Well, it's my joy to join you once again for worship on our Lord's Day. The last time that I was welcomed in this pulpit, we examined the opening chapters of 1 Samuel. We looked at Hannah's faithfulness and the calling of Samuel, but also the dishonor of Eli, the sins of his sons, and ultimately the capture of the ark But the Lord rose up against the Philistines, amen, and he returned the ark. At the climax of this part of the story, you'll remember that God's victory was over the idol to Dagon, this great fish god of the Philistines. Well, this morning we will shift our attention to another story involving delivery from a great fish, and we will be in the book of Jonah, But first, let us join in echoing the prayer of a saint gone before us. Glorious God, it is the flame of our lives to worship Thee. The crown and glory of our souls to adore Thee. Heavenly pleasure to approach Thee. Give us power by Thy Spirit to help us worship now that we may forget the world, be brought into fullness of life, be refreshed, comforted, and blessed. Give us knowledge of Thy goodness that we might not be overawed by Thy greatness. Give us Jesus, Son of Man, Son of God, that we might not be terrified, but be drawn near with filial love, with holy boldness. He is our Mediator, Brother, Interpreter, Branch, Daysman, Lamb. Him we glorify, in Him we are set on high. Crowns to give we have none, but what Thou hast given we return. Content to feel that everything is ours when it is Thine, and the more fully ours when we have yielded it to Thee. Let us live wholly to our Savior, free from distractions, from carking care, from hindrances to the pursuit of the narrow way. We are pardoned through the blood of Jesus. Give us a new sense of it. Continue to pardon us by it. May we come every day to the fountain. and every day be washed anew, that we may worship Thee always in spirit and truth. Amen. Well, the theme of the book of Jonah is, there are many, but the overarching theme is the compassion of God. It is a book of warning and woe, but also a future hope and victory Scripture doesn't explicitly tell us who the author of the book is, but I think we might presume, along with all of church history, that it was Jonah himself, largely in part due to the intimate knowledge of the prayer spoken in the belly of the fish, not a lot of other witnesses. Let's look at who this prophet was, what his ministry was, and where it took place. The book was most likely written around 775 BC. And Jonah was a prophet, and he was one of the earlier prophets in the northern kingdom during the reign of Jeroboam II. And he was from this small place called Gath-Hephir. It was a small town near Nazareth. We're given some more insights into Jonah Actually, we read about him some in 2 Kings 14, where we read this, In the fifteenth year of Amaziah the son of Joash, king of Judah, Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel, became king in Samaria and reigned forty-one years. And he did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh. He did not depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nabat, which he made Israel sin. He restored the border of Israel from Labo-Hemath as far as the Sea of Arabah, according to the word of Yahweh, the God of Israel, which he spoke through his servant Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet, who was of Gath-Hefer." And this is the same Jonah as our Book of Jonah. A couple of areas that we'll run across here, Nineveh, This was the capital city of Assyria. It was located on the banks of the Tigris River in modern-day Iraq. Assyria, of course, Nineveh was the capital of Assyria. Assyria was this nation on the rise, and we are told in secular history was one of the most ghastly, bloodthirsty, brutal empires of the ancient world. It said that when they would declare war, if the city didn't instantly surrender after they defeated the city, because they would, they would take both soldiers and citizens and put giant fish hooks in their mouths and march them in a victory parade. And then they would impale them and skin them alive. They would cut off their limbs and throw them to wild animals and then tack their skins up on the city walls." So this was a cruel and barbarous people. We'll also read about a place called Joppa. This was a port city in the south of Israel. And Tarshish. which was a city likely on the opposite side of the Mediterranean Sea. Last introductory note of extensive use in my studies and used for research and citation, a few men, Peter Lightheart, Rich Lusk, Uri Burrito, I can only stand on the shoulders of others with the message I bring this morning. Well, if you are already to Jonah 1, if you would, please stand with me as we read the first two verses. Now the word of Yahweh came to Jonah, the son of Amittai, saying, Arise, go to Nineveh, the great city, and call out against it. for their evil has come up before me." This is the word of God and we believe it. You may be seated. So the word of Yahweh came to Jonah saying to go to Nineveh and call out against it. Now we typically see prophets being sent to where? Regions of Israel itself in the Old Testament. Jonah probably would have