VeR. 132.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 369
3. Be sucli as God will regard, and have an eye unto. Such are —
[1.] The broken-hearted, that have a tender conscience, affected deeply with what the word speaketh concerning their everlasting con- dition : Isa. Ixvi, 2, ' To this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.' The word of God passeth sentence upon men ; most regard it not. Now whilst they look not after God, they have no promise God will look after them. Indeed by his preventing grace he is found of them that look not for him ; but then before they have any smiles from God's counte- nance, they are first humbled and brought to trouble : Isa. Ivii. 15-18, ' For thus saith the high and lofty one that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is holy, I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirits of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth ; for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made. For the iniquity of his covetousness I was wroth, and smote him, I hid me and was wroth ; he went on frowardly in the way of his heart. I have seen his ways, and will heal him ; I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him.' AVhen the spirit is softened by a deep and serious remorse for sin, and a tender sense of their condition, with these will God dwell, to comfort, relieve, restore them.
[2.] The believer : Ps. xxxiii. 18, ' Behold the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy.' They that look for God shall find him.
[3.] The sincere : Ps, xi. 7, ' His countenance doth behold the upright.' He hath a singular care of them, to manifest his love to them, both inwardly and outwardly. A good conscience presents itself to God ; none but such will say, Look upon me. Adam hid himself upon his transgression. Hypocrites cannot trust him.
[4.] Such as love his name. It is the description and mark of God's people in the text, they love God, and all that by which God is especially made known. To these God will look, that he may bless them, and comfort them with his love : Eph. vi. 24, ' Grace be with them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity.' God's grace and free favour is to them : they love the name of God that rejoice to see God honoured, known, and had in request in the world, to be owned to be such as he is by themselves and others : Isa. xxvi. 8, ' The desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee.' Their great desire is, that God may be exalted in their own hearts, and in the hearts of others. To these God will look, who take care to honour God, love Christ, and keep his commandments: John xiv. 21, * He that hath my commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me ; and he that loveth me, shall be loved of the Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.'
Secondly, The ground and cause of that favour he expects, ' Be merciful unto me.' David begs what he begs upon terms of grace.
Doct. God's mercy is the cause of all his favour to us, or gracious dealing w^ith us.
All that we have or would have cometh only and wholly from his mercy, and mere mercy. If God cast but a look upon us, or visit us
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370 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. CXLY.
■with one glimpse of kindness, we can ascribe it to no other cause. Only mercy, and never a word of merit should be in the mouth of a believer.
1. Because there was nothing in us to move him to be thus gracious to us : Gen. xxxii. 10, ' I am not worthy of the least of all thy mercies, and of all the truth which thou hast showed unto thy servant.' Let lis ask the reason, and debate the cause with ourselves. Why doth or should God do this for me ? What moveth him ? Is he necessitated ? Then he could do no otherwise, and should be kind to all. Would he be unjust if he did not ? Whereby have I obliged him ? ' Who hath given to God first, and it shall be recompensed to him again ? ' Rom, xi. 35. Could you enter j^our action and plea against him ? Before what bar and tribunal ? And with what arguments will you manage your cause ? How will the beam plead against the sun, the stream against the fountain ? Is it a debt to your kind and rank of being ? How many of the same flesh and blood are equal in nature, but un- equal in condition ? nay, in the same vicinity and neighbourhood, not only Americans, but of your own nation and country ? Wliat did God see more in you than in them of the same calling and profession ? ' Two grinding at a mill, one shall be taken and the other left,' Luke xvii. 35. Of the same parentage ? ' Was not Jacob Esau's brother ? ' Indeed, what did God see to move him to give you the first grace ? Eom. ix. 16, ' So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy.'