Lectures Upon Psalm 51, Part 2 · Lecture 24
Lecture XXIIII. on Psalme 51.1, 2. May 2. 1626.
NOw it followeth that we proceed unto the second sort of duties that we are to be exhorted unto, from the consideration of the infinitenesse of Gods mercy, and those are such as we owe unto the Lord himselfe. There be then two other duties that from this Doctrine wee are to bee exhorted unto.
The first of them doth most properly respect our selves;1. Duty. and I will propound it unto every one of you in the words that Eliphaz in another case useth unto Iob 5.27. Lo this, we have searched it, so it is, heare thou it, and know it for thy selfe. Observe this well that you have heard of the marvellous mercy of God towards poore sinners; it is a most certaine truth, as by diligent searching of the holy Scriptures we have made it evident unto you; heare thou it (whosoever thou art) and know it for thy selfe beleeve it, and apply it to thine owne soule.
Seeing the Lord is abundant in loving kindnesse, so plenteous in mercy, labour thou to know that he is so unto thee; that thou maist be able to say as David doth twice in one Psalme. Psal. 59.10.17. He is the God of my mercy. As if he had said; his mercy is mine, it belongeth unto me. Rest nor content till thou find that his mercifull kindnesse is for thy comfort as David prayeth, Psal. 119.76. I speake not of the common mercy of the Lord. I know you can all, even the most wretched creature of you all say, you have, and doe daily tast of that. Acts 17.28. In him we live, and move, and have our being. Lam. 3.22, 23 It is of the Lords mercies that we are not consumed; because his compassions fa…l… not, they are renewed every morning. And so doth every creature the Lord hath made. Psal. 145.9. The Lord is good to all, and his tender mercies are over all his workes; and 147.9. He giveth to the beast his food; and to th… yong ravens that cry. And this common mercy of God is that which most men content themselves with, that they may live, and live long, and live in health, and quietnesse, and pleasure; though this be no other mercy then the bruit beasts enjoy as well as they. But the mercy that I exhort you to make your owne, to get assurance that it belongeth to your selves, is the speciall mercy of God, the mercy of David as Solomon speaketh. 2 Chron. 6.4…. Remember the mercies of David thy servant. The mercy that David obtained, the mercy that David beggeth heere, Psal. 51.1. According to the multitude of thy tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. That mercy that reacheth unto the pardon of thy sinnes, and salvation of thy soule, that is the mercy that thou shouldst labour to know it belongeth unto thee. Rest not in, nor satisfie thy selfe with any other mercy that thou hast received, but seeke carefully to make this thine owne.
Five notable differences there be, betweene this mercy of the Lord, and the other: which may serve for so many motives, to provoke us not to rest in the other, but to seeke for this. First, those are such mercies as God casteth upon his enemies, and such as he maketh no reckoning of, yea more abundantly then upon his owne; As it is said of royalty, and kingly state, one of the chiefe of them. Gen. 36.31. Many Kings reigned in the land of Edom, before there reigned any king over the children of Israel; But these are peculiar to Gods Elect, his dearly beloved ones. In which respect Christ calleth those not ours but others goods, but these mercies he calleth our owne, peculiar unto us, Luk. 16.12. If ye have not beene faithfull in that which is another mans, who shall give you that which is your owne? And wilt thou content thy selfe with these mercies, rest in them, dote upon them, which Cain, and Iudas, and sundry others that thou art perswaded were abhorred of God, and fry now in hell, had as great a portion of as thy selfe? O do not so but cry as Psal. 106.4. Remember me O Lord with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people; ô visit me with thy salvation. Secondly, Those mercies (though God bestow them on his elect also, and we could not live without them, yet they) are in his account but trifles, and such as (in comparison of these) he maketh no reckoning of; like a little over-measure that is given you when you have bought any thing, like to the browne paper, and pack-thrid that the mercers give you for nothing, Mat. 6.33. these things shall be added to you. But the…e mercies he maketh precious account of, these are his jewells, wherein he setteth forth the riches and glory of his mercy, and bounty. As Ahashuerus the King of the Medes, and Persians shewed the riches of his glorious kingdome, and the honour of his excellent majesty in that feast he made to his princes, and servants, Est. 1.4. so doth God much more set forth the riches, and glory of his mercy, in bestowing these precious mercies upon any; For as the Apostle speaketh, Rom. 14.17. The kingdome of God is not meat, and drink, but righteousnesse, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. These mercies therefore are called Ephes. 