expected to be sent somewhere like Samaria. But instead, he's sent to the capital of a pagan Gentile nation. Well, God's sending a prophet to warn the people about their sins is, as we know, an act of mercy. Because it gives sinners a chance to repent. Any sinner with breath in his lungs and awareness of his sin, no matter what other circumstances, he's experiencing mercy. This is true at all times. If God is warning you about your sin today, do not feel burdened by this. This is an act of mercy. Either as a prodigal son or one who has never called on the Lord before. The very fact that there is a warning is mercy. We continue reading. Yet Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of Yahweh. So he went down to Joppa, found a ship that was going to Tarshish, and paid its fare, and went down into it to go with him to Tarshish from the presence of Yahweh. Well, in disobedience, Jonah is attempting to flee from Yahweh. In stark contrast to all the other prophets that we read about, you think of Isaiah, who says, here am I, send me. Jonah seems to attempt to go to the opposite side of the Mediterranean Sea, opposite side of the world as he knew it. Well, let's consider why Jonah disobeys in the first place. I don't think it was because he was a coward. I don't think it's because he was completely devoid of faith. And I don't even think we can say that generally speaking he was opposed to the conversion of Gentiles. He would have known the promise to Abraham. But the Lord would bring them, the Gentiles, to faith. And the region that he was from was one of the places that, if you go back earlier in the Bible, that after Joshua conquered it, this was one of those places that all of the Gentiles had not been completely driven out, as they should have been. So there would have been still these Gentiles living in this area. Jonah would have grown up with Gentiles. No, I believe the reason that Jonah was disobedient is that he knew, he knew Israel was faithless. And because of that, he knew that judgment was coming. The second chapter of Jonah is Jonah's song, and it takes bits and pieces from upwards of 20 different psalms Jonah was clearly very, very intimately familiar with the Scripture that they had in that day. And he would have been well aware, as would most of Israel, been aware of the Song of Moses in Deuteronomy 32. So I'll read a portion of that for us here. But Jeshurun, that would be Israel, grew fat and kicked. You grew fat, thick, and sleek. Then he abandoned God who made him, and treated the rock of his salvation with wicked foolishness. They made him jealous with strange gods, with abominations they provoked him to anger. They sacrificed to demons who were not God, to gods whom they have not known, new gods who came lately, whom your fathers did not dread, You neglected the rock who begot you, and forgot the God who brought you forth. And you always saw this and spurned them because of the provocation of his sons and daughters. Then he said, I will hide my face from them. I will see what their end shall be. For they are a perverse generation. Remember that term, perverse generation. Sons in whom is no faithfulness. They have made me jealous with what is not God. They have provoked me to anger with their idols. And this is the key portion of this of what Jonah would have had in mind when God asks him to go to Nineveh. So I will make them jealous with those who are not a people. with Gentiles. I will provoke them to anger with a wickedly foolish nation, which clearly Assyria was. For a fire is kindled in My anger, and it burns to the lowest part of Sheol. And it consumes the earth with its produce, and it sets on fire the foundations of the mountains." Jonah knew this. Jonah knew the blessings and curses of the covenant. He would have seen this second round of golden calves that were propped up in Israel that were being worshipped during this time. If Israel was going to provoke God to jealousy, then God would provoke them to jealousy. But again, this is not the act of some cruel God. This is still an act of mercy. to bring back a wayward bride. But again, he knew that this meant judgment for Israel. And he knew God would be showing His mercy to Nineveh. We see this in Jonah 4, 2. God acknowledges. He said, God, You're a kind God. You're merciful. You're slow to anger. I knew this was going to happen. They were going to repent. So Jonah was wrong in his disobedience, but he was right in his understanding of what was going on. Because, as we know, Assyria would, in fact, soon destroy the northern kingdom. His line of thought could have been something like this. If God sends me to preach to the Ninevites, He must intend mercy toward them. And if I preach to them, they will repent. And if they repent, they will become an even stronger empire. And if they get stronger, they will conquer my unrepentant Israel. Jonah doesn't want to help an enemy nation conquer his own. So, no, I don't think that Jonah was a coward or that he had a total lack of faith or understanding of what God was doing. I believe the reason Jonah does not obey is something that we need to be careful of as well, and that is disordered