_The Lord is good to all, and his tender mercies are over all his works._-PS. 145:9.
1. I am now indeed convinced (some one may say), that G.o.d knows my necessities better than I can discover them to him; that he has commanded prayer, and promised to hear it: but I am not yet fully satisfied, whether I in particular am not excluded from the benefit of these promises?-Come, then, and let us now show that G.o.d is no respecter of persons, in opposition to those blind guides, who, by their false interpretations of some places of Holy Scripture, particularly Rom. 9:13, Mal. 1:2, and the like, have endeavored to prove that G.o.d has an aversion to some particular persons, and a partial fondness for others; contrary to the plain and indisputable testimonies of Holy Scripture, which we ought firmly to fix in our minds, that we may not be perverted by the false glosses of unreasonable men.
"Of a truth I perceive that G.o.d is no respecter of persons: but in every nation, he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him." Acts 10:34, 35.
"The Lord your G.o.d is G.o.d of G.o.ds, and Lord of lords, a great G.o.d, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward. He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment." Deut. 10:17, 18.
"G.o.d accepteth no man"s person." Gal. 2:6.
"There is no respect of persons with G.o.d." Col. 3:25.
"As I live, saith the Lord G.o.d, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live.-As for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness.-None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him." Ezek. 33:11, 12, 16.
"This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit, for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all long-suffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting." 1 Tim. 1:15, 16.
"G.o.d will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth." 1 Tim. 2:4.
"G.o.d is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." 2 Pet. 3:9.
These and such testimonies of Scripture ought to be deeply imprinted on our minds, that every one may know, that all men are equally dear to G.o.d; that all men were created by him according to his image, and redeemed by Jesus Christ. Moreover, G.o.d has sworn by himself, that he desires not the death of a sinner. Hence G.o.d a.s.sists us all by his prevenient grace, not waiting till we are worthy to receive it. He comes to us, before we come to him; he knew us, before we knew him; he loveth us, before we love him; he loved us while we were yet his enemies. Rom. 5:10. He, therefore, is blind and impious, who dares a.s.sert that G.o.d does not love all men alike.
Such a one scorns the G.o.d of heaven, accuses him of injustice, and makes him a respecter of persons.
2. But when it is said that G.o.d loved Jacob, and hated Esau (Rom. 9:13), such language is not to be understood of them personally, or as indicating only hatred, but refers to the exclusion from the inheritance in the land of promise-not to a hatred which refuses salvation, but to the refusal of temporal blessings. And though we are all sinners, yet G.o.d has a greater regard for those that love him than for those that continue in their sins and blindness, neither acknowledging G.o.d for their Father, nor bringing forth the fruits of repentance. G.o.d takes no pleasure in the wickedness of these men; but rather desires that all should be saved. And whereas it is said that "he hath mercy on whom he will have mercy; and whom he will he hardeneth" (Rom. 9:18); we must know that he hardeneth none but those who by their unbelief and impenitence have hardened themselves. These, indeed, he does at length, with reluctance, leave to themselves; and being thus forsaken, they naturally fall into a state of entire obduracy. And whereas it is said, that "it is not of him that runneth, but of G.o.d that sheweth mercy" (Rom. 9:16); it is plain that G.o.d doth elect and antic.i.p.ate us by his grace, and not we ourselves, and that he is the Author and Giver of all our graces; so that whatsoever good we do, is owing to him, and not to ourselves.
3. This is the true interpretation of those places, which some perverse minds have interpreted, as if G.o.d had decreed to d.a.m.n a great part of mankind (as the poets feigned of Saturn, who hated and devoured his own children). This is a doctrine that tends directly to subvert our faith, and to precipitate men into despair, or into a rude, lawless and Epicurean mode of life, as appears by woful experience. From all which snares, and deceits of the devil, may the Lord deliver us! Amen.
A PRAYER.
