Lectures Upon Psalm 51, Part 2 · Lecture 17
Lecture XVII. On Psalme 51.1, 2. Febru. 28. 1625.
Vse. 1.IT followeth now, that we proceed to the uses of this Doctrine.
Whereof, the first of them is for reproofe of them, that doe not doe as David did here; And which of us all is it, that is not liable to this reproofe? This will appeare in three points. First, there be many things that we do all more earnestly desire, and seeke after, then the pardon of our sins; and to us the Lord may say, as he did to Martha. Lu. 50.41, 42. Martha, Martha, thou art carefull, and troubled about many things; how we may live, and live wealthily, and pleasantly, and in credit, but one thing is needfull. That one thing that is needfull, and only absolutely needfull, the pardon of our sins, and Gods favour, we take little thought for. And what are these things that we seeke more eagerly then Gods favour, and preferre before it? Surely, 1. They are uncertaine, 1. Tim. 6.17. Trust not in uncertaine riches. 2. They can yeeld us no sound comfort, when we have most need of comfort, or make us ever a whit the happier, Esa. 55.2. Wherefore doe you spend your money, for that which is not bread, and your labour for that which satisfieth not? 3. The more we have of them, with the more difficulty shall we be saved, and goe to heaven, Lu. 18.24. How hardly shall they that have righ…s, enter into the kingdome of God?
Secondly, our sins doe not trouble us, more then any thing els, we count them not our greatest evils, or greatest miseries. The evill of punishment seemes far more intollerable to us, then the evill of sin. There be many things that trouble us much more, and we can worse beare then our sins. A little want, a little sicknesse, a little trouble in the world, disquieteth our hearts, much more then ever our sins did. And it may be said to every one of us, as Elihu speaketh, Iob 36.21. Thou hast chosen iniquity, rather then affliction.
Thirdly. The greatest part of men count sin no evill, no misery at all, are never troubled with any of their sins past, not afraid to commit any sinne that they are moved unto. They can goe away as lightly with their sins, as Sampson did with the gates of Gaza, Iudges 16.3. Sin is no burden to them at all; they are never disquieted in their minds, with remembrance of their sins, but are fu…l of admirable peace; peace in life, and peace in death. Psal. …3.5. Thou are not in trouble at other men, Luke 11.21. The strong man armed, keepeth his palace, and his goods are in peace. Nay none are so merry as they, yea their sins make them merry, and they are never so j…and and light hearted, as when they have sinned most, Ieremy 11.15. When thou dost evill, then thou rejoycest. Surely the cause of this, is worthy to be enquired into, these men certainly have diseased, and distempered soules, and the best way to cure this, and every other disease, is to find out, and remove the cause of it. Let mee therefore enquire into the causes of this distemper, and to that end demand a question or two of these men.
First,Quest. 1 Ioseph was afraid to commit sin, though he were strongly tempted unto it, and could have done it secretly enough, Gen. 39.9. How can I doe this great wicked us, and sin against God. And it is made a note of a godly man, that be feareth an oath. Eccles. 9.2. And why art not thou afraid to sin, to lye, to sweare, to be drunke to deceive thy neighbour, to commit any sin.
Secondly,2. Peter was so troubled for his sins, that he wept bitterly, Mat. 26.75. … for … while, that Christ was faine first to appeare to … to take great paines to comfort him, Iohn …1.1…—17. And … here, and Psal. 33.4. Min… iniquities are as an heavy burden, … me to beare. And so was the incestuous person, 2. Cor. 2.7. ready … up with overmuch sorrow. And why art not thou troubled in the mind at all for any of thy sins? Why countest… thou them no burden at all?
Thirdly, David hath never done crying to God here, for the pardon of his sins,3. ver. …. O Lord blot out my transgessions, wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and clense me from my sins. and ver. 9. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. And why dost thou never use to cry heartily unto God for the pardon of thy sins, nor seeke after it?
First,Object. 1 thou wilt say, thou hast no such cause to be troubled as David had, thy sins are not so hainous as Davids were, thou werr never murderer, nor adultery, … either, thou thankest God. This was the cause why the Pharis…e when he came to pray, made no suit at all for the pardon of his sins, they were no trouble to him. Lu. 18.11. I thinke thee ô God, I am not as other man, extertioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this Publican.