patriotism. He loved Israel more than God. Righteous patriotism is a beautiful and good thing. Love for America is a good thing. But if our loyalty as Americans is ever elevated over our loyalty as Christians, then we have veered into idolatry, and we must repent, for we are walking in the ways of the kings." Well, as we continue to read. Actually, I'll read for you. This is Jonah 4.2. This is Jonah knowing. knowing the kind of God He served, and what would happen to Nineveh. He says, O Yahweh, was this not My word to Myself while I was still in My own land? Therefore, I went ahead to flee to Tarshish, for I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness, and one who relents concerning evil. Well, Jonah, in his disobedience, and we see it in the text, he begins this continual descent The language, there's all this down language, below language. And eventually it takes him down to the heart of the sea, to the very gates of Sheol itself. And he's always going down. He's going down to Joppa, down to the ship. Fleeing from the Lord will only take you downhill. I do believe Jonah knew he could not ultimately escape God, but he was certainly running from being a prophet. He goes down to Joppa and finds a ship. We continue in verse 4. But Yahweh hurled a great wind on the sea, and there was a great storm on the sea, so that the ship gave thought to breaking apart. Then the sailors became fearful, and every man cried to his God. And they hurled the cargo which was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone down before into the innermost part of the vessel, laid down, fallen deep asleep. So the captain came near to him and said to him, How is it that you are deeply sleeping? Arise, call on your God. Perhaps your God will be concerned about us, so that we will not perish. Then each man said to the other, Come, let us have the lots fall, so that we may know on whose account this calamitous evil has struck. And we know that our God controls the lots. So they had the lots fall, and the lot fell on Jonah. Then they said to him, Tell us now, on whose account has this calamitous evil struck us? What is your occupation, and where do you come from? What is your country? From what people are you? And he said to them..." This is basically all he says to them. This is his sermon here. "...I am a Hebrew, And I fear Yahweh, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.' Then the men became greatly fearful, and they said to Him, What is this You have done? For the men knew that He was fleeing from the presence of Yahweh, because He had told them. So they said to Him, What should we do to You that the sea may become quiet for us? For the sea was becoming increasingly stormy. So He said to them, lift me up and hurl me into the sea. Then the sea will become quiet for you, for I know that on account of me, this great storm has come upon you." However, the men rode desperately to return to dry land, but they could not, for the sea was becoming increasingly stormy against them. Then they called on Yahweh and said, Ah, O Yahweh, we earnestly pray, do not let us perish on account of this man's life, and do not put innocent blood on us. For you, O Yahweh, as you have pleased, you have done. So they lifted Jonah up and hurled him into the sea, and the sea stood still from its raging. Then the men greatly feared Yahweh, and they offered a sacrifice to Yahweh and made vows. And Yahweh appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the stomach of the fish three days and three nights. So here God has hurled this great wind on the sea and there's a great storm. The sailors become fearful, and they're crying out to their gods. They're hurling cargo into the sea to try to lighten the ship, see if they can make it through the night. Jonah, though, he's gone down below. Again, he's gone down to the innermost part of the ship. And then he's laid down, and he's fallen deep asleep, and the captain comes and asks him, why is he sleeping? How is he sleeping? Pray to your God. Maybe He'll care. You don't seem to care. Maybe your God will care. Well, the sailors decide to have those lots fall so that they may know on whose account the storm has arisen, and we know it falls on Jonah. They ask him, what's his job? Where are you from? And he answers just simply, I'm a Hebrew and I fear God. The men become fearful. They ask Jonah what he's done and what they should do. Jonah tells them to throw him into the sea. However, the men row desperately, but they cannot escape. We see here that the sailors Jonah does not have much regard for the enormous population of Nineveh and the blood and the death that will happen there. But the sailors do seem more concerned about the shedding of blood than Jonah. They don't want to throw him into the sea. But they call on God to not allow them to perish. And they do end up with no other option. They have to hurl Jonah into the sea. And then the sea stands still. The sea is frequently a picture of the Gentile nations in the Bible. The sea a picture of the Gentile nations, and the land a picture of Israel. So they called on God to not allow them to perish. Throw Jonah into the sea. And just as Jonah is thrown