Davids Repentance, Sermon · Commentary 2
Pſalme 51. VERSE 1. HaueHave mercy on me O God, according to thy louing kindnes, according to the multitude of thy compaſsions, put away mine iniquities.
Now follows the pſalme it ſelfe, and it is a moſt excellent pſalme to be learned of eueryevery chriſtian man and woman: and oft times to be vſed for our comfort; for it containes a moſt earneſt prayer of Dauid, that worthy ſeruant of God, and renowned king …, a Prophet of GOD, and a man after his owne heart.
Wherein hee humblie doth acknowledge his ſins vntounto the Lord, earneſtly intreating for grace and fauor at Gods hands, for the true pardon of them all, and to be comforted againe by the gracious promiſes of God.
This Pſalme may be diuided into 2. parts: in the firſt part Dauid prayeth for himſelfe, vntounto the eighteenth verſe: in the ſecond part he prayeth for the church of God; that the Lord would be fauourable vntounto Syon his Church, and build vp Ierusalem.
The maine thing which Dauid ſo earneſt, and ſo often prayeth for, is mercy and fauour at Gods hands for the pardon of his ſinnes: and this Petition is repeated againe, and againe ioyned with great affection, and earneſt deſire of merciemercy: confeſſing his ſinnes vnfainedly, and abhorring them.
Secondly, Dauid prayeth vntounto God, for the worke of ſanctification, that the Lord would purge him, and ſanctifie him by his holy Spirit, and renue his heart.
Thirdly, bee promiſeth to preach forth this mercy of God vntounto others, that his example ſhalbe a meanes, by GODS bleſſing to conuert them, to make them afraid of ſin, and to comfort them that be fallen.
Fourthly, hee ſheweth the great abuſe of outward Sacrifices, and the outward worſhip & ſeruice of GOD, that if it be done by impure and impenitent ſinners; alas,Eſay 1.11. the Lord takes no pleaſure in it, but hates and abhorres it.
In the firſt verſe we are to cōſider, Firſt, what is the thing Dauid begs, namely Mercy: Secondly, the perſon of whom he begges it, and that is of God; HaueHave mercy on me O God: Thirdly, the maner & greatnes of this mercy; much mercy, and great mercy, becauſe of his great miſery: & the doubling of the petition, ſhewes he praied with feeling and great affection.
[HaueHave mercy on me O God:] As if he ſhould hauehave ſaid; O my God, I am a moſt vile and miſerable ſinner, I hauehave committed very great and grieuous ſinnes: I ſtand in great need of thy mercy, and therefore hauehave mercy on me in the pardon of my ſinne.
Doctr. 1 Before a man can either craue for mercy,Sight of ſinnes the firſt ſt…p to repentance. and begge the pardon of his ſins, he muſt hauehave the ſight of them, he muſt ſee the danger of them, and finde himſelfe to ſtand in extreame neede of Gods mercy: Dauid he had laine a long time in his filthy ſinnes, and neuer ſought vntounto God for mercy, but being awaked by the reprehenſion of Nathan, now he cries for mercy: The Prodigall ſonne, a true paterne for all ſinners, he neuer ſeeks to his Father, till he was in extreame miſery, and then he ſaith, I will goe to my Father: Luke 15.ſo the prowd Phariſe neuer begges for mercy, for he felt no want of it: And the Church of Laodicea, Knew not that ſhee was miſerable, poore, Reu. 3.10.blind, and naked: For how can a man repent of that hee is ignorant of? Sinnes committed can not be repented of, till men ſee them and know them: nay, not barely to know them, but to know the hainouſneſſe of them, and the curſe of God due vntounto them; ſo as a man may take it to heart, and be troubled for his ſins. Dauid, thogh a Prophet of the Lord, yea a man after GODS owne heart, yet lay a long time in ſinne without repētance; becauſe he did not weigh and conſider with himſelfe what hee had done. And therfore in the word of God the Lord oftentimes calles vponupon men to conſider their waies, to know their ſinnes, and the curſe of God due vntounto them. Ier. 3.13. Know thy ſins, O Ieruſalem! Zeph. 2.1, 2. Fanne your ſelues: Lam. 3.40. O let vsus ſearch and trie our waies, and turne vntounto the Lord.
Vſe. 1 Here we may ſee the maine cauſe why there is ſo little faith & true repentance in the world, why men are no more humbled for their ſinnes, & do not repent for them: poore ſouls, they know not that they doe euill: They either cannot or doe not ſearch themſelues Lam. 3.40. they neuer call their hearts to account: Now then, going on in ſecurity, ſeeing and fearing no danger: Alas! how ſhould they repent, how ſhould they turne to God? For if thou couldeſt ſee the miſery of thy ſoule, and thy wofull eſtate by reaſon of ſin, if thou couldeſt ſee the number and greatnes of thy ſinnes: Oh thou wouldeſt euen tremble for feare, and wonder at thy woful eſtate! But alas! moſt men are like a man that trauels in the night ouer a narrow bridge, which is verie dangerous, and vnderunder it runneth a bottomleſſe gulfe; ſo as if he fall, he cannot eſcape, but muſt needs periſh. And therfore in the darke night ſeeing not the danger, hee feareth it not: But let him goe that way in the morning, he will wonder that euer he was ſo madde and deſperate to go that way, and will neuer venture that way againe. So many poore blinde ignorant ſoules, when they hauehave runne headlong in ſinne al their daies, and paſſed their vncertaine life in ignorance, profaneneſſe, and manifolde ſinnes, poſting to Hell and damnation, not ſeeing the curſe of GOD that doth hang ouer their heads, they feare nothing, but runne on headlong into all ſinnes: But if it pleaſe the Lord to open their eyes to ſee their ſinnes, and the Iudgements of God due vntounto them; Oh they do wonder at their owne extreame folly, and Gods infinite goodneſſe and patience, and would not bee in that caſe againe for all the world.
