Page images
PDF
EPUB

66

heart; and to give to those who "mourn in Zion, to give," I say, beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness "?" And, if the greatness of your past sins appear an obstacle in your way, has he not told you, that "where sin has abounded, his grace shall much more abound?" Yield not, then, to desponding thoughts, nor limit the mercy of your God: but know assuredly, that he will "heal the broken in heart," and that all who come unto the Saviour heavy-laden with their sins shall be partakers of his promised rest".]

u Isai. lxi. 1-3. and Luke iv. 18. y Ps. cxlvii. 3.

x Rom. v. 20, 21.

z Matt. xi. 28.

DLV.

THE SINNER'S HOPE.

Ps. xxxv. 3. Say unto my soul, I am thy salvation. SUSPENSE is extremely painful to the human mind, and the more so in proportion to the danger to which we are exposed. David experienced this in a very high degree. In the psalm before us he appears to have been greatly agitated with fear on account of the number and malignity of the enemies who sought his ruin, and were exulting in the expectation of his speedy fall. Seeing no hope for himself in the efforts of his adherents, he betook himself to prayer, and with most earnest importunity implored that help from his Creator which the creature was unable to afford. And as it was with an armed host that he was beset, he addressed the Lord under the character of a mighty warrior, to stand forth in his defence: "Plead my cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me: fight thou against them that fight against me. Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help. Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.'

This last petition I propose to consider,

I. As offered by him

Nothing could exceed the bitterness of David's

enemies

66

[If we mark the diversified expressions in this psalm, we shall have some idea of the danger to which he was exposed. Saul having determined if possible to destroy him, his subjects of every description leagued together to execute his will. "False witnesses rose up, and laid to David's charge things which he knew not ;" and, in confirmation of their accusations, declared that they were eye-witnesses of the acts imputed to him. Among the number of these were many on whom he had conferred the greatest obligations, and to whom he had given no just occasion of offence. They devised deceitful matters against him":""they hid a net for him, and digged a pit for his soul." To encourage one another in their odious work, "they winked with their eyef;" and, when they thought they had prevailed against him, "they rejoiced in his adversity ";" and magnified themselves against him," and "said in their hearts, Ah! so would we have it: we have swallowed him upi." The very abjects, encouraged by the example of their superiors, gathered themselves together against him, and tare him incessantly; whilst hypocritical mockers in their feasts, (pretending to more humanity,) yet "gnashed upon him with their teeth." In a word, all classes of the commmunity lay in wait for his soul', and, like lions prowling for their prey, sought to destroy and to devour him.]

66

Under these circumstances he cried to God for help

[The particular expression in our text is worthy of notice, especially as shewing what thoughts the Psalmist entertained of God. He believed that God was able to deliver him, how powerful soever his enemies might be. He knew, that if God was for him, " no weapon that was formed against him could prosper." Nor did he doubt the goodness of God, as willing to hear and answer his petitions, and to afford him the protection which he so earnestly desired. But that which chiefly demands our attention is, his persuasion of the condescension of the Most High, in that he prayed, nor merely for deliverance, but for such an assurance of it to his soul, as should calm all the tumult of his mind, and fill him with perfect peace.

Now this was the sure way to succeed in prayer. Nothing so secures the interposition of God in our behalf, as the magnifying of him in our hearts: "Them that honour him, he will honour." If we limit his mercies, he will limit his gifts. If we doubt his power or willingness to help, he will withhold such

[blocks in formation]

displays of his mercy as he would otherwise have vouchsafed". On the other hand, if we be steadfast in believing expectations of his mercy, we shall have such discoveries of his glory as an unbelieving heart has no conception of. We should never forget, that there is nothing too great to ask of God. We never can 'open our mouth so wide, but he will fill it:" nor can we ever be more enlarged in our petitions towards him, than he will be in his communications towards us.]

66

But the petition in our text is still more deserving of attention

II. As suited to us

Imminent as David's dangers were, they were not to be compared with those to which we are exposed-

[David's enemies might be eluded, intimidated, vanquished: but those with which the soul of every sinner is encompassed can never be eluded, never be overcome.

Sin is a deadly foe, that seeks to destroy every child of man. It lies in wait for us, to allure, to deceive, to ruin us. It clothes itself in specious array: it comes with a friendly aspect: it bids us fear no harm: it tells us, "We shall have peace, though we yield to its fascinations"." But it is no sooner committed, than it is registered in the book of God's remembrance, and will come forth at a future period as a swift witness against all whom it has deceived. From man it may be hidden: and even by those who have committed it, it may be forgotten: but "it hunts the wicked man to overthrow him;" and though it do not immediately seize the sinner as its prey, "it will be sure to find him out," and, like a millstone about his neck, to sink him into everlasting perdition".

