A Body of Practical Divinity, Sermon 13
The Mercy of GOD.
THE next Attribute is God's Goodness or Mercy: Mercy is the Result and Effect of God's Goodness, Psal. 33.5. Psal. 119.64. So then this is the next Attribute, God's Goodness or Mercy. The most Learned of the Heathens thought they gave their God Iupiter two Golden Characters, when they stiled him, foreign, Good and Great: both these meet in God, Greatness and Goodness, Majesty and Mercy.
God is, 1. Essentially good in himself. And, 2. Relative good to us. They are both put together, Psal. 119.68. Thou art good, and dost good. This Relative goodness is nothing else but his Mercy, which is an innate Propensness in God to pity and succour such as are in Misery. Concerning God's Mercy,
1st, I shall lay down these Twelve Positions: 1. It is the great Design of the Scripture to represent God as Merciful. This is a Loadstone to draw Sinners to him, Exod. 34.6. The Lord merciful, gracious, long-suffering, abundant in goodness, &c. Here are six Expressions to set forth God's Mercy, and but one to set forth his Justice; who will by no means clear the Guilty. Psal. 57.10. God's mercy is great above the heavens. Psal. 108.4. God is represented as a King, and a Rain-bow was about his Throne, Rev. 4.2, 3. The Rain-bow was an Emblem of Mercy. The Scripture doth oftner represent God in his white Robes of Mercy, then with his Garments rolled in Bloud; oftner with his Golden Scepter then his Iron Rod.
Position 2. God is more inclinable to Mercy then Wrath: Pronior est Deus ad parcendum quam ad puniendum. Mercy is his darling Attribute which he most delights in, Mic. 7.18. Mercy pleaseth him. 'Tis delightful to the Mother, saith Chryso|'stom, to have her Breasts drawn. So it is to God to have the Breasts of his Mercy drawn. Isa. 27.4. Fury is not in me: That is, I do not delight in it. Acts of Severity are rather forc'd from God, he doth not afflict willingly, Lam. 3.33. The Bee naturally gives Honey, it stings only when it is provoked. God doth not punish till he can bear no longer, Jer. 44.22. So that the Lord could bear no longer, because of the evil of your doings. Mercy is God's right Hand, that he is most us'd to. Inflicting of Punishment is call'd God's strange Work, Isa. 28.21. he is not used to it. And when the Lord would shave off the Pride of a Nation, he is said to hire a Rasor, as if he had none of his own, Isa. 7.20. He shall shave with a rasor that is hired. He is slow to anger, Psal. 103.8. But ready to forgive, Psal. 86.5.
Position 3. There is no Condition but we may spie Mercy in it: When the Church was in Captivity, she cries out, It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, Lam. 3.22. Geographers write of Syracuse in Sicily, it is so scituated that the Sun is never out of sight. In all Afflictions we may see some Sunshine of Mercy. That outward and inward Troubles do not come together, is Mercy.
Position 4. Mercy sweetens all God's other Attributes: God's Holiness without Mercy, and his Justice without Mercy were Terrible. When the Water was bitter, and Israel could not drink, Moses cast a Tree into the Water, and then they were made sweet. How bitter and dreadful were the other Attributes of God, did not Mercy sweeten them; Mercy sets God's Power on work to help us; it makes his Justice become our Friend; it shall avenge our Quarrels.
Position 5. God's Mercy is one of the most Orient Pearls of his Crown; it makes his Godhead appear amiable and lovely. When Moses said to God, I beseech thee shew me thy glory. The Lord answer'd him, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will shew mercy, Exod. 33.19. God's Mercy is his Glory: his Holiness makes him Illustrious, his Mercy makes him Propitious.
Position 6. Even the Worst tast of God's Mercy, such as fight against God's Mercy tast of it: The Wicked have some Crumbs from Mercy's Table; The Lord is good to all, Psal. 145.…. The sweet Dew drops on the Thistle as well as the Rose. The Diocess where Mercy visits is very large. Pharaoh's Head was crown'd, though his Heart was hardned.
