Davids Repentance, Sermon · Commentary 13
VERSE. 12.13. 12. Reſtore me to the ioy of thy ſaluation, and ſtabliſh mee with thy free Spirit. 13. Then ſhall I teach thy wayes vntounto the wicked, and the ſinners ſhal be conuerted vntounto thee.
Partes of the verſesTHeſe words contain in themſelues and earneſt prayer of Dauid vntounto GOD for the renuing Of GODS mercy, and feeling of his louelove againe, in the 12. verſe: In the 13. verſe he vſes a reaſon to moue the Lord thereunto: namely, that if the Lord ſhall receiue him into fauor againe, and teſtifie his louelove vntounto him, in the pardon of his ſins, then he wil not be vnmindful of Gods dealing with him, but become a Preacher and proclaimer of Gods mercy vntounto others, to draw them to GOD, in ſhewing what GOD hath done for his ſoule: and ſo that by the example of Gods mercy to him, others ſhould be wonne.
In the 12. verſe he makes a twofold petition vntounto God: Firſt, for the former feeling and aſſurance of Gods louelove and mercy for the pardon of his ſinnes. Secondly, that God would vphold him with his free ſpirit, ſo as now being deliuered out of the curſed thraldome and ſlauery of ſinne, hee might frankely and freely ſerue the Lord, and runne the way of his Commandements.
[Reſtore me to the ioy of thy ſaluation.]
No ioy can comfort mans ſoule, but the ioy of Gods ſaluation.AS if he ſhould hauehave ſaid, O Lord my GOD, I acknowledge and confeſſe, that all the while I ſerued thee, and liued in thy feare, ledde a holy and godly life, and kept an vpright heart, that I found wonderfull and exceeding ioy in the aſſurance of thy louelove and mercy in Chriſt for my ſaluation: but ſince I rebelled againſt thee, and wilfully brake thy holy Commandements, I hauehave depriued my ſoule of that heauenlie comfort and conſolation, and felt errours and griefe, feares and cares, and exceeding vexation. Now mercifull GOD, I humbly intreate thee to reſtore me againe to that ioy and comfort, to aſſure me of thy louelove and fauour, that thou art graciouſly reconciled vntounto me, that I may receiue my former comfort: And not onelie that, but becauſe I ſee how weake I am, & hauehave no power to ſtand without thy help and grace, I humbly intreat thee to ſtay and ſtrengthen me, to ſtabliſh thy grace in me, and ſo to vphold me in thy obedience, that I may freely and heartily obey thee all my dayes.
Doctr. 1 The childe of God truely called, iuſtified,Fruit of ſinne deſcribed. Note. and ſanctified by GOD ſpirit, if he once fall againſt GOD, and prouoke him to anger by wilfull diſobedience, doth feele exceeding griefe and ſorrow of heart, great griefe and trouble of minde, feares and cares leſt the Lord ſhould reiect him: ſo that there is an hell in his poore ſoule and wounded conſcience till hee be againe reconciled to GOD by faith and true repentance. So long as Dauid walked with God in vprightneſſe of his heart, hee had exceeding ioy and comfort in the Lord his GOD, was aſſured of his louelove for pardon of his ſinnes, and eternall ſaluation: but when he fell to adultery and murder, and ſo rebelled againſt God, it is wonderfull to ſee into what a gulfe of miſery he plunged himſelfe, what feares and cares, what doubts and troubles did vex his ſoule, and wounded conſcience. Euen ſo it is with all the godly, while they liue in the feare of God, ſerue and pleaſe him, and keep an vpright heart before the Lord, leade a godly and chriſtian life, they feele & find in themſelues exceeding ioy and wonderfull comfort, with aſſurance of Gods louelove in Chriſt for their ſaluation: but if as any time they breake out to ſinne, and rebell againſt God by wilfull diſobedience, then they ſhall finde an hell in their conſciences: troubles, feares, and cares for the time. Who can tell what feares and cares Peter felt?Luke 23. in what griefe and ſorrow of heart hee was in, when cowardly he denied his Lord and Maſter? It coſt him many a bitter teare. The reaſon of this doctrine is, becauſe all peace and comfort to a poore ſoule, ſprings from the ſence and comfortable feeling of Gods louelove in CHRIST IESVS for the pardon of ſinne and eternall ſaluation: and therefore when that is loſt, alas! what peace or comfort can they hauehave? Secondly, they do by ſuch wilfull ſin and diſobedience grieue the ſpirit, and make the holy-Ghoſt ſad within them: and ſo doe what they can to expell the Spirit of God in them. Now where the Spirit of God is made ſad and grieued, how can there be any true ioy?
