He hath perpetuated His covenant mercy and therefore
Mercy 167 far hath he removed our transgressions from us." So that they shall never be laid to our charge, nor rise up in judgment against us. The sins of believers shall be remembered no more, shall not be mentioned unto them. They shall be sought for and not found. If we thoroughly forsake them, God will thoroughly forgive them.
5. COVENANT MERCY IS PERPETUATED
He hath perpetuated His covenant mercy and therefore provided relief for our frailty (verses 15-18). See here:
(a) How short man's life ts, and of what uncertain continuance. The lives even of great men and good men are so, and neither their greatness nor their goodness can alter the property of them. "As for man, his days are as grass", which grows out of the earth, rises but a little way above it, and soon withers and returns to it again (see Isa. xl. 6, 7). Man in his best estate seems somewhat more than grass; he flourishes and looks gay. Yet then he is but like a flower of the field, which, though distinguished a little from the grass, will wither with it. The flower of the garden is commonly more choice and valuable, and though in its own nature withering yet will last the longer for its being sheltered by the garden wall and the gardener's care. But the flower of the field (to which life is here compared) is not only withering in itself but exposed to the cold blasts and liable to be cropped and trodden on by the beasts of the field. Man's life is not only wasting of itself, but its period may be anticipated by a thousand accidents. When the flower is in its perfection, a blasting wind, unseen, unlooked-for, passeth over it and it is gone; it hangs the head, drops the leaves, dwindles into the ground again, and the place thereof, which was proud of it, now knows it no more. Such a thing is man. God considers it, and pities him. Let him consider it himself, and be humble, dead to this world, and thoughtful of another.
(b) How long and lasting God's mercy is to His people (verses 17, 18). It will continue longer than their lives, and will survive their present state. Observe:
(i) The description of those to whom this mercy belongs. They are such as fear God. That is, are truly religious from a principle. They live a life of faith, for they keep God's covenant. Having taken hold of it, they keep hold of it, fast hold, and will not let it go. They keep it as a treasure, keep it as their