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SERMON VII.
Heb_4:16.
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
The last thing in this verse is, what is to be had at the throne of grace, and what we should come for? And that is, mercy and grace; and we need no more. And we should come that we may obtain and find them: and we should, in our coming, design no less.
Of the first I began to speak last day, and did open these three things:—
1. What is this mercy we should come for? It is God’s saving mercy in Christ, suitable unto, and of relieving of that misery that every natural man is perishing under. Mercy in God, and misery in man, are relatives; and happy is that person that hath them well married and matched together.
2. What is in this phrase, obtaining of mercy? I told you, that it implied three things. 1. That mercy is God’s free gift. We only come by it, because he gives it. 2. That there is a personal particular application of this mercy to the obtainer of it. 3. That it is given as a possession; not as a gift that may be recalled and retaken; but it is given for an everlasting possession. Whoever is made partaker of God’s special saving mercy, it shall never be taken from him. It shall never waste, nor spend, nor wear out; but shall stay with him, follow him, and grow up with him to eternity. The burden of that heaven-like song (Psa_136:1-26) is six and twenty times repeated. For his mercy endureth for ever. How sweetly will it be sung from all the mansions in heaven, and by all the blessed dwellers in them! O give thanks to our God; for he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever. Can you learn this song? as the word is, Rev_14:3. Only the redeemed of the Lord can say so; but all they should say so (Psa_107:1,Psa_107:2). His mercy is most sweet; a crumb of it will save a starving soul, as Mat_15:27. A large measure of it on earth, is a heaven. But the eternity of this mercy, is the mercy of this mercy. Time-mercies in regard of this, are no mercies.
3. I spoke of the design and end we should have before us in coming to the throne of grace: come that we may obtain mercy.
That which I would do at this exercise, is to apply this truth. And the Lord apply both doctrine and application. And,
First, I would put this question to your consciences, and let them speak as in God’s sight, Whether have ye obtained mercy, or not? Can you say with Paul, But I obtained mercy? You must have it as well as he, and may know it as really as he did; though ye receive not so much, nor know it so clearly, as so great a believer as Paul did. See to get your consciences well resolved in this main case, that you may be able to give a peremptory answer. The importance of this question is very obvious. Can a man retire within, and look up to God, and consider this, “I am a miserable sinner in myself, as all are; nothing but God’s special mercy can relieve me”; and not think it a matter of vast consequence to know whether he hath obtained this mercy or no? Woe to them that never asked the question; and they are but in a sorry case that cannot answer it.
I would propose a few things to enforce the duty of trying yourselves in this matter.
1. It is mercy you have been seeking. If ever you made any fashion of prayer, surely it was mercy you sought. Most of you, if not all, pray at least sometimes. Now, whenever you pray, unless you be woefully formal and stupid, your consciences must tell you, it is mercy you seek. Have you long and often begged God’s mercy? and will ye never inquire whether or not you have got it? None ask in earnest, but they will try how they speed. There is no surer and plainer argument of trifling in prayer, than when men are careless what they get by prayer. We would be called of the generation of them that seek God’s face: and shall we not inquire if we have found him? Our Lord bids us ask, that we may receive; and shall we ask, and not think of receiving? nor try if we have received?
2. A great many round you have obtained mercy; therefore it becomes you to inquire, whether you have obtained it. If the mercy of God were so very rarely dispensed, that none, if any, in an age, did partake of it, this neglect would be a little more excusable. But when mercy falls round about thee; when one on thy right hand obtains mercy, and another on thy left hand obtains mercy; when this mercy falls on some of the family thou livest in, on some of the congregation thou hearest in; when this mercy falls on one that hath the same natural parents that thou hast: will none of these things make you ask, Have I also obtained mercy? We find our Lord aggravating the misery of the damned, by their seeing of the blessedness of the saved, (Luk_13:28) There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. A most dreadful passage! Christ is telling men that were to be excluded from heaven, what they would think, say, and do, in that dismal case. Prevent this misery in time, by inquiring whether you have obtained mercy: and do so the rather, that ye may see others partaking of this mercy. When you see the saving mercy of God sought and obtained by others, it should provoke you greatly; not to envy them their share, but to desire a share of your own; for there is enough, and to spare. And the Lord doth shew mercy to some, on purpose that he may encourage others to come, and ask, and obtain. So Paul tells wherefore he got his mercy: (1Ti_1:16) Howbeit, for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first (or the chief) Jesus Christ might shew forth all long-suffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. There were other ends Christ had in shewing mercy to Paul. The Lord shewed him mercy, that he might be saved eternally; he shewed him mercy, that he might be an able minister of the New Testament (2Co_3:6) and a successful apostle (1Co_15:10); and the church of Christ hath good cause now, for many ages, to bless our Lord Jesus for that rich mercy which that chosen vessel obtained, and was filled with. But the apostle, in that place, takes notice of another design of Christ’s in his mercy to him; and that was, to set up Paul as a pattern and copy of the freedom, riches, and power of saving mercy. And Christ can, when he will, write another copy, like Paul; and somewhat like it he doth in all that he calls savingly (Eph_2:4). Take in this argument, “Many obtain mercy; and why not I? None deserve it; yet many have it. None deserve it less, and need it more than I; why then not I?” If you see the Lord shewing mercy to others, and you care not for mercy to yourselves; how can you expect it, or think you have got it?
3. Inquire whether you have received God’s saving mercy; because this mercy is brought so near you, that it must either be received or refused. There is no midst. No man doth neither, no man doth both. All that have the offer of God’s saving mercy in the gospel, do and must necessarily either receive or reject it. This should make people inquire the more narrowly, whether they have obtained mercy. If ye have not obtained it, ye have refused it: (Act_13:46) It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. This last is a strange phrase. I am persuaded in the Lord, that no man shall ever get everlasting life, that thinks himself worthy of it. It is always to be sought by us, always given by the Lord, and always taken by the receivers of it, as an alms of grace for Christ’s sake. Nothing surely was farther from Paul’s mind, than to have these foolish Jews to count themselves deserving of eternal life; or that, on the account either of their privileges or works, they did or could deserve salvation at the hand of God. But all the apostle meant, was this:— “Everlasting life is brought near to you in this word of the gospel: you put the word from you; thereby you declare, you are unwilling to receive everlasting life, and God counts you unworthy of the offer of it; and we will carry it to others”; as he tells other unbelieving Jews at Rome, (Act_28:28) Be it known to you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.
Now, for resolving of this question, Whether you have obtained special saving mercy, or not? this seems easily determinable. There is so great a difference betwixt that state of sin and misery that mercy finds men in when it first visits them, and that state that mercy brings them to, that we are apt to think the change may be easily known. See Eph_2:1 - Eph_2:18. Yet there are so many things that obstruct, both them that have obtained mercy, from owning it, and them that have not obtained it, from acknowledging their want of it, (of which I shall not now speak), that searching is needful. And for your help in that work, I offer these few plain marks.
1. A high value of special saving mercy above common mercy, is a good sign of one that hath obtained saving mercy. There is a special mercy of God, and there is a common mercy. Special mercy is saving; it comes from the heart and love of God (Eph_2:4), and is treasured up for, and laid out only upon his chosen. It is the favour he bears to his people (Psa_106:4). Common mercies are thrown about with a large and indifferent hand: He maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and one the unjust (Mat_5:45). Now, these two sorts of mercies are as far different, as heaven and earth. The excellency of the one is far beyond that of the other, though we be unworthy of either. I am less than the least of all thy mercies, said a great saint (Gen_32:10); and so should all say. But few do perceive this great difference; and many give the preference to common outward mercy. Who but a Christian doth count it a greater mercy to have the conscience sprinkled with the blood of Jesus, than to have a large and prosperous estate in the world? that the light of God’s countenance, and an hour spent in his courts, (when the King’s presence is in them), is better than all the enjoyments of this world? Moses was a man that obtained singular mercy from the Lord. It appeared in this, that he esteemed the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt (Heb_11:26). He had excellent balances and true weights. He put in the one scale, Egypt’s honours, treasures, and pleasures, (and how weighty are such things in the worldling’s balances!); and in the other, the reproach of Christ, and affliction with the people of God. His judgment on this weighing, is, That this reproach, because of Christ’s concern in it; and this affliction, because it is of and with God’s people, is better than all the other things. The true test of men’s spirits is justly taken from their settled inward apprehension of the worth and value of spiritual saving mercy, above all outward mercy. (Psa_4:6,Psa_4:7) There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? Most men are for any good, they know not well what, and from any hand that can show it, and give it. But David knew what good he would have, and who could show it. Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. Why is he so earnest for this blessing? Thou hast put gladness in my heart, (carnal men seek gladness, and make it, and take it to themselves, as well as they can; but gladness of God’s putting in their heart, they know not), more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased. David doth not here compare, though he doth discover, the holiness of his heart, with the earthliness of that of others; he compares not the tenderness of his
conversation with theirs: but he compares the joy God gave him by the light of his countenance, not with the joy he had, but with that the ungodly have, in their sensual satisfactions. Try yourselves by this. Where is your esteem lodged? What sort of things are they that relish with your spirits? Common outward mercies carry away the hearts of the most part of men, and this shews that few men have obtained special mercy.
2. He that hath obtained special mercy, hath a love to it, and to the giver of it, and to the way God gives it, and in which he receives it. He that is a lover of God’s mercy in Christ, is an obtainer of it. A natural man may have a liking of God’s mercy in general: but mercy as from God through Jesus Christ, mercy shown on the account of a full satisfaction made to justice in and by his blood, mercy given freely to glorious ends and purposes, every natural man seeth no glory, no goodness, no beauty, in it. But every obtainer of it doth admire every thing in it. “It is rich mercy, saith he; it flows from a blessed fountain, free love; runs in a blessed channel, the redemption of Jesus; comes to me in a well-ordered covenant; and was shown me for his praise in my salvation from sin and misery.”
3. An obtainer of mercy, is a daily beggar for more mercy. Whenever God’s special mercy is tasted, hunger and thirst after more is raised. No sooner did Paul obtain mercy, but behold, he prays (Act_9:11). There is more of mercy yet to be had. Mercy quickens the soul’s desires, and enlargeth them. The greatest receivers are the greatest beggars: (1Pe_2:2,1Pe_2:3) Desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby; if so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. This mark is plain, and will never fail. They that drive not a trade of prayer for special mercy, have not yet obtained it.
4. An obtainer of mercy from the Lord, is a shewer of mercy to others. He is a merciful man to others, (Mat_5:7; Col_3:12,Col_3:13) Put on therefore (as the elect of God, holy and beloved) bowels of mercies, kindness &c.; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another; even as Christ forgave you: and (Eph_4:32) Forgiving one another, even as God, for Christ’s sake, hath forgiven you. How unbecoming is it, that such should have bowels of brass, on whom God’s bowels of mercy have been poured out? This is a mark that will never fail, but in a high fit of temptation. All that have obtained God’s mercy, will be disposed to shew their mercy. Forgiving one another, is an easy thing; it costs nothing but to think a kind thought: yet how hard is this to many, through the power of corruption? There are some acts of mercy, as bounty and charity, that poor Christians have no ability for. But the principal act of mercy is in every Christian’s power; and that is mercy to men’s souls. We cannot give them that mercy we have obtained; but we can, and should wish the like to them. Never did a man obtain mercy from the Lord for himself, but he wished that others should partake of it also. The woman of Samaria (Joh_4:1-54), (of whose conversion we have the largest account of any convert in the Bible), as soon as she obtained mercy, (she forgot what she came to the well for, she had got somewhat better than the water of Jacob’s well; she met with Jacob’s God, and had got Jacob’s blessing), she goes to the city, and turns a sort of a preacher to them: Come, see a man that told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? (v 29). She obtained mercy, and would have all the city come, and get mercy also. And a great many came, and obtained mercy. Christ caught that woman by his grace, and made her as a bait to catch many more. No believer can deny his sense of such a frame as this. There are some persons thou dost love, and shouldst love: thou prayest for them. What does thou mainly ask for wife, children, brothers, sisters, and all or any thou lovest heartily? Is it not, O that they might share in God’s saving mercy? If thou ask it for others as the greatest mercy, thou thyself art on obtainer of mercy. Paul obtained mercy. He loved his countrymen the Jews dearly, and on good grounds (Rom_9:1 - Rom_9:5). What prays he for them? (Rom_10:1) My heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. All right prayer should be the heart’s desire. Salvation is the best thing we can pray for to ourselves, or to them we love. And no man can heartily pray for salvation to others, who hath not got it himself.
Secondly, I would now direct some words to them that have obtained mercy, and know it. Blessed be the Lord, that there are not a few in the world, not a few in this city, and, I hope, not a few in this meeting, that have obtained mercy of the Lord, and know it also; who can remember when their misery was great; and when the mercy of the Lord made a visit to them; and what great things it brought to them, and wrought in them.
1. Let such be very thankful for special saving mercy. Praise is a great debt, as well as a great blessing. Let none take this as an ordinary duty; but let all Christians know, that the main point of the life and practice of Christianity lies in the performance of it (1Pe_2:9). Praise should rise according to the worth of what we praise for. Greatest favours call for highest praises; and special mercy from the Lord is the highest favour. It is a good custom, and a duty also that people, when they receive their daily bread from God, do give him thanks for it, as well as beg his blessing on it. Pray then, how do you think the Lord will take unthankfulness for his special mercy? How many hath the Lord to give in this charge against? “I never gave thee a night’s rest, but thou gave me thanks for it in the morning; but I have by my mercy raised thee up to newness of life, and I was never thanked for it. I never fed thy body, but thou blessed me for my bounty; but I have given thee my Son for the bread of thy soul, but no praise for this gift. When thou wast near death, I did in mercy restore thee, and was praised for it; but special mercy hath delivered thy soul from eternal destruction, but when didst thou praise for that?” Have a care this charge be not given against you. Live to his praise, and let praise be the main work of your life.
2. Walk tenderly under God’s special mercy. The more special the mercy be, the more carefully it should be improved. God’s saving mercy is a load, a burden; not indeed hard to be borne, but it is hard to bear it aright; a burden that will not break the back, but will weigh heavy on the shoulders of the bearers; and such as are under it, are in no small danger of stumbling: (Isa_38:15) What shall I say? he hath both spoken unto me, and himself hath done it: I shall go softly all my years in the bitterness of my soul. And that there was special mercy in his eye, see verse 17, Thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption; for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back. Here is a right sense of mercy, and a good resolution about the guiding of it: “I will walk softly all the years (fifteen of them) that God hath added to my life.” But what performance was there? (2Ch_32:25) But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him: for his heart was lifted up.
3. Obtainers of mercy should ask grace to guide mercy; and ask it the more earnestly and confidently, because they have obtained mercy. Be not discouraged in asking more mercy, because you have made so poor improvements of what you have received. Every mercy lays us under an obligation for more service; and grace to enable for that service must be given, and therefore should be asked. We need mercy, God gives it: When we get it, we should guide it well; and in order to that, we must beg more; new mercy to enable us to guide the old. No mercy from the Lord but it may be ill guided, but the last, eternal life (Jud_1:21). A Christian is not out of all danger of abusing any mercy of the Lord, till he receive perfecting mercy in heaven.
Thirdly, To them that have not obtained mercy, or at least do not know that they have, only four things I would say to such. Ask mercy, receive mercy, plead mercy, hope in his mercy.
1. Ask mercy. The Lord hath two designs in offering and dispensing his mercy to men: to be honoured by the prayers of them that want it; and to be glorified by the praises of them that get it. This duty of asking mercy, is frequently commanded by the Lord, commonly practised by his people, and never in vain. (1.) Ask mercy like itself. Ask some way according to your need, and its worth. If our begging bore any tolerable proportion to the great blessing of God’s saving mercy, what mighty praying would there be? Let not mercy be sought as a small thing. It is the one thing needful, and it is the one thing we should seek of the Lord. God’s mercy, saving mercy, free mercy, mercy great, vastly above all our misery; O how would it be asked if asked like itself! (2.) Ask mercy at the right door. There is not a crumb of saving mercy that comes to any perishing sinner, but by Jesus Christ. There is no corn in Egypt, but what comes through this Joseph’s hand. He is a mad beggar of mercy that forgets Christ. (3.) Ask mercy in God’s time. He that commands us to ask, and tells us at what door to beg, and promiseth to give, tells us also when we should ask. Men have their times; as in great distress, when dying, and at judgment. Beware of putting off asking, till God’s time of giving be past. It is an awful word of Christ, (Luk_13:25) When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, &c. There are two sad beginnings here. Beginnings to stand without when the door is shut; such will eternally stand without. Beginning to knock at the door; such as begin to knock at God’s shut door, will never get in. There is no good answer to be given by God to such for eternity. Is not that a very unhappy beginning? So our Lord tells us in the parable of the ten virgins (Mat_25:10). The foolish came when the door was shut. They were foolish that they came no sooner; and miserable that they came too late. I believe the damned will see more of the blessedness of the saved, than the saved will see of the misery of the damned. Christ expressly aggravates the misery of the damned, by what they shall see of the bliss of the saved (Luk_13:28). But all we see in the word that the saved shall see or hear of the misery of the damned, is their resurrection to damnation (Joh_5:29) (which is a most miserable one; better were it for them to have their bodies lie eternally in the grave, than to be raised for damnation), their sentence of condemnation, and their vain pleas and pleadings for mercy. But O that men