Position 7. Mercy coming to us in a Covenant is sweetest: It was Mercy that God would give Israel Rain, and Bread to the full, and Peace, and Victory over their Enemies, Levit. 26.4, 5, 6. But it was a greater Mercy, that God would be their God, Verse 12. To have Health is a Mercy, but to have Christ and Salvation is a greater Mercy; this is like the Diamond in the Ring, it casts a more sparkling Luster.
Position 8. One Act of Mercy engageth God to another: Men argue thus, I have shown you Kindness already, therefore trouble me no more. But because God hath shown Mercy, he is more ready still to show Mercy: his Mercy in Election makes him Justifie, Adopt, Glorifie; one Act of Mercy engageth God to more. A Parent's love to his Child, makes him always giving.
Position 9. All the Mercy in the Creature is derived from God, and is but a drop of this Ocean: The Mercy and Pity a Mother hath to her Child, is from God; he that puts the Milk in her Breast, puts the Compassion in her Heart: therefore God is call'd the Father of Mercies, 2 Cor. 1.3. because he begets all the Mercies in the World. If God hath put any Kindness into the Creature, how much Kindness is in him who is the Father of Mercy.
Position 10. God's Mercy as it makes the Saints Happy, so it should make them Humble: Mercy is not the Fruit of our Goodness, but the Fruit of God's Goodness. Mercy is an Alms that God bestows; they have no cause to be Proud that live upon the Alms of God's Mercy, Job 10.15. If I be righteous yet will I not lift up my head: All my Righteousness is the Effect of God's Mercy, therefore I will be humble, I will not lift up my Head.
Position 11. It is Mercy stays the speedy Execution of God's Justice: Sinners continually provoke God, and make the fury come up in his face, Ezek. 38.18. Whence is it God doth not presently Arrest and Condemn them, it is not that God cannot do it, for he is arm'd with Omnipotency, but it is from God's Mercy: Mercy gets a Reprieve for the Sinner, and stops the speedy Process of Justice. God would by his Goodness lead Sinners to Repentance.
Position 12. 'Tis dreadful to have Mercy witness against one: How sad was it with Haman when the Queen herself accused him, Esth. 7.6. so when this Queen of Mercy shall stand up against a Person, and accuse him. It is only Mercy that saves a Sinner, now how sad to have Mercy become an Enemy; If Mercy be an Accuser, who shall be our Advocate? The Sinner never scapes Hell, when Mercy draws up the Indictment.
I might shew you several Species or Kinds of Mercy, Preventing Mercy, Spareing Mercy, Supplying Mercy, Guiding Mercy, Accepting Mercy, Healing Mercy, Quickning Mercy, Supporting Mercy, Forgiving Mercy, Correcting Mercy, Comforting Mercy, Delivering Mercy, Crowning Mercy; but I shall speak of the Qualifications or Properties of God's Mercy,
1. God's Mercy is free: To set up Merit is to destroy Mercy; nothing can deserve Mercy, because we are polluted in our Bloud, nor force it. We may force God to punish us, not to love us, Hos. 14.4. I will love them freely. Every Link in the Chain of Salvation, is wrought and interwoven with Free-grace. Election is free, Eph. 1.4. He hath chosen us in him foreign, according to the good pleasure of his will. Justification is free, Rom. 3.24. Being justified freely by his grace. Salvation is free, Tit. 3.5. According to his mercy he saved us. Say not then I am Unworthy, for Mercy is free: If God should shew Mercy only to such as are Worthy, he should shew Mercy to none at all.
2. God's Mercy is an Overflowing Mercy, 'tis Infinite, Psal. 86.5. Plenteous in mercy. Eph. 2.4. Rich in mercy. Psal. 51.1. Multitude of mercies. The Viol of Wrath doth but drop, but the Fountain of Mercy runs. The Sun is not so full of Light, as God is of Mercy: God hath Morning-mercies, Lam. 3.23. His mercies are new every morning; and Night-mercies, Psal. 42.8. In the night his song shall be with me. God hath Mercies under Heaven, those we tast of, and in Heaven, and those we hope for.