Well then, marke this Doctrine, doe not lightly paſſe it ouer, but eſteeme it as a bleſſed trueth of GOD. Chriſt ſaith, Lake 13.5. Except ye repent, ye ſhall allperiſh, And for a man to ſee his ſinnes, the greatneſſe and grieuouſneſſe of them, it is the firſt ſteppe vntounto repentance. So that we ſee heere who they are that doe repent, and ſhall be ſaued, euen ſuch as ſee their ſinnes, their wofull miſerie, and the wretched eſtate wherein they are, and which doe moſt earneſtly hunger and thirſt after merciemercy in Chriſt Ieſus.
Well then, let mee aske thee this Queſtion, or rather, demaund it of thine owne ſoule; Didſt thou euer ſee thy wofull miſerie, the wretched eſtate wherein thou arte by reaſon of ſinne, what a miſerable ſinner thou art by nature, out of the fauour of God, in the ſtate of damnation, in extreme danger, for euer to be damned, and to looſe thy owne Soule? Didſt thou euer find thy ſelfe to ſtand in need of Gods merciemercy for the pardon of thy ſinnes, and extreme want of Chriſts bloud to ſaue thy Soule? Haſt thou felt thy hart wounded and bruiſed for thy ſinnes, that thy ſoule is euen ſicke with ſinne? Didſt thou euer thirſt after GODS merciemercy in Chriſt aboue all the world; ſo as thou haſt with ſighes and groanes, yea with teares begged Gods merciemercy on thy knees, as for life and death, Io. 7.37. Eſay 55.1, 2. Eſay 66.2. If thou haſt not found and felt theſe things in thee in ſome meaſure, thy caſe is dangerous and fearefull; thou neuer yet didſt truely repent: the merciemercy of God belongs not vntounto thee.
Vſe. 2 O then it is a ſingular fauour of God, when he doth open a mans eies to ſee his miſery, to finde himſelfe to ſtand in need of GODS mercy, and extreame want of Chriſts bloud to ſaue his ſoule: This is the beginning of all grace, to feele the want of grace: Dauid, if the Lord had no… rowzed him out of his dead ſinne wherein he lay a long time, he might hauehave died, and periſhed in it: And therefore this ſhould teach vsus all to pray to God, that he would in mercy open our eyes, that we might ſee our ſins, and feele our miſeries, and that wee may ſee wee ſtand in extreame neede of Gods mercy; and the contrary is a fearefull plague and iudgement of God, for men to lie and ſnort in ſinne, without remorce of conſcience, without the ſence and feeling of ſinne, or want of mercy: this Dauid now knew by wofull experience, that if hee had died without repentance, he had periſhed: of all diſeaſes they bee moſt dangerous which bee leaſt felt, as a l…thargy, or dead palſie, or the like: ſo it is a moſt fearefull eſtate for any man to lie in ſinne, without the feeling of it; for then the hart is hardned, and he makes no account of Gods mercy: A man that thinkes he is well enough, wil ſcorne the Phyſition; ſo thoſe blinde ſinners that thinke they are wel enough, and feele no want of mercy, of all men they are to be pittied, they be in a moſt dangerous ſtate and condition: And therefore we ſee it a great bleſſing of God, to be told of our ſinnes, to bee reprooued for them, that ſo ſeeing them, and the danger of them, wee may ſeeke to GOD for mercy.
Doctr. 2 Hence we learne, that the firſt ſtep to heauen,S… … of … man. and the beginning of true repentance is this; for a man to bee grieued for his ſins, to be wounded in conſcience for them, for till a man ſee his ſinnes, and feele the burthen of them, and feare the curſe of GOD due vntounto them: he will neuer repent and ſeeke the pardon of them.2. Cor. 7.10. Matth. 26. Luke 18.13 This is that godly ſorrow, that leadeth to tepentance, neuer to be repented of
Vſe. 1 If this compunction and pricke of the heart be the very beginning of true repentance, and the firſt ſtep to heauen, and the ſaluation of a mans owne ſoule, ſurely then moſt men be in a miſerable and wretched eſtate, for moſt men yet hauehave not ſet forward one foote, nor gone one ſteppe to heauen: For they hauehave neuer been humbled, neuer touched, neuer yet wounded, nor pricked in heart for their ſinnes, and therfore muſt needs be in a dangerous eſtate:Note. Well then, apply this to your ſelues, didſt thou euer in all thy life find thy heart pricked for ſinne? Did the ſacrificing knife of the Word, neuer wound thy conſcience, nor fetch one teare from thine eyes for thy ſinnes? Didſt thou neuer finde thy heart to mourne, and to be caſt downe with remorce of conſcience? Certainely thy caſe is duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page fearefull and dangerous, thou art not yet gone one ſtep to heauen, nor moued one finger to eternall life: no, no, thou art yet in thy ſins, in extreame danger to be damned:Iames 2.19 Oh then let the word come home to you, harden not your hearts againſt it, neuer bee at quiet, till you can ſay, I hauehave felt my ſoule touched and wounded with the word of God.
Vſe. 2 This ſerueth for the comfort of GODS children: for if we finde and feele our hearts broken and wounded for ſinne, ſo as wee mourne for them with godly ſorrow, becauſe they be ſinnes, diſpleaſe God, offend his Maieſty: it is a certaine ſigne we hauehave truly repented, we are in the eſtate of grace, Gods ſpirit hath met with vsus, the word hath not beene in vaine in our hearts, but hath wounded ſinne, cut the throat of it: bleſſed be God, if thou canſt ſay by experience, that the Word hath beene powerfull to wound thy ſoule, ſo as thy conſcience is truly touched, not only becauſe of Gods anger, but becauſe of this, that we hauehave ſinned a gainſt a mercifull Father: This godly ſorrow euer goes with true repentance, not as Caine, Indas, 1. Cor. 7.10.&c. who deſpaired of Gods mercy with a deſperate ſorrow becauſe of the puniſhment, but when we are wounded with ſinne, to mcurne for it, becauſe it offendeth God, a louing Father.
