[1.] There is sparing as to acceptance. A father, if there be any "blemish in his child, he will pity it, and cover it. He accepteth in good part the willingness of his son to serve him, though he, through weakness, fail in the exact manner of performance ; so our heavenly ^Father accepteth of a willing and honest heart, though we come short of that perfection required in the law. His choice servants have had their blemishes, yet their merciful Father giveth them this commend- ation, that they have walked before him with a perfect heart. So doth God to David, Asa, and Jehoshaphat : 1 Kings xv. 5, ' David did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, and turned not aside from anything which he commanded him, save only in the matter of Uriah. The brand of that wilful sin sticketh upon him, but other things are passed by.
[2.] There is God's sparing as to punishment and correction. It is true that God hath reserved a liberty to scourge his children, but still he doth it as a father : Heb. xii. 6, * For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.' To spare the rod is to spoil the child, but still he useth it as a father; which is seen, partly because he cometh to it unwillingly. There are tears in his eyes, as it were, when the rod is in his hand : Lam. iii. 33, ' He doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men.' And partly because he doth it in measure, and with great moderation. In chastising his people, he dealeth otherwise with his people than others, to whom he hath not the like respect or relation. He debateth with them in measure, or with much moderation, meting out their suffer- ings in a due proportion : Isa. xxvii, 8, ' In measure when it shooteth forth thou wilt debate with it ; he stayeth the rough wind in the day of the east wind.' He dealeth with them as a father, with others as a judge ; with the one out of love, with the other out of vindictive wrath : Jer. x. 24, ' 0 Lord correct me, but with judgment, not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing.' With his people not according to the strict rule of law and justice, but according to his •wisdom and love. And lastly, because he soon relenteth,' Jer. xxxi. 20, ' Is Ephraim my dear son ? is he a pleasant child ? for since I spake against him I do earnestly remember him still ; therefore my bowels are troubled for him ; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the Lord.' What ! is my dear son, my darling child, in such a sad condition ? are these the meanings of Ephraim ? surely I am mindful of him, my bowels are towards him, as those of a mother towards her tender child. Thus God showeth himself a father.
IV. The qualification of the persons to whom God maketh this promise, in the context, ' They that feared the Lord and thought upon his name ; ' those whom God owneth for his peculiar people. See the same qualification, Ps. ciii. 13, * Like as a father pitietli his children, so the Lord pitietli those that fear him.'
1. It is necessary tor them ; for the best need to be spared, as a father spareth his own son that serveth him, or else what would become
344 SERMON UPON MALACHI III. 17.
of them ? If tliey were not under such a pardoning covenant, how- could they maintain any peace in their own souls, being guilty of so many daily failings, which they resent more tenderly than others do fouler faults ? and that they are also more sensible of the effects of his anger in his providence ; for they dare not despise the chastening of the Lord, but have a greater reverence for their Father's anger than the rest of the world have ; and therefore the Lord expresseth his indulgence, for their comfort and satisfaction. Those that walk most closely with God, and exactly according to rule, need peace and mercy : Gal. vi. 16, 'As many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.' We still stand in need of mercy, free and undeserved mercy, that our failings may be pardoned, our persons and duties accepted, our afflictions moderated, and we may be accepted and go to heaven at last.
2. It is peculiar to them. There is a conditional offer of pardon to .the wicked if they will repent, but fatherly dealing and indulgence is assured to those who are admitted into God's family. He hath a paternal affection towards them, and they have filial dispositions towards him ; and though he doth express his common goodness and bounty to all his creatures, yet his special and fatherly love is to his saints, to whom he hath given a new being and an holy nature. The whole commerce that is between God and them, on God's part is fatherly, on their part childlike ; on God's part in a way of grace and love, pardoning their sins and frailties ; and their carriage is loving and obedient unto God. Love is at the bottom of God's dispensations towards them, and at the bottom of their duty unto God. He loveth them as a father, and they love him as dear children. Fatherly benefits are fullest, sweetest, and surest, and filial duty is the choicest. Now those that are not children cannot look for a child's portion. Certainly the obstinate and impenitent are excluded : Dent. xxix. 20, ' The Lord will not spare him, but the anger of the Lord and his jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him.' But if any fear him and serve him, they may hope for his mercy : Ps. cxlvii. 11, ' The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy .*' They that live in a constant obedience to his commands, and an holy trust and affiance in him, not by any tenure of merit in themselves, but free and undeserved mercy in him, they are spared, they are accepted, yea, they are blessed, and God delights in their welfare.