into the sea, Israel will soon be flooded by Gentile nations as well. Have you ever considered how the New Testament is full of stories about boats and fish? Everyone's a fisherman. They're always on the sea. The Old Testament, though, is primarily land stories, with this notable exception of Jonah. Everyone's a farmer or a shepherd, and all these stories are happening in the land. It's also interesting, the Apostle Peter, his birth name was Simon Bar-Jonah. And as we know, Peter would have some similar reluctancies initially in going to the Gentile nations. Well, these men, we are told, greatly feared Yahweh. They offered sacrifices and vows. These men were converted. Jonah has quite a bit of humor in it as you read it. In a good way, Jonah's trying to run from the call to be a prophet. And in doing so, he's trying to run from the call to be a prophet to the Gentiles. And in doing so, he ends up converting a boatload of pagan sailors before he even gets swallowed by the fish. There's a beautiful irony here. Jonah's running from preaching to Gentiles. He ends up on a ship. gives just like a couple sentences, hey, I'm a Hebrew and I fear God. And all the sailors convert. And this beautiful conversion points to the coming conversion of Nineveh. But it's also an indictment against Israel. These sailors turn to the Lord after a few words from a runaway prophet. Israel is more hard-hearted than these pagans. They've been sent prophet after prophet. Well, these sailors and their story and their experience on this boat that day reminds us of the 107th Psalm, which says, those who go down to the sea in ships, who do business on many waters, they have seen the works of Yahweh and His wondrous deeds in the deep. He spoke and set up a stormy wind which raised up the waves of the sea. They went up to the heavens, they went down to the depths. Their soul melted away in the calamity. They staggered and swayed like a drunken man, and all their wisdom was swallowed up. Then they cried to Yahweh in their trouble, and He brought them out of their distresses. He caused the storm to stand still, so that its waves were hushed. Then they were glad because they were quiet. So He led them to their desired haven. Let them give thanks to Yahweh for His lovingkindness, and for His wondrous deeds to the sons of men. Let them exalt Him also in the assembly of the people, and praise Him at the seat of the elders." So God has appointed this great fish to swallow Jonah. We don't know exactly what species of beast the sea monster was. Perhaps the most likely animal of all those that we know would have been in the Mediterranean Sea is the 45-ton sperm whale, but again, could have been some other beast of God's choosing. Sea monsters, much like the sea, represents the Gentile nations. Sea monsters often symbolize the rulers of those Gentile nations in the Bible. We can consider Jeremiah 51, when Jeremiah is speaking of a different ruler, Nebuchadnezzar. He says, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, has devoured me and brought me into confusion. He has set me down like an empty vessel. He has swallowed me like a sea monster. He has filled his stomach with my delicacies. He has rinsed me away. Later in that same chapter, and this is the story of Jonah basically, I will punish Bel in Babylon and I will make what he has swallowed come out of his mouth. So Jonah is in the whale. the sea monster, for three days and three nights. If the Gentile nations are to swallow up God's people, it is to save them from simply drowning in the sea. And here we run into this sign of Jonah that we read about in the Gospel of Matthew. Jonah is a type of Christ in that he would spend these three days and three nights in the tomb. God is God over death and the grave. But we read some of this sign of Jonah in Matthew 12. where we read this, then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered and said to him, Teacher, we want to see a sign from you. But he answered and said to them, you know, when I told you, remember, we were reading the Song of Moses, and it mentioned that perverse generation. But he answered and said to them, an evil and adulterous generation eagerly seeks for a sign, and yet no sign will be given to it, but the sign of Jonah the prophet. For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation at the judgment and will condemn it because they repented at the preaching of Jonah. And behold, something greater than Jonah is here." So just like Satan was asking for these additional signs when he's tempting Christ. Just like Satan asked for those additional signs from the Lord during his temptation, the scribes and Pharisees are asking for more signs as well. In Matthew 16, we read this, An evil and adulterous generation eagerly seeks for a sign, and a sign will not be given it except the sign of Jonah. And he left them and went away, and coming to the other side of the sea, the disciples had forgotten to bring bread. Well, the gospel was about to be going to the sea, going to the Gentile nations. Part of the sign of Jonah was that he was going to provoke Israel to jealousy by turning to the Gentiles. And that is what we see as well