There may be repudiated, and orthodox sentiments respecting the way of acceptance with God embraced; many things of a religious character may be attended to, in agreement with the fashion of the times, (for the fact cannot be disguised, that what are called evangelical doctrines, are now popular with thousands of worldly people,) yet may the heart never have been wounded by the Spirit of God - never have been healed by the blood of Jesus never have been humbled by the enjoyment of mercy. is the form of godliness, but where is the power? there is the reception of doctrines, but where the indwelling of the Holy Spirit? there is outward zeal for God, but where is crucifixion to the world? there is a connection with the machinery of religion, but where is that fellowship with the Father and his Son Jesus Christ, which is sure to follow a believing reception of divine mercy? The religion which does not bring us to God, will never raise us to glory. The consideration of the worth of the soul, and the value of the blessing to be obtained, should stir us up to be very anxious not to be deceived in a matter so transcendently important. Let us now take a view of the properties of mercy as revealed in God's word, and we shall find fresh reason to cause us to exclaim, "how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty." The oracles of truth thus speak concerning the infinite one, God is light, God is love, God is a spirit. Here the understanding may travel; the field is boundless: here the heart may rest; the portion is infinite: here the spirit may hold communion, and still rise eternally; and to all this doth love invite; to all this doth mercy introduce. Happy those whose hearts respond to God's call, and who can in truth say, "because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice; my soul followeth hard after thee, thy right hand upholdeth me." Such shall travel further and further "into that love which passeth knowledge, and be filled with all the fulness of God." Believing contemplation on the properties of divine mercy, is the means best adapted in the hands of the Spirit of God, to produce this desirable state of mind. God's mercy is eternal. "As for man, his days are as grass, as the flower of the field, so he flourisheth the wind passeth over it, and it is gone, and the place thereof shall know it no more; but the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on them that fear him." Mercy is not like an arch overshadowing time, but like a glorious river rising in eternity, flowing through time, and then emptying itself again into its parent's bosom, bearing with it all those countless myriads of sinners, who have cast their guilty souls therein. What a contrast between withering dying man, and ever-during mercy. Mercy is no flower of the field, but the tree of life; it passeth not away, but endureth for ever. Such mercy is divinely suited for the soul of man, being a sufficient remedy for all his ills, and a portion for all his desires. The soul is immortal, so is mercy; the soul is diseased, mercy heals; the soul seeks society, mercy introduces it to all the noble spirits of the universe; the soul wants employment, mercy finds it; therefore, "bless the Lord, O my soul." This mercy is free, sovereign, and undeserved. Low was our estate when it remembered us, Psalm cxxxvi. 16; wretched our condition; "Children of wrath, even as others," Eph. ii. 3. We were candidates for Gomorrah's doom; but mercy said, "How shall I make thee as Admah : how shall I set thee as Zeboim! I am God, and not man, Hosea xi. 8 9.; "return O Israel, though thou hast destroyed thyself and fallen by thine iniquity." It is boundless, plenteous, and perpetual. God, "who is rich in mercy!" We may as soon try to measure the riches of his own blessedness, or the riches of his dominions or holiness, as the riches of his mercy. "Thou Lord art good, and ready to forgive, and plenteous in mercy to all them that call upon thee, Psalm lxxxvi. 5. It follows its objects all the days of their life, Psalm xxiii. 6; it perfects that which concerneth them, Psalm cxxxviii. 8; it crowns them with grace and glory, Psalm ciii. 5. It is unchangeable. "The mountains shall depart, but my kindness shall not depart, saith the Lord, that hath mercy on thee," Isaiah liv. It attends all Jacob's seed as it did that ancient wrestler, and redeems them from evil, and never leaves them until it hath done all it hath spoken to them of. It is powerful. Now I beseech thee (said one to whose ear its accents were most pleasant,) let the power of my Lord be great, according as thou hast spoken ...... Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people; and the Lord said, I have pardoned according to thy word, Num. xiv. 17-20. O how strong is the ...... 66 arm of mercy; it casts the sin away as far as the east is from the west;" while it lifts up the sinner from the horrible pit to the rock of ages; from the dunghill, to the throne of glory. It is tender as it is strong. It is faintly imaged forth by the bowels of a father, Psalm ciii. 13; the tenderness of a mother, Isaiah xlix. 14; the patience and skill of a physician, Psalm cxlvii. 3; but no images, however grand, however tender, can shew forth what is included in such expressions as "compassion," "loving kindness, and tender mercies," and "multitudes of loving-kindnesses, &c." Well might Jeremiah sing in his sorrows, when he could and did realize that "his compassions fail not; " and while he felt that they were new every morning, and his soul grasped Jehovah as his portion, he could bear to see all earthly comforts expiring at his feet. Blessed are those who can sing, And while on thy mercy with rapture I'm gazing; Lovingkindness! What mind can grasp the mighty import of that word. The lovingkindness of an infinite and gracious being? who can fathom such marvellous grace? It is more than kindness; it is love added to it. Kindness is benevolence, lovingkindness implies affection and relationship. It may be thus illustrated: A child is dreadfully injured in the street; some benevolent strangers take charge of the little sufferer, and do all that kindness can devise; still it remains agonized and disconsolate. Their patience is almost wearied, their kindness will soon be exhausted. At length the mother arrives, she watches with unwearied eye and wakeful heart and soon on her bosom all griefs are for a time forgotten. God's lovingkindness is wronged by this or any other image. Surely lovingkindness only solves God's conduct towards man. Imagine (to return a moment to the figure we have just left) a person who knew nothing of maternal affection, watching a mother over a sick child. See, she is wearing out her energies, and hazarding her life in attending him; week after week she has no rest; and then, when he is dead, and she is released from her toil, behold her weeping as though her heart would break. How would such a person wonder till he knew the strength of maternal love. So, until we know the love and mercy of God, we cannot conceive that God should be so mindful of man. "How excellent is thy lovingkindness O God, therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings." Psalm xxxvi. 7. To those drawn by lovingkindness, God himself in his propitious, protecting, and paternal character becomes their dwelling-place. There they find safe shelter, sure provision, and sweet communion; they can smile at their foes, as they sing "I will say of the Lord, he is my refuge," Psalm xci. 2. "Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee." Psalm lxiii. 5. Here, then, behold the way open into the bosom of God. Do our hearts say "thou shalt guide me with thy counsel," or has all the eloquence of mercy as yet been lost upon us. It must not be; |