Davids Repentance, Sermon · Version 19
VERSE, 19. 19 Then ſhall thou accept the ſacrifice of righteouſneſſe, euen the burnt-offering and oblation, then ſhall they offer calues vponupon thine Altar.
THis verſe containes the fruite of Gods mercy and fauour, both to Dauid and the people, and the fruite is double.
Firſt, in regard of GOD, that he ſhall then accept and be well pleaſed with their ſacrifices.
Secondly, in regard of Dauid, and the people, they vow and couenant with the Lord to offer praiſe and thankes vntounto GOD for ſo great a fauour and bleſſing.
[Then ſhalt thou accept the ſacrifice.]
AS if hee ſhould ſay; O Lord, when thou ſhalt thus bee fauourable to thy poore Church, and pardon my ſinnes, and make vp that breach which is broken by my filthy ſinnes, then ſhall thy mercy bee ſeene, in that thou ſhalt accept our ſacrifices, and ſuch duties of thy ſeruice and worſhip, as wee ſhall performe vntounto thee.
Doctrine. The doctrine is this, when a people or kingdome do repent, & turne to God for mercy, amend their liues, ſo as God is reconciled vntounto them, then hee doth accept of their ſacrifices, oblations, prayers, &c. being done in faith and repentance; but ſo long as they liue in ſinne without repentance, the Lord being not reconciled vntounto them hee eſteemes not of that they do.
Ʋſe. Seeing the Lord doth then accept of a people, when they repent an bee reconciled to God, amend their ſinnefull liues: let vsus learne from this doctrine, that if we deſire to hauehave the Goſpell continued, our peace prolonged, and the ſeruice and worſhip of God to bee eſtabliſhed; there is no other way but this, to ſeek to God by repentance, to get our ſins pardoned, and to bee at peace with GOD.
Oh then repent and amend; for if you will not repent, nor amend your works and waies, the LORD our GOD will not accept of vsus nor regard vsus, Ieremy the ſeuenth chapter: yea hee will remoue our Candl…ſticke from vsus, Reuelation the ſecond chapter: that our golden daies ſhall hauehave an end, and our mirth ſhall bee turned into mourning, and our light into darkeneſſe.
[The Sacrifice of righteouſneſſe.]
THat is, ſuch ſacrifices as are done by the preſcript rule of thy Word, ſuch as GOD requires, and in that right and lawfull manner which hee preſcribes in his Word.
Doctr. 1 Hence wee ſee, what be thoſe Sacrifices which the Lord accepteth of,What bee thoſe Sacrifices that God doth accept of. in his worſhip and ſeruice: namely, the Sacrifice of righteouſneſſe; that is, lawfull Sacrifices, allowed and warranted by the word of God, and ſuch as being lawfull are performed in a right and holy manner according to the preſcript rule of GODS Word; but as for Sacrifices which are not warranted by the word of GOD, nor done in a lawful and a holy manner, according to the preſcript rule of GODS Word, the LORD cares not for them.
Now it may be asked, how Dauid can ſay the Lord accepts ſacrifice ſeeing in the former verſe he ſaid GOD deſired no ſacrifice: Now hee heere affirmeth that the Lord ſhall accept the ſacrifice of righteouſneſſe.
I anſwere, that ſuch ſacrifices as are offered with opinion of merite, as the Iewes did, who thought by offering a beaſt that God was appeaſed, and ſo they might be bold to liue in ſinne, and ſuch as they offered without faith and repentance the LORD eſteemed not of them.
But heere he ſaith that GOD will accept, and like well of ſuch as are offered in a holy manner, according to the rule of GODS word; that is, when ſacrifices commanded by God are offered in a holy manner, in faith, repentance and obedience, and not to merite any thing, but as exerciſes of faith and repentance, and types of CHRIST IESVS, to leade them vntounto him, and as teſtimonies of their thankefulneſſe to GOD, and ſo far forth as they ſerued for the furtherance of GODS glory and edification of his Church.