The law of God also follows with its curses all who have transgressed its commands. It is inexorable. It is a creditor that cannot be satisfied, or appeased. It will take the sinner by the throat, saying, "Pay me that thou owest:" and, when we cannot discharge our debt, "it will listen to no entreaties, but will cast us into prison, till we have paid the uttermost farthing." God himself appealed to his people of old respecting this: "My words, and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers? And they returned, and said, Like as the Lord of Hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us." Of the

n Matt. xiii. 58.
q 2 Cor. vi. 11-13.
t Numb. xxxii. 23.
y Zech. i. 6.

• John xi. 40.
r Deut. xxix. 19.
u Jam. i 14, 15.

P Ps. lxxxi. 10.
s Ps. cxl. 11.
* Gal. iii. 10.

six hundred thousand men who came out of Egypt, how many entered into Canaan? None, except Joshua and Caleb; who "had followed the Lord fully." Against all the rest a sentence of death was denounced in the very first year of their sojourning in the wilderness: and at the close of the forty years a minute inquiry was instituted; and not one was found alive2. So it will be found in the last day, that of all the threatenings in the book of God not one has fallen to the ground; and that, of all who mourned not over their transgressions of the law, not one escaped the vengeance of his God. God has said, "Their foot shall slide in due timea:" he has declared that "they shall all be turned into hell, even all the nations that forget him":" that "he will rain upon them snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest; and that this shall be the portion of their cupe:" he has declared it, I say; and, whether we will believe it or not, his law shall be thus honoured, and his justice shall be thus magnified, on every impenitent transgressor: for already is he "whetting his sword for the execution of his vengeance upon them; and soon will he make his arrows drunk with their blood"." "The soul that sinneth, it shall diee.”

There is yet another adversary, who is lying in wait for our souls, and, like a roaring lion, going about, seeking to devour us; and that is Satan: nor can we have any conception of the wiles and devices to which he has recourse, in order to accomplish his malignant purpose. Even in Paradise he prevailed to ensnare and ruin our first parents: and the same temptations he puts in our way, assuring us, that, in following his counsel, we shall have unqualified pleasure, and happiness without alloy. He is in Scripture compared to "a fowler'; and, like a fowler, he spreads his nets, and allures us by temptations suited to our appetites, and by the example of sinners whom he has already ensnared, and whom he makes use of to decoy us. We see nothing but the promised gratification; and whilst one or another invites us to participate his supposed joys, we flock to him, "without considering that it is for our life." Thus it is the drunkard, the whoremonger, the adulterer is ensnared: he thinks of nothing but his pleasure: but the fowler who lays the snare, foresees and prognosticates the end. Having succeeded in "taking us alive," he "keeps us in peace," and does all he can to hide from us our bondage: but he knows, that they who now yield to his solicitations as a tempter, will soon experience his power as a tormentor. Another enemy also that is confederate against us, is death.

[blocks in formation]

He is waiting every moment to execute his commission against us; well knowing, that the instant he can inflict the stroke he meditates, all hope of our deliverance is at an end for ever. He has his eye steadily fixed on persons of every age and station: and the instruments he has at his command are as numerous as the sands upon the sea-shore. When he comes in his more visible and gradual assaults, he contrives to hide his ultimate designs, and to divert the minds of the sufferers from the thoughts of an hereafter. As the avenger of sin he entered into the world: and in the same character he is daily sweeping millions from the earth, and bearing in malignant triumph his unhappy victims to the tribunal of their God.

Hell too combines with all the rest, and is opening wide its jaws to receive its destined prey. What the prophet said respecting the king of Babylon, may be said to every impenitent sinner under heaven: "Hell from beneath is moved for thee, to meet thee at thy coming!." As in that instance "it stirred up the chief ones of the earth, and raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations" to exult over the fallen monarch, so those persons who were once our partners in sin, or whom by our example we hardened in their iniquities, will all come forth to meet us, that they may in the midst of all their own torments have the malignant pleasure of beholding and of aggravating ours. It is said, that in the last day "the angels will bind up sinners in bundles to burn them;" and for this end, no doubt, that they who have been associates in wickedness may, by their mutual execrations, augment each other's misery to all eternity. For this all hell is waiting. We are told indeed respecting the Rich Man, who lifting up his eyes in torments, desired that a messenger might be sent to his five surviving brethren, to "warn them, lest they also should come into the same place of torment:" but this was not from any love to them, but from self-love; knowing as he did by bitter experience, how greatly his own sufferings would be increased by the reproaches of those whom by his influence and example he had so contributed to destroy.

Know ye then, Beloved, that if David was in danger from the thousands who sought his life, so are ye ten thousand times more in danger from sin, which deceives you; from the law, which denounces its curse against you; from Satan, who arms against you all the hosts of hell; from death, that is ever waiting to cut you down: and from hell, that is already yawning to swallow you up.]

Say then whether David's petition be not altogether suited to our state?

[blocks in formation]
« PreviousContinue »