Vſe. Seeing there is ſuch ſweete comfort in a godlie and Chriſtian life, while we walke with GOD, and ſerue and pleaſe him in ſpirit and truth: and when men ſinne and rebell againſt God, they pull downe vponupon their heads ſuch wofull miſery, troubles, and cares, how ſhould this make eueryevery man exceeding carefull of ſinne, which brings ſuch woefull miſeries and iudgements vntounto our own ſoules, ſuch torments feares and cares?
[To the ioy of thy ſaluation.]
AS if hee ſhould hauehave ſaid, ô Lord my God, when thou diddeſt aſſure mee of thy louelove and fauour for the pardon of my ſinnes, and eternall ſaluation, I had exceeding ioy therein. Now I doe humbly intreate thee to reſtore it to mee againe.
Doctr. 2 Fauour of God is a Chriſtians chiefeſt ioy.Hence marke what is the thing the childe of God doth moſt deſire and craue at Gods hands, and wherein they do moſt reioyce: namely, in the fauour of GOD, and aſſurance of Gods louelove in Chriſt Ieſus, that they know that God is graciouſly reconciled vntounto them, that they be in his fauour, and ſhall neuer periſh, but ſhall euerlaſtingly bee ſaued. Dauid was a King and wanted no temporall commodity, comfort, or delight whatſoeuer, wherein worldly men reioyce, but Dauid now conceiued no kinde of ioy at all in theſe things to bee out of Gods fauour: And therefore prayes vntounto God for the feeling of the true ioy, and that is of His Saluation, and that will miniſter vntounto him matter of true reioycing indeed; But alas moſt men being carnall, deſire riches, honour, pleaſure,Pſal. 4.6.7. But Lord let me ſee thy louing countenance, thy fauour and grace, and that ſhall do me more good and comfort then all the things in the world. The poore Publican begges for this; Lord be mercifull to me a ſinner. So Paul profeſſeth of himſelfe,Luke 8. Phil. 3.7.8. that he eſteemed all things but dung in compariſon of CHRIST IESVS, and the fauour of God in him: And the reaſon is plaine, becauſe if a man had all the world, and wanted the louelove and fauour of GOD, was in his diſpleaſure,Mat. 16.26 and vnderunder the curſe of God, what good could it do him? Euen as if a Subiect ſhould hauehave ten thouſand pounds, and yet the King cannot abide him, but ſeeke his death. And therefore the childe of God if hee were asked what is the thing hee deſires moſt in all the world, would anſwer, Mercy, and the louelove of GOD in IESVS CHRIST: hee would deſpiſe honours, lands,Pſal. 32.1.2 liuings, gold, ſiluer, pleaſures, and delights, and preferre one dramme of mercy, and the leaſt drop of Chriſts blood for ſaluation, before all the world.
Vſe 1 This may ſerue to reproue thouſands in the world, carnall men and women, ſo they hauehave the world at will, and may lieu at eaſe, eate, drink and bee merry; they feele no want of Gods mercy, no need of Chriſts bloud: they eſteeme not Gods fauour and louelove, deſire not reconcliation, but ſay: Who will ſhew vsus any good? Well, diddeſt thou neuer feele the want of GODS mercy, no hungring and thirſting after IESVS CHRIST and his righteouſneſſe, it is manifeſt thou doſt not belong to GOD, thou waſte neuer yet truely humbled.
