SERMON XXIV.

GODLY AND WORLDLY SORROW.

2 COR. vii. 10.

For Godly Sorrow worketh Repentance unto Salvation, not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

THE Wise Man tells us, that it is better to go to the house of mourning than to the house of feasting. The house of mirth is generally the house of extravagance, the house of absurdity and vanity but the house of mourning has better lessons, better company, better consolation, and a better end: for godly sorrow worketh repentance unto salvation, and it is a thing not to be repented of; but, not the mirth only, but the sorrow of the world, worketh death.

The occasion of these words you will find in the fifth chapter of the First Epistle. Lately as Christianity had been introduced into the world, a gross scandal had crept into it: the Corinthians, instead of being humbled by it, were puffed up and careless. St. Paul wrote to them, and then they ran into another extreme. Though I made you sorry with a letter," says the Apostle, "I re

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pent not, though I did repent. I rejoice not that this put you to pain: I rejoice not that ye were made sorry, but that you sorrowed to repentance: for godly sorrow worketh repentance unto salvation, not to be repented of; but the sorrow of the world worketh death: whatever pain, therefore, you have received from my letter, it has done you good: it has operated as a medicine: I do not rejoice at the pain; but I rejoice at its effects,"

I shall,

1. EXPLAIN these words: and, 2. APPLY them.

I. I shall EXPLAIN these words.

1. Let us consider what is to be understood by

GODLY SORROW.

A Christian has his peculiar sorrows and his peculiar joys: his heart knoweth its own bitterness, and a stranger intermeddleth not with his joy. If a tear fall from his eye, it falls with a consideration in his mind, like that of Job or Hezekiah, under correction. Others may think of nothing but chance, the ill-nature of man, the vexatious cross, and the circumstances that attended it: but this man's sorrow will be accompanied by a consideration, that God is to be acknowledged in his trouble.

"Not from the dust my joys or sorrows spring." He will mourn for his own sin: he will mourn for

the scandals of the church. Perhaps it is a personal affair which afflicts him; or, possibly, it is a family concern: but, still, he will see the hand of God in the affliction of persons, and in the distress of families; and he views it with a believing eye, and with a child-like spirit, and will be ready to say with Job, Shew me wherefore thou contendest with me.

When, therefore, God discovers to him that there is some evil, something that calls for the hand of the surgeon, this discovery will work repentance: for godly sorrow worketh repentance unto salvation, not to be repented of.

And what will be the symptoms of this repentance? Behold! says the Apostle: mark the symptoms! No more careless levity! Behold-What carefulness it wrought in you; yea, what clearing of yourselves; yea, what indignation; yea, what fear; yea, what vehement desire; yea, what zeal; yea, what revenge! These were the symptoms of a godly sorrow working repentance.

If we find Manasseh weeping, when taken among the thorns, and cast into the prison-house, it will demonstrate that the tendency of his affliction is salutary and holy: there is a change of his mind and heart. It is the case of the prodigal, when brought to his right mind. There will be a rewill be led to say,

newal of grace. The man

Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now

have I learnt thy word—I was as a bullock unáccustomed to the yoke--but, turn thou me, and I shall be turned: for thou art the Lord my God. I am ashamed, smiting on my thigh." Here is a fresh stirring up of grace. Here is a grieved spirit. Create in me, says David, a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

Brethren! godly sorrow, as you see, worketh repentance, and that unto salvation: it is the operation of a spiritual medicine; for, frequently, till godly sorrow worketh in this manner, a man has no suspicion of his state.

Gurnal, in his "Christian Armour," observes that the chastisements of God put us on examination. A man, who finds the top of his house let in water, goes up to repair the breach; and discovers that the whole roof, perhaps, is in a state of decay. Some particular sin may, in like manner, give us pain: when we examine, we find that this is connected with an alarming spiritual decay; and, if we take not warning, the soul will be inevitably ruined. Thus godly sorrow worketh repentance unto present salvation; and, of course, worketh salvation everlasting: so that Peter's weeping, the jailor's distress, the Corinthians' carefulness and zeal and revenge, were working to the salvation. which God intended, and were symptoms of spiritual health.

We notice a man going back, perhaps, from Christ; and, from charitable motives, we hint

"You are in an evil way. This thing has a bad tendency on your own soul: it will injure your family: it will bring a scandal on the Church." But the man resorts to extenuation: he offers palliatives: he may, perhaps, resent our faithfulness, and consider himself insulted. It is the direct reverse, where godly sorrow appears: when it is said to a penitent, Thou art the man, he will rather say, with David, I have sinned! and, with the Publican, God be merciful to me a sinner!

The repentance spoken of in the case of Judas was but remorse-the sorrow of this world, that worketh death; contrary, therefore, to the repentance that worketh salvation. The repentance of which the text speaks is a spiritual sensibilitya living man feeling, and tending to recovery. I have gone astray, says the Psalmist, like a lost sheep seek thy servant!

My Dear Hearers, there is scarcely any worldly joy, but leaves a sting behind it: or, as one excel lently expresses it, "What is sorrow, but the ghost of joy?" But godly sorrow is an affectionate res turn to God-a renewed act of communion with him; and must draw forth grateful thanks to Christ, the giver of this blessing; for him hath God exalted to give repentance and remission of sins.

2. But, the Apostle speaks also of the SORRow of the world, as opposed to this godly sorrow. The sorrow of the world! There is far more of this than appears. Some of us, who have public