2. On the part of the penitent himself —
[If a man were pardoned without repentance, he would feel little, if any, obligation to God : and would be ready to commit the same iniquities again, from an idea that there was no great enormity in them. But when a person is truly peni- tent, he admires and adores the riches of that grace that is offered him in the Gospel and, having tasted the bit- terness of sin, he is desirous to flee from it, as from the face of a serpent ]
Hence it is that so great a stress is laid on repent- ance, in the text: " If they be humbled, then will I pardon :" then I can do it consistently with my own honour ; and then will they make a suitable improve- ment of the mercy vouchsafed unto them. — It will be profitable yet further to inquire into,
III. The ground and measure of that mercy which
penitents may expect —
[The expressions in the text are very peculiar. Thrice is mention made of that covenant which God made with Abra- ham, and renewed with Isaac and Jacob. And wherefore is this repetition used, but to shew that that covenant is the ground and measure of all God's mercies towards us ? As far as it related to the Jewish nation, it assured to them the enjoy- ment of the promised land. But it relates also to the spi- ritual children of Abraham ; and assures to them all the blessings of grace and glory. It is that covenant whereby God engaged that " in Abraham's Seed should all the nations of the earth be blessed." Of that covenant Christ was the Mediator and Surety. He undertook to fulfil the conditions of it, that tve might partake of its benefits. These conditions he did fulfil : " he made his soul an offering for sin ;" and now claims the accomplishment of the promise, that " he should see of the travail of his soul and be satisfied." This covenant God re- members on behalf of penitent transgressors ; and all his engagements contained in it he will perform. It is not because penitents deserve mercy, that he will impart it to them, but because he has promised it in that covenant : and for the very same reason will he impart unto them all the blessings of sal- vation. All the riches of his glory shall be given them, because they lay hold of that covenant, and look to him to approve himself faithful to his own engagements — ]
As an improvement of this subject, we would suggest to you two things : 1. Be thankful that you are yet within the reach of mercy —
143.] god's promises to penitents. GHS
[The state represented in the text is such as might be thought altogether hopeless. But God says, " If then they be humbled, and they then accept the punishment of their iniquity, He will even then remember his covenant." Surely this shews us that none should despair of mercy, but that, whatever be our state of guilt or misery, we may yet " cry unto God, even as Jonah did, from the belly of hellf." But how many are there who are now beyond the reach of mercy ! God does not say, that, if we cry unto him in another world, he will regard us. No : we shall then cry in vain for " a drop of water to cool our tongues." O that we might improve this day of grace, this day of salvation ! ]
2. Have especial respect unto the Covenant of Grace —
It is to that that God looks : and to that should we look also. It is that alone which is the real ground of all our hopes. This matter is by no means sufficiently understood amongst us : we do not consider, as we ought, the stupendous plan of salvation revealed to us in the Gospel. If we saw more clearly the nature and necessity of the covenant which God entered into with his only dear Son for the redemption of a ruined world, we should form a far better estimate of the malignity of sin, and of our obligations to the mercy of God. Beloved brethren, remember this covenant, both for the humiliation and encouragement of your souls. Independent of that, you must expect nothing: but by pleading it before God, you shall obtain what " neither eye hath seen, nor ear heard, nor heart conceived" ]