Davids Repentance, Sermon · Commentary 3
VERSE. 2. 2. Waſh mee throughly from my wickedneſſe, and cleanſe me from my ſinnes.
IN this Verſe the Prophet Dauid proceedes with his former petition vntounto GOD for grace and fauour, for pardon of his ſinnes: yet ſo, as hee doth it more effectual, and more earneſtly, becauſe his foule was now exceeding grieued, ſeeing his woefull miſery that he was in, how foule and filthily he was ſtained with ſin, moſt hainouſly: And though ſome put a difference betweene theſe two ſpeeches, and vnderſtand the former of the waſhing of Iuſtification, and pardon of his ſinnes, not imputing them vntounto his charge: And the ſecond of the waſhing of Sanctification, and the couering of our ſins, yea by little and little waſhing and purging them away, and more and more renewing newing of vsus in ſoule and bodie by the worke of Sanctification: yet me thinks the words do both imply one thing, namely, to be throughly purged from the filth and ſtaine of ſinne, and to be receiued againe into the fauor of God, by the means of Chriſt.
It may ſeeme ſtrange what ſhould moue Dauid to confeſſe his ſin, and to intreate for pardon in this maner. There was no Court of Inquiſition concerning his fact; There was no Magiſtrate to examine him, nor Iudge to condemne him, he being King: Nay, no doubt the diuel might ſet ſome on work which might back him, and ſeeme to leſſenhis fault: what then ſhould cauſe Dauid, without any regard of his credit, to come forth in this manner, and thus publiquely to confeſſe his pollution, and to be ſo earneſt vntounto GOD with his HaueHave merciemercy, Blot out, Waſh me, &c. Surely it was his owne conſcience, and that extorted and wroong from him this Confeſſion, and made him ſo earneſt vntounto God in prayer.
Doctr. 1 From this prayer of Dauid, A woūded conſciēce can finde no reſt, but onelyonly in Chriſt.repeating his requeſt to GOD ſo often: HaueHave merciemercy, Blot out, Waſh me, &c. we learn that a wounded conſcience, that is truely touched for ſinne, can finde no reſt or comfort, but only in the feeling of Gods mercy in Chriſt, for the pardon of ſinne: and therfore Dauid, to ſhew how hee was truely humbled and wounded for ſinne, hee neuer can content himſelfe to pray and beg for mercy and pardon: for after a man ſees his ſins, and the filthineſſe of them, and beholdes the wrath of God againſt ſinne, his conſcience ſtill accuſes him, neither can hee finde any reſt till hee do feele the mercy of God in Chriſt, for the pardon of them: Being iuſtified by faith we hauehave peace with God: Rom. 5.1.Againe, the Kingdome of GOD ſtands not in meate and drinke, Rom. 14.17but in righteouſneſſe and peace, and ioy in the holy Ghoſt: that is in pardon of ſinnes, and feeling of Gods louelove, for ſinne once knowne will neuer ceaſe to accuſe vntil it be pardoned.
And this is confirmed vntounto vsus by the example of Caine, Geneſ. 4. who hauing ſlaine his owne brother and ſhead innocent bloud, which cried in the eares of the Lord for vengeance, how did the Lord ſtrike him with an accuſing conſcience, that he feared the ſight of eueryevery creature, when he had once attained the ſight of his ſinne: and whereas he thought to build him a Cittie to yeelde him comfort and ſafetie, euen there did the Iuſtice of God ouertake him, and he was driuen from that enterpriſe: The like wee may ſee in Belieſhazzer Dan. 5.56. when there appeared fingers of a mans hand vponupon the wall, his thoughts were troubled, and his knees ſmote one againſt the other. According tothat puniſhment the Lord foretolde, Leuit. 26. I will ſend euen a faintneſſe into their hearts; And the ſound of a leafe ſhaken ſhall chaſten them; And they ſhall flie as from a ſword though none purſue them. So that if it were poſſible to eſcape all apprehenſion and accuſation in the world; yet a mans owne conſcience would arreſt him, and hale him vntounto Iudgement.