with the disciples. Christ's death three days and three nights in the belly of the earth, and his resurrection was a sign to that generation. Well, it's at this point I want to make clear the importance that we view this entire story as historical. The Jonah story is historical. The events happen just as the book records. It is at the same time symbolic and prophetic. It signifies something beyond the historical facts it records, but the book itself offers no indications that it's merely symbolic and our Lord himself cites it as history. Augustine was once asked, and maybe you've thought this before too, how can we expect others to believe the story of Jonah? It's one of the most Fantastic stories in the Bible. Surviving three days in the belly of a sea monster? And Augustine's response was, if we don't believe this miracle, why believe any of the others? And if we believe the others, why should we have a problem with this one? Is it easier for a dead man to be raised from the dead, or a living man to survive three days in the belly of a beast? You see, we believe in three young men surviving a fiery furnace, a floating axe head, a talking donkey, and the dead rising from the grave. So we must be willing to be considered, as the Apostle Paul says, fools for the sake of Christ. Otherwise, you begin rejecting the miracles of Scripture and taking a pair of scissors to the Holy Bible. So it's not less than history But as we have seen, it is more than history. Well, here's where we will come to a stop this morning. The name Jonah means dove. And at this point in the story, we're looking to see if the dove will make it back to dry land. Jonah teaches us that it is impossible to flee or escape the presence of the Lord. God is merciful to those who repent and believe on Him. God always chastens His children when they run from Him. God is sovereign over all creation. The book of Jonah is a parody of Israel's sin, and if we are not careful, it can be of ours as well. This book teaches us what God is like, and what happens when we run away from Him. God is full of grace and truth. And His grace is greater than all our sin. We remember the words of the hymn. Grace, grace, God's grace, grace that will pardon and cleanse within. Grace, grace, God's grace, grace that is greater than all our sin. Sin and despair like the sea waves cold. threaten the soul with infinite loss. Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold, points to the refuge, the mighty cross. Once Israel comes to her senses and returns to the Lord, offers sacrifice and thanksgiving and pays her vows, Just like we know Jonah will be, Israel will be and was vomited back into the land of Israel. And the Gentiles would see what the Lord had done for His people. And many of them would turn to the Lord. By way of exile, the world would come to know that the Lord is King. It is only true worship that is the antidote for idolatry in our land. And in truth, it is the primary purpose of our creation. The Christian life is continually turning from idols to offer sacrifices of service and praise to the living God. So the saint must continually fight against idolatry. Repentance means changing our allegiance, abandoning our loyalty to the false gods, and directing our worship to the living God. And everything in your life must fall under this Lordship. And the best news is the repentant sinner, what does he find? He finds a merciful God, whose promises are so much more beautiful than the lies of their old idols. Let us pray. O supreme moving cause, may we always be subordinate to Thee, be dependent upon Thee, be found in the path where Thou dost walk and where the Spirit moves. Take heed of estrangement from Thee, of becoming insensible to Thy love. Thou dost not move men like stones, but dost endure them with life, not to enable them to move without Thee, but in submission to Thee, the first mover. O Lord, we are astonished at the difference between our receivings and our deservings. between the state we are now in and our past, gracelessness, between the heaven we are bound for and the hell we merit. Who made us to differ but Thee? For we were no more ready to receive Christ than were others. We could not have begun to love Thee, hast Thou not first loved us, or been willing, unless Thou hast first made us so. Oh, that such crowns should fit the head of such sinners. Such high advancement be for an unfruitful people. Such joys for such vile rebels. Infinite wisdom cast the design of salvation into the mold of purchase and freedom. Let wrath deserved be written on the door of hell, but the free gift of grace on the gate of heaven. We know that our sufferings are the result of our sinning, but in heaven both shall cease. Grant us to attain this haven and be done with sailing, and may the gales of thy mercy blow us safely into harbor. Let thy love draw us near to thyself. Wean us from sin, mortify us to this world, and make us ready for our departure hence. Secure us by this grace as we sail across this stormy sea. Well, beloved in the Lord, as we come to the Holy Supper of our Lord and Savior, it is fitting that we consider to what end our Lord has instituted it. This