480 AN EXPOSITION UPON PSALjM cxxx. [Ver. 4.
wandering, helpless condition, before the promise was to be accom- plished. But now, when God came to fulfil his promises, and to bring the people, by virtue of his covenant, into the land of Canaan, he reveals himself unto them by, and renews his covenant with them in, the name of Jehovah. And hereby did God declare that he came to give stability and accomplishment unto his promises; to which end they were noAV to live upon this name of Jehovah, in an expec- tation of the fulfilling of the promises, as their fathers did on that of God Almighty, in an expectation of protection from him in their wandering state and condition. Hence this name became the foun- dation of the Judaical church, and ground of the faith of them who did sincerely believe in God therein. And it is strangely fallen out, in the providence of God, that since the Jews have rejected the covenant of their fathers, and are cast out of the covenant for their unbelief, they have utterly forgot that name of God. No Jew in the world knows what it is, nor how to pronounce it or make mention of it. I know themselves and others j)retend strange mysteries in the letters and vowels of that name, which make it ineffable ; but the truth is, being cast out of that covenant which was built and estab- lished on that name, in the just judgment of God, through their own blindness and superstition, they are no more able to make mention of it or to take it into their mouths. It is required, then, that the name of God be given unto us as engaged in covenant, to secure our expectation that he will be unto us according to his name.
3. All the xuhole gr^acious name of God, every title that he hath given himself, every ascription of honour unto himself that he hath owned, is confirmed unto us (unto as many as believe) in Jesus Christ. For as he hath declared unto us the whole name of God, John xvii. 6, so not this or that promise of God, but all- the promises of God are in him yea and amen. So that, as of old, every particu- lar promise that God made unto the people served especially for the particular occasion on which it was given, and each name of God was to be rested on .is to that dispensation whereunto it was suited to give relief and confidence, — as the name of El-shaddai to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and the name Jehovah to Moses and the people; so now, by Jesus Christ, and in him, every particular promise be- longs unto all believers in all their occasions, and every name of God whatever is theirs also, at all times, to rest upon and put their trust in. Thus, the particular promise made unto Joshua, at his entrance into Canaan, to encourage and strengthen him in that great enterprise of conquering the land, is by the apostle applied unto all believers in all their occasions whatever: " I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee," Heb. xiii. 5. So likewise doth every name of God belong now unto us, as if it had in a particular manner been
Ver.4.] EVIDENCE OF FOEGIVENESS WITH GOD. 481
engaged in covenant unto us, and that because the whole covenant is ratified and confirmed unto us by Jesus Christ, 2 Cor. vi. ] 8, vii. 1. This, then, absolutely secures unto us an interest in the name of God insisted on, the God of forgiveness, as if it had been given unto every one of us to assure us thereof
4. God takes this name, " The God of forgiveness," to he his in a peculiar manner, as that whereby he will be distinguished and known. He appropriates it to himself, as expressing that which the power and goodness of no, other can extend unto. " There are lords many, and gods many," saith the apostle, 1 Cor. viii. 5, — Xsyo/Asvo/ ko'r some that are called so, such as some account so to be. How is the true God distinguished from these gods by reputation? He is so by this name ; he is the God of pardons : Micah vii. 1 8, " Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity?" This is his prerogative ; herein none is equal to him, like him, or a sharer with him. " Who is a God like vmto thee, that may be called a God of pardons?" The vanities of the nations cannot give them this rain ; they have no re- freshing showers of mercy and pardon in their power. Neither angels, nor saints, nor images, nor popes, can pardon sin. By this name doth he distinguish himself from them all.
5. To be known by this name is the great glory of God in this world. When Moses desired to see the glory of God, the Lord tells him that "he could not see his face," Exod. xxxiii. 18-20. The face of God, or the gracious majesty of his Being, his essential glory, is not to be seen of any in this life ; we cannot see him as he is. But the glorious manifestation of himself we may behold and contemplate. This we may see as the back parts of God ; that shadow of his ex- cellencies which he casteth forth in the passing by us in his works and dispensations. This Moses shall see. And wherein did it con- sist? Why, in the revelation and declaration of this name of God: chap, xxxiv. 6, 7, " The Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, long- suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin." To be known by this name, to be honoured, feared, believed as that declares him, is the great glory of God. And shall this fail us? Can we be deceived trusting in it, or expecting that we shall find him to be what his name declares? God forbid.