Doctr. 3 From Dauids prayer,The firſt thing Dauid craues is mercy. and firſt petition, marke what it is he ſo carneſtly craueth, not a kingdome, nor gold, or ſiluer, not the life of his enemies, but merciemercy, merciemercy alone, hee craued for nothing but mercy: and therefore in his perſon, wee learne what is that which we ſhould moſt deſire aboue all things in the world, namely, the fauor and mercy of God in Chriſt Ieſus; ſo that if it ſhould be asked, what we would deſire in all the world, we ſhould anſwer, Mercy, and the fauor of God in Ieſus Chriſt; he is a bleſſed man that hath mercy,Pſal. 32.1, 2 Pſal. 4.6. Lu. 18.13. let other men deſire worldly wealth, riches, honor, gold, ſiluer: but Lord I craue nothing but mercy, thy fauour and louing countenance: The poore Publican comming to God, he knockes on his breaſt, and cries for merciemercy; God be mercifull to me a ſinner.
For there is nothing in the whole world, that is able to appeaſe the troble of a wounded conſcience, ſaue only the mercy of God in CHRIST IESVS. Dauid, no doubt, had toſſed many thoughts within himſelfe when hee came to vtter this which heere is penned, he had a true ſight, no doubt of the miſerie and wretched eſtate wherein hee ſtoode, by reaſon of his ſinne. An… …d there beene anie other way in the world to hauehave gotten out of that …ate, hee would hauehave found it. But …rke, he caſts his eie onelyonly vponupon …he …rcie of God, making that his ſur…ſ… reſuge, in this his greateſt neceſſitie: Euen ſo, howſoeuer the opinions of men as touching happineſſe, bee diuerſe, poore men thinking riches, the priſoner libertie, the ſicke man health: Although theſe deſire all theſe, yet the ſinner euer deſireth merciemercy. This Mercy of God, Dauid, This ſweete Singer of Iſrael, had often times ſinged; now hee deſires it. And this is the difference betwixt, the godly and the wicked; Honour me (ſaith Saul) before my People. HaueHave merciemercy on mee (ſaith Dauid.)
Vſe. 1 Wee learne hence, that nothing can pacifie a Wounded Conſcience, grieued, and diſtreſſed for ſinne, but onelyonly the fauour and merciemercy of God, in Ieſus Chriſt: Men may in their diſtreſſes go to ſport and paſtime, and merry company: But alas! this is no comfort to a wounded Soule, onelie the mercy of God, and feeling of his louelove in Chriſt, can aſſwage and pacifie the accuſing of our Conſciences. A man in a hote burning ague may taſte of colde water, which may eaſe him for the preſent; but alas! after it will increaſe his torment: And as an olde ſoare, if it be not healed at the bottome, though it ſeem to be found on the toppe, yet it will breake out againe, and become more dangerous and incurable: euen ſo, when men ſhall ſeeke to ſmother the accuſation of conſcience, to blunt the edge of it, it will after rebound againe, and giuegive a deadly wound to deſperation.
Vſe. 2 Doſt thou find thy conſcience vnquiet? Doſt thou feele it wound and accuſe thee,Nothing can pacify a woūded conſciēce but God. ſo as thou canſt finde no comfort nor reſt vntounto thy Soule? There is no other way in the world to pacifie thy conſcience, and to hauehave peace, then to intreate and beg for mercy at Gods hands;Ro. 14.17. The kingdome of God ſtand… not in meate and drinke, but in righteouſneſſe, and peace, and ioy in the Holie-Ghoſt: So that although a wicked man enioy all the world, yet if he hauehave not mercy, and the pardon of ſinnes, alas he ſhall hauehave no ſound peace of Conſcience, no ioy in his ſoule, nor any drop of true comfort: And therefore let vsus all ſeeke reconciliation with God, intreat for fauor and mercy, and neuer giuegive any reſt vntounto our ſoules, till we can feele and finde our Soules aſſured of GODS mercy in Chriſt, and the pardon of our ſinnes: if any ſay, O that I could feele this in my ſoule, I hauehave an acuſing conſcicence, I feele it terrifie me: I am afraid I ſhall be condemned: I can finde no comfort, What ſhall I doe? Euen as Dauid did heere, beg hard, ſeeke earneſtly, for ſo the Lord promiſeth; If wee ſeeke wee ſhall finde: And therefore let vsus pray, and continue in prayer, and know that the Lord will in the end heare and grant our requeſts.
The ſecond point is the Partie to whom the Prophet directs his Prayer,To whom and ſeeketh for comfort: not to any Saint or Angell, not to the Virgin Marie, but hee goeth to God, praieth to him, HaueHave merciemercy on mee O God; and he directs his prayer to the whole Trinitie, Father, Sonne, and Holy Ghoſt; to God the Father, as the Authour of all mercy, to IESVS CHRIST, by whom, and in whoſe name wee obtaine mercy; and to the Holy Ghoſt, becauſe hee doth teach vsus to pray, and doth conuey and deriue all ſauing comfort to vsus.
Doctr. 1 Hence wee learne to whom wee muſt direct al our praiers, namely, to God alone,God alone is to bee prayed to. Rom. 10.14 Dan. 6. Pſal. 2.7. Leui. 19.31 Eſay 8.19. Eſay 59. Dan. 9.17. Father, Sonne, and Holy-Ghoſt, becauſe we muſt pray to him alone, on whom wee muſt beleeue. Secondly, God alone, can, and will, pardon the ſinnes of thoſe that ſeeke vntounto him for mercy. Thirdly, it is GODS commaundement, that wee ſhould pray to him, and to no other creature. Fourthly, we hauehave promiſes, that if we pray vntounto him, he will heare vsus. Fiftly, wee hauehave the examples of all GODS children, who in all their troubles ſought to GOD alone, and to no other creature in the world, and he preuailed.
