The Truly Blessed Man, Part 4 · Section 1
Examples of Pardoned Sinners, our Encouragement.
DOCTRINE. I.
THE inſtances of Gods forgiving any upon their hearty confeſſing their ſins to him, ſhould encourage others to hope for, and ſeek it of him in the ſame way. The very ſubjoyning of this to what went before, intimates this truth; if we conſider David as turning his ſpeech to God, he doth, as it were, ſay, this is the honour thou ſhalt get, by doing thus graciouſly by me; thou ſhalt have more Cuſtomers, others when they hear of it, will be animated to ſeek to thee for mercy. The great incentive to this, is from the gracious diſcoveries that God hath made of himſelf in his Word, thoſe alluring promiſes, with which he animates deſponding Sinners to ſeek him; but yet his works alſo have a voice in them, and confirm his Word, by giving an example in which his Word is verified. Here take theſe concluſions.
1. That there are many eminent inſtances of Gods pardoning mercy on Scripture record. He hath ſet up the monuments of it there, who, though they had been great Sinners, and many ways provoked his juſt diſpleaſure, yet obtained mercy of him, or their humble ſubmiſſion, and hearty bemoaning themſelves before him; and though there be no Saint recorded in the Book of God, who was not an example of this, but for which they had never been ſaved, yet there are ſome who have a peculiar remark for this. What a great Sinner was Manaſſeh? how wofully did David defile himſelf? What a Chief Sinner had Paul been? What a prodigious fall was that of Peter? and yet we have the regiſter of their obtaining forgiveneſs, with many more.
2. That the Word of God gives us a diſtinct account of divers of theſe. It not only mentions them to be ſuch, but mentions the Diſpenſation towards them in the circumſtances; for,
1. It tells us how they had Sinned. Not that God delights to be raking in the kennel of his Childrens follies, when he hath cast their iniquities into the depth of the ſea, but to ſet the examples of his Grace before others; for mans ſin is the foil of Gods Grace; and the more black that hath been, the more orient do the colours of this appear to be their ſin therefore is declared in its aggravations: ſo Davids, 2 Sam. 11. & 12.
2. It acquaints us with what diſtreſs they were in after they had ſo Sinned. What Convictions, what compunctions they felt in them; what pain they were in by reaſon of their wounds and broken bones, what terrible agonies they ſuffered on the account, ſee Context, verſe 3, 4. and Mat. 26. ult. and elſe where.
3. It ſhews us what courſe they took to get their Sin pardoned. In what way they gat relief, and found mercy at Gods hand: What confeſſion they made to God, how they bemoaned themſelves bitterly how earneſtly they beſought God for mercy, with what deep Humiliation; and ſelf loathing they proſtrated themſelves at the footſtool of the Throne of Grace; to this ſerve all Davids penitential Pſalms; and we have ſuch an account of Ephraim, Jer. 31. 18, 19
4. It particularly notes what ſucceſs they found in this way. How they ſped with God in thus doing; how they ſought a pardon, and obtained it, ſo, Context, verſe 5. God did not ſpurn them out of his preſence, but when he ſaw theſe Prodigals humbling themſelves, and reſolving to return, he met and embraced them, Luk. 15. 20. So Paul, 1 Tim. 1. 13, 14. Manaſſeh, 2 Chron. 33. 12, 13. And what tenderneſs God expreſt to Ephraim bemoaning himſelf, Jer. 31. 20.
3. That this manner of Diſpenſation continueth to be exemplified in Gods Providence. We have not the ſame ground of aſſurance now concerning others, in that we have only their own Teſtimony, as we have for thoſe recorded in the Book of God; however there is a charitable credit to be given them; yea, we often ſee ſo much of God in them, as greatly eſtabliſheth our confidence in the thing: how many who have fallen, and God hath …ut them in trouble, and brought them to the …rinks of deſpair, and yet while they have been ſeeking God, with confeſſion and repentance, in …he name of Chriſt, they have been lifted up, and received great conſolation.
