Ps. ciii. 8 — 13. The Lord is merciful and gracious, sloiv to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide ; neither will he keep his anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.
WE cannot form a juster conception of the Deity than from the history of the Israelites. In the mix- ture of mercy and judgment which is there recorded, we see every one of his perfections displayed in most lively characters'1. His dealings with us indeed are less discernible : but, the more they are scrutinized, the more will they appear to be regulated according to the counsels of unerring wisdom and unbounded goodness. The words before us will naturally lead us to a contemplation of this subject : and we shall have abundant evidence of their truth, while we con- sider his goodness,
I. Generally, as it is in himself —
The " mercy and grace" of our God are chiefly discovered by,
1. His patience in bearing with us —
[Had God been such an one as ourselves, he would long- since have broke forth in anger against the whole world, and consumed them in his heavy displeasure. But, notwithstanding the multitude of their provocations, he has been long-suffering towards them1', and has waited to be gracious unto them0. He has borne with many vessels of wrath, that have been daily fitting themselves for destruction d : and has kept mercy for thousands6, who have been continually occupied in casting it away. The description which Nehemiah gives of the divine patience as manifested in his dayf, is no less realized towards the whole world at this very hour.]
2. His mercy in pardoning us —
[God, in infinite compassion, laid our iniquities upon his only dear Song, and exacted of him our debth, in order that he might exercise mercy towards us consistently with the demands of truth and justice1. And, having provided such a remedy, he delights in extending its benefits even to the vilest of the human race k. Thousands that are now glorified in heaven, and thousands too that are yet compassed with infirmities on earth, can attest, that with him is plenteous redemption1, and that he is rich in mercy unto all that call upon himm.]
a ver. 7. b 2 Pet. iii. 9. c Isai. xxx. 18.
d Rom. ix. 22. e Exocl. xxxiv. G, 7. f Neh. ix. 1G — 21.
s Isai. liii. G. h Isai. liii. 7. Lowth's Translation.
1 Rom. iii. 25, 26. k Mic. vii. 18. ' Ps. cxxx. 7, 8.
m Rom. x. 12, 13.