The Pleading of Faith ~ Behold His Smiling Face

"Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow." -Psalm 51:7 [KJV]

Here is majesty in misery: a king in penitence: a monarch of the earth at the footstool of mercy. David as a miserable sinner, polluted with the complicated crimes of adultery and murder, is here ascribing honour to the blood of the Lamb, by the pleading of faith. Had you now asked David, what he thought of the pleasures of sin? 

He would have read the most affecting lecture on its exceeding sinfulness, and that almost insupportable distress, terror, and horror it brought upon his soul. Though invested with the government of a kingdom, yet he could not command away its terrors from his mind, its burden from his conscience, nor its pollution from his soul. 

He now found the words of his son fully verified, “Whoso breaketh through a hedge, a serpent shall bite him” (Ecclesiastes 10:8.) He had broken through the hedge of God’s law, and that old serpent who tempted him, now stings and torments him. But when Nathan had convinced David of his transgressions, so that he cried out, “I have sinned,” did not the prophet add? “The Lord also hath put away thy sin,” (II Samuel 12:13.) Yes. Nevertheless, this penitential psalm was written after this. From whence we may infer, 

(1st.) That though sin is put away by the Lord Jesus in the court of heaven, yet the convinced sinner may not enjoy the comfort of this in his own conscience. (2d.) There may be true faith in the blood of the Lamb, that it cleanses from all sin and yet the soul left to cry out under the pollution of sin. (3d.) A regenerate soul is as much concerned to be cleansed from the pollution of sin, as to be comforted with pardon for sin. (4th.) That true faith manifests itself in the heart, by its turning away from every thing, and turning to that Blessed Fountain opened for sin and uncleanness. 

Not my tears of repentance, but Thy precious blood, O Lamb of God, can wash me. Precious word! “The blood of the Son of God cleanseth from ALL sin.” (1 John 1:7.) (5th.) Faith ascribes the utmost efficacy to it, “Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” I shall be as free, and as fair, from the least stain of sin in God’s sight, as if I had never sinned: “Without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing” (Ephesians 5:27.) Hence learn, 

(1st.) As you value the sense of God’s love and peace of conscience, beware of sin. 

(2d.) If you sin, flee instantly to the blood of the Lamb to be cleansed, and to no other remedy. 

(3d.) Believe, wait, and pray. No power can forgive sin, nor cleanse from it, but that Lord against whom it is committed. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” -1 John 1:9

 

See, God is reconcil’d, 

Behold His smiling face, 

Let joyful cherubs clap the wings, 

And sound aloud His grace.

 

-preacher Wm. Mason (1724-1797 A.D.)

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