do, He said, in remembrance of me. We are therefore to remember that our Lord Jesus Christ, according to the promises made in the Old Testament, was sent of the Father into the world. That He assumed our flesh and blood. That He bore for us the wrath of God under which we should have perished everlastingly. That He fulfilled for us all obedience to the divine law. That He, although innocent, was condemned to death so that we might be acquitted at the judgment seat of God. That He took upon Himself the curse due to us that He might fill us with blessings. That He humbled Himself unto death, even the bitter and shameful death of the cross. When He cried out with a loud voice, My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken Me? so that we might be accepted of God and never be forsaken of Him. And finally, that He confirmed with the shedding of this blood the new and eternal covenant of grace and reconciliation when He said, it is finished. This is My body broken for you, He said. This cup is the New Testament in My blood. We are, therefore, just as we are to believe when we repent that we are forgiven, we are to believe these promises which Jesus Christ, who is the truth, has Himself given us. Imagine this. It is His will that we be partakers of His body and blood and share in all His benefits. so that He may dwell in us and we in Him. So we are not to doubt that He will perform in our hearts and lives all that these outward signs signify, and that He who is the true heavenly bread will nourish and strengthen us to life eternal. For in this supper we share in the infinite goodness of our Savior and are made partakers of all His blessings. of life eternal, righteousness, and glory. But in this supper of remembrance and communion, we must also lift up our hearts in hope, for we do this as He commanded till He come. As we eat this bread and drink this wine, He gives us a pledge and foretaste of that feast of love of which we shall partake when His kingdom has fully come. Right now, under the veil of earthly things, we can still have communion with Him. But, with unveiled face, we shall one day behold Him rejoicing in His glory, made like unto Him in His glory, Even so, come, Lord Jesus. And as by His death, resurrection, and ascension, He has obtained for us the life-giving Spirit, who, dwelling in Him as the Head, and in us as His members, unites us all in one body. So we are to receive this supper in brotherly love, mindful of the communion of saints. As the Holy Apostle says, we being many are one body, for we are all partakers of that one bread. Here to assist us, the Almighty God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ through His Holy Spirit. Holy and right it is, and our joyful duty to give thanks to You, Lord, at all times and in all places. O Lord, our Creator, Almighty and Everlasting God, You created the heaven with all its hosts and the earth with all its plenty. You have given us life and being and preserve us by Your providence. But You have shown us the fullness of Your love in sending into the world Your Son, Jesus Christ, the eternal Word made flesh for us men and for our salvation. For the precious gift of the mighty Savior who has reconciled us to You, we praise and bless You, O God. And with Your whole church on earth, and with all the company of heaven, we worship and adore Your glorious name. Holy, holy, holy Lord God of hosts. Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. Most righteous God, we remember in this supper the perfect sacrifice offered once on the cross by our Lord Jesus Christ for the sin of the world. In the joy of His resurrection and in expecting of His coming again, we offer ourselves to You as holy and living sacrifices. So together we proclaim the mystery of the faith. Please repeat each of these next three phrases after me, like you believe them. Christ has died. Christ has risen. And Christ will come again. Send your Holy Spirit upon us, we pray, that the bread which we break may be to us the communion of the body and blood of Christ. Grant that, being joined together in Him, we may attain to the unity of the faith and grow up in all things into Him, Christ our Lord. And as this grain has been gathered from many fields into one bread, and these grapes from many hills into one wine, grant, O Lord, that Thy whole church may soon be gathered from the ends of the earth into Thy kingdom. Even so, come, Lord Jesus." Now hear what comfortable words our Savior says to all who truly turn to Him. Come to Me. all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. Hear also what St. Paul says, This is a true saying and worthy of all men to be received, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Hear also what St. John says. If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, and He is the propitiation for our sins. So you, who do truly and earnestly repent of your sins, and are in love and charity with your neighbors, and intend to lead a new life following the commandments of God, in walking from this time forth in His holy ways, draw near with faith, and take His holy sacrament to your comfort, and make your humble confession to Almighty God.