4. All theſe are for our inſtruction; and we …ught ſo to improve them. We are told, Rom. 15.
4. That whatſoever is written, is for ou… learning. The deſign of the whole Scripture is one, viz. To enlighten, direct, and help us in the Glorifying of God. Such paſſages therefore as refer to the dealing of God with ſuch as have ſought pardon of him, under diſtreſs of Conſeience, are not meerly for our ſpeculation; not do we rightly uſe any Scripture Hiſtory, unleſs we apply it to our ſelves, and draw ſome Leſſons from it, for help us in our great buſineſs, and that muſt be ſuited to the deſign of it: and no Providences paſs before us but we ought to obſerve them, ſo as to uſe them for our advantage.
5. The Leſſons that we are to learn from ſuch Examples, as theſe refer to two heads.
1. To nouriſh hope in us againſt deſpair. When upon the apprehenſion of our Sins, and the aggravations of them, we are ready to ſink in encouragement, we ſhould gather hope to our ſelves, by contemplating theſe, and fetching arguments of hope, and they are ſuch as theſe.
1. That there have been thoſe who were in … caſe, and have done will. Unparallel'd caſes an apt to put men to a ſtand, and Satan endeavour by them to diſhearten us; but when we diſcover how others have been in all points as bad of … as we, poſſibly worſe, and yet have obtained Mercy of God; it tells us there is hope that … may fare well; Paul therefore tells us that th… was Gods deſign in him, 1 Tim. 1. 16.
2. God herein exhibits his readineſs to pardon. H… hath declared it fully in his word; and if w… will follow him in his works of this nature, we … find it plain; and there is abundant force in this way of reaſoning: if God had not delighted in pardoning Sinners, certainly thoſe that had done ſo much to provoke him to the higheſt, would never have found favour: David therefore thus pleads, Pſal 51. 13. Then I will …ach Tranſgreſſors thy ways, and Sinners ſhall be converted to thee.
3. And hereby God proves his faithfulneſs to his Promiſes. The promiſes on this account are ſo great, that one under the apprehenſion of his own vileneſs, is hardly perſwadable to believe that there can be any ſuch thing, and puts it away as incredible; but when he ſees ſuch as himſelf to have adventured on the promiſe of Grace, and caſt themſelves upon God, and …ome off pardoned, and juſtified, it puts the …uth and fidelity of God beyond all queſtion.
2. To direct us what courſe to take, and ſo ſtrengthen our faith in it. Examples do lay the Rule plain before us, and give us a Copy to write after; and when we ſee how they did, it tells us what we are to do: and becauſe they ſped, it helps us to believe that we may ſpeed too: for,
1. God is the ſame ſtill. He ever carrieth himſelf to us like himſelf: what he hath been to his people, that he will be; there is one way in which he diſpenſeth his grace from firſt to laſt. Hence that encouragement, Mal. 3. 6. I am God, I change not.
2. This way is accommodated to the Precept. God hath given direction to Sinners what to do, and how to ſeek him ſo as to find him: Now, if we compare theſe examples by this Rule, we ſhall obſerve that they followed the directions given them by God, elſe they had not ſped: ſo that by their good ſucceſs we may better underſtand what God requireth of us; and this muſt alſo help our faith.
3. It is a trodden way. It is not an untraced path; we are not to begin in it, but others have gone before us, and we are to follow them: and as it is thereby the eaſier to find, ſo it is the more hopeful of ſucceſs. We have leaders in it, and ſo may the better keep it: and it may put life into us, when we ſee they have done well in it, and are gotten ſafe through it.
4. It is a way in which none ever miſcarried. A great many have gone in it, and if but ſome had proſpered, it would be matter of hope, but when we ſee that none have failed, but every one hath done well; and there cannot be one inſtance produced of a Soul that hath miſſed of Gods mercy, and a free pardon, who hath thus ſought it; what can be more animating to our faith in the proſecution of it?
USE I. For INFORMATION in two particulars.