Vſe. 2 Let this Doctrine admoniſh vsus to labour with our heartes, to bee affected with this: namely to eſteeme more of GODS louelove and fauour, and aſſurance of his mercy, then all the world, let vsus deſire it more, let vsus reioyce more in it: ſo as if the queſtion ſhould bee asked, what is the thing that thou doeſt moſt deſire and affect, and what thou doſt moſt delight and reioyce in of all the things in the world, wee may be able in truth to anſwere and ſay with feeling and comfort, I deſire nothing more vnderunder Heauen, then the mercy of GOD in IESVS CHRIST, to be in his fauour, to be reconciled vntounto his Maieſty, and with Paul to eſteeme all things but dung in compariſon of that. And till this be in vsus in ſome meaſure, we can neuer finde true comfort to our ſoules, and bee aſſured that we hauehave true ſauing-faith in Chriſt: For this is a certaine fruite and note of an humble and beleeuing heart, to hunger and thirſt after Gods mercy in Chriſt, and to eſteeme more highly of the leaſt drop of Chriſt his precious Bloud for our ſaluation, then of all the world if it were offered vntounto vsus.
Vſe 3 Wee muſt labour to manifeſt this our earneſt deſire and great account of Gods mercy, by vſing all bleſſed meanes to attaine vntounto it: wee muſt repent, and bewaile our ſinnes, leaue and forſake them: wee muſt embrace Ieſus Chriſt, by faith, and cry with teares vntounto GOD for mercy, Knocke, Seeke, Aske; Math. 7.7. Acts 13.20.And let vsus doe as the men of Tyrus and Sydon, when Herod tooke a pitch againſt them, and intended to warre againſt them, they came all with one accord, and beſought Blaſtus, the Kings Chamberlaine to hauehave peace. So let vsus go vntounto IESVS CHRIST the Peace-maker, deſire him to ſpeake to GOD the Father for vsus, that there may bee an euerlaſting peace.
Doctr. 3 When Dauid prayeth that God would reſtore vntounto him,State of Gods children not alwaies alike. The ioy of his Saluation, & thoſe ſweet comforts he was wont to feele and finde in Gods mercy, and feeling of his louelove in Chriſt, wee learne that the ſtate of Gods children is not alwaies alike, full of ioy, comfort, and gladneſſe, but ſometimes full of griefe, miſery, cares, and trouble: For the deareſt children of God, who are repleniſhed with the greateſt meaſure of ioy and comfort in the feeling and aſſurance of Gods louelove in Chriſt; when as the Lord leaues them to fall into ſome ſin againſt knowledge & conſcience, they ſhall finde, not onelyonly a great decay, but an vtter loſſe of ioy and comfort for the time. Thus it was with Dauid, who though he was a man after Gods own heart, enriched with great bleſſings, and ſpirituall mercies, moſt deerely beloued of God, ſanctified in great meaſure; yet now hauing fallen into theſe two filthy ſinnes of Adultery and Murder, ſee how he if perplexed, in great diſtreſſe, and trouble of minde: and now the feeling of Gods mercy, and ioy in Gods Spirit, ſeemed to bee cleane loſt. So it was in Peter, Luke 23.and ſo it is in eueryevery childe of God. Didſt thou euer ſinne againſt knowledge and conſcience, ſince thou waſt conuerted? thou ſhalt finde then a wonderfull deadneſſe of heart, trouble of minde, and feeling of Gods anger, with the loſſe of comfort for a time.
Vſe. 1 Seeing ſinnes againſt knowledge and conſcience, wound the ſoule exceedingly, and depriue vsus of the peace, and comfort, and ioy of GODS Spirit, and bring terrours, feares, and gripings with them: Let vsus, as to auoid all ſinne, ſo eſpecially auoid ſinne againſt knowledge and conſcience; and labour in all things, in all places, and at all times, to liue and walke ſo vpright with GOD, that thou neuer wound thy conſcience, though thou mighteſt get the greateſt gaine, honour, or pleaſure: yet if it bee ſinne, and that againſt knowledge and conſcience abhorre it, and commit it not, if thou loueſt thy owne ſoule: for if ſinnes of ignorance ſhall not eſcape puniſhment, vnleſſe men repent, much more ſinnes againſt knowledge and conſcience: for theſe prouoke the Lord exceedingly to turne away his fauour from vsus, draw downe his iudgements vponupon vsus: wound the conſcience, depriue vsus of the feeling of Gods louelove and fauour , bring trouble of minde and a wounded conſcience: oh then would you inioy this great bleſſing of peace of conſcience, which is a continuall feaſt! would you be loath to looſe the feeling of GODS louelove and comfort of Gods ſpirit! auoid all ſinne, but eſpecially preſumptuous ſinnes againſt knowledge and conſcience, they wound eſpecially and depriue vsus of peace of conſcience.