3. God's Mercy is Eternal, Psal. 103.17. The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting. It is repeated six and twenty times in one Psalm, His mercy endureth for ever, Psal. 136. The Souls of the Blessed shall be ever bathing themselves in this sweet and pleasant Ocean of God's Mercy. God's Anger to his Children lasts but a while, Psal. 103.9. But his mercy lasts for ever. As long as he is God, he will be shewing Mercy: As his Mercy is overflowing, so ever-flowing.
Use 1. of Information, It shews us how we are to look upon God in Prayer, not in his Judge's Robes, but cloath with a Rain-bow, full of Mercy and Clemency; add Wings to Prayer. When Jesus Christ ascended up to Heaven, that which made him go up thither with Joy, was, I go to my Father; so that which should make our Hearts ascend with Joy in Prayer, is, We are going to the Father of Mercy, who sits upon a Throne of Grace. Go with Confidence in this Mercy; as when one goes to a Fire, it is not doubtingly, perhaps it will warm me, perhaps not.
Use 2. Believe in this Mercy, Psal. 52.8. I trust in the mercy of God for ever. God's Mercy is a Fountain opened, let down the Bucket of Faith, and you may drink of this Fountain of Salvation, what greater Encouragement to believe then God's Mercy. God counts it his glory to be scattering Pardons; he is desirous that sinners should touch the golden Scepter of his Mercy, and live. And this willingness to shew Mercy appears two ways:
1. By his intreating of sinners to come and lay hold on his Mercy; Rev. 22.17. Whosoever will, come and take the water of life freely. Mercy woes sinners, it even kneels down to them. It were strange for a Prince to entreat a condemned Man to accept a Pardon. God saith, poor sinner, suffer me to love thee, be willing to let me save thee.
2. By his joyfulness when sinners do lay hold on his Mercy. What is God the better, whether we receive his Mercy or no? What is the Fountain profited that others drink of it? Yet such is God's goodness, that he rejoyceth at the Salvation of sinners, and is glad when his Mercy is accepted off. When the Prodigal Son came home, how glad was the Father? and he makes a Feast to express his joy. This was but a Type or Emblem, to shew how God rejoyceth when a poor sinner comes in, and lays hold of his Mercy. What an Encouragement is here to believe in God, he is a God of Pardons, Nehem. 9.17. Mercy pleaseth him, Micha 7.18. Nothing doth prejudice us but Unbelief. Unbelief stops the current of God's Mercy from running: It shuts up God's Bowels, closeth the Orifice of Christ's Wounds, that no healing Vertue will come out, Matth. 13.58. He could do no mighty works there because of their unbelief. Why dost thou not believe in God's Mercy? Is it thy sins discourage? God's Mercy can pardon great sins, nay, because they are great, Psal. 25.11. The Sea covers great Rocks as well as lesser Sands; some that had an hand in crucifying Christ, found Mercy. As far as the Heavens are above the Earth so far is God's Mercy above our sins, Isa. 55.9. What will tempt us to believe, if not the Mercy of God?
Use 3. of Caution. Take heed of Abusing of this Mercy of God. Suck not Poison out of the sweet Flower of God's Mercy; Do not think, that because God is merciful, you may go on in sin; this is to make Mercy become your Enemy. None might touch the Ark but the Priests, who by their Office were more holy. None may touch this Ark of God's Mercy, but such as are resolved to be holy. To sin because Mercy abounds, is the Devil's Logick. He that sins because of Mercy, is like one that wounds his Head because he hath a Plaister: He that sins because of God's Mercy, shall have Judgment without Mercy. Mercy abused turns to Fury. Deut. 29.19. If he bless himself, saying, I shall have peace though I walk after the imaginations of my heart, to add drunkenness to thirst, the Lord will not spare him, but the anger of the Lord, and his jealousie shall smoak against that man. Nothing sweeter then Mercy when it is improved, nothing fiercer when it is abused. Nothing colder than Lead when it is taken out of the Mine, nothing more scalding than Lead when it is heated. Nothing blunter than Iron, nothing sharper when it is whetted. Psal. 103.17. The mercy of the Lord is upon them that fear him. Mercy is not for them that sin and fear not, but for them that fear and sin not. God's Mercy is an holy Mercy, where it pardons it heals.