The doctrine then is cleere,Note. that it is not left to man to ordain & appoint the ſeruice and worſhip of GOD, to put in what he will, and to put out at his pleaſure; but if wee will hauehave our ſacrifices and worſhip of GOD acceptable, and truely to pleaſe GOD: we muſt giuegive the Lord leaue to command and preſcribe what hee thinketh good; and we muſt not dare to adde any thing of our owne, nor to take away his worſhip and ſeruice, Deut. 12.8.32. We are forbidden to adde or take away any thing from his Lawes in which he preſcribes the rules of his worſhip. Deut. 32.17. When the Iewes worſhip God after their owne fantaſie the Lord ſaith they worſhip not GOD but deuils: and the Lord holds it a vaine thing to teach his worſhip and feare by the precepts of men:Mat. 15.9. So then all ſuch ſacrifices of righteouſneſſe be the worſhip of God, which be warranted by his word: and nothing may go vnderunder the name of his ſeruice and worſhip, but that hee preſcribes in his word.
This condemnes the greateſt part of the worſhip of GOD amongſt the Papiſts, their ſeuen Sacraments, their worſhiping of Images, their praying to Saints, their abhominable Maſſe, their voluntary pouerty, and perpetuall chaſtity: For which they can ſhew no word of warrant in all the Scriptures, and therefore it is no right ſacrifice, and therefore to bee abhorred.
Vſe 2 This meetes with the common Chriſtians, all men though neuer ſo vile will confeſſe God muſt be worſhipped: but when i… is asked what is the ſacrifice that GOD likes of, then they offer what they liſt themſelues; ſome thinke they ſerue GOD well with their good meanings, ſome by their good dealings, and ciuill honeſt life; ſo long as they doe no …me, nor ſay none, they thinke they …rue God as well as the beſt: ſome thinke if they babble and mumble ouer the ten Commandements, and …he Creede for prayers they ſerue God highly: but poore ſoules is this all you do in Gods ſeruice? is heere all the Sacrifice you offer him? it is a cold and a ſlender Sacrifice.
[Then ſhall they offer yong Bullockes vponupon thy Altar.
IN this part of the verſe is ſhewed what is the fruite of Gods mercy in Dauid and the people, namely this that they will promiſe and couenant with God for this their deliuerance to offer vntounto God praiſe and thankſgiuing.
Doctr. 2 Hence we learne that it is our duty to bind our ſelues by ſolemne couenant and promiſe to God,Solemne, vowes a Chriſtian duety. that ſo hee do deliuer vsus from miſery, trouble, affliction, iudgement, puniſhments, and from vnreaſonable men: that then we will offer him praiſe and thankeſ-giuing, call vponupon him, ſerue and worſhip him all our daies:Gen. 28.20 2. Chro. 33 Pſal. 116. Iudg. 11. Iacob vowed that if the Lord would bee with him in his iourney to keep him and defend him in it, he would then build a houſe to GOD and worſhip him there. Ioſias made a couenant vntounto the Lord and all the people with him to ſerue the Lord, who did deliuer him frō the curſe of the Law. Dauid did often vſe this to binde himſelfe by couenant to ſerue the Lord: Pſal. 116. He paid his vowes he made to God: So Ieptha Iudg. 11. vowed vntounto the Lord that he would offer ſacrifice vntounto the LORD who gaue him victory, and though the matter of his vow was vnlawfull, yet his vow to honour GOD was the fruite of faith.
Ʋſe. Well then, let vsus make our vſe of this doctrine; and ſeeing it is not onelyonly lawfull, but our duety, euen to make ſolemne couenants vntounto GOD, that if hee ſhall bee fauourable vntounto Syon, and build vp the walles of Ieruſalem; that if hee ſhall deliuer vsus from any miſery, iudgem nt, or affliction whatſoeuer, that then we will bee carefull to honour GOD, to bee thankefull to his Maieſtie: let vsus then make this couenant with the Lord our God, let vsus vow obedience and newneſſe of life, and let vsus ſay with Dauid, Pſalm. 119 126.I hauehave ſworne, and am ſtedfaſtly purpoſed to keepe thy ryghteous iudgements. So let vsus euen take a ſolemne vow of our owne ſoules, that by the grace of God wee will hauehave more care to praiſe God, to honour him, to ſerue him▪ to call vponupon him; and accordingly let vsus be mindfull to performe the ſame: for the Lord will require all the Vowes wee make vntounto him.