1.7, 8. the riches of his grace, wherein he hath abounded towards us. Therefore when Paul speaketh of the mercy of God toward him in the pardon of his sinne, he saith, 1 Tim. 1.14. that the grace of God was exceeding abundant towards him. This is a marvellous mercy of God, that he should pardon any of us our sinnes and give us eternall life, such a mercy as we can never sufficiently admire, and wonder at. Shew thy marvellous loving kindnesse, ô thou that savest by thy right hand, them that put their trust in th…e, saith David, Psal. 17.7. And Paul 2 Thess. 1.10. God shall be admired in all them that beleeve in that day. Thirdly, Those mercies are but of a short continuance, they last no longer then this short, and momentany life; they are called therefore foreign things of this life, 1 Cor. 6.4. But these are everlasting mercies, and will out-last this life, and endure unto eternity. Psal. 103.17. The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that feare him. Fourthly, Those mercies are uncertaine even in this life, 1 Tim. 6 17. Trust not in uncertaine riches. But these are sure mercies, not flitting or uncertaine, if they be once gotten they can never be lost; and are therefore called Esa. 55.3. the sure mercies of David. Davids mercies, the mercies he begged heere, the mercies he made such reckoning of; the mercies peculiar to him, and the elect of God, are sure mercies, and can never be lost. Fiftly, and lastly, Those mercies a man may have and have them in abundance, and be made never a whit the better man, never a whit more acceptable to God, never a whit the neerer unto eternall happinesse. Nay for the most part, they make men that enjoy them most abundantly, the worse men a great deale, they estrange their hearts from God, and deprive them of his kingdome. There is a sore evill which I have seene under the sunne (saith Solomon, Eccl. 5.13.) namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt. Luke 18.24. How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdome of God? vers. 25. It is easier for a Camell to go through a needles eye, then for a rich man to enter into the kingdome of God. But these mercies of David never did any man receive, but they made him a better man then he was before. No man ever obtained this mercy to have his sinnes pardoned, but his heart was changed, and he became a new man presently. Acts 5.3…. Christ giveth repentance unto Israel, and forgivenesse of sinnes. So Ezek. 36.25, 26. I will sprinkle cleane water upon you, and ye shall be cleane, a new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you. Labour therefore to make this thine owne to get assurance that these mercies of David do belong to thee; that in the time of thy need thou maist have the benefit, and comfort of these mercies. Els will this one daylie heavie upon thy heart, that there being so much mercy in the Lord, such a fountaine, yea such a sea of mercy, yea thou knowing so much, and having seene in the ministery of the Gospell this fountaine opened unto thee as the Prophet speaketh, Zach. 13.1. yet thou art not washed in it, thou art not cleansed from thy sinnes, thou art never the better for it. That there is mercy enough in the Lord to pardon Davids sinnes, and Manasses sinnes, and Peters sinnes, and Mary Magdalens sinnes, yea all manner of sinne, and blasphemy, as our Saviour speaketh, Mat. 12.31. yet thy sin remaineth still unpardoned. And all because thou hast despised these riches of the goodnesse of God, as the Apostle speaketh, Rom. 2.4. Thou hast esteemed much more of those common mercies of God, then of these, like the Prodigall who so long as he could get enough to fill his belly (though it were but hogs-meate) never thought of returning to his father, and seeking for his favour, Luk. 15.16, 17. O this is it, this despising of the Lords speciall mercies, is that that will treasure, and heape up wrath to a man against the day of wrath, as the Apostle speaketh, Rom. 2.5.
Object.Now if any man shall say I would faine know that this mercy of God belongeth to me; but how may I come to be assured of it?
Answ.To that man I answer there be five things which may be both as signes and notes whereby thou mayst know it belongeth to thee; and as meanes also to bring thee unto this assurance that thou desirest.
