Use. Well, then, if this be the great plea of the saints — 1. Let us meditate often of the loving-kindness of God, of his pitying, and pardoning, and lovingly entreating poor sinful and broken-hearted creatures that come to him. This should be our daily meditation ; honum est primum et potentissimum nomen Dei, saith Damascene — it is the first-born and chiefest name of God. We cannot conceive of God by anything that concerneth us so much as his goodness ; by that we know him, and for that we love him. We admire him with reverence for his other titles, but this doth first insinuate with us, and command our respect to him. The first temptation that ever was in the world was to weaken the conceit of his goodness in the heart of the creature ; as if God were envious, harsh, and sour in his restraints ; still it is a great temptation, yet ' God is good to Israel,' Ps. lxxiii. 1. Oh ! let us fortify our hearts with frecp:ient thoughts of his goodness and loving-kindness ! As we should do this every day, so especially upon the sabbath-day : Ps. xcii. 2, ' I will show forth thy loving- kindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night/ We should do this with all the advantage we can use, more especially when we are in his presence, conversing with him and ministering before him : Ps. xlviii. 9, ' We have thought of thy loving-kindness, 0 God, in the midst of thy temple.' We should often and seriously think when we come to God : Surely now we have to do with a loving and gracious God, whether we wait upon him in prayer, or the word, or sacraments ; if any prayer to make or comfort to expect.
VEB. 149.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 93
2. Observe the fruits and effects of it, and value them. They that are students in providence, shall not seek long before they find God to be a God full of loving-kindness and tender mercy : Ps. cvii. 43, ' Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall under- stand the loving-kindness of the Lord.' Few regard it, or look after it ; but they that do pry into the course of his dealings shall not be without many instances of God's love and free favour to them. Now, when you have found it out, value it : Ps. Ixiii. 3, ' Because thy loving-kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.' You shall have rich experiences, such as will fill you with joy unspeakable and glorious, to be esteemed above all comforts whatsoever.
3. Praise God for it. This should be a lively motive to praise him : Ps. cxxxviii. 2, ' I will worship towards thy temple, and praise thy name for thy loving-kindness and for thy truth/ These two are the cause of all we have ; it is without any deserving of ours, only because we have to do with a gracious and faithful God : Isa. Ixiii. 7, ' I will mention the loving-kindness of the Lord, and the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness towards the house of Israel which he hath bestowed on them, according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his loving- kindness.' The prophet speaketh as if he could never find words enough, or pregnant enough, to express his sense of God's gracious dealing, so bountifully had he dealt with his people.
4. Let us improve this loving-kindness and readiness of God's mercy to help penitent supplicants.
[1.] In a way of trust, the least degree of which is enough to keep the sinner from running away from him ; how grievous soever his offences and demerits be, yet come to him ; say, as David, Ps. li. 1, ' Have mercy upon me, 0 God, according to thy loving-kindness ; according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.' Yea, make it a ground of confidence and support : Ps. lxix. 16, ' Hear me, 0 Lord, for thy loving-kindness is good ; turn unto me, according to the multitude of thy tender mercies.'
[2.] In a way of fear, that we may not interrupt the sense of it, or stop the current of his good-will : Ps. xxvi. 3, ' Thy loving-kindness is before mine eyes, and I have walked in thy truth.' It is the ground of all our confidence ; lose not that : the Lord taketh notice of them that trust in his goodness : Nahum i. 7, ' The Lord is good, a strong- hold in the day of trouble, and he knoweth them that trust in him.'
There is one word yet undiscussed, ' According to thy judgment.' Some by judgment understand wisdom and prudence. The word will sometimes bear that sense : Micah iii. 8, ' But truly I am full of power by the Spirit of the Lord and of judgment,' &c. ; as we say a man of judgment, for an understanding person. In this sense, ' According to thy judgment,' will be, as thou thinkest fit ; but surely 'judgment' here is to be understood in the notion of his covenant, or the rule according to which he judgeth of men, for it is one of the terms by which the word is expressed. ' Judgment ' is sometimes put for the covenant of works, or his strict remunerative justice. David declineth it under this notion: Ps. cxliii. 2, ' Enter not into judgment with thy servant, 0 Lord.' And this is called by the apostle,