O Eternal and most righteous G.o.d, who acceptest not the persons of men; but art so just in thy dispensations towards us all, as to antic.i.p.ate us with thy grace and favor, not waiting till we are already worthy, but bestowing thy prevenient grace to make us so; teach me, by thy Holy Spirit, gratefully to acknowledge thy boundless mercy towards us. Let thy light arise in my heart, that I may not, with the wicked world, disown that grace which thou hast already bestowed upon me, which is that treasure hidden in the field, the earnest of the inheritance of the saints; but may diligently search after it, find it, taste it, and enjoy it. Amen.
Section IX.
Showing That It Is Equally Sinful To Pray To G.o.d Upon The Presumption Of Our Own Merit, And To Forbear On Account Of Our Unworthiness.
_Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son._-LUKE 15:21.
1. He that prays upon the presumption of his own holiness and piety, walketh not in the direct and plain path of the children of G.o.d; but turns to the right hand, outruns his Saviour, and, like a sacrilegious robber, deprives him of the honor due unto him (since He alone is our righteousness, our holiness, and our sanctification, 1 Cor. 1:30), and depends entirely upon his own unprofitable works; not acknowledging the merit of Christ alone, but depending upon human righteousness, and believing that G.o.d hears our prayers, not for the sake of Jesus Christ, but for the sake of man"s good works. But this is directly contrary to Scripture. "If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquity, O Lord, who shall stand?-But with the Lord there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption." Ps. 130:3, 7. A man may as well say, that the operation of his eyes causes the light of the sun, as that his own righteousness is the cause of his receiving the grace of G.o.d. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Elias, &c., were all saved by grace; all joining in that pet.i.tion, "Enter not into judgment with thy servant, O Lord, &c." Ps. 143:2.
2. He, on the other hand, that neglects to pray from a sense of his manifold transgressions, judging himself upon that account unworthy to speak to G.o.d, turns to the left hand, and sinks in his own misery and unworthiness, affronting the Son of G.o.d, and (without repentance) running into despair; whilst he thinks that the pa.s.sion and death of Christ are not sufficient to atone for the sins of the whole world. Against this temptation, let us call to mind, that "where sin abounded, there grace did much more abound." Rom. 5:20. For our misery appeals to the mercy of G.o.d, our weakness to his power, our unworthiness to his majesty, our unrighteousness to his righteousness.
"This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief." 1 Tim.
1:15.
"As I live, saith the Lord G.o.d, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live." Ezek. 33:11.
"There is now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus." Rom. 8:1.
"As for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness." Ezek. 18:21; 33:12.
"For this (the remission of sins) shall every one that is G.o.dly pray." Ps.
32:6.
"Be not righteous overmuch, neither make thyself over wise." Eccles. 7:16.
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9.
"Righteousness shall look down from heaven." Ps. 85:11.
3. If I resolve not to pray till I know myself to be worthy, I shall certainly never do it at all. And if I should not desire G.o.d to bestow upon me his grace and favor, till by my own strength I became just and holy, I should never obtain anything. Alas, poor man, what canst thou bestow upon him who standeth not in need of thy gifts? Rom. 11:35. Or what canst thou obtain by the workings of thy corrupt nature, which, however specious in thine own eyes, are of no value in the sight of G.o.d? Rom.
3:24. Verily, nothing at all. Away, then, with all those who glory in their own righteousness, and pretend to justify themselves; yea, let all creatures keep silence before G.o.d. Thine own worthiness will here avail thee nothing, and thine unworthiness shall do thee no harm; for the Lord Jesus Christ, thy Saviour, is he that "forgiveth thy unrighteousness, and covereth all thy sin." Ps. 32:1. But rather conclude with thyself, that as a drop of water is swallowed up in the sea, so are all thy transgressions in the boundless and incomprehensible mercies of Jesus Christ.
A PRAYER.
