Davids Repentance, Sermon · Commentary 14
VERSE 13. 13 Then ſhall I teach thy wayes vntounto the wicked, and ſinners ſhalbe conuerted vntounto thee.
Dauid to his petitions ioyns promiſes.IN this Verſe Dauid doth profeſſe vntounto the Lord that if he ſhall deale thus graciouſly with him to pardon and remit his great and grieuous ſinnes, and to receiue him againe into his louelove and fauour, that he will not be vnmindfull and vnthankefull for ſo great a mercy; but he will become a Preacher and proclaimer of Gods mercy to others, and labour to turne many to God by true repentance.
Partes of the verſe.In this verſe we hauehave two partes: Firſt, that promiſe which Dauid maketh vntounto the Lord, and the duetie be vowes vntounto him; namely, I will teach thy wayes vntounto the wicked. Secondly, the iſſue and bleſſed effect; namely this, that by his example many poore ſinners ſhall repent, and come to God for mercy.
[Then ſhall I teach]
THat is,Senſe. after I ſhall finde, and feele thy mercy beſtowed vponupon mee, I will like a veſſell of merciemercy, draw it out to the good of others. I will, that is, I that hauehave fallen, and ſinned ſo grieuouſly, and tranſgreſſed thy commandements, will teach and publiſh how merciful, good and gracious thou haſt beene to me, and to my ſoule, and will ſpeake out of the ſence and feeling of mine owne conſcience.
[Thy wayes,]
BY the wayes of GOD heere is meant that courſe and manner of dealing which the Lord taketh with ſinners when they doe truely repent; namely, that he is moſt readie and willing to embrace them, and ſhew merciemercy vntounto them, when they ſhall acknowledge and confeſſe their ſinnes, bewaile them, beg the pardon of them, and ſeeke to him for merciemercy.
Doctr. 1 The goodnes of God towardes our ſelues muſt bee made knowen.Seeing Dauid doth here profeſſe, that if God ſhall deale thus graciouſly with him, that when he will be a proclaimer of the ſame merciemercy to others: We learne that it is the duety of euerie one to ſhew vntounto others what GOD hath done for his ſoule, when God is good and gracious vntounto vsus, wee muſt be ſtill ready to acknowledge the ſame vntounto others, thereby to draw them on likewiſe to a liking of the truth, and to ſeeke for the ſame fauor and grace at Gods hands, Matth. 5.16. Let your light ſo ſhine before men, that they ſeeing your good workes, may glorifie your Father whch is in Heauen. Thus the Spirit of GOD in the Scriptures remembreth the righteouſneſſe of Noah, the faith and obedience of Abraham, the patience of Iob, the chaſtitie of Ioſeph, the meekeneſſe of Moſes. And Chriſt himſelfe doth teſtifie of the graces of God that ſhined in Iohn Baptiſt, That hee was a burning and a ſhining light, Iohn 5. Thus the Apoſtle Peter teacheth 1. Pet. 2. HaueHave your conuerſation honeſt amongeſt the Gentiles, that they which ſpeake euill of you as of euill doers, may by your good woorkes which they ſhall ſee, glorifie GOD in the day of viſitation, 1. Corinthians chapter 9. verſ. 11, 12. 2. Corinthians 8.1.2. Rom. 4.22.23.
Ʋſe 1 We learne hence, euer to be readie die to make knowne vntounto others, what God hath done for our ſelues, if ſo they may further Religion or prouoke others to godlines, or bring glory to God. God is not aſhamed of vsus to be called our God, and to do vsus good; let vsus then neuer be aſhamed to acknowledge his louelove to vsus, for it were a fooliſh modeſty in vsus to conceale thoſe things which ſhould be vttered. There was a time indeed when Chriſt would not hauehave himſelfe or his works knowne; but that was when that knowledge might hinder him and his preaching. But, Matth. 10.27. hee commanded his Apoſtles to ſpeake that in the light, which hee had tolde them in darkenes: And to preach that in the houſe toppes, which he had tolde them in the eare; for now would CHRIST hauehave himſelfe publiſhed abroad: and thus wee ſee how to behaue our ſelues in reſpect of Gods gifts, wee muſt not bee aſhamed to confeſſe them, but deface them.
