The mercies of God humble. "Then went king David, and sat before the Lord,
promises are the milk of faith; faith sucks nourishment from them, as the child from the breast. "Jacob feared exceedingly" (Gen. 32:7). His spirits were ready to faint; now he goes to the promise, "Lord, you have said you will do me good" (Gen. 32:12). This promise was his food. He got so much strength from this promise, that he was able to wrestle with the Lord all night in prayer, and would not let Him go till He had blessed him.
The promises also are springs of joy. There is more in the promises to comfort than in the world to perplex. Ursin was comforted by that promise: "No man shall pluck them out of my Father's hands" (John 10:29). The promises are cordials in a fainting fit. "Unless your word had been my delight, I had perished in my affliction" (Psalm 119:92). The promises are as cork to the net, to bear up the heart from sinking in the deep waters of distress.
3. The mercies of God world for good to the godly.
The mercies of God humble. "Then went king David, and sat before the Lord, and said, Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my father's house, that you have brought me hitherto?" (2 Sam. 7:18). Lord, why is such honour conferred upon me, that I should be king? That I who followed the sheep, should go in and out before Your people? So says a gracious heart, "Lord, what am I, that it should be better with me than others? That I should drink of the fruit of the vine, when others drink, not only a cup of wormwood, but a cup of blood (or suffering to death). What am I, that I should have those mercies which others lack, who are better than I? Lord, why is it, that despite all my unworthiness, a fresh tide of mercy comes in every day?" The mercies of God make a sinner proud, but a saint humble.
The mercies of God have a melting influence upon the soul; they dissolve it in love to God. God's judgments make us fear Him, His mercies make us love Him. How was Saul wrought upon by kindness! David had him at the advantage, and might have cut off, not only the skirt of his robe, but his head; yet he spares his life. This kindness melted Saul's heart. "Is this your voice, my son David? and Saul lift up his voice, and wept" (1 Sam. 24:16). Such a melting influence has God's mercy; it makes the eyes drop with tears of love.
The mercies of God make the heart fruitful. When you lay out more cost upon a field, it bears a better crop. A gracious soul honours the Lord with his substance. He does not do with his mercies, as Israel with their jewels and ear rings, make a golden calf; but, as Solomon did with the money thrown into the
treasury, build a temple for the Lord. The golden showers of mercy cause fertility.
The mercies of God make the heart thankful. "What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits towards me? I will take the cup of salvation" (Psalm 116:12, 13). David alludes to the people of Israel, who at their peace offerings used to take a cup in their hands, and give thanks to God for deliverances. Every mercy is an alms of free grace; and this enlarges the soul in gratitude. A good Christian is not a grave to bury God's mercies, but a temple to sing His praises. If every bird in its kind, as Ambrose says, chirps forth thankfullness to its Maker, much more will an sincere Christian, whose life is enriched and perfumed with mercy.
The mercies of God quicken. As they are loadstones to love, so they are whetstones to obedience. "I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living" (Psalm 116:9). He who takes a review of his blessings, looks upon himself as a person engaged for God. He argues from the sweetness of mercy to the swiftness of duty. He spends and is spent for Christ; he dedicates himself to God. Among the Romans, when one had redeemed another, he was afterwards to serve him. A soul encompassed with mercy is zealously active in God's service.
The mercies of God work compassion to others. A Christian is a temporal saviour. He feeds the hungry, clothes the naked, and visits the widow and orphan in their distress; among them he sows the golden seeds of his charity. "A good man shews favour, and lends" (Psalm 112:5). Charity drops from him freely, as myrrh from the tree. Thus to the godly, the mercies of God work for good; they are wings to lift them up to heaven.
Spiritual mercies also work for good.
The word preached works for good. It is a savour of life, it is a soul transforming word, it assimilates the heart into Christ's likeness; it produces assurance. "Our gospel came to you not in word only, but in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance" (I Thess. 1:5). It is the chariot of salvation.
Prayer works for good. Prayer is the bellows of the affection; it blows up holy desires and ardours of soul. Prayer has power with God. "Command you me" (Isa. 55:11). It is a key that unlocks the treasury of God's mercy. Prayer keeps the heart open to God, and shut to sin; it assuages the intemperate hearts and