How auaileable were the prayers of Abraham, being made vntounto God in faith, Geneſis chap. 18. That if ten righteous perſons had beene found in Sodome, GOD had ſpared thoſe Cities for their ſakes. How was the Sunne and Moone ſtaied by the praier of Ioſh…ah, till hee was reuenged on his enemies, Ioſua chap. 10. How did Elias, by his praier, obtaine rain, which had been with-held from the earth 3 yeares, and 6 moneths, 1.Reg. 17. Iam. 5. Acts 12.1.2. Iohn 5.14, Dan. 9.17. Iohn 11.4l.
Vſe 1 This condemns the blaſphemous doctrine of the Church of Rome: who teach men to pray vntounto Saints and Angels, to the Virgine Mary, to ſtocks and ſtones, and I know not what; whereas the Lord ſaith plainely, He wil gine his glorie to no creature: Eſay 41.8. Eſay 63.16Now, that wee may not pray vntounto them it is manifeſt; firſt, wee hauehave no commandement: ſecondly, no promiſe: thirdly, no examples of Gods children: fourthly, wee may not beleeue in them.
Nay, would we not take him to be a fooliſh Suppliant, that when the Kings Sonne offereth to ſpeake for him to his Father, would refuſe to vſe his mediation, and goe to one of his ſcruants to intreate for him. Is it not meete that ſuch a one ſhould bee ſaid nay? Euen ſo, inaſmuch as the Father ſendeth vsus vntounto his Sonne; & the Sonne calleth vsus vntounto himſelfe, what madneſſe is it then to runne as well from the one as from the other, to goe from the Sonne to the Saints, from him that can heare, to them that cannot help; depriuing the Father of his honour, the Sonne of his office, & diſgracing the Saints. Away therefore with the mediation of Saints & Angells, who know not our hearts, nor heare our prayers, There is one Mediator betwixs God and Man, the man Christ Ieſus. And, 1. Iohn 5.14. This aſſurance hauehave we in him, that if we aske any thing, according to his will, hee heareth vsus. Let vsus treade in the ſteps of Dauid, and Moſes, and the reſt of the Seruants of God, who hauehave euer, in their greateſt troubles, called vponupon the name of the Lord. And howſoeuer Papiſts or Idolaters will bee ready to pretend humilitie, that they will not be ſo bold to come to GOD themſelues, but they wil vſe the mediation of ſuch as are about him: yet let vsus know, that Dauid, when he came to GOD, he was as humble as they, and farre beyond them; yet his humilitie did no whit hinder his holy boldeneſſe, as to come into GODS preſence. For our humilitie doth not appeare in ſhrowding our ſelues vnderunder the Saints wings, but by humble and hearty confeſſion of our ſinnes vntounto God.
Vſe. 2 Let vsus go vntounto God in prayer, intreate for mercy at his hands: Let vsus not goe to Saints or Angells, or anie other creature, ſaue God alone, in the name of Chriſt Ieſus: what father is more ready and willing to heare his child, then the Lord is ready and neare at hand, to heare them that call vponupon him in truth? now that wee may pray vntounto God for merciemercy and pardon of our ſinnes, wee muſt be perſwaded of two things: Firſt, of the power of God, that he is able: Secondly, of his will, that hee is willing to pardon them: The poore Leper ſaith; Lord, if thou wilt, thou canſt make mee cleane: Matth, 8.2And therefore that wee may pray in faith and aſſurance, let vsus bee perſwaded of theſe two: Firſt, that GOD is almightie, and is able to pardon all our ſinnes, though neuer ſo great: Secondly…, that he i… moſt ready, and willing, for Chriſts ſake, (in whoſe name wee come vntounto him) to pardon all our ſinnes: for if we doubt of either of theſe, we cannot pray in faith, and ſo ſhall not obtaine that we deſire.
Vſe 3 Seeing Dauid prayeth for pardon of ſinne, and craues it only at GODS hands, wee ſee that that is a curſed, and blaſphemous Doctrine of the Papiſts, who hold that their head the Pope can pardon ſinne:The Pope can not forgiue ſinnes. yea not only giuegive a man pardon for his ſinnes paſt, but (for money) can pardon and ſeale him a pardon for ſinnes many yeares to come: a moſt blaſphemous doctrine, and that which opens a gap to all ſinne, when a man ſhall hauehave promiſe of pardon for ſins to come. But wee ſee heere, that the word of God ſpeakes cleane contrary, namely, that GOD alone can pardon ſins: For who can forgiue ſinnes ſaue God onelyonly? Luke 5.21And where did we euer find that GOD did pardon a mans ſinnes for time to come: but rather threatneth ſinners with Iudgement, to make them beware of ſinne: ſo that we ſee the Pope is Anti-chriſt, who ſetteth himſelfe in the ſeate of God, and exalts himſelfe aboue God:2. Theſ. 2.4. in that hee takes vponupon him that God neuer did, to giuegive a man pardon of his ſinnes, before they be committed.
After thy louing kindeneſſe.
DAuid being diſmayed and caſt downe, in the ſence of his miſery, doth looke vp to Gods merciemercy, and is emboldened thereby to draw nearer vntounto him, and with ſom comfort to call vponupon him for mercy.
Doctr. 1 Whence we learne firſt of all this Doctrine,Experiēce of former fauour aſſureth of future fauour. that the experience of Almighty Gods former fauour caſteth off feare and cauſeth affiance in God, and is one of the chiefeſt cauſes to moue vsus ſtil to truſt in him, as Pſalme 4. Heare mee when I call O God of my righteouſneſſe: For thou haſt ſet mee at liberty when I was in trouble: hauehave mercy therefore vponupon me, and hearken to my prayer. Where the Prophet reaſoneth from the time paſt to the time to come, and intreateth God to heare him now, becauſe hee had alreadie ſhewed merciemercy on him. The like we may ſee, Pſal. 22. Thou diddeſt draws me out of the wombe, &c. Out of which words we gather, that the Prophet, for benefites paſt, aſſureth himſelfe of deliuerance from dangers preſent. The like of the Lion and the Beare, 1.Sam. 17.34. Pſal. 3.4, 7.
