Infer —
1. How base is it to sin against such a God!
[Sin, of whatever kind, is really directed against him1'. And shall it appear a light matter to us to offend such a God? See this argument urged by Ezrac; and let every temptation be repelled with this indignant expression, How shall I do this great wickedness, and sin against Godd ?]
2. How ought we to fear and love our God !
[It is twice observed in the text, that God's mercy is dis- played " to them that fear him:" and it is manifested on pur- pose that he may be feared e. Let us therefore not despise the riches of his goodness f, but improve them for the confirming of our fearg, and the quickening of our loveh.]
b Ps. li. 4. <= Ezra jx# ^ x4. Heb. viii. 12.
d Gen. xxxix. 9. e Ps. cxxx. 4. f Rom. ii. 4.
s Hos. iii. 5. h Ps. cxvi. 12. and cxlv. 8, 9, 21.
Ps. ciii. 15 — 18. As for man, his days are as grass; as a flower of the field, so he Jlourisheth: for the ivind passeth over it, and it is gone ; and the place thereof shall knoiv it no more. But the mercy of the Lord is from, everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children; to such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.
THE consideration of the shortness and uncer- tainty of human life is at all times seasonable, and more especially on such an occasion as this; when
&c.a If indeed we had no hope beyond the
grave, such a subject would be most gloomy and appalling : but when connected, as in the passage before us, with the unbounded mercy of our God, it is full of consolation to all who are looking forward to the eternal world. But we must have a good hope that we shall be partakers of God's mercy, or else not even the glorious description which is here given of it will divest death of its sting, or reconcile us to the thought of approaching dissolution. Let us then from these words consider,
a The occasion may be stated as for a Funeral, or on New Year's Day.