne az.
has perverted the very foundation OF ms
being, BY the evil thoughts and de-
sires cherished he has defiled what other
wise would be clean. Geek. xx:45l ne
CONSCIOUSNESS of this results from LOOK
within. No man can properly consider
himself without recognizing his deplor'
able condition. Then comes the conYlc-
ton that there is no remedy OF human
sort for this defilement AS Well hlsht
the leopard change his spots as man
purge away the effects OF his sin upon
Himself. David realized this, but believed
also that what ne could not do GOD coula;
Wash me-" Cleanse me. purge me,
create clean heart" renew rlght
spirit" he cried. Qieb. ix:14) Ihese pc
titions are largely hgurative IN IN. .ms f ,H
Cover tho needs of the distressed soul,
ARCUMENT.-(vers 81, 4, So Inc
ground for this earnest pleading now sp,
pears in an ample ackno"ledgms,nIHt 10, ~
several parts; L nj He s dec is Constantly be-
fore him, like the ghost OF some ylctm
slain, haunting him day ana night, 81
that he found no rest. psalm xXxll:12 an
that his sin is against God a violation Of
the Divine law. (Ex. kx:l3) a most
grievous offensc provoking indignauo ION
8 He claims that he had inherited evil;
other mem psalm lviii:5) as the descend
ants Of fallen Adam. 1. He knows.
nevertheless. that God desires man to De
holy and that he can. work IN tne ~. ~.
terror Of mans being changing tn, the
sources and secret springs Of all action.
In these four parts there is an argu-
Inent-the suffering Of the sinner, me
enormity Of his sin, the deep-seated talnt
EFFORT, Divine seeking for holiness IN
man. The prayer rested on a clear con-
cepton Of himself and Of God. GOD
xxili:D.
eress Of his prayer David twice implores
God to change the state OF his heart:
This would really be consequence OF
what he had asked previously, Whoever
God is reconciled that the stains are re-
moved from the soul will awaken re
jo!cing. (hlat v:D Make me to near
would sound in his ears. the glad It'd
ings This lis frequently the expo
rience OF those who have been forgiven.
expressed in that line OF a fa haanr
The repeated petition u.s. perhaps, more
expressive, "Restore unto me the JOY
OF thy salvation" something once pos
sessed, now forfeited. to be regained
to pi that {. which attends salvation-that In;
cludes not only the rejoicing over 5000
received. but over recognition e OF tne
blessed than to feel that ANOTHER, out OF
p etsa4 r lsfiv noa1iAt1l iSt
slowed What was wholly unmeriIed.
y NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. 11>-There is yet
another favor, perhaps. greater than any
other which the penitent may desire re
nrs caaff from Goa Gsa s ks Just
amongst the trees of the ga. den.. Gen.
Ill :S.) 'lQeT6 can DC no CSiAiHi
tween a holy and an unholy being. This
separation is painful: the most serious
loss the soul can sustain Dob xxiit:5), for
man was made in the, Image OF God and
finds his heaven only In the approval and
conscious presence of his heavenly fath-
or. How. then, may one, be restored to
been bee forfeited and lost? David prayed
for 1t. Cast me not away from my
presence" Here Is a present and a pros
pective Matt. xxv:4D reference. He mad
the hour OF judgment In MIND as well
not thy Holy Spirit from me-" whose in
dwelling Is the SOURCE OF l,ght ana peace
and strength. David would draw nlgh,to
God and invite God to draw nigh to h m.
SERYICE.-(Verses 10 and 14) There Is,
a form of prayer that is never answered
because 1t seeks only the good Of the, one
who offers 1t DANES iv:3. Gods bless
ings are not bestowed upon the selfish.
If they were they would be curses. maxi
ing the man worse than he was befoe
AT the gifts that come to us lay us un-
der obligation to minister to Others to
do good unto those who need us; Such
gifts are multiplied many fold (Eph. vi:S),
The Psalmist understood this law of spir-
proposed to make able IN service. Il
he found pardon he would afterward e ye