Vſe. 1 We learne hence to acknowledge his great merciemercy, that maketh one mercy ſeale of another, & one grace the pawne of an other: Now what man or woman hath not receiued thouſands and ten thouſands of mercies from the God of mercy; al which may be ſo many comforts vntounto his Soule, to aſſure him that God will neuer forſake him. Indeede if our owne workes or righteouſneſſe were the onelyonly ground to moue the Lord to take pitty on vsus. Then we ſhould be much diſcouraged in our ſelues, when we look backe vntounto our liues: but now the for mer mercies of God, are Arguments of further mercies, to aſſure vsus that he will adde merciemercy to merciemercy: whereby hee may ſee how fruitful the louing kindnes of the Lord is alwayes producing more, as one graine of corn increaſeth an hundred fold.
Vſe. 2 Againe, we learne hence a notable difference betweehe GOD and man in beſtowing benefites, men are quickely weary of their liberalitie; but it is not ſo with God: The more bolde wee are in asking, the more bountifull he is in giuing: which is a comfort to all weake Chriſtians, and wounded Soules, who are euer ready to reaſon thus within themſelues; Will God heare me? or reſpect me? Will he ſhew his louing kindeneſſe towards me a wretched ſinner? Yea, God doth heare thee & reſpect thee, and will ſhew merciemercy vponupon thee, if thou ſeeke vntounto him in faith; yea the oftner we aske, the better we are accepted of God: the more we deſire, the more we obtaine. He chargeth vsus, Pſal. 50.15. To call on him in the day of trouble, and aſſureth vsus of our deliuerance, Iames 1.5, 6.
Doctr. 2 Hence marke what is that whereby poore diſtreſſed ſoules,The mercy of God emboldēs ſinners to come vntounto him. throwne downe for ſinne, wounded, and melting for ſinne, and almoſt in the gulfe of deſperation (as Dauid was) that giues them courage and emboldens them to come into the prefence of God; to ſtand before their Iudge: namely this, the endleſſe louelove and mercy of God in Ieſus Chriſt, euen the conſideration of GODS mercy, that he is moſt ready to pardon, and forgiue poore ſinners, to receiue thē to mercy: for ſo long as the conſcience accuſes for ſinne, and terrifies a poore ſinner, he doth nothing but fly from God, runne from him, dares not looke vntounto him, nor call vponupon him, till he conceiue of Gods merciemercy in Chriſt,Pſal, 103.8. that he is moſt willing to pardon thoſe which do truely repent.
Now, that God is mercifull and ready to pardon poore ſinners, and to receiue them to merciemercy, it doth appeare by that his louing inuitation, Math. chap. 11. verſe 28. Come vntounto mee all yee that trauaile and are heauie laden, and I will caſe you. Likewiſe hee embraceth the poore and ſimple, as louingly and cheerefully, as the rich and wiſe of the world. Publicans and Sinners are accepted of him, who were contemned of the Iewes. The woman taken in Adultery, is exhorted by him to repentance; the blinde man reſtored to his fight, and caſt out of the Synagogue, is ſought out by Chriſt, and taught to beleede, Iohn 9.35. The penitent Thiefe is by him conuerted to the faith, Luke 23. according to that Math. 18.14. It is not the will of God, that one of theſe little ones ſhould periſh. The like we may ſay of Mary Magdalen, who was infamous in life, out of whom Chriſt caſt ſeuen diuels. Of the Cananitiſh woman whom he heard and helped. Of the cripple that lay at the poole, whō when Ieſus found in the temple, Io. 5. he exhorted to ſinne no more, according to that of the Euangeliſt, Ma…, 11. That by the power and louelove of Chriſt, th… …linde had their fight reſtored, the lepers were cleanſed, th… dead were raiſed, the halt walked, the ſicke were healed, and the poore receiued the Goſpel.
Vſe. 1 Seeing a poore ſinner will neuer flie to God for merciemercy, vntill hee be perſwaded of the fauour and merciemercy of God in Chriſt, and can perſwade himſelfe that God is moſt mercifull, and willing to pardon him: we muſt remember euer with the one eye to looke vntounto his iuſtice, that he is a holy and a iuſt God, moſt righteous, & one that can not beare with ſinne & ſinners, that liue and delight in ſin: ſo with the other eye we muſt looke vntounto his endleſſe mercy in CHRIST IESV, fix our eies on that, & rely on that; otherwiſe, alas! we ſhalbe ſo far from ſeeking vntounto him, that we ſhall moſt willingly flie frō his preſence, as a terrible and angry GOD, and moſt righteous Iudge: And therefore, as wee muſt needes behold him as a iuſt god, and righteous to puniſh ſinne: ſo we muſt labour to bee perſwaded of his mercy, that hee is moſt ready to pardon, full of compaſſion, that ſo by Ieſus Chriſt, we may hauehave acceſſe vntounto the throne of grace, and entrance with boldneſſe into his preſence: And becauſe that CHRIST IESVS is the Way, Truth, and Life;Eph. 3.12 let vsus neuer go without him, but take him in the armes of our faith, & in his name beg for mercy,1. Iohn 2.1 for without him we can find no mercy by iudgement.
Vſe. 2 We ſee hence the very cauſe why ſo many come to diſpaire,Cauſe of mans diſpaire. and ſo to caſt away their owne ſoules; namely, becauſe they can not conceiue that God hath any mercy for them: they can not bee perſwaded of Gods endleſſe merciemercy in Chriſt Ieſu: but when their conſciences doe accuſe them of their ſins, they preſently ſee that God is angry with them, that he is a righteous Iudge, an angry and terrible God againſt ſinners: and thus ſeeing his iuſtice and anger againſt ſin, they dare not appeare in his preſence, but fly from him, as Adam did in the garden, and could wiſh that they might neuer come into his preſence: they cānot for their liues behold the mercy of God in Chriſt: impenitent ſinners can not call God Father, they can not indure Gods angry countenance, but rather wiſh they were out of the world, and might neuer come before his face: for this is certaine, that vnleſſe a poore ſinner, and diſtreſſed ſoule, can, together with the ſence of ſinne, and Gods anger againſt ſin, behold and acknowledge the endleſſe merciemercy of God to pardon them, he will neuer dare to appeare in his preſence, but Gods anger wil ouerwhelme him: Well then let vsus with Dauid ſo behold and feele the anger of GOD for our ſinnes to humble vsus, that we neuer diſpaire of Gods mercy, but ſtill know and beleeue, that God is no leſſe infinitely merciful, if we can repent, to pardon and forgiue vsus, then hee is infinitely iuſt to puniſh, if we will notr… pent.