Vſe. 2 If the Lord doe at any time leaue vsus to ſinne, euen preſumptuous ſinnes againſt knowledge and conſcience, which is a fearefull thing: yet let vsus not deſpaire vtterly of Gods mercy, but ſeeke to renew the feeling of Gods louelove againe, intreate the Lord to reſtore vntounto vsus the ioy of his ſaluation: and that wee may obtaine the fauour of God againe, and renew the feeling of his louelove: let vsus renew our repentance, bewaile our grieuous and heynous ſinnes, ſeeke earneſtly for grace and pardon, and giuegive the Lord no reſt at all, till wee finde and feele him, to bee reconciled vntounto vsus in IESVS CHRIST.
Doctr. 4 Marke what was the ſpeciall thing wherein Dauid this holy ſeruant of GOD did reioyce,Pardon of ſinne the ſoundeſt ioy. not in gold or ſiluer, not pleaſures and carnall delights, not in lands, and liuings, not in a Kingdome: but in the ſaluation of GOD, in his louelove, in pardon of his ſinnes, and ſaluation of his ſoule: So as hence wee learne that there is no true ioy in any other thing in the world, but onelyonly in the mercy of God, and the ſaluation of our ſoules.Phil. 3.8. Luk. 10.20
And indeed what other ioy can there bee, for though the Lord ſhould giuegive vsus all things which hee hath made, aboundance of the things of this life; yea, though with Dauid wee might command a kingdome, yet vnleſſe with all wee hauehave this comfort that wee are at peace with God, and hauehave our ſinnes pardoned, (alas) they would all proue vntounto vsus as Iobs friends; Miſerable Comforters: But poore ſoules many know no other ioy but ſuch as ariſes from temporall things, gold, ſiluer, &c. wherein they differ not from beaſts, which hauehave their delight, as well as they, in thoſe things which are agreeable to their nature.
Ʋſe 1 Seeing Dauid places all his ioy and ſpirituall reioycing in the ſaluation of God, that is in the pardon of his ſinnes, in feeling of GODS louelove, and in the ſaluation of his ſoule, therefore it ſhewes, that there is no other cauſe of ſound ioy but in this alone; ſo that if we hauehave this, wee hauehave cauſe to reioyce and bee glad; but if this be wanting, either wee had neuer the feeling of GODS louelove, nor aſſurance of ſaluation, or elſe hauehave loſt it, and therefore ſhould vſe all bleſſed meanes to attaine vntounto it againe, for we cannot hauehave one dramme of ſauing comfort and true ioy, but onelyonly in the fauour of God, and the aſſurance of his louelove for our ſaluation.
Ʋſe 2 This ſhewes that all the ioy of wicked men in their ſports and paſtimes is no true and ſolid ioy, but a carnall ioy, a ſwiniſh ioy: for how can the heart of that man or woman reioyce, which knowes not whether God loues them or hates them, whether they ſhall be ſaued or damned, what ioy can they hauehave? it is madneſſe rather then ioy and mirth▪ Dauid ſaith, that wicked men ioy in their Corne, Wine, and Oile, Pſal. 4.7.outward and worldly things: but hee deſires the louing countenance of the Lord his fauour and grace, which ſhall make him to ioy more then all they in their vanities: and then hee will lye downe in reſt, and peace, and ſafety: whereas the ioy of wicked men, it is gone in a moment, vtterly loſt and paſt recouery for euer.
[And ſtabliſh mee with thy free Spirit.]
THis ſecond part of the verſe containes a praiervnto the Lord for a new mercy:Part of the varſe. namely, the bleſſed grace of corroboration; to bee ſtrengthened in grace and obedience and kept from ſin by the grace and ſpirit of God in time to come: As if he ſhould hauehave ſaid, O Lord my God I doe not onelyonly the pardon of my ſinnes paſt, which are many and great: but I doe humbly intreate thy Maieſty to giuegive mee power, and to ſtrengthen mee againſt the like euils in time to come, for I know my weakeneſſe and the wickedneſſe of my heart to bee prone to all ſinne by nature:Note. and if thou ſhouldeſt pardon my ſinnes paſt, and not keepe mee from ſinne in time to come, I ſhould eaſily marre all, and runne head-long into all ſinne, and therefore I beſeech thy Maieſty ſtabliſh and ſtrengthen mee with grace from thy ſpirit, that I may ſerue and pleaſe thee all my daies, with a willing and ready heart.