Vſe. 1 Seeing this is the nature of ſinne, that being knowne, it wil neuer ceaſe to accuſe and vex the conſcience of a poore ſinner, till it be pardoned, it ſhould prouoke vsus all, that feele the ſmart of ſinne, neuer to giuegive the Lord any reſt, vntill we hauehave pardon granted: But as Dauid did here, pray againe and againe, for mercy, and fauour, and reconciliation with God, and neuer leaue the Lord till we obtaine mercy and fauour, and till wee hauehave got ſome comfortable perſwaſion of GODS louelove in Chriſt for the pardon of our ſinnes: for till wee doe ſo, wee ſhall neuer hauehave peace, nor quietneſſe of conſcience: wee ſhall neuer hauehave ſound comfort and ioy in Gods Spirit, but euer anguiſh, & dolor, ſorrow, and heauines: yea either wee ſhall grow blockiſh and ſenceleſſe,Note. or elſe in the end come to extreame deſperation. And therefore let vsus labour with the Lord, ply him with prayers and teares for pardon, and neuer let him hauehave reſt til we get one drop of merciemercy, for the pardon of our ſinnes.
Vſe. 2 Heere we are admoniſhed not to flatter our ſelues in our ſins, as thogh no body ſawe us; As it is the maner of wicked men to ſay, Eccleſ. 23. who ſeeth mee? I am compaſſed about with darkeneſſe; the walles hide me, no bodie ſeeth mee; whom neede I feare? And indeede there is ſcarce one of a thouſand that makes any conſcience of ſinne, ſo that the world do not take notice of it to condemne him; But let vsus not deceiue our ſelues: though we thinke our ſelues neuer ſo ſecret, committing adultery vnderunder a Canopy, or in the darke: Yet our owne conſcience will reply; I ſee thee, and I will accuſe thee: And then what is a man the better for hauing no bodie priuie to his ſinnes, when hee hath a conſcience within him, which dogs him vp and downe in eueryevery corner, giuing him no reſt.
Vſe. 3 This ſhewes the madneſſe of carnall men, when they feele the burthen of ſinne preſſing them, and their conſciences accuſing them: what do they? runne to God, and ſeeke him, no, no, they runne to their ſports and paſtime, to Cards and Tables, to the Tauerne, and Ale-houſe, and merrie company: And thus they thinke to put off the ſence of ſinne, and to ſmoother and ſtoppe the mouth of their accuſing conſcience.
Doctr. 2 Marke the thing which thus grieued Dauids ſpirit,Difference betweene the ſorrow of the god lie and the wicked. & vexed his mind: namely, his ſinnes, and impieties, his filthy ſinnes, wherby he had grieued his good God, and louing Father, he did not ſo much feare puniſhment as this, to offend his mercifull and gracious God.
Two-fold ſorrow.Hence then marke the difference of Gods children, and the wicked, in repentance: the childe of God is ſorie for ſinne, becauſe it is ſin, becauſe it offends God, diſpleaſeth him, and not ſo much properly for the puniſhment, yea though there were none, yet hee would feare to offend, and be grieued for ſinne, becauſe it is ſin, and breakes Gods commandements: This we may behold in Dauid, when he had committed thoſe great ſinnes of Adultery and Murder, and was reproued for thē by Nathan the Lords Prophet, 2. Sam. 12, 13. Hee confeſſeth with griefe and anguiſh of heart in this Pſalme, verſe 4. I hauehave ſinned againſt thee, euen againſt thee. All the Iudgements which Nathan threatned againſt him from the Lord, did not ſo much wound him, as this, that he had diſhonoured his GOD. And when hee had numbred his people, 2. Sam. 24.10. his heart ſmote him, and hee cried out; I hauehave ſinned exceedingly in that I hauehave done. The peſtilence did not ſo much trouble him as his pride againſt GOD. And the Apoſtle Peter. Matth. 26.75. ſeeing how grieuouſly he had ſinned, in denying his Maſter, Went out, and wept bitterly. If there had beene neither heauen nor hell, neither reward nor puniſhment; yet this vnthankefulnes of his, towardes ſo kinde a Maiſter, would hauehave cauſed Peter to hauehave ſorrowed ſo much as he did. And when this godly ſorrow is once wrought in mans heart, then he beginneth to repent, and neuer before; The like we may behold in Abraham, in Iob, in Ioſeph, &c. Geneſis 18.30. Geneſis 39.9.