Doctr. 2 Seeing Dauid here profeſſe vntounto the Lord,Thankefulnes required. that he wil not be vnmindfull and vnthankefull for his merciemercy ſhewed vntounto him, but will, to the vttermoſt of his power, praiſe God for it, and ſhew his thankefulneſſe, in drawing others to God. Hence we learne, that it is the duetie of all the childrē of God, that they ſhould labour with their owne ſoules, to be thankefull vntounto God for eueryevery bleſſing hee beſtowes vponupon them, to be mindfull of it, to praiſe God for it, and to ſhew it in doing good to others: It is all the Lord lookes for at our hands, to acknowledge his louelove and kindeneſſe, to be thankefull for it; and when we ſhalbe truly thankefull for a benefite receiued, it is an excellent meanes to moue the Lord to beſtow a new bleſſing vponupon vsus: as we ſee, if a poore man ſhal receiue a ſmall fauour at our hands, and ſhal be thankefull for it,Phil. 4.4. Exo. 18.10 we will ſay he is worthy to hauehave a good turne, it is well beſtowed,Pſa. 126.1. Gen. 14 19 Pſa. 32.21. Pſal. 33.1. I ſee he is thankefull for it: So when the Lord beſtoweth a benefit vponupon a man, and ſees hee is thankefull for it, and ſpeakes of it to the honour of God, the Lord is moued thereby to beſtow an other: but he that is vnthankefull for the old, is not worthy to receiue a new.
Vſe 1 Haſt thou receiued anie ſpeciall fauour, bleſſing, or benefit of God, know it is thy duety to be thankfull for it, to acknowledge it, to ſpeake of it, and to praiſe God for it. Reioyce yee righteous in the Lord, for it becomes vpright men to be thankefull. Pſal. 33.1.It is a comely and moſt fit thing; and Dauid cals vponupon his ſoule oft-times to performe this duty; Praiſe thou the Lord, O my ſoule, Pſa. 103.2.& all that is within me praiſe his holy name: prayſe thou the Lord, O my ſoule, and forget not all his benefits.
And aboue all other mercies, let vsus bleſſe God for his louelove in Chriſt, for the pardon of our ſinnes, as Dauid doth heere, and Pſalme 103. Forget not all his benefites, who gaue thee pardon of thy ſinnes: and forgaue thee all t…in… iniqui…ies: And therefore let vsus remember this duetie, and thinke more ſeriouſly of GODS bleſſings and benefits beſtowed vponupon vsus: the greatneſſe of them, and number, and continuance of them; and ſo labour in ſome meaſure, to be thankefull vntounto GOD: and eſpecially for the pardon of our ſinnes in Chriſt Ieſus, and withall, let vsus ſhew it in doing what good wee can vntounto others.
Vſe 2 Let vsus ſhunne that foule ſinne of vnthankefulneſſe, to forget Gods bleſſings, and paſſe ouer his mercies; let vsus not bee like the nine leapers, who not one of them returned to praiſe God; only the poore Samatitan, finding himſelfe cleanſed, came to bleſſe God for it: ſo let vsus take heede that wee be not found in that number, who forget GODS fauours: the Lord hath beene good vntounto vsus, waſhed and cleanſed our ſoules in CHRISTS bloud; let vsus returne vntounto GOD, let vsus confeſſe it to his glorie; and with Dauid call on our ſoules not to forget his benefites.
It is a note of an vnthankfull hart to obtaine a benefit, and not to acknowledge it; praiſe is comely, and well becommeth the Saints of God: The want whereof taketh away the comfort and ſweete fruit of GODS bleſſing from vsus. It is a great offence to be vnthankefull vntounto men, but farre greater to God, in whom wee liue, moue, and hauehave our being. And therefore let vsus learne, that whenſoeuer wee hauehave obtained any fauour or bleſſing at GODS hands, be it concerning this life, or the life to come. Let vsus returne the calues of our lippes vntounto him; and let vsus neuer ſhew our ſelues more readie to aske, Then we are willing to praiſe the Lord when he hath granted the requeſts of our lippes.
Doctr. 3 It is a ſpeciall fruit of faith and true repentance,Fruite of Faith to ſeeke the good of others. to conuey grace vntounto others, to ſhew what God hath done for our ſoules, and to draw out the bleſſings which God hath beſtowed vponupon vsus, to the good and benefit of others. The Prophet Dauid calleth all men vntounto him, and maketh his ſpeech; Come (ſaith he) I will ſhew you what God hath done for my Soule: Pſa. 66.16and the Elect are called veſſells of MercieMercy, becauſe they being themſelues filled with the merciemercy of GOD, they ſhould draw out the ſame, as good liquor, for the comfort of others.Pſal. 116. Galat. 3. 2. Cor. 1.4. Eſa. 38.19 Luk. 22.23 Saint Paul ſaith; God had merciemercy on him, that hee might ſhew merciemercy vntounto others. The child of God is not like vntounto churliſh Nabal, to ſay; EueryEvery man for himſelfe, and keepe all for themſelues; but they be pittifull and bountifull; yea, and (to their power) helpefull vntounto others.
