(1.) Our miseries are many, danger waylayeth us on every side ; therefore the mercy of God is said to compass us about : Ps. xxxii. 10, ' He that triisteth in the Lord, mercy shall compass him about.' On which side soever temptation and trouble maketh the assault, mercy is ready to make the defence : ' Many are the troubles of the righteous, but the Lord delivereth them out of them all,' Ps. xxxiv. 19. Their troubles are many, from God's own hand, Satan's temptations, malice of the wicked world ; therefore ' Let thv mercies come to me.'
VeR. 41.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 443
(2.) Our sins, so many provocations, transgressions from the womb, Isa. xlviii. 8. After grace received we have our failings ; there remains much venom and evil of sin: Ps. li. 1, ' Have mercy upon me according to the greatness of thy mercy ; according to the multitude of thy tender mercy blot out my transgressions ; ' where great sins, great mercies ; many sins, many mercies. In that one fact how many ways did he sin ? No great sin can be committed alone, but one evil act drawetli on another, as links in a chain : adultery, blood ; and this by a king, whose duty it was to punish it in others. The more above the stroke of man's justice, the more liable to God's. This when he had many wives of his own. A crime committed out of want is not so heinous as that committed out of wantonness; He took the poor man's one ewe lamb, when he had many flocks and herds. This was done not suddenly and in the heat of passion, but in cool blood, plotting his opportunties, abusing Uriah, his simplicity and sincerity, to his own destruction. His honesty in not returning to his house should have been a check upon David. He maketh him drunk ; drew Joab into the conspiracy and confederacy of his guilt ; many perished with Uriah in the attempt upon Kabbah.
[4.] The many favours to be bestowed upon us, as food, clothing, protection, liberty in our service, and after all eternal life ; therefore mercies, which giveth us ' all things necessary to life and godliness,' 2 Peter i. 3.
2. The effect, * thy salvation," brought about in God's way, and upon God's terras. In temporal safety we must wait for God's salvation, such as God giveth, God. alloweth. Better be miserable than be saved upon other terms. Many would be safe from troubles, but they would take their own way, and so turn aside to crooked paths. Those martyrs spoken of in the Hebrews, chap. xi. 35, ' would not accept deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection ; ' to wince under trouble, and fling off the burden ere it be taken off by God without any sin of ours ; otherwise we break prison, get out by the window, not by the door. We must take up our cross as long as God will please to have us bear it. David saith, ' Thy salvation.'
3. The warrant and ground of his expectation, ' According to thy word.' God's mercy is to be expected according to the tenor of the promise. How is that ?
[1.] No temporal blessing is absolutely to be expected, for God hath reserved the liberty of trying and chastising his children in outward things. The covenant is to be understood with the exception of the cross, and we can have no temporal benefit by it but as it is useful for us : Ps. Ixxxix. 32, 33, ' I will visit their transgression with a rod, and their iniquity with stripes : nevertheless my loving -kindness will I not utterly take from him, nor sufter my faithfulness to fail.' God will use medicinal discipline, though not satisfy his justice upon them.
[2.] The qualification of the promise must be regarded by those that Avould have benefit by it. God's covenant is made with his people ; it is a mutual stipulation. Many would have comfort ; we plead pro- mises of safety with God, but forget promises of obedience to him ; as Ephraim would tread out the corn, but not break the clods, Hosea x. 11.
444 SERMONS UPON PSALM cxix. [Sep.. XLVII.
There was food : Deiit. xxv. 4, ' Thou shalt not muzzle the ox which treadeth out the corn.' AYe mind our own interest more than God's honour.
[3.] A word of promise calleth for faith and trust. Whatever con- trariety appeareth in God's providence, God's word must bear up our hearts ; it is as a pawn till the deliverance come. God's mercy is the same still ; his word calleth for trust. Tlie more we trust and hope in his mercy the better for us : Ps. xiii. 5, ' I have trusted in thy mercy ; my soul shall rejoice in thy salvation ;•" Ps. xxxiii. 22, ' Let thy mercy, 0 Lord, be upon us, as we hope in thee ; ' and Ps. xxxii. 10, ' He that trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall compass him about.' The more clear is your claim when you trust yourselves with him. He is a merciful God, and his word saith he will take care for them that fear him.