Doctr. 2 Marke how Dauid, Gods merciemercy mans merite.a man after Gods owne heart, intreats the Lord, to pardon his ſinnes for his mercies ſake: therefore we learne that there is no other cauſe to moue the Lord to pity and pardon vsus our ſinnes, but onelyonly his moſt free and vndeſerued mercy: there is no worke, no goodneſſe, or vertue, in any man, to moue the Lord to pitty and pardon vsus, but all is of his meere bounty, goodneſſe, and mercy; without all merites of ours: as what could the Lord ſee in Saul, in Rahab, in Mary Magdalen, Acts 9. Luke 7.out of whom went ſeuen diuells, to moue him to mercy, but his meere mercy alone: Euen ſo, all the gifts & graces of Gods ſpirit beſtowed vponupon his ſeruants, either concerning this life, or the life to come. They all proceede from the free grace and merciemercy of God in Ieſus Chriſt, according to that of the Apoſtle, Rom. 6.23. Eternall life is the free gift of God. This is confirmed by the practiſe of godlie Daniel, Dan. 9.7, 8, 9. O Lord, righteouſneſſe belongeth vntounto thee, But vntounto vsus ſhame, becauſe we hauehave ſinned againſt thee: wherby we gather, that though our praiers be not without effect, yet they preuaile not with God by virtue of any excellency that is in them, but becauſe God hath promiſed to be found of them that ſeeke him in the meanes he hath appointed. And ſo for the reſt of GODS ordinances, Word, Sacraments, &c. The Lord doth accept them, and is well pleaſed in them; howbeit not thorough our worthines that performe them, but for his goodneſſe ſake that doth commaund them: for theſe properties are to bee found in works that are meritorious.
Firſt, they muſt be done of a mans owne ſelfe, and from himſelfe; but we hauehave nothing of our own to giuegive vntounto God: For what haſt thou that thou haſt not receiued? 1. Cor. 4.7. without him we can doe nothing: it is he that muſt worke in vsus, the will, and the deed.
Secondly, they muſt be ſuch works as are not due vntounto him, they muſt not be due debt, but proceede from our owne free will, euen ſuch as God cannot iuſtly challenge at our hands: but whatſoeuer wee doe, wee doe of debt and duty; yea Luke 17.10. When yee hauehave done all thoſe things that are commanded you, ſay we are vnprofitable ſeruants, we hauehave done that which was our duetie to doe.
Thirdly, the workes we do muſt be done for the profite of him, from whom we looke for a reward: But Pſalme 16. All our goodneſſe can not reach vntounto the Lord; we may benefit men, but wee can not benefite our Maker; therefore it is plaine we can not merit.
Fourthly, the worke and the reward muſt be in proportion equall: for if the reward bee more then the worke, it is not a reward of deſert, but a gift of good will: But, Rom. 8. The afflictions of the preſent time, are not worthy of the glory that ſhall be ſhewed vntounto vsus. So then they are not deſerued of vsus, but are beſtowed on vsus.
This condemnes the doctrine of duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page the church of Rome, who teach, that God doth ſhew mercy on ſome men, becauſe they bee woorthy of it, for their good workes, and honeſt life: and therfore they can diſpoſe themſelues by virtue of their fre-will, to moue the Lord to hauehave mercy vponupon them.Epheſ. 2.8. But wee aſcribe all to Grace and meere mercy: and therefore ſeeing pardon of ſinnes comes from the meere merciemercy and louelove of GOD in Chriſt, we muſt aſcribe all the praiſe of it to God alone, pardon of ſinnes, grace to repent, life eternall, all theſe come from the meere merciemercy & louelove of GOD in Chriſt Ieſus: And therefore let vsus aſcribe nothing vntounto our owne goodneſſe, or virtue, to our owne wit, or reaſon: but giuegive all the glory to God.
According to the multitude of thy compaſsions, put away mine iniquities.
AS if Dauid ſhould hauehave ſaid, Oh Lord! my ſinnes are many, and great, and therefore I ſtand in neede of thy mercy for my miſery, and of the multitude of thy compaſſions for pardon of all.
Doctr. 1 When as Dauid prayes for a multitude of mercies,The nature of ſinne. for the pardon of his ſinnes: we learne hence, what an heinous and horrible thing ſinne is in Gods ſight, that it can not be pardoned without a multitude of mercies: ſinne being committed againſt an infinite God, deſerues infinite and endleſſe puniſhment of ſoule and body, and before it can be pardoned, muſt hauehave infinite mercy.
Sinne is odious in it ſelfe, and maketh vsus vile and abhominable in the ſight of God, Ierem. 5.25. Eſay 59.1, 2, 3. Keeping all good things from vsus, and pulling downe all euill vponupon vsus, and that the wages thereof is death, being able to preſſe vsus downe euen to the botome of hell. It is ſinne that maketh vsus execrable to the Lord, and abhominable in his ſight, yea nothing doth more deforme vsus, and make vsus curſed & deteſtable in the ſight of God, then ſinne, Ioſu. 7.12, 13. the pardon whereof muſt hauehave infinite merciemercy.
Vſe. 1 Then hence wee learne, that wee neuer eſteeme rightly of ſinne, till wee come ſo to bee grieued for it, as that wee finde our ſelues to ſtand in great neede of GODS mercy for the pardon of it, yea of a multitude of mercies, of a ſea of mercies, till v…e finde that we ſtand in neede of euerie droppe of CHRISTS bloud to ſaue our ſoules. Dauid hauing ſinned, begs for multitude of mercies, and ſo wee ſhall finde, that if we truely repent of ſinne, that we ſtand in need of a Sea of merciemercy, and of euerie droppe of Chriſts bloud.