But wicked men they are grieued for ſinne, not becauſe it is ſinne, and the breach of GODS Law: but for feare of puniſhment:Exo. 10.17 Pharaoh prayeth Moſes to pray for him, that the iudgement might be remoued, but ſtill he loued his ſins: ſo Saul praieth Samuel to pray for him,1. Sa. 15, 30. and to honour him, but ſtill he would go on in ſin:Matt. 27.3. So Iudas repented and ſorrowed for his ſinne, becauſe he ſaw now he ſhould be condemned, and ſo for puniſhment hee was grieued:Acts 8.24. Simon Magus prayes Peter to pray for him, but how? That none of the Iudgement threatned might fall vponupon him.
Caine mourned exceedingly, and cryed out, ſaying, Geneſ. 4. My ſinne is greater then can be for giuen mee: but it was not for his hypocriſie in Gods ſeruice, nor for the cruell murdering of his owne brother, nor the ſheading of innocent bloud, but becauſe of the puniſhment that God had inflicted vponupon him. Ahab alſo humbled himſelfe, and put on ſacke-cloth, as though hee had beene very penitent; but Elias wrung it out from him, denouncing Gods Iudgement againſt him, 2. Reg. 2….27.
Vſe. Only godly ſorrow cauſes true repētance.Seeing this is the difference betweene the godly ſorow of the faithfull, and the worldly ſorrow of the wicked; one ſorrowes for ſin, becauſe it is ſinne; the other becauſe of the puniſhment onelyonly: let vsus heereby proue our ſorrow: Art thou grieued for ſinne, becauſe it is ſinne, becauſe it offends God? And art thou more grieued for ſinne, becauſe it grieues a mercifull God, then for feare of puniſhment? Yea, wouldſt thou bee grieued for ſin, though ther were no hell nor diuell to torment thee: onlie for this very cauſe, becauſe it offends thy mercifull GOD, then it is a certaine token of thy true repentance, and godly ſorrow: But if thou finde thy heart onelie to bee lumpiſh and heauy,Note. in regard of the puniſhment of ſinne, in regard of hell and damnation, and if it were not for that, thou couldeſt be content to liue and go on in ſinne, ſurely then, it is but a carnall ſorrow, it is not a godly ſorrow, that is only for feare of puniſhment: and this deceiues many a man, who thinkes he repents, becauſe he is grieued for ſin, in regard of the puniſhment: But the vileſt Atheiſt, and reprobate in the world, may be grieued for ſin, in regard of the puniſhment, as hell fire, and condemnation, as Iudas, Caine, &c. But the childe of God is grieued for ſin, becauſe it is ſinne, and offends God, though there were no hell to puniſh.
Doctr. 3 Dauid praies that the Lord would waſh him, Sinne defiles a mā.therefore ſin defiles, and he was made foule and filthy by his ſin: And to waſh him much, and to rinſe and bathe him, to ſhew that ſin had exceedingly defiled him, and ſtained him both in ſoule and body, & made him loathſome: and therefore he deſireth to bee waſhed and cleanſed, and purged from the pollution of ſinne.Sinne defiles the whole mā. Hence we may learne what a vile, filthy, and miſerable thing ſinne is in the ſight of GOD, it ſtaineth a mans body, it ſtaines a mans ſoule, it maketh him more vile then the vileſt creature that liues: no toad is ſo vile and loathſome in the ſight of man, as a ſinner ſtained and defiled with ſin, is in the ſight of GOD, till hee be cleanſed and waſhed from them in the bloud of Chriſt:Leuit. 13. The Leprouſie was a wonderfull diſeaſe, it did infect the body, yea the cloathes on a mans backe, the walls of the houſe, and the very ſtones: but this leproſie of ſin, doth more defile a man, it defiles the ſoule and conſcience,Yea the creature. yea euen the very heauens and earth are ſtained with the contagion thereof, and are made (by reaſon of ſinne) ſubiect to vanitie and corruption, Rom. 8.20. Oh then ſee how vile a thing ſinne is in the fight of God, that the infection thereof ſhould ſeaze vponupon the Creature, and make them that they dare not abide the glorious preſence of God their Creator, Reu. 20.12.
