yet ^ Ps. xiv. 5. & cxii. 2. « Prov. xxx. 12.
391.] EXTENT OF GOd's MERCY. 277
yet sworn in his wrath that you shall not enter into his rett." And without delay flee to the Saviour, " whose blood will cleanse you from all sin." Yet be not content to have your sins for- given. When you pray with David, " Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean," " wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow," forget not to add, ^' Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me !" " The old heart must be taken away, and a new heart be given you," before you can enter into the kingdom of heaven. You must be born again, and become " new creatures in Christ Jesus." You must be- come the very reverse of what the world are, regarding God, as they regard the world; and the world, as they regard their God. When they are in holy exercises, they are quite out of their element: but when engaged in worldly pursuits or company, they are quite at home. Be ye, on the contrary, strangers in the world, and at home with God. Let your whole life and conversation testify for you, whose you are, and whom you serve: and then will God acknowledge you as his in the eternal world.]
THE EXTENT OF GOD's MERCY.
Ps. Ixxviii. 34 — 39. JVhen he slew them, then they sought him; and they returned and inquired early after God: and they remembered that God was their Rock, and the high God their Redeemer. Nevertheless they did flatter him ivith their mouth, and they lied unto him. ivith their tongues :
for their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant. But he, being full of compassion,
forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he is anger away, and did not stir up all his ivrath: for he remembered that they were but flesh, a ivind that passeth away and cometh not again.
THE psalm before us is altogether historical : yet may it be called one great parable. It is, in fact, so called by the Psalmist himself: and the very words by which he designates this composition are quoted by the Evangelist as fulfilled, when our blessed Lord spake to the people in parables, and in parables ex- clusively''. The truth is, that the whole account of the redemption of Israel from Egypt, with their pre- servation in the wilderness, and their final establish- ment in the land of Canaan, is typical of man's
redemption » Compare ver. 2, with Matt. xiii. 35.
278 PSALMS, Lxxviii. 34 — 39.' [391.
redemption through Christ, and of the final salvation of all God's chosen people. It is not unlike the parable of the Prodigal Son: and, unless we view it in this light, and read in it the great concerns of our own souls, we have no just conception of its true import. As a record of the most important events in the Jewish history, the writer of it might justly urge the importance of transmitting it with care, and teaching it with diligence, to all succeeding generations ^ : but, as a vehicle of spiritual instruc- tion, it is of inestimable value, not to Jews only, but to Gentiles also, and ought to be studied with care by every child of man.
We shall not now enter into a minute illustration of this truth, because it would occupy far more of your attention than could be allotted to one dis- course : but a general view of the subject will be brought before us, whilst we notice the conduct of the Israelites towards God, and his forbearance to- wards them, or, in other words,
I. The extent of their wickedness —
They were continually provoking God to anger — [They were from the beginning " a rebellious and gain- saying people." Never would they pay any regard to God, till they were constrained to do so by his chastening rod. In vain were his mercies multiplied unto them : they overlooked them all, and " forgat all the wonders'' of his love and mercy '^. Dis- satisfied with what he gave them for their subsistence, notwith- standing it was " angels' food," they lusted after things which were in no respect necessary for their well-being''. And when they had provoked God to punish them for their ungrateful mur- murings, instead of being reclaimed by his chastisements, " they only sinned yet more against him^." When, inconsequence of their obstinacy, these chastisements became more severe, and no way of deliverance was found but by their turning unto God, they pretended to return unto him ; but it was a mere pretence. They called to remembrance his past interpositions in their favour, and professed to acknowledge him as their Redeemer and their God : but they only " flattered him" with titles, which excited no corresponding sentiments in their hearts, and " lied unto him" with vows, which they never intended to perform. They pretended to lay hold ou ^* his covenant : " but they would " not