is that which maketh mercy the more radiant; which magnifieth the freeness, fulness, and superabundance of it, that it rejoiceth against judgement. (James ii. 13) These considerations tend much to humble a people which remain yet escaped, as we do this day. The sad conjunctions of our sins with the Lord's goodness, when the Lord saith, "I will remember my covenant, and thou shalt remember thy ways." Then, he saith, “Thou shalt be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more, because of thy shame, when I am pacified towards thee," Ezek. xvi. 60-63. When we compare his mercy with our corrupt doings, then is a time to loathe ourselves in our own sight. (Ezek. xx. 42-44, and xxxvi. 25-32) Sin punished, doth many times harden a sinner in pride, as we see in Pharaoh but sin pardoned, and subdued with mercy, should melt the soul into a godly sorrow, holy revenge, and selfdispleasancy for it. They shall fear the Lord and his goodness in the latter days. O let us learn to bewail our wickedness, in that we have ventured on it in a day of mercy, as if we had been delivered to commit abominations; (Jer. vii. 10) as if privileges were a protection to profaneness. Certainly, if mercies be aggravations of sin, no nation in the world is less excusable than we. What nation in the earth hath God so honoured with a long possession of his oracles, and glorious light of his word? insomuch that other nations study the English tongue to read our books.-What nation hath ever had such manifold, such miraculous deliverances? What nation hath the Lord crowned with a greater abundance of all good things? What means could be used to work upon a people, which the Lord hath not made use of amongst us? If teaching would work upon us, we have had his word. If chastisements would amend us, we have had his sword. If bounty would persuade us, we have been fed, and cloathed, and healed, and crowned, and compassed with mercies more than we can recount. If strange and unparalleled providencies would awaken us, this nation hath never had, for many hundred years, such a prospect of God's works, such interwoven mixtures of mercies, of judgements, of wonders, of terrors: wars raging, and again ceasing; seas roaring, and again calmed. And certainly the works of the Lord should be sought out of his people, (Psalm cxi. 2) and improved to their own account. Felt judgements should make them out of love with sin: renewed mercies should make them in love with God. That which humbleth, should heal them; that which comforts, should cure them; that which amazeth, should amend them. 2. This is a strong argument in prayer for penitent sinners to use, that God hath mercy in store even in a day of sin for his people: that though we have trespassed against God, yet there is hope in Israel concerning this thing; (Ezra x. 2) that though sin do ever forfeit mercy, yet it doth not ever remove it; though it do always provoke wrath, yet it doth not always procure it. How will mercy triumph in a day of repentance, when so great provocations have not hitherto extinguished it! How will fire break forth in dry wood, when it hath prevailed against the green! Needs must that jewel be glorious in the sun, which glisters in the night. This should exceedingly encourage us unto repentance. Doth the Lord invite backsliding Israel? doth he wait to be gracious to a free people? doth he pity us in our blood? and are his bowels kindled towards us, when we compass him about with lies and deceit ? doth he look back with pity upon a denying Peter? doth he speak pardon from heaven upon a persecuting Paul? doth he shew mercy on a Manasseh, filling Jerusalem with blood and idols? doth he appear first unto Mary Magdalen, out of whom he had cast seven devils? O, who would not be encourged by such examples, to flee for sanctuary from the wrath to come, unto that mercy which hath snatched these as brands out of the fire? The Lord keeps as open house for us as for them. (Isa. lv. 1. Rev. xxii. 17) His mercy as abundant for any other penitents as for them. (Isa. lv. 6, 7, 8) His call and invitation the same to us as to them. (John vii. 37, 38) The blood of Christ as effectual for us as for them. (1 John ii. 2) They were set forth as examples to all, that should, after, believe in him unto eternal life. (1 Tim. i. 16) Only let us beware of profaning this comfort, by persisting in our sins; but follow the example of these penitents here: though their sin had not removed God's mercy, yet God's mercy did remove their sin. They entered into a covenant, swore to the Lord, gave their hands that they would put away their strange wives, and separate themselves from the people of the land. (Ezra x. 3—11, 12—19) This is a genuine work of true hope in mercy, when it makes us purify ourselves. (1 John iii. 3) No man can hope for glory, who is an enemy to grace; for glory is grace perfected ;and we can hope for nothing when we hate: he that hates grace, doth not love glory. 3. We note, that, in solemn humiliations, there is a great emphasis in these words, As it is this day. It is a circumstance greatly considerable, the time wherein we have sinned and escaped. Time greatly aggravates sin; (Exod. viii. 32. Luke xix. 42) time greatly commends mercy, that God kept touch with his people to a very day. (Exod. xii. 41, 42) Therefore we should learn wisdom to improve time unto duty as it is said of the children of Issachar, that "they had understanding of the times to know what Israel ought to do." (1 Chron. xii. 32) "Who knoweth," saith Mordecai to Esther, "whether thou be come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" Esther iv. 14. Let us therefore wisely consider the condition of the times, which God hath brought upon us times of great and universal sickness and infirmity, after he had, not many months since, upon prayer, removed such distempers in good part. Surely his anger is not turned away, his hand is stretched out still, because we have not unfeignedly turned unto him that smiteth us. 4. Times of wonderful changes and unsettledness; many preparations and attempts to heal the breaches amongst us, and many abortions and miscarriages in those attempts; honourable persons, raised up by God to serve the interest of the nations, and, by his providence, laid down again. It is good to study the meaning of God in these things. 1. That we should bewail our carnal confidence, and learn to look up and to trust more in him, and less in man. 2. To labour for hearts established by his grace, that we may the more comfortably look for an outward establishment in order and peace; for our settlement must begin in our hearts:-so long as our hearts are unsteadfast with God, his dealings may be still in fluctuation and uncertainty towards us. 3. To acknowledge, notwithstanding these sad changes and concussions, this great mercy, That we remain yet escaped, that the Lord hath not yet said unto us, that he would cast us off; hath not exposed us to those flames and commotions which our sins have deserved; but that yet we sit under our vines and fig-trees, and none make us afraid. Lastly, To cast anchor on the rock of ages, and keep close to the throne of grace; to secure his love and care of us, his presence and throne amongst us, who never dies, in whom there is everlasting strength; to get firm holdfast of those comforts, which have nothing of mortality, nothing of lubricity in them; which will stay with us while we remain here, to sweeten all the passages of our pilgrimage, and accompany us unto the presence of the Lord; in whose presence there is fulness of joy, and at whose right hand there are pleasures for evermore. |