Vſe. 1 Seeing ſinne is ſo vile a thing, ſo filthy and vncleane, ſo polluteth the ſoule and body, and makes vsus loathſome in the ſight of God: ſo as no carrion nor dung-hill, ſends forth a filthier ſent of ſtench, then ſinne: O! how ſhould wee loathe and abhorre it? quake & tremble at the committing of it: Oh! it is a wonder to ſee, how warie men are to ſhunne the Plague, they will not come neere the place and perſon infected, but keep aloofe off, Oh that wee could be as wiſe and carefull to ſhun this plague of all plagues, ſinne, that is, the plague of ſoule and body!
But alas, alas, poore plinde ſoules! they who are moſt afraide of the bodily plague and infection, feare not this wofull plague of ſinne, make no bones of horrible and grieuous ſins, of adultery, drunkenneſſe, lying, ſtealing, &c. yea, as Salomon ſaith; Fooliſh men, and poore blinde ſoules,Wicked men adde ſinne vntounto ſinne, and pay one debt with another. doe make a ſport of ſin, and put on them the name of Vertue: Swearing is a ſigne of a braue Gentleman-like minde: drunkenneſſe good fellowſhip, couetouſneſſe good husbandry; fornication a tricke of youth; pride, cleanlineſſe: theſe men bee cleane contrary to Dauid; he thought nothing more vile, filthy, and vncleane then ſinne: they iudge nothing more ſweete and pleaſant then ſinne: But if we could ſee the loathſome filthineſſe of ſinne, how odious it is in the ſight of God, how it ſtaines and defiles both ſoule and body, then wee ſhould hate it, and lothe it more then a toad or a ſerpent, and ſhun it aboue all things in the world: but alas! men ſinne, and yet ſee not that they do ſin: they ſee and feele no danger, they are ſecure; no man ſaith,Ierem. 6. Alas what hauehave I done?
We be wary tauoyd temporall danger.If a man ſhould ſay to any of vsus, touch not that garmēt, it is infected; or, taſte not that drinke, it is poiſoned: how ready would wee bee to ſhunne it, and auoyde it? we would not touch nor come neere it: but yet though wee tell men of ſinne, bid them take heede of it, it will infect ſoule and body, and vnleſſe men doe preſently repent, it will bring both to hell; yet men, euen mad men, deſperately ruſh into it wilfully, caſting away their owne ſoules.
Doctr. 4 Further,Hard matter to bee cleanſed from the pollution of ſinne. whereas Dauid prayes to bee waſhed, yea to bee waſhed thorowly, or much, and often, and more then that, to be cleanſed, and rinſed from his ſinnes: we learne hence, that it is not ſo eaſie a matter for a man to repent, and to get the pardon of his ſinnes, to be waſhed and cleanſed from them, as moſt men thinke it is: Dauid deſireth the Lord to waſh, yea to waſh him often, againe and again, and to bathe and rinſe him from his ſinnes, ſhewing, that it is a hard thing to hauehave the ſpottes of ſinne to bee waſhed out: a hard thing to obtaine the pardon of our ſinnes, to be cleanſed from the ſtaines and blemiſhes of them, it will coſt much ſorrow, many a teare, many a ſigh, and groane, euen a great meaſure of griefe, for looke how grieuouſly we hauehave ſinned, ſo greatly ſhould wee bewaile our ſinnes: And hence it is, that the Lord calling the people to ſorrow for their ſinnes, doth not require a light ſorrow, or ſome ſmall meaſure of griefe, but ſuch a ſorrow as ſhould euen rent their very hearts, Ioel 2.13. And the Prophet Dauid ſaith in the ſeuenteenth verſe of this Pſalme, that a mans heart muſt be contrite and broken, euen as it were rent aſunder with godly ſorrow: or elſe his repentance will neuer be accepted of God. Dauid ſaith, Pſalme 6.6. That hee watered his cowch with teares. Againe he ſaith, Pſalme 42. His teares were his meate day and night. And indeede it muſt not bee a ſmall meaſure of ſorrow that wee muſt ſhew for our ſinnes. For if wee had an hundred eyes, and ſhould weepe them all out: And if wee had a thouſand hearts, and they ſhould all break aſunder with remorce and ſorrow, all were too little; yea although wee ſhead euen teares of bloud for our ſinnes.
