2. The efiect, salvation. This properly deserveth to be called so. We are saved but in part before, then from all evils, from the greatest evil, hell. Before we are saved, but we may be troubled again. Now no more sorrow, when all opposition is broken, and God is all in all, and the church presented as a prey snatched out of the teeth of lions ; all former things are done away.
3. This dispensed according to the word. Now what doth the word say ? When a sinner repenteth, all the iniquities which he hath com- mitted shall be forgotten. There is abuse of mercy noted : Deut. xxix. 19, ' If he shall bless himself and say, I shall have peace though I walk in the imagination of my heart ; ' I may go on in sin and cry God a mercy, and there is an end. No ; mercy issueth out itself for salva- tion of men according to the word ; these are conclusions contrary to grace : Jude 4, ' There are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness.' The principle is true, but the conclusion is false. Certainly God is merciful, there is no end nor measure nor bank nor bottom in his mercy ; but throughout the whole
446 SERMONS UPON PSALM cxix. [Ser. XLVII.
scriptures mercy is only promised to the penitent, and tliose that come to (xod by Christ. Take mercy according to the word, according to the analogy of faith, and there is not a more powerful incentive of duty : Ps. cxxx. 5, ' There is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared;' Titus ii. 11, 12, 'The grace of God, that bringeth salvation, hath apj)eared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world ;' Kom. xii. 1, ' I beseech you, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.' This is true divinity. The flesh deviseth another doctrine. Let us sin that grace may abound, to make a carnal pillow of God's mercy, that they may sleep securely in sin, yea, a dungcart to carry away their filth. God is merciful, but to those that count sin a burden and misery ; God is slow to anger, but yet angry when provoked : abused patience kindleth into fury, as water, when the mouth of the fountain or course of the river is stopped, breaketh out with more violence. God hath his arrows of displeasure to shoot at the wicked. You must not fancy a God all honey, all sweetness ; he is ' the father of mercies,' but so that he is also ' a God of vengeance : ' Ps.lxviii. 19-21, ' Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation, Selah. He that is our God is the God of salvation ; and unto God the Lord belong the issues from death. But God shall wound the hairy scalp of his enemies.' The mercy of God is large and free, if men do not make themselves incapable by their impenitency.
4. We must beg — (1.) The application of these : ' to me also :' ' We have heard that the kings of Israel are merciful kings,' 1 Kings xx. 31. Now we would feel it : 1 Tim. i. 15, ' This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.' Wind in ourselves within the covert of a promise, enter at the back-door of a promise ; there comes virtue from Christ if but touched. The woman came behind him and touched the hem of his garment ; so we must seek the application of this virtue. (2.) Effectual application, ' Let it come unto me.' Mercy cometh unto us, or we shall never come unto it, 1 Peter i. 10. The grace that cometh to us, %ay9iv ep-xp/xevrjv, the grace which is brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ, God's grace, is brought home to our doors ; we seek not after it, but it seeketh after us. Salvation has gone forth, saith the prophet, to find out lost sinners : ' Wisdom hath sent forth her maidens : she crieth upon the high places of the city. Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither,' Prov. ix. 3, 4. God sends the gospel up and down the world to offer his grace to men ; it worketh out its way.
Use. Here is encouragement and direction to poor creatures how to obtain God's mercy for their comfort.
1. Encouragement. Mercy doth all with God ; it is the first cause, that setteth every thing awork.
[1.] Mercy is natural to God : 2 Cor. i. 3, ' Father of mercies.' God is not merciful by accident, but by nature ; the sun doth not more naturally shine, nor fire more naturally burn, nor water more natu- rally flow, than God doth naturally show mercy.
VeR. 42.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 447
[2.] It is pleasing to him: Micah vii. 18, ' Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by tlie transgression of the remnant of his heritage ? He retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy/ Judgment is called ' his strange work,' Isa. xxviii. 21, 'That he may do his work, his strange work, and bring to pass his act, his strange act.' Primitive^ acts he is forced to, but he rejoiceth to do good, as live honey droppeth of its own accord.