This may ſtirre vsus vp to remember what a ſolemne vow & promiſe we hauehave made in Baptiſme; To forſake the Diuell and all his workes, the vaine pompe and glory of the world; that we will forſake the Diuill, ſin, and Sathan, ſo as we will not bee led nor ruled by them: yea, that wee will manfully fight vnderunder the banner of Chriſt Ieſus, become his faithfull Souldiers and ſeruants vntounto our liues end.
This is the Couenant which wee hauehave made eueryevery one of vsus in our Baptiſme and entrance into the Church of GOD before the preſence of GOD and his Angels, before the Congregation and Church of GOD; but (alas) wee breake it daily, and hauehave no care nor conſcience to keepe it: Well let vsus know the Lord will one day require our Couenants and Vowes made vntounto him: Hee lookes wee ſhould as well keepe them as make them: Well then, wouldſt thou be loath to breake thy Vow, Couenant, or Promiſe, made to an honeſt man, eſpecially being in thine owne power to keepe it, and ſuch a promiſe as the keeping whereof may procure thee much peace, liberty, and happineſſe? I know you would: Oh then let vsus bee as carefull to keepe promiſe with GOD, to renounce the world, the deuill, and our owne ſinnefull luſts, ſo ſhall wee bring much honour to Almighty GOD, and euerlaſting good to our owne ſoules.
Doctr. 3 And laſt of all, we learne hence, that as it is the duty of eueryevery Chriſtian man and woman to pray publicke and priuate for the ſafety and good eſtate of the Church;Publicke …hankeſgiuing after deliuerances required. So likewiſe it is our duty publickly to render thankes vntounto God for deliuerance beſtowed vponupon the ſame: we may not be like the nine Leapers, who hauehave wide mouthes to begge, but no heart nor mouth to giuegive thankes for benefits receiued. It hath euer been the care, and religious cuſtome of Gods Church and people, after great and notable deliuerances from apparant and common Iudgements, to render hearty and earneſt thanks vntounto God in ſolemne & publicke maner. Gen. 8. When Noah and his ſons and family were newly deliuered from periſhing in the floud, he did the firſt thing build an Altar, offer ſacrifice, & call on the name of the Lord:Exod. 15. ſo Moſes and the children of Iſrael after their deliuerance out of Aegypt, when they were ſafe, and their enemies drowned, do deuoutly and publickly ſing praiſe and thanks vntounto the Lord. Deborah and Barake doe the like, Iudg. 5. And the Iewes being deliuered from Hamans treaſon. Heſt. 10. they reioyce and keepe a ſolemne day to ſing praiſe vntounto God.
Vſe. Well, let vsus apply this doctrine to our ſelues, wee are by Gods bleſſing the true Church and people of God, profeſſing the Goſpell of Ieſus Chriſt truly▪ hating all ſuperſtition and Idolatry, and for this cauſe cannot want many enemies. The Papiſts the moſt ſubtill, cruell and malitious enemies of Gods Church, hauehave often ſet vponupon vsus, aſſaulted vsus, ſought to hauehave inuaded our King and Countrey, as 88. By ſundry treaſons to kill our late Queene of famous and bleſſed memory: and to deſtroy our gracious King, Queene, and all his poſterity. But amongſt the reſt, and aboue all the reſt, none comparable to that laſt treaſon, which was moſt cloſe and cunningly wrought, a long time in contriuing, moſt bloudy and diuelliſh, moſt barbarous and ſ… uadge, threatning and ſeeking to deſtroy and root out King▪ Councell ſpirituall and temporall M…giſtrates, aiming at the vtter ſubverſion of ou… Engliſh Nation, both Church and Common-wealth.
And ſurely if we conſider well of i… I doe not ſee in all the Bible, the lik… deliuerance ſo wonderfull and admirable.
1. Beeing ſo long a time in hatching and contriuing, with ſuch ſecreſie and concealement.
2. Being vnderunder the ground, in hell as it were, in a place vnderunder the earth, deſiring darkneſſe more then light, becauſe the deed was euill.
