FEBRUARY 19.
DODDRIDGE supposes that this is intended to express not only the immediate sensibility of Peter, but his feeling through life, and that he always wept at the thought of his vile and ungrateful conduct. His sin was certainly very aggravated; and, with all his failings, he was a man, of very tender affections and great ingenuousness.
But sorrow arising from such a source is not peculiar to our apostle. All the people of God should feel a penitent disposition at the review of their sin.
And who, when they look back, can be at a loss for materials of self-accusation and contrition? There are the sins of our unregenerate condition. There are the sins we have been capable of since we have been called to the knowledge of the truth. All these we are to judge of, not by their grossness, but by their guilt. In the number of our sins, we are to rank our omissions of duty, our non-improvement of our time and talents, the defectiveness of our aims and motives, and the departures of our heart in love and confidence from the blessed God.
Some would prevent the effect of such self-inspections, by the notion that there is no evil in the sins of God's people. But their sins are worse than those of others, by reason of the nearer relations in which, and the greater obligations under which they are committed. They have also, in sinning, greater difficulties to overcome. They have not only to sin against greater love, but greater light ; and they have been convinced of the evil and bitterness of sin, and have had a wounded spirit which they could not bear. Their sins, also, are more injurious with regard to others: distressing the strong. stumbling the weak, confirming the prejudiced, hardening the wicked, causing the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, and the way of truth to be evil spoken of. And is all this nothing? Did Micah think so? Who, says he, is a God like unto him, who passeth by even the transgression of the remnant of his heritage?
But suppose the Christian is led to see that his standing is secure, and that God is pacified towards him. Will he weep then? Yes ; he will weep the more. The goodness of God will lead him to repentance, and he will sorrow after a godly sort, like a dying saint, who being asked why he wept, answered, I weep, not that my sins may be pardoned, but because I hope they are pardoned.
Let us, then, never be ashamed or afraid of such tears as Peter shed. Nothing is so becoming and reasonable. Other grief may be excused, but this can be justified. Other sorrow may render us amiable in the eyes of our fellow-creatures, but this is extolled of God: " The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, 0 God, thou wilt not despise." This brings us within the reach of the promises: "They that sow in tears, shall reap in joy." "Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted." It is not easy, or perhaps possible, to make others comprehend this, but there is a pleasure even in the frame itself; and they who are the subjects of it well know that their happiest moments are their most tender ones, and, with Augustine, they can bless God for the "grace of tears." Here is a proof of our being under the renewing of the Holy Ghost. If the heart of stone was not taken away, how could I feel and grieve? And if there was nothing in me but nature, how could I feel and grieve for sin? There is nothing more useful in the divine life than this disposition. It endears the Saviour and his atonement, and his righteousness, and his intercession, and his grace. It makes me cautious and circumspect: in this temper of mind I cannot expose myself to temptation, or trifle with sin, but be always watchful and prayerful. Blessed is the man that feareth always.
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