But to this I answer,Answ. 1 1. Thou hast cause enough to be troubled for thy sinnes for all that. For 1 others of Gods servants have beene greatly troubled for small sins. Are thy sins smaller then Iobs were? and yet he was marvellously troubled, and afflicted in mind, for his sins: he even abhorred himselfe, and repented in dust, and ashes, as he professeth himselfe, Iob 42.6. Are thy sins smaller then those that Paul speaketh of Rom. 7.15. that which I do, I allow not: for what I would, that do I not, but what I hate, that do I? And yet see what a burden even this was to him, it made him cry out, verse 24. O wretched man that I am. Seest thou not daily how heavily many of Gods best servants doe walke, how they complaine, and cry out, some on their death beds, some continually almost; and what be the sins that trouble them so? Are they grosse sins? Are they more heinous then thine? No no. They are even such as those of Pauls were; the very combat betwixt their flesh, and spirit, they find in themselves puts them to this paine, and maketh them to cry, as Rebecca, Gen. 25.22. If it be so, why am I thus? In her passion she was ready to say, it had beene better for me to have beene barren still. And so are many of Gods poore servants in their passion apt to say. O it were good for us to observe well this trouble of mind that many of Gods deare ones are subject unto, and to be among these mourners, Eccl. 7.4. The heart of the wise, is in the house of mourning. For when we see such examples we should lay them to heart, and say to our selves. Lord if the sins of such a one be so heavy a burden, what will mine be? Luk. 23.31. If this be done to the greene tree what shall be done to the dry? 1 Pet. 4.18. If the righteous scarcely shall be saved where shall the ungodly, and sinner appeare?
Secondly, as small as thy sinnes seeme to be, thou art under the curse of God as well as David was, and that is such a burden, as no creature can beare, Gal. 3.10. Cursed is every one, that continueth not in all things which are written, in the booke of the law to doe them. And hast not thou then cause to be troubled? Hast not thou cause to seeke earnestly for the pardon of thy sinne? Wouldst not thou count that malefactor a mad man, that being condemned to die, should say I have no such need to sue for a pardon as such, and such, my offence was neither treason, nor murder as theirs was, I am condemned but for a burglary, or for a robbery, &c.
Thirdly, thy sins are not smaller, thou hast as much, nay more cause to be troubled for thy sins then David had. For 1. He committed these sins but once, the sins that thou standest guilty of, thou hast committed oftentimes. How oft hast thou blasphemed, and beene drunke, and uncleane, and lyed, and deceived thy neighbour? I tell thee, smaller sinnes being multiplied, and oft committed will make as heavy a burden, as the heinousest sinne that is but once committed. Ier. 5.6. A lion out of the forrest shall slay them—because their transgressions are many, and their back-slidings are increased. As the sand being the least thing that is, yet by number is made extreamely heavy. My griefe (saith Iob 6.3.) would be heavier then the sand of the sea. 2. David continued not in the filthy puddle of his sinne above one yeare, and thou hast lyen snorting, in such, and such sins of thine a great many yeares. How long is it, since thou first began to be a blasphemer, a drunkard, an uncleane person, and given to such other sins? and in all this time thou wert never soundly humbled for them, never madest thy peace with God. I tell thee continuance in sinne unrepented of, is a great aggravater of sinne, the longer that sinne lyeth upon a man the fouler, and more loathsome it will make him in Gods sight, the deeper staine, and die it will set upon his soule, Ier. 4.14. O Ierusalem how long shall thy vaine thoughts lodge within thee? Hos. 8.5. How long will it be ere they attaine to innocency? 3. So that 1 If David became so filthy by these sinnes but once committed, if his sins were so heavy upon his conscience what will thine appeare to be (when God shall open thine eyes, and restore to thee thy sight) that hast made sin thy trade, and practise all thy life long? 2 If there must be so much a do to make David cleane, who had been cleane many yeares before, and now lay scarce one yeare in these sins, if the Lord must bestow so much washing, and rubbing, and wringing upon him to get him cleane (verse 2. Wash me throughly, or multiply thy washings of me) wilt thou thinke it a matter of no difficulty, a matter not worth the troubling of thy mind about, to be cleansed from all thy sinnes? 3 If David cryed so earnestly, and was so fervent, and importunate in this suit, and desired nothing but that his sinnes might be pardoned; wilt thou be so mad to thinke, that a cold cry God mercy, and God forgive me, will serve thy turne, and that thou canst so easily get thy pardon when thou wilt thy selfe?
Thou wilt say againe,Object. 2 Though my sinnes be many and great, yet there is no cause I should be so troubled with them, nor keepe such a doe for the pardon of them as you speake of; for God is mercifull, and very ready to forgive.