Vſe. 2 This condemneth moſt men and women, who are ſo farre from eſteeming thus of ſinne, that they make no bones of great ſinnes, and many grieuous impieties: yea, they make a ſport of ſin, ſwearing, lying, drunkenneſſe, whoredome, pride, couetouſneſſe, &c. and giuegive them names of virtue: we ſee it too too common that men thinke they ſtand in no need of GODS merciemercy, they thinke that Lord hauehave mercy on me will ſerue: But if wee will iudge of ſinne as wee ought, we ſhall find that we ſtand in neede of a Sea of merciemercy in regard of the multitude of our ſinnes.
Doctr. 2 Wee ſee that the Lord is full of mercy, full of pitty and compaſſion;God, a God of merciemercy. Psal. 119. & his mercies are ouer al his works: And indeede his mercies are great: Firſt, becauſe they come from an infinite GOD, to men who are infinitely euill, and deſerue no mercy, but iudgement: Secondly, becauſe for time, they laſt for euer, & neuer hauehave end: Thirdly, becauſe the mercy of God concernes great things, ſaluation, life eternall, &c.
And this is that which the Lord himſelfe proclaimeth from Heauen, Exod. 34.6. The Lord is ſtrong, mercifull ſlow to anger, and aboundant in goodneſſe and trueth; reſeruing merciemercy for thouſands, and forgiuing iniquitie, tranſgreſsion, and ſinme. Againe, Michah 7.18. Who is a God like vntounto thee that takeſt away iniquity, and paſſest by tranſgreſsion? He retaines not wrath for euer, becauſe merciemercy pleaſeth him, he wil turne againe and hauehave compaſsion vpou vsus; He will ſubdue all our iniquities, and cast all our ſinnes into the bottome of the Sea. Eſay 55.8, 9. Ezech. 33.11. Though therfore our ſinne be great, yet great is the mercy of God in pardoning it, Rom. 5.20. Where ſinne doth abound, there grace doth ſuperabound: Wherefore let not ſin ſo diſmay vsus, to caſt vsus downe to diſpaire, as this cheere vsus, that God is ſo gracious.
Vſe. 1 Seeing the Lords mercy is as a bottomleſſe ſea, that can not bee drawne drie:Lament. 3 His compaſsions faile not. Hence is matter of great comfort to all true penitent ſinners: for thy ſins cannot be ſo many, nor ſo great, but if thou hauehave grace to repent, God is able and willing to pardon them all.
If thou ſay, Oh! my ſins are great, grieuous, monſtrous, vnſpeakeable; well, the mercy of God is greater, as may appeare in the pardon of Lots ſinnes,Geneſ. 19.2. Sam. 12. Acts 9. Ioſhua 2. Dauids, Peters, Paules, Rahabs, &c. If thou canſt repent, and truely turne to God: If thou ſay, O! they are more then the ſtarres in number, remember that Gods mercy is as a botomleſſe ſea, hee hath a multitude of Compaſſions, and can pardon them though neuer ſo many and grieuous: If thou ſay, Oh! I hauehave liued a long time in them, twentie, thirtie, fortie yeares, looke on Gods merciemercy ſhewed to Rahab, Paul, & others, that had liued long in ſinne: ſo that if a man hauehave grace to repent, neyther the greatneſſe nor the multitude, nor the continuance of his ſinnes, none of all theſe can hinder Gods mercy: but here is all, that men muſt repent: otherwiſe, if men doe not repent, the leaſt ſinne is damnable: and if men repent, no ſinne is ſo great, but is pardonable.
The mercies of god belōg not to all.Yet notwithſtanding, men muſt take heede that they take not occaſiſion to liue in ſinne, becauſe God is mercifull, for theſe things are noted as a comfort for thoſe that ſigh and groane vnderunder the burthen of their ſinnes, to comfort them, and to keep them from diſpaire; that if they bee truely humbled for their ſinnes, there is yet with the Lord mercy in ſtore whereby they may be ſaued.
Vſe. 2 Seeing all Gods gifts come from him to vsus, of grace and merciemercy, euen becauſe he is full of merciemercy, and hath euen a multitude of mercies for poore penitent ſinners, that ſue to him for merciemercy. We learne aboue all things in the world to deſire merciemercy, and the pardon of our ſinnes. This we ſee in the Prophet Dauid, Pſal. 6.6.My ſoule is ſore trouble. But Lord, how long wilt thou delay? Pſal. 63.3,Returne (O Lord) deliuer my Soule, Saue me for thy mercies ſake: this is likewiſe practiſed by the Church; It is the Lords mercies that wee are not conſumed, Lament. 3.becauſe his compaſsions faile not. Thus the godly, when they deſire any bleſſing, they aske it of fauor: If they craue to hauehave any iudgement remoued, they craue it of merciemercy, eſteeming his merciemercy aboue all the world, or aught elſe they can deſire: labour therfore aboue all things in the world for the merciemercy of GOD in Ieſus Chriſt: vſe all good meanes to obtaine it, employ thy ſelfe diligently to keepe it, and to continue it towardes thee, that in thy life it may be with thee, & in death it may not depart from thee.
Laſtly, where the Prophet Dauid ſaith, According to the multitude of thy compaſsions, blot out mine offences.
Marke that the word (blot out) it is a metaphore taken from Writing-tables, when a man ſhall wipe out with a ſpunge all that is written: or from croſſing of bookes of Records, and Bookes of Debts.
And it is all one as if Dauid ſhould hauehave ſaid; O Lord, I hauehave runne far in thy ſcore: I hauehave euen filled thy Booke, nor with ſmall, but great ſummes of Debt▪ pay I am not able, no not one farthing. Now Lord, I beſeech thee therfore deface, croſſe, and blot out altogether the Debt of my ſinnes.
