Therefore, when you are in the deep of sorrow, whatever that depth may be, cry to God.  To God Himself; and to none but God.  If you can go to the pure fountain-head, why drink of the stream, which must have gathered something of defilement as it flows?  If you can get light from the sun itself, why take lamp or candle in place of his clear rays?  If you can go to God Himself, why go to any of God’s creatures, however holy pure, and loving?  Go to God, who is light of light, and life of life; the source of all light, the source of all life, all love, all goodness, all mercy.  From Him all goodness flows.  All goodness which ever has been, shall be, or can be, is His alone, the fruit of His Spirit.  Go then to Him Himself.  Out of the depth, however deep, cry unto God and God Himself.  If David, the Jew of old, could do so, much more can we, who are baptized into Christ; much more can we, who have access by one Spirit to the Father; much more can we, who—­if we know who we are and where we are—­should come boldly to the throne of grace, to find mercy and grace to help us in the time of need.

Boldness.  That is a bold word:  but it is St Paul’s, not mine.  And by shewing that boldness, we shall shew that we indeed fear God.  We shall shew that we reverence God.  We shall shew that we trust God.  For so, and so only, we shall obey God.  If a sovereign or a sage should bid you come to him, would you shew reverence by staying away?  Would you shew reverence by refusing his condescension?  You may shew that you are afraid of him; that you do not trust him:  but that is not to shew reverence, but irreverence.

If God calls, you are bound by reverence to come, however unworthy.  If He bids you, you must obey, however much afraid.  You must trust Him; you must take Him at His word; you must confide in His goodness, in His justice, in His wisdom:  and since He bids you, go boldly to His throne, and find Him what He is, a gracious Lord.

My friends, to you, every one of you—­however weak, however ignorant, ay, however sinful, if you desire to be delivered from those sins—­this grace is given; liberty to cry out of the depth to God Himself, who made sun and stars, all heaven and earth; liberty to stand face to face with the Father of the spirits of all flesh, and cling to the one Being who can never fail nor change; even to the one immortal eternal God, of whom it is written, “Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Thy hands.  They shall perish, but Thou shalt endure.  They all shall wax old, like a garment, and as a vesture shalt Thou change them, and they shall be changed.  But Thou art the same, and Thy years shall not fail.”