Quest. What shall we do to be interested in God's Mercy?
Answ. 1. Be sensible of your wants. See how you stand in need of Mercy, pardoning, saving Mercy. See your selves Orphans; Hos. 14.3. In thee the fatherless findeth Mercy. God bestows the Alms of Mercy only on such as are indigent. Be emptied of all Opinion of Self-worthiness. God pours the golden Oil of Mercy into empty Vessels.
2. Go to God for Mercy, Psal. 51.1. Have Mercy upon me, O God! Put me not off with common Mercy that Reprobates may have: Give me not only Acorns, but Pearls: Give me not only Mercy to feed and clothe me, but Mercy to save me; give me the Cream of thy Mercies; Lord! let me have Mercy and Loving kindness: Psal. 103.4. Who crowned thee with loving kindness and tender mercies. Give me such Mercy as speaks thy electing love to my soul. O pray for Mercy! God hath Treasures of Mercy; Prayer is the Key that opens these Treasures: and in Prayer be sure to carry Christ in your Arms; all Mercy comes through Christ; 1 Sam. 7.9. Samuel took a sucking Lamb. Carry the Lamb Christ in your Arms, go in his Name, present his Merits, say, Lord! here is Christ's Blood, which is the price of my pardon: Lord, shew me Mercy, because Christ hath purchased it. Though God may refuse us when we come for Mercy in our own Name, yet not when we come in Christ's Name: Plead Christ's Satisfaction, and this is such an Argument as God cannot deny.
Use 4. It exhorts such as have found Mercy to three Things: 1. To be upon Mount Gerizim, the Mount of Blessing and Praising. They have not only heard the King of Heaven is merciful, but they have found it so: the Hony-comb of God's Mercy hath drop'd upon them; when in wants, Mercy supplied them; when they were nigh unto Death, Mercy raised them from the Sick-bed; when covered with guilt, Mercy pardoned them. Psal. 103.1. Bless the Lord, O my Soul, and all that is within me bless his holy Name. O! how should the Vessels of Mercy run over with Praise: 1 Tim. 1.13. Who was before a Persecutor, and injurious, but foreign I obtained Mercy. I was bemiracled with Mercy: as the Sea overflows and breaks down the Banks, so the Mercy of God did break down the Banks of my Sin, and Mercy did sweetly flow into my Soul. You that have been Monuments of God's Mercy, should be Trumpets of Praise: You that have tasted the Lord is gracious, tell others what Experiences you have had of God's Mercy, that you may encourage them to seek to him for Mercy; Psal. 66.16. I will tell you what God hath done for my Soul. When I found my heart dead, God's Spirit did come upon me mightily, and the blowing of that wind made the withering flowers of my Grace revive. O! tell others of God's goodness, that you may set others a blessing him, and that you may make God's Praises live when you are dead.
2. To love God. Mercy should be the Attractive of Love; Psal. 18.1. I will love thee, O Lord my strength. The Hebrew word for Love, ercameca, signifies Love out of the inward Bowels. God's Justice may make us fear him, his Mercy may make us love him. If Mercy will not produce Love, what will? We are to love God for giving us Food, much more for giving us Grace; for sparing Mercy, much more for saving Mercy. Sure that Heart is made of Marble, which the Mercy of God will not dissolve into Love. I would hate my own Soul (saith St. Austin) if I did not find it loving God.
3. To imitate God in shewing Mercy. God is the Father of Mercy: shew your selves to be his Children, by being like him. St. Ambrose, The sum and definition of Religion is, Be rich in works of Mercy, be helpful to the Bodies and Souls of others. Scatter your golden Seeds; let the Lamp of your profession be fill'd with the Oil of Charity. Be merciful in giving and forgiving. Be ye merciful as your heavenly Father is merciful.