Doctr. 1 Hence we learne,The Lord keeps a Booke of our ſinnes that all our ſins are recorded in the Lords Booke: he keepes a Bill of Account, all our verie thoughts, words, and deedes are knowne vntounto him, he keepes them in minde and memory, and hath them written downe: And vnleſſe we repent of them, and they be blotted out with the bloud of Chriſt, laied hold on by faith, the Lord will call them all to account at the day of iudgement;Reu. 20.12. The Bookes ſhall then be opened; and eueryevery ſinne, olde, new, ſecret, open, againſt God and men ſhall be brought to light, for they bee rocorded in Gods Booke.
Now by theſe Bookes wee may not conceiue materiall bookes, in which men write downe ſuch things as they would hauehave remembred, for God can not be ſaid to ſtand in need of any ſuch helpes: But becauſe all things are as certaine and manifeſt to him, as if hee had his Regiſters in Heauen to keepe account thereof, Pſalme 139.16. Dan. 7.10. Philip. 4.3.
So then we may ſee, that the Lord doth keepe a note of all our ſinnes, and chalkes them as it were vponupon a ſcore, vntill payment come. It is not with God as it is with Princes, who are ignorant of the Treaſons plotted againſt them; but all things both paſt, preſent, & to come, are knowne to him, aſwel our rebellious thoghts, as ſinne f…ll acts committed. And although we doe forget and careleſly minde what we hauehave done, yet God forgets nothing; eueryevery part and parcell of our debt being noted exactly in his Booke of Remembrance.
Vſe 1 Seeing all our ſinnes be knowne to God, he notes them downe in his booke of Account, and not one ſinne can paſſe him, but he writes it down. how ſhould this make vsus all carefull vntounto our liues, that wee commit no ſin, for if we do, the Lord knowes it,2. Cor. 5.10 and notes it in his Booke, and vnleſſe he blot them out, they ſhall all come to account.
A wicked man and an vnchaſte woman, how many thouſand vile & filthy thoughts hauehave they in their mindes, night and day their hearts burne in luſt and vncleaneneſſe, and theſe they paſſe ouer, regarding thē not, making little or no account of them: But (alas) the Lord hath them all written in the Booke of his Remembrance, and if thou repent not of them, and leaue them, O woe to thy ſoule when this Booke comes to be opened, and read ouer, and when thou ſhalt receiue According to thy workes. Iob ſaith, Thou hast ſealed vp our ſinnes in a bag. To ſeale vp a thing doth note an exact kinde of keeping it: So then, the bagge and bundle of our ſinnes being ſealed vp, and that by God himſelfe; let vsus not imagine that any one can droppe out, but all ſhall come to Iudgement.
Vſe 2 Seeing all our ſinnes are ſo many debts, ſet downe in GODS Booke, and we muſt come to reckoning one day, how ſhould wee labour all the dayes of our life to hauehave them blotted out, to hauehave this Booke cancelled and croſſed, euen by the finger of God, for indeed we may runne on ſtill in Gods debt, and ſet on apace vponupon his ſcore: but we cannot ſo faſt wipe them out againe; nay, we can neuer of our ſelues, pay one farthing, or ſatisfie the leaſt of our debts wee owe vntounto him. It is God that hath written downe, that muſt freely forgiue and cancell, as himſelfe telleth vsus, Eſay 43, 25. I, euen I am hee ſaith the Lord that putteth way thine iniquities. Now, that they may be blotted out, and this Booke may be cancelled, we muſt;
How to hauehave the Bookes cancelled.Firſt, truely repent of them all, bewaile them, be grieued for them, that by them we hauehave grieued God.
Secondly, we muſt beg hard, euen as for life and death, for pardon of them, as Dauid did here, againe and againe, aske mercy: If a man ſhould runne into debt a thouſand pounds, and know not how to pay his creditor, his beſt way were to ſeeke and make friends vntounto him to forgiue it: We are debters vntounto God, thouſand Thouſands ſinnes: pay wee can not, then let vsus confeſſe the debt, intreate him to blot his booke, and take that hand-writing, and band of obligation on againſt vsus, and naile it to Chriſts Croſſe: And this is an excellent propertie of the childe of God, that hee deſireth (after a ſort) to come out of Gods debt. A true childe of GOD cannot abide to hauehave any thing ſtanding on Gods ſcore, for he knowes Hebr. 10.31. That it is a fearefull thing to fall into the hands of the liuing GOD: ſo long to deferre, till God warne to his Barre: Oh he ſeekes betimes and giues the Lord no reſt till the debt be pardoned.
Thirdly, that our ſinnes may bee cleane blotted out, wee muſt hauehave faith in Chriſt Ieſus; for nothing can blot out ſinne, but his bloud alone: nothing in heauen and earth can ſatisfie Gods anger, waſh away ſinne, blot out our offences, but onelyonly the bloud of Ieſus Chriſt; and therefore let vsus labour continually to be aſſured of it by faith, to ſprinckle our ſinfull hearts with the bloud of Ieſus Chriſt.1. Iohn 1.7 Reuel. 1.6
Vſe. 3 Seeing the Prophet Dauid doth acknowledge, that this Debt was more then he was able to pay, and therefore diſclayming his owne ſufficiencie, appeales onelyonly to GODS mercy in Chriſt for the pardon of the ſame. We learne that that Doctrine of Merites, yea and Supererogation, now taught in the Church of Rome, is moſt falſe and erronious; teaching poore people to leane vntounto mans ſatisfactions, which they muſt make vntounto God, either heere, or in Purgatory; whereas the Iuſtice of God is infinite. And when we hauehave done all that we can heere in this life, wee are vnprofitable ſeruants: nay, there is not that man in the whole world, that if God ſhould lay aſide his merciemercy, and deale in iuſtice, were able to ſatisfie the Iuſtice of GOD, for the leaſt Debt that hee doth owe vntounto GOD. And vnleſſe the Lord take pittie on vsus, and forgiue the Debt, there remaineth nothing for vsus, but to lie in priſon, and that for euer. Matth. 28.27. But of this before.