Ʋſe. 1 This may ſerue to comfort thoſe who hauehave beene carefull for the performance of this duety, that hauehave beene carefull to make others partakers of the ſame comforts they hauehave reaped themſelues. It is a bleſſed thing indeede when men hauehave endeuoured to their power to benefite others, to exhort them, to admoniſh them, to comfort them, and in all things to hauehave ſought their good. O what a wonderfull conſolation and comfort ſhall this bee vntounto vsus when wee leaue this world, and goe the way of all fleſh, to remember wee hauehave ſought the good of others, Daniel 13. ve. 3: They that turne many to righteouſneſſe ſhall ſhine as the Starres in the firmament, Luke 12.43. Bleſſed is that ſeruant when his Maſter commeth ſhall finde ſo doing: We ſhall finde more comfort of heart, and ioy of conſcience, when wee depart this life, that we hauehave beene faithfull in that little committed to our truſt, & made others partakers of it, then if we had great aboundance of earthly bleſſings.
Vſe. 2, This may ſerue to reprooue that common conceit in mens mindes, that ſo long as they doe well themſelues, they neede not care how others doe, whether they ſincke or ſwimme; and therefore they keepe all to themſelues, neuer ſeeke to benefite others, like a couetous and fooliſh Nabal, part not with a bitte to Dauid: ſo theſe keepe all for themſelues, by no meanes ſeeke to draw out the graces of God for the good of others: but it is impoſſible for anie Chriſtian man or woman, who hath taſted truely of the merciemercy of GOD for his comfort, and the worke of grace; but hee muſt communicate the ſame to the good of others; and indeed they are neuer ſo profitable as then: as we ſee ſpices, though neuer ſo ſweete, are not prófitable vntill they be rubbed and chafed: and therefore let vsus remember to practiſe this duety to helpe others, and to teach them, and communicate our knowledge,Eſa 38.19. comfort, experience, and iudgement to the good of others.
Doctr. 4 When Dauid ſaith hee will teach,What doctrines Miniſters ought to teach. not his owne waies, but Gods waies; namely, how the Lord dealeth with penitent ſinners, wee learne what is that the Miniſters of the Word ought eſpecially teach to poore ſinners; namely, The wayes of GOD, that is, how God deales with poore ſinners; namely, that hee is moſt willing to imbrace them, and to pardon their ſinnes, if they will vnfeinedly repent. Chriſt was exceeding plentifull in this kinde of teaching,Matt. 11.28 howſoeuer hee did ſometimes pronounce iudgements to impenitent ſinners, yet it was his vſuall courſe to preach Gods infinite merciemercy to all ſuch as would repent,Rom. 12.1 2. Corint. 5.18.19. to inuite them, and allure them to turne to God.
Ʋſe 1 Well then, this may direct all ſuch as the Lord hath called to preach his Word, to take this courſe, that howſoeuer they may and muſt pronounce GODS iudgements againſt impenitent ſinners, yet they muſt preach Gods infinit mercy in Chriſt to all that will repent, and ſhew how ready the Lord is to ſhew merciemercy to them that confeſſe and acknowledge their ſinnes, be weary of them, and deſire pardon: for ſure it is, that if there bee any ſpake of grace in mens hearts,Reuel. 3. Luke 15. when they ſhall heare of Gods aboundant mercy in Chriſt, that the Lord ſtandeth at the doore and knocke, that the Lord is like the Father of the Prodigall childe, will meete vsus in the mid-way. It muſt needes, if there be not a heart of ſteele, make our bowels erne, and for ſhame to ſeek vntounto the Lord.
And it was Paules manner to intreate men that they would bee reconciled to God, to beſeech them in his name, with louelove and kindeneſſe, with teares and prayers, to pray them, to intreate them, to beſeech his hearers: and we ſhall finde, that churliſh, rough, and harſh dealing, great words, and thundering ſpeaches, be not alwayes the beſt to win mens Soules: But when wee ſhall with a milde and louing ſpirit intreat men, and beſeech them to repent & turne to God, it muſt needes affect them.
Vſe 2 It muſt ſtirre the hearers vp to a moſt carefull and attentiue hearing and liſtening to the word of GOD: For a man can not know the wayes of God by nature: No, by nature wee conceiue of GOD as a terrible Iudge, and angrie GOD, and flie from him, as Adam did: and therefore wee had need to hauehave the word of GOD taught vntounto vsus, and be inſtructed in the wayes of God, how the Lord God hath ſhewed merciemercy vntounto great ſinners, and will to vsus, if wee can repent, and ſeeke vntounto him: For the Lord muſt draw vsus by his merciemercy, elſe we can not come at him.
[To the wicked: and ſinners ſhall be conuerted vntounto thee.]