First, If thou canst seeke, and sue to him for this mercy with all thine heart, that is more then for any other things, prizing this mercy above all other mercies, thou needest not doubt but it belongeth to thee; thou shalt be sure to have thy part in it. Marke the promises made to such as are in this case. Ieremy 29.13. Ye shall seeke me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. Psalme 69.32. Your heart shall live that seeke God. Other mercies thou mayst long for, and sue earnestly for, and never obtaine them; but these spirituall mercies (without which thou canst not be saved) thou maist bee sure to obtaine if thou canst thus desire, and seeke for them. Luke 11.13. How much more shall your heavenly father, give the holy spirit to them that aske him? Psal. 105.3. Let the heart of them rejoyce that seeke the Lord. So that if thou want these the fault is in thy selfe. Ye have not (saith the Apostle Iam 4.2.) because ye aske not.
Secondly, If thou canst be miserable, and dejected enough in thine owne eyes thou shalt not need to doubt but this mercy belongeth unto thee. Misery (we know) is the object of mercy, and chiefe motive to compassion. If thou canst therfore unfainedly lay open unto God thy misery, thy spirituall misery I meane, the wounds, & sores of thy soule, as poore creeples do their sores to mē whom they would move to pity them, thou needest not doubt, to find mercy with the Lord. Thus doth David seeke for mercy heere as you may see, verse 3, 4, 5. I acknowledge my transgression, and my sin is ever before me; Against thee, thee onelyonly have I sinned, and done this evill in thy sight; behold I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. So doth he likewise Psal. 25.16. Turne thee unto me, and have mercy upon me, for I am desolate, and afflicted. They that seeke to God for mercy must judge themselves unworthy to find mercy, as Benhadads servants did when they sued to Ahab for mercy they went with ropes on their heads, and sackcloth about their loines, 1 King. 20.32. The Lord is plentifull in promising his mercy to such miserable, humble, and dejected soules, Psal. 9.12. He forgetteth not the cry of the humble; and 10.17. Lord thou hast heard the desire of the humble; Therefore is this title given to the Lord he is called a God that comforteth the abject, 2 Cor. 7.6.
Thirdly, If thou be one that fearest to offend God in any thing; thou needst not doubt of his mercy; for thou hast his promise, Luke 1.50. His mercy is on them that feare him, from generation to generation.
Fourthly, If thou canst trust in his mercy, and rely, and rest upon it, certainly it belongeth to thee. That maketh David pray thus, Psal. 33.22. Let thy mercy ô Lord be upon us according as we do hope in thee; and 147.11. The Lord taketh pleasure, in them that hope in his mercy.
Fiftly, If Christ be the onelyonly ground of thy hope and confidence, to find mercy with God; if thou trust to obtaine it onelyonly through the merit of his bloud. There is no comming before the mercy-seat of God but through him. This was notably figured unto Gods people in the ceremoniall law. 1. None might goe into the holy of holies, where the mercy-seat stood to obtaine mercy for Gods people, but the High-priest onelyonly who was a figure of Christ, Heb. 9.7. 2. He might not upon paine of death, presume to come before the mercy-seat to obtaine mercy for Gods people, without incense which signifyed the intercession of Christ. Levit. 16.13. The cloud of the incense must cover the mercy-seat, that he die not. 3. He must not come before the mercy-seat without the bloud of the sacrifice (which signified the bloud of Christ) Heb. 9.7. Into the second Tabernacle went the High-priest alone not without bloud, which he offered for himselfe, and for the errours of the people. Levit. 16.14. He shall take of the bloud of the bullocke, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the mercy-seat. No hope of comfort at Gods mercy-seat but onelyonly through the merit of Christs bloud; who is therefore called our hope, 1 Tim. 1.1. But having him for our High-priest we may goe boldly to the throne of grace, and may obtaine mercy, and find grace to helpe in time of need, as the Apostle speaketh, Heb. 4.16. And so much shall serve to be spoken of the first dutie which concerneth the Lord himselfe; Seeing the Lord is so infinite in mercy labour thou to know that hee is so unto thee.