3. Being brought ſo neere the execution of it, and neuer knowne nor ſuſpected before.
4. Being diſcloſed ſo ſtrangely, euen by one of the Traytors themſelues, one of the chiefe Actors in the Tragedy.
5. Being ſo generall, ſo fearefull and monſtrous, that it ſhould not hauehave beene to the deſtruction of one or two, but of the chiefe of the whole land, King, Queene, Prince, Nobles, Iudges, Biſhops; in a word, the flower of the whole kingdome, the want of any one whereof, were a blemiſh to a ſtate, and would bring a ruine to a kingdome.
Now do as Ahaſhueroſh did, Heſt. 6.1. Cauſe the Records to bee read, and Chronicles to be ſearched, Antient and Moderne, Diuine or Prophane, amongſt the Turkes or Painims: yea, if Hell keepe any Records, ſearch there, and ſee if yee can patterne this conſpiracie, or match this danger.
But there is no counſell againſt the Lord: Mans wiſedome is fooliſhneſſe vntounto him, his greateſt ſtrength but weakneſſe, his life but a breath, and his honour but a blaſt.
So then we ſee we hauehave as great cauſe to render thanks vntounto the Lord as any people or Nation vnderunder Heauen. That 5 day of Nouember is a day to be remembred, and neuer to bee, forgotten, a glad and ioyfull day; and we ought eueryevery one in publicke and priuate, to ſtirre vp our hearts in thankſgiuing vntounto the Lord: for it was the Lords doing, and …t is meruailous in our eyes: It is the day which the Lord made for the glory of his name, let vsus reioyce and bee glad in it.
Now it is not enough to keepe that day as an idle Holy-day, to r…ſt from labour and worke, to ring B…ls and make Bon-fires, to giuegive our ſelues to eating, drinking, and ſwilling, to ſports and paſtime: for this is no honour vntounto God.
But firſt our thankefulneſſe muſt appeare in a moſt reuerent & thankfull commemoration and remembrance of this ſo great and wonderfull a deliuerance: we muſt call it to minde, thinke of the greatneſſe of it, we muſt ſpeake of it to our children and poſterity, and call vponupon them to be thankfull: for the child that is yet vnborne, is bound to bleſſe God for it, Exod. 12.6.
Secondly, wee muſt ſing Pſalmes of praiſe and thankeſ-giuing vntounto God in token of thankfulneſſe, and that publickly in the Church and Congregation of Gods people.
Thirdly, we muſt come together into Gods houſe, to heare his word, and to call vponupon his name, and that is a ſpeciall part of our vnfained thanfulneſſe.
Fourthly, wee muſt teſtifie our thankfulneſſe in moſt hearty and du…iful obedience, which is the greateſt and the beſt ſacrifice, 1. Sam. 15. and if thi… be wanting, all we doe is nothing worth, Eſay 29.13. So that for our generall deliuerance, there ſhold … a generall thankeſgiuing in a generall reformation of Church and Common-wealth, of our hearts and ſinful liues: otherwiſe indeed we are vnthankfull▪ if ſtill we liue in ſin and …b…llio…. Then (notwithſtanding …ur keeping a day, ringing of Belles, …port and play) if there follow no reformation of our liues, we may iuſtly feare a more dreadfull iudgement, if not vtter ruine and deſolation to follow. Now (alas) where is this vſe of Gods mercy, & our deliuerance, where doe the people reforme their liues, reforme their wayes, grow more religious, conſcionable and carefull to heare, reade, pray in their families: it is but a wonder of nine dayes, men make little or no vſe of it, but to talke of it, and ſpeake of it.
And laſtly, our thankefulneſſe ſhould beget in vsus an earneſt hatred of Popery and ſuperſtition, ſo vile, ſalfe, miſchieuous, bloudy and curſed Religion: to abhorre it, to hauehave nothing to do with it, but to abandon all the Reliques of it: which that all eſtates and degrees of Men may do, the Lord grant for his mercies ſake, Amen.
FINIS.
End of the text · Samuel Smith, Davids Repentance (1614)