Vſe. 1 This condemneth the common opinion of men and women;Folly of naturall men deſcribed. they doe think it the eaſieſt thing in the world to repent, to get the pardon of their ſinnes: they do thinke that Lord hauehave merciemercy on mee will ſerue: Oh, God is mercifull, God is mercifull: and ſo make Gods mercy a packe-horſe, of all their filthy ſinnes: but let no man deceiue himſelfe, it is an other manner of thing to repent then wee take it for: it will coſt thee many a teare, and many a prayer, before thou canſt hauehave pardon, it will coſt thee many a ſob and ſigh, and many a oh, oh, ere thou canſt be aſſured ofthe pardon of them.
How then doe men deceiue their owne ſoules, thinking eueryevery little glimpſe of their ſinnes ſufficient; no, no, eueryevery ſorrow brings not with it repentance: Ahab had ſorrow, 1. Reg. 21. He rent his cloathes, and put on ſackecloth, and faſted: but this ſorrow was as the morning dew, it did quietly vaniſh away. The like may bee ſaid of Felix, Acts 24. of Herod, of Pharaoh, and the like; all which hauehave had in them a kinde of ſorrow, but it was but carnall, the end whereof is death: It muſt then be a godly ſorrow, ariſing from the ſight of our ſinnes, that we hauehave offended a good and gracious God, and louing Father in Ieſus Chriſt; and this muſt euen wound our very ſoules as the people of the Iewes, Acts 2.37. that wee know not which way to turne vsus for comfort.
Vſe. 2 Let vsus imitate Dauid, let vsus crie againe and againe vntounto the Lord for mercy,Pſal. 32.1. let vsus beg hard for the pardon of our ſinnes, it is the greateſt merciemercy in the world:Pardon of ſinne the greateſt merciemercy. good things are not eaſily gotten, heauen, life eternall, are hardly come by: and therefore let vsus not imagine, that it is ſo eaſie a matter to get the pardon of our ſins: no, no, wee muſt fill Heauen and Earth with cryings and prayers: euen as a poore thiefe condemned at the bar, hee will crie with teares for merciemercy: and as a poore beggar vnlappeth his legs, ſheweth his wounds, and all to mooue them that paſſe by to pittie him,Note. ſo muſt wee crie as for life and death, for the pardon of our ſinnes, lay open our ſoares and griefes vntounto the Lord, and giuegive him no reſt vntill we hauehave mercy.
Laſtly, it may be demanded, what waſhing Dauid ſpeakes of heere: he ſpeakes not heere of the Legall waſhing, which was yſed in the time of the Law: but he ſpeakes here of that waſhing which is perfourmed onelyonly by the bloud of Ieſus Chriſt, being laid holde on by faith:Iohn 1.29 1. Iohn 1.7. Reue. 1.6. Zach. 13.1 for no water whatſoeuer can waſh away the leaſt ſpot of ſinne, but onelyonly the bloud of Ieſus Chriſt.
Doctr. 5 So then we learn hence, that there is nothing in heauen or earth,Bloud of Chriſt alone doth waſh awa… ſinne. 1 Iohn 1.7 Hebr. 9.9. that can purge vsus from ſinne, and the vncleanneſſe of the ſoule, but only the bloud of Ieſus Chriſt the Lambe of God, being applied vntounto vsus by the hand of faith: hee alone is our Sauiour, ſauing perfectly all that are ſaued, Hebr. 7.25. He is able to ſaue perfectly all that come vntounto him. Hebr. 1.3. And by him hee hath purged our ſinne. So that we are to acknowledge him to be our onelyonly and alone Sauiour, without partner, according to that, Acts 2. There is no other name vnderunder heauen giuen to ſaue vsus, but the n…me of Chriſt, Actes 15.9.1. Corinth. 6.11.