O Merciful and compa.s.sionate Father! who teachest me in thy holy word how I ought, in thy Son Jesus Christ, to walk in the narrow way, turning neither to the right hand nor to the left; that I may neither fall through a vain presumption of my own piety, nor be cast into despair by the gloomy prospect of my guilt, and so die in my sins; grant that I may seriously consider that neither my good works can merit, nor my sins hinder, the grace of Christ, my Redeemer; that so I may continue firm and steadfast amidst all my temptations; that I may neither be misled by the evil spirit of presumption and spiritual pride that walketh at noonday, nor be afraid of the destroying angel of despair that walketh in darkness; but that, having conquered the weakness of my nature, I may continue steadfast in the faith, filled with spiritual joy and consolation. Let thy grace, blessed Lord Jesus, begin, carry on, and perfect this good work in me.
Amen.
Section X.
The True Worshipper Ought Not To Seek After G.o.d In Any Particular Place; For He Finds Him Everywhere In Spirit And In Truth.
_The hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. The true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth._-JOHN 4:21, 23.
1. Where shall we find G.o.d? Jer. 23:23. Must we look for him in consecrated temples? Must we seek him in the ends of the earth? Must we search for him in the stars, or at Jerusalem, or upon the top of Mount Tabor? No! but "in spirit and in truth" (John 4:23) seek and find him. We are, indeed, sometimes forced to the fatigue of long journeys, in order to make our complaints, and beg the protection of the princes of this world; but G.o.d is everywhere; "He filleth heaven and earth" (Jer. 23:24), and is nearer to all creatures than they are to themselves. "He is above all, and through all, and in us all." Eph. 4:6. The utmost dimensions of s.p.a.ce, and even the boundless extent of eternity, appear to him as but a single point. Ps. 139:7. As a man that walks at noonday, in an open field, is environed with light, whether he discern it or be blind, so are all creatures surrounded with the presence of G.o.d. These are the waters upon which the Spirit of G.o.d moves, penetrating through all beings and all spirits, though ever so pure and glorious. G.o.d is always near to us, though many are not so to him, having no more perception of the communications of his presence than a blind man has of the light, which he sees not, though surrounded by it. G.o.d never turns away from us; but we, being turned away from him, fall into that degree of blindness, as to say, that G.o.d has withdrawn himself from us, and is become unkind to us; whereas, the change is only in ourselves, and in our own hearts, by which we are tempted to charge G.o.d foolishly. Thus the sinner, by turning away from G.o.d, becomes his own tormentor; whilst G.o.d continues unchangeably just and good in all his works (Ps. 145:8); however often man, being blinded and turned away from G.o.d, may represent him as an angry, unjust, and unmerciful being.
2. Hence, then, we may gather the genuine sense of those pa.s.sages of Scripture, which say that "the kingdom of G.o.d is within us," and not without us (Luke 17:21), and that we have nothing to do with "them that are without." 1 Cor. 5:12. These, without all dispute, are not to be understood of any external place, but of the spirit or inward man, according to the faith. To confine the kingdom of G.o.d to any certain place, is antichristian, even as our blessed Lord has told us that men will say, "Lo, here is Christ, or lo, there." Matt. 24:23. But if any place could save or condemn a man, then Lucifer himself could never have become a devil in heaven; nor would Adam ever have sinned in paradise. So if any place would condemn a man, then should no man living be saved; since this whole world lieth in darkness, and all the inhabitants thereof are under the dominion of the devil, who is the prince of it. John 12:31.
He therefore that has faith, though with Jonah he were in the depths of the sea, yet would be in the kingdom of G.o.d; and he that has it not, though he were in the church, heard sermons, and would join in acts of communion, yet in the sight of G.o.d he is _without_, and has no part in, or t.i.tle to, the kingdom of G.o.d.
A PRAYER.
O Lord Jesus Christ, who art the only way, light, and gate of heaven, I praise thee from the bottom of my heart, that by this meditation, thou teachest me how I am in thee, and thou in me, in whatsoever place I am; how thou, my true and only High Priest, art with me, and deliverest me from my sins, whensoever I lift up my heart to thee. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me. Teach me, O Lord, always to acknowledge this, and not after the manner of this ungrateful world, to undervalue or despise this hidden treasure; but that I may in true faith seek, find, taste, and enjoy it. Amen.
Section XI.