1. Learn hence, that it is profitable for Chriſtians, on occaſion, to communicate their experiences to others. God hath made man to be a ſociable Creature, and this ſociableneſs cannot better be applied than in a Religious way. Gods dealings with us, are not for our ſelves only, but for the ſake of others too, and we ſhould endeavour to make them ſo. Conſider;
1. This will tend to the Glory of God. It is one way in which we have great advantage to Shew forth his Praiſes David therefore calls on them that fear God to hear him declaring Gods gracious dealings with him, Pſal. 66. 16, 17. Hereby we may ſet forth his precious Attributes, and ſhew how we are the Monuments of them, which will glorify him.
2. It will ſerve greatly for the benefit of drooping Souls. When they hear us telling what ſtraits we were in, what fore Temptations we have been burried withal; and how ſeaſonably, and ſuitably, while we were waiting for him, God came into us, and ſealed up his love, and what impreſſions we find of it upon our ſpirits: we may by this give a good lift to help them out of trouble: and God hath very frequently bleſſed ſuch a courſe as this; and this alſo will help farther to eſtabliſh our own Conſolation.
2. Be we adviſed, that there is a miſimprovement of the Examples of Gods people in this regard, which we are to be cautioned againſt. They are good helps in themſelves, and prove ſo to them that wiſely uſe them, but they may be abuſed, and then they will turn to harm: beware of this: And there are three ways in which it may be done.
1. When we encourage our ſelves in Sin by them. The uſe of them is to encourage us to Repentances this then is an abuſe, when we look on the examples of ſuch as ſinned grievouſly, and yet found mercy, and thence infer, that there is no ſuch danger in ſinning, we may be bold to tranſgreſs, becauſe they were pardoned: what is this but to turn the Grace of God into wantonneſs, and to Sin that Grace may abound? to adventure to throw our ſelves over a precipice, becauſe we have an inſtance of one that fell over, and eſcaped with his life, forgetting how many have ſo fallen, and it hath coſt them their lives. God will be provoked to leave us to periſh, if thus we affront his mercy.
2. When we ſtrengthen our carnal ſecurity in ſin by it. The uſe of ſuch examples is, that when we have fallen through temptation, and are terrified at it, we may be encouraged hereby to Repentance, and make haſte to God for a pardon: but if inſtead of this, we argue there is no danger, we may put off the Conviction, and delay our Repentance, and get a pardon when we wiſh; and ſo live and ly under Guilt without remorce, this is to prevent the end of ſuch inſtances, and the ready way to be left by the Spirit of God, to be hardened in ſin, to our ruine.
3. When we uſe them only for encouragement, and not for direction We take that part of the inſtance ſuch an one ſo ſinned againſt God, and provoked him, and yet God was merciful, and forgave him, and by this forthy our Preſumption, that there is no danger, we need not be afraid, but we never enquire what they did, or in what way they found the mercy of God; and thus they are ſo far from being an Example, that they become a Snare to us, and inſtead of uſing them for Gods Glory, and advantage, we gratily Satan, and expoſe our ſelves to the greater hazard. Take heed then leſt we be deceived; though Paenitent David got a pardon, yet impenitent Sinners, have no reaſon to conclude from thence that they ſhall fare as he did.
USE II. Let it then be to direct and help us in the right improvement of ſuch Examples, for our benefit. Let us rightly apply them, and that both for encouragement, and direction.
1. Let us uſe them to encourage our hope in God for his mercy, whatſoever our ſins have been. Doth the Guilt of Sin oppreſs us? have we fallen by our iniquity, and are conſcious of our danger, and the Divine anger we ly open to? and do our hearts condemn us, and Satan urge us to deſpair of pardon? Let us now make uſe of theſe Examples, to excite our hope. And to that end.
1. Learn by them to have good thoughts of God. We are apt to think hardly of him, when his Arrows ſtick in our ſides, and his terrours make us afraid: look upon theſe, and ſee what a God he hath been to ſuch as we are, and let that perſwade us that there is forgiveneſs with him; that he is not an inexorable God, theſe have found him propitious, and ſo may we. We ſhall never come kindly to him for pardon, till we can ſay of him, as they o… the Kings of Iſrael, 1 King. 20. 31.
2. Hence let theſe Thoughts make us reſolve to go to him for Pardon. While we look on him in his anger, that makes us to keep out of his ſight; buy when we believe, that he is ready to receive poor Sinners, and paſs by their Iniquities, this will encourage us to come into his preſence.