Doctr. 5 THat is, impenitent ſinners,ignorant are to bee taught the waies of God. that liue in ſinne, without repentance. Hence marke who had need to be taught in the wayes of GOD: namely, poore ſinners, that liue and lie in ſin, euen the loſt ſheep of the houſe of Iſrael;Math. 1…. ſuch as ſit in darkneſſe, and in the ſhadow of death, ſuch as neuer heard of GOD, of faith, repentance, &c. ſuch poore Soules had neede to be taught the wayes of God.
Vſe 1 This may admoniſh all thoſe that be ſet ouer Gods people, magiſtrates & ſuch as hauehave power in their hands to prouide that ſuch poore ignorant people as want the meanes, may bee taught the wayes of God. For as S. Paul ſaith,Ro. 10.14. Pro. 29.18 Marke 14. How ſhall they call on him, on whom they hauehave not beleeued? How ſhall they beleeue on him, of whom they hauehave not heard? How ſhall they heare without a Preacher? And, where prophecying failes, the people periſh. And it is ſaid of our Sauior CHRIST, that when hee ſaw the people, as poore ſheepe, hauing no ſheepeheard, hee had compaſſion on them, and his bowells erned towards them. Oh that the bowels of all ſuch as hauehave charge to looke vntounto it, might erne for the poore ſoules of the land, to prouide for them the bread of life.
Vſe 2 The cauſe why men liue in ſinne, bee ſo vile, wicked, and vncleane, is, becauſe they bee not taught the word and wayes of GOD, it could not bee if they were taught and inſtructed, that they ſhould be ſo vile and wicked, ſo ignorant, prophane, irreligious, and ſuperſtitious: but where viſions failes, the people muſt needs periſh.
And therefore thoſe that ſeeke to take away Teaching and Preaching of the Word of GOD, of what Spirits are they? Dauid hee thinkes it the onelyonly way to bring men to God, to conuer poore ſinners: and therefore to take it away, to roote out the Miniſtery of the Word, and meanes of ſaluation, what is it elſe but to caſt away the ſoules of the people? to famiſh them, to pine them, and to ſtarue them. And therefore let vsus pray to GOD with CHRIST, that the Lord of the harueſt would ſend forth Labourers into his Harueſt.Math. 9.
The ſecond part of the verſe ſhews the fruite of this duty,Part of the verſe. that Dauid will performe: namely, that heereby, by his doctrine, and by his example, many a poore ſinner ſhal be conuerted vntounto God.
Doctr. 1 In that Dauid here promiſeth to himſelfe this vſe and fruite, that hee ſhall bee by his Preaching and example,Conuerſion of a ſinner is Gods worke. a meanes to bring others to God. Hence wee may learne a gracious comfort for all godly Miniſters of the word, who labour both by life and doctrine to win others; that if they ſhall bee painefull in teaching, and carefull to liue a godly life, they ſhall certainely finde the bleſſing of God vponupon their labours, to the conuerting of ſinners, and ſauing of ſoules. If I had ſent theſe Prophets, and if they had ſtood in my counſell, and declared my waies vntounto my people, Ier. 23.22then they ſhould hauehave turned them from their euill waies and from the wickedneſſe of their inuentions.
Where the Lord ſhewes that all ſuch as be the true Prophets of God, ſtand in his ſteed, teach his waies, they ſhall ſee the bleſſing of GOD vponupon their labours: And the cauſe why men conuert not ſoules, is, becauſe they were neuer ſent of GOD, and doe not teach Gods waies, and ſtand not in his ſteed; or elſe becauſe, though they teach the truth, yet their liues be vile and wicked; they plucke downe with one hand, that they build with the other, and deſtroy that in life, which they teach in doctrine.
Vſe. 1 Hence marke the reaſon why ſo many great and learned men of excellent gifts, wit, and learning doe not conuert many ſoules vntounto God: Becauſe, they either teach not Gods waies, but their owne waies, their wit, eloquence, and deuices; or elſe, though they teach well, yet they liue ill, and ſo cauſe their doctrine to bee leſſe regarded, and weaken the power of it by their ſinnefull life: And it pleaſes God in his great mercy, to vſe the labours of his poore ſeruants, who dare not ſpeake their owne word, nor ſeeke themſelues, but Gods word, in plaine euidence and ſimplicity, and liue according to their teaching, the Lord doth bleſſ their labours for the conuerſion of ſinners, and ſauing of poore ſoules.
Vſe. 2 It might admoniſh all thoſe, who either teach their owne waies by painted cloquence, toyes, or tales; or elſe though they teach the truth, that they ioine with it a godly life, elſe they may teach long enough ere they do any good; and if they would conuert ſinners, let them firſt bee conuerted, When thou art conuerted ſtrengthen thy brethren; Luke 22.And let no ſuch careleſſe Miniſters wonder that GOD giues no bleſſing to their labours, ſeeing they faile either in teaching GODS waies truely and plainely, or elſe in life they liue wickedly and offenſiue.