This ſheweth the follie of the Church of Rome, who beare men in hand, that their holy-water, as they call it, and coniured ſtuffe is able to waſh away ſinne: no, no, it can not doe it, onelyonly the bloud of CHRIST can doe it, and no other creature in heauen or earth. And therefore howſoeuer in word they honour Chriſt, yet in deede they deny him, in ioyning to …he all-ſufficient Satisfaction of CHRIST, other ſatisfactions: as their Sacrifices in the Maſſe to helpe CHRISTS Sacrifice on the Croſſe: and the Interceſſion of the virgine Mary, Saints and Angels, &c. to his meritorious interceſſion, robbing God of his honour, and CHRIST of his all-ſufficient merite; running from Chriſt the pure fountaine, to the filthy puddle and mire of their owne merites and ſatisfaction, and thus poore Catholike creatures, they thinke themſelues trimly waſhed: whereas (alas) they are not purged from their filthineſſe, but are as beaſtly as ſwine.
Vſe. Seeing we be all defiled with ſin, originall, actuall, old, new: let vsus ſeek to Ieſus Chriſt, and deſire to be waſhed, yea to be rinſed and bathed in his pretious bloud: get one drop of it, and beſprinckle our poore ſoules with it,Iohn 13.8. as Peter ſaith, Head, and hands and all, both ſoule and body; For that anſwere giuen by Chriſt vntounto Peter, may ſerue for a warning to vsus all; If I waſh thee not, thou ſhalt hauehave no part with me. Which if wee did well conſider, as well our owne pollution, as alſo the neceſſitie of Chriſts waſhing, wee would anſwer againe with Peter, O Lord, not my feet only, but my hands and my head.
Vſe. If this were Dauids eſtate and condition, that he was ſo filthy and vncleane (hauing laine but a ſhort time in ſinne) that hee cryeth out amaine vntounto the Lord, to waſh him, to purge him, and to cleanſe him. Oh then, what ſhall wee thinke of thoſe, that not once, but often, not a yeare with Dauid, but all the dayes of their life hauehave liued in the common cuſtome and practiſe of ſinne, that hauehave drunke downe iniquitie as a man drinkes downe water, their damnation doth not ſleepe: And yet poore ſoules, they thinke, that if they can beſprinckle themſelues with a few words in the end, as to ſay, Lord hauehave merciemercy on mee, that they ſhall be cleane. But, if it did coſt Dauid ſo many ſighs, and groanes, and teares, as in the ſixt Pſalme, which lay but a ſhort time in compariſon of others; They much deceiue themſelues that doe thinke it is ſo eaſie a matter, to bee waſhed and cleanſed from the pollution of ſinne that hauehave laine therein a long time.
Godly ſorrow will ſend vsus to, Chriſt.And before we can be waſhed and cleanſed from our ſins in the bloud of Chriſt, we muſt hauehave a godly ſorrow, which will ſend vsus to Chriſt Ieſus, wee muſt ſee our filthineſſe and vncleaneneſſe, how we ſtand in need to be waſhed: and wee muſt deſire it with Dauid, and begge it, O Lord, waſh me, rinſe mee, bathe me in the bloud of Chriſt: Secondly, we muſt hauehave the hand of faith, by which we muſt lay holde on Chriſts bloud, and beſprinckle our ſoules with it: Euen as a man doth waſh his face with his hand: ſo faith is the hand of the ſoule, to lay hold and apply Chriſts bloud, and the merit of it, to cleanſe vsus and waſh vsus from all our ſinnes.
But alas (poore ſoules) you ſhall ſee many a man and woman that are very curious & carefull to waſh their bodies, and to waſh their cloathes: They will not ſuffer the leaſt ſpot in them, but looke to hauehave them waſhed, yet they can goe from yeare to yeare, with moſt vile and filthie ſoules, that euen ſtincke with ſinne, and neuer deſire to be waſhed and rinſed; yea many of thoſe, who ſeeme to be very gay & faire outward, carry filthy and vncleane hearts within: And if a man could but ſee into their hearts, and ſee the filthy ſpottes of ſinne, he would euen ſtop his noſe, and not indure the ſtench of them.