[Stabliſh mee:]
THe word ſignifies properly, to vnderprop and ſhore vp ſomething that is weake, declining, and ready to fall.
Doctrine. Hence learne, that euen the beſt of Gods children, that hauehave the greateſt graces,Man weak being left to himſelfe. and be ſtrengthened in faith, yet if they bee left vntounto themſelues, alas! they be as weake as water, they be not able to ſtand againſt the leaſt aſſault and temptation of the deuill. This Dauid felt and found in himſelfe,Ex. 15 24. Ier. 13.23. Pſal. 78.40. Exod. 9.27. Iudg. 3.12. Mat. 12.45 Heb. 6. and confeſſeth his weakeneſſe, and deſires the Lord to eſtabliſh and vphold him, to ſhore him vp by the grace of his holy Spirit. Peter who ſeemed to bee a valiant champion, and defied his enemies, and vowed he would rather die then deny his Lord and Maiſter CHRIST IESVS, yet being left to himſelfe, how fouly did he fall, and cowardly deny him three times in one houre at the voice of a little girle; ſo all the fals and infirmities of Gods children, though neuer ſo, wiſe as Salomon, ſtrong as Sampſon, righteous as Lot, holy as Dauid, doth proue this to bee true: And Paul though hee was a bleſſed veſſell of mercy, greatly enlightned and ſanctified, cryes out: O wretched man that I am; Rom. 7.24.and feares the great corruptions of his heart: The childe of GOD may bee compared to a ſtaffe in a mans hand, ſo long as thou doſt ſtay it and hold it, it will ſtand vpright, but pull away your hand and downe it will of it ſelfe: Euen ſo do wee ſtand, while the Lord do ſtay vsus and vphold vsus, but if hee take away his hand and leaue vsus, downe we go: wee bee like a little infant that is in the nurſes hand, ſo long as ſhe holds it, it will go, and moue, and ſtand, but if ſhee pull away her hand it fals, and takes a knocke: As GOD alone is the Author of all grace, and firſt Fountaine of all mercy, he alone can turne the heart, worke faith, repentance, and obedience, for it is GOD alone that muſt giuegive the ſecond grace, namely corroboration, continuance in grace, or grace to continue in faith and obedience.
Ʋſe 1 This confutes the doctrine of the Papiſts, which hold that a man hauing grace from God to beleeue and repent can merite at GODS hands; grace to continue, that God ſhould ex condigno, giuegive him grace to continue, and that a man being once iuſt can make himſelfe more iuſt, but Dauid doth heare confeſſe that all is of GOD.
Ʋſe. 2 This ſerues to reproue them who truſt too much to their owne power and goodneſſe, relye vponupon their owne wiſedome, knowledge, vertue, and ſtrength, when once they get a little knowledge and taſte in the word, oh they think themſelues ſure and well, they feare no danger, they defie the deuill: ſo long as they ſay their prayers and ſerue God well they hope God will keepe them, and ſo are ſecure and careleſſe:Pſal. 30.6. but of all men theſe be in greateſt danger that leaſt feare danger;1. Cor. 10.12. looke on Peter he was neuer more weake then when he thought himſelfe moſt ſtrong: I ſaid I ſhall neuer bee moued: But thou turned…t away thy f…ce and I was ſore troubled. Pride goes before the fall.
Vſe 3 How ſhould this make eueryevery man to feare himſelfe; to ſuſpect his owne weakenes, Bleſſed is the man that feares alwayes, but he that burdeneth his heart ſhall fall into destruction or euill, where Salomon ſheweth that that man that doth feare himſelfe and his owne weakeneſſe is happy: but hee that is ſecure and truſts in himſelfe, ſhall certainely fall into euill: the ſecure ſinner that feares no danger is the greateſt ſinner. And therfore knowing our owne weakeneſſe, how vnable wee are to ſtand of our ſ…lues, it muſt make vsus r…lie vponupon the Lord, pray vntounto him, that he would vphold vsus in integritie, faith, obedience, and true rep…ntance; for if Dauid, Peter, &c. did fall, whither ſhall we fall, if the Lord doe but a little leaue vsus to our ſelues?