3. Hence let us oppoſe theſe Examples, to all the arguments of Deſpair that are obtruded upon us. Satan, and a miſgiving heart will offer hard at this; but let us anſwer all with theſe: And there is no caſe in which we may not have one or other of them to do this withal. Have our Sins been very Great, of the biggeſt Size? and doth the greatneſs of them terrify us, as if they were too big for Pardon? conſider, What were David's Sins? What were Manaſſeh's? Yea did not David bring that for a plea? Pſal. 25. 11. Pardon mine Iniquity, for it is Great. The greatneſs of them can neither out bid his Grace, or his Will to forgive. Have they been multiplyed Tranſgreſſions? and doth this diſhearten us? See what a fearful Catalogue is recorded of Manaſſeh, 2 Chron. 33. begin. and yet they did not obſtruct his Pardon. Yea, what ſaith God himſelf, Iſa. 55. 7. He will multiply to Pardon. Have they been againſt ſpecial Kindneſſes beſtowed upon us, and ſo rendred us Guilty of horrid Ingratitude to God? Remember how God ſets forth Davids ſin with all ſuch Circumſtances, 2 Sam. 12. begin. and yet he readily forgave him all, when he humbled himſelf before him. Have they been againſt many Means uſed with us to reclaim us, which we have deſpiſed, & thereby ſorely aggravated them? We have been often warned, and threatned, and yet perſiſted? and was not this alſo one circumſtance in Manaſseh's Sin, 2 Chron. 33. 10. Have they been after we have received the Grace of God in converting us, and ſo peculiarly grieved his Holy Spirit? this muſt needs put a very black aſpect on them: but ſtill remember, this was Davids very caſe, and Peters too, but yet he did not take his Spirit from them, but gave them Repentance, and upon it remitted their Sins to them. Are they Sins that you have long lain in; and been habituated to? and this makes you to think you have out lived your day of Grace, and it is too late to hope for favour from God; and did not David ly a long time remorceleſs under his great ſin? yet when at laſt God rouſed him; and he repented, he was forgiven.
2. Let us improve them to put us upon the right courſe to obtain this mercy at Gods hand. If we joyn not this to the former, it will ſignifie nothing. And here,
1. Conſider what they did in order to their obtaining forgiveneſs. And therefore:
1. They were throughly convinced of their Sin. God made them to ſee it, and know it, Pſal. 51. 3. They had a deeply imprinted ſenſe of what they had done, and how they tranſgreſſed.
2. They Confeſſed their Sins heartily to God. They did not hide them under their Tongues; they did not excuſe, or mince, or extenuate them, whiles they ſo did they got nothing by it: but they acknowledged them. Context, Verſ. 5. 2 Sam. 12. 11.
3. They ſubmitted themſelves to God. They took the ſhame of their Sins to themſelves, and acknowledged that all miſeries belonged to them for the ſame; and that God was righteous in condemning them, Pſal. 51. 4. Dan. 9. 8. And ſo they yielded themſelves up to God.
4. They prayed hard for a pardon. They beſought God for his mercy; yielded that nothing elſe but mercy could do it; that God muſt do it for his name ſake if at all, and accordingly pleaded it … Pſal. 25. 11.
5. They forſook their ſins. They turned from and renounced them utterly, Judg. 10. 16. 2 Chr. 33. 15.
2 Believe that if they had not thus done they had never found mercy. If they had gone on impenitently, they had not been made the inſtances of Gods forgiveneſs; and indeed the Word of God ſtands for this, Prov. 28. 13.
3. Let us follow their steps. This is the right improvement if we would fare as they fared, let us do as they did: take them as our Copy, and write after them, mourn as they did, if we would be comforted as they were: Confeſs with them if we would have a ſealed pardon, as they had.
4. In thus following them, let us wait upon God believingly. In this way ſtrengthen our faith from their pattern; encourage our Souls with this; and theſe were as I am, and thus they did, and are now happy; I will then truſt in God, and thus wa… for his Salvation.