To this I answer,Answ. that touching Gods mercy thou canst not say more then thou shalt heare mee acknowledge, when I shall come to the next that is the third, and last part of this Text. But for the present this I say
First, It is true indeed that Gods mercy is infinite. When David had spoken of the goodnesse, and mercy of God, Psal. 106.1. he adds verse 2. Who can utter the mighty acts of the Lord? Who can shew forth all his praise? And there is a mercy of God that extendeth it selfe to all his creatures, Psal. 145 9. The Lord is good to all, and his tender mercies are over all his works. And so I cannot denie but the leudest man that is may tast, and doth daily tast of the mercy of God. Iob 25.3. VponUpon whom doth not his light arise? and Luk 6.35. He is kind to the unthankefull, and to the evill. But this mercy that we now speake of, the mercy of God that reacheth to the pardon of mens sinnes, is not common to all, this is restrained, and limited to a certaine number. It is peculiar to the Catholike Church; as we are taught in our Creede; and as the Prophet speaketh, Esa. 33.24. The people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity. It is restrained to them that feare God. Luk. 1.50. His mercy is on them that feare him from generation to generation. And Psal. 103.11. As the heaven is high above the earth so great is his mercy to them that feare him. And verse 17, 18. The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that feare him, to such as keepe his covenant, and remember his commandements to doe them. This mercy is restrained unto such sinners as are humbled, and afflicted in heart for their sinnes, Psal. 25.16. Turne thee unto me, and have mercy upon me, for I am desolate, and afflicted. This mercy, God hath threatned to deny to some kinde of men; that is, 1. To the brutish ignorant, Esa. 27.11. It is a people of no understanding, therefore he that made them will not have mercy on them, and he that formed them, will shew them no favour. 2. To them that despise, and scorne the meanes of grace, Pro. 1.27, 28. When your feare commeth as a desolation,—then shall they call upon me but I will not answer, they shall seeke me early but, they shall not finde me; Why? what was the reason? that is given, verse 29, 30. For they hated knowledge, they would none of my counsell they despised all my reproofe. 3. To him that sinneth presumptuously, and upon hope of mercy, and doth blesse himselfe in his heart, saying, I shall have peace though I doe walke in the stubbornesse of my heart to add drunkennesse to thirst (that is sinne unto sinne, or unsatiablenesse in sinne) the Lord will not be mercifull unto him, Deut 29.19, 20.
Now then,Applic. thou that alleadgest this, for the reason why thy sinnes shall not trouble thee, because God is so mercifull, consider with thy selfe how small cause thou hast to trust to that. 1. Thou art not a member of the Catholike Church, for that is holy and is a communion of Saints. 2. Thou art none of them that feare to offend God. 3. Thou keepest no covenant with him. 4. Thou never remembrest his commandements to doe them. 5. Thou art not humbled nor afflicted in heart for thy sinnes. 6. Thou art void of understanding. 7. Thou art a despiser, and scorner of the meanes of grace. 8. Thou incouragest, and blessest thy selfe in thy sins upon hope of mercy. And therefore as Iehu said to Amazias servants, 2 King. 9.18, 19. What hast thou to doe with peace? turne thee behind me; So doth the Lord say unto thee what hast thou to doe with my mercy? Iona 2.8. They that observe lying vanities, forsake their owne mercy. And this is the first answer I give to the second plea of these men.
Secondly, I answer, That the knowledge of the infinitenesse of Gods mercy, will make no mans sin the lighter, but cause it to lye much the heavier upon the conscience. When he shall rightly consider that he hath despised, and made so light account of offending so mercifull a God. The knowledge of Gods goodnesse, should lead men unto repentance, it should breake their hearts, and make them to mourne for their sins the more, and this will heape up wrath unto a man against the day of wrath, when a man shall despise the riches of Gods goodnesse, and forbearance, and long suffering, Rom. 2.4, 5. It is therefore said, Revel. 6.16. that wicked men shall cry to mountaines and rocks fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth upon the throne, & from the wrath of the Lambe. Of the Lambe? Why what cause have any to feare the Lambe? He is so called in reference to the sacrifice of his body, and soule that he offered to his father, for the sins of men. Iob 1.29. Behold the Lambe of God which taketh away the sins of the world. What need men be afraid of the Lambe of God? O the more that Christ hath done for sinners, the more indignation, and wrath tribulation, and anguish will be upon every soule that hath despised so great mercy, and taken incouragement thereby to sin, and hath not been brought unto repentance by it. Say thou not then any more my sins shall never trouble me, because God is so mercifull, and Christ hath died for sinners; but rather let the looking upon him whom thou hast pierced, cause thee to mourne as one mourneth for his onelyonly sonne, and to be in bitternesse, as one that is in bitternesse for his first-borne; as the Prophet saith it shall be with all such as have the spirit, and any true knowledge, and assurance of Gods mercy, Zach. 12.10.
Object. 3There is yet a third cause why men are not troubled for their sinnes, no… will be disquieted in their minds with the remembrance of them, and that is examples they have observed, and experience that they have had, of Gods mercy in others. I have my selfe (will many a sinner say) knowne many that were worse men then ever I was, that never had any trouble of minde for their sinnes in life nor in death, in their healths, nor in their sicknesse, and yet God was mercifull unto them; they lived in Gods favour (for they lived in credit, and were well thought of, and well beloved of their neighbours) and they dyed in Gods favour (for they died most quietly, they shewed no feare or unwillingnesse at all to dye, and to goe to God but had marvellous peace in their consciences, and shewed great comfort in the assurance of their salvation.)
Answ.Now for answer to this plea I say in generall as our Saviour doth, Mat. 18.7. Woe be to the world because of offences. Yea woe be unto the world even because of this offence, for thousands have stumbled at it, even this that men notoriously wicked, have died so peaceably, hath hardened infinite numbers in their sins, and made them to thinke there is no great danger in them. But to answer this plea in particular.
First, This is no good argument such sinners lived in Gods swear because they lived in credit, and in the love of their neighbours. For 1 the Lord seeth not as man seeth, as he telleth Samuel, 1 Sam. 16.7. Men are apt to applaud them that live wealthily and merrily whatsoever their life be, Psal. 49.18. Men will praise thee, when thou dost well to thy selfe; But so doth not God; For as our Saviour saith, Luke 16.15. that which is highly esteemed among men, is abomination in the sight of God. 2. Men are bound in charity to judge the best, 1 Cor. 13.5. Charity thinketh no evill; and to be afraid of judging, and censuring others. Be not many masters (controulers or censurers saith the Apostle, Iam. 2.3.) knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation; and to thinke of others according to the profession that they make, and that they know by them, and not to take upon them to judge their hearts. It was no fault in the Apostles that they thought so well of Iudas, and suspected themselves as much as him when Christ said one of them should betray him, Matth. 26.2…. 3. The man whom wee have knowne, to have beene a notorious sinner, it may be hath beene foundly humbled for his sinne, and shed many a teare for it, though we know it not. For this may be done in secret, Zach. 12.14. Every family apart, and their wives apart.
Secondly, this is no good argument such sinners dyed in Gods favour, because they died quietly, and without all feare, and seemed very comfortable, and to have great assurance of their salvation. For 1. It is possible, for most wicked men to die very quietly and without all feare. For of most wicked men it is said, Psal. 73.4, 5. There are no bands in their death; they are not in trouble as other men. 2. It is possible even for most wicked men to be passing well perswaded of their owne estate and that God is their God. Mic. 3.11. Yet will they leane upon the Lord, and say is not the Lord among us? 3. God doth oft let wicked men scape scot free heere, that he may reserve them to greater torment in hell, 2 Pet. 2.9. The Lord knoweth how to reserve the unjust unto th… day of judgement to be punished; at that day he will manifest his wrath upon them. 4. Though we may not presume, to judge of the finall estate of any such man, because the worke of God in the conversion of a sinner is oft times secret and wonderfull. Ioh. 3.8. The winde bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it commeth, and whither it goeth: So is every one that is borne of God. And God is able to worke saving repentance in them, even after they are speechlesse, and cannot expresse their repentance unto men. Yet is the example fearefull when such as have had many witnesses of their sinnes, have had no witnesses of their repentance; the example of such is worthy to have a marke set upon it for others to take heed by; as in the case of Absoloms death, they laid a very great heape of stones upon him, 2 Sam. 18.17. For 1 God doth never pardon any mans sins in whom he doth not worke repentance, Acts 5.31. Christ gives repentance unto Israel, and forgivenesse of sins. 2 He first gives men the spirit of bondage before the spirit of adoption, Rom. 8.15. Yee have not received the spirit of bondage againe to feare, but the spirit of adoption 3. God useth to worke in those whom he gives repentance unto, humiliation proportionable to the measure of their sinnes, as we see in the case of Manasses, 2 Chron. 33.12. He humbled himselfe greatly. And Mary Magdalen wept so that she washed Christs feet with teares, Luk 7.38. 4 Where sinne hath beene notorious there repentance also should be notorious, yea the true penitent will be glad, and desirous to have as many witnesses of his repentance as of his sinnes; as we see in David heere. And in Paul, 1 Tim. 1.13. I was a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious but I obtained mercy. 5 No judgement of God is so dreadfull, as when he punisheth sinners with hardnesse of heart. This was the judgement whereby God plagued Pharaoh, of whom it is said, that God raised him up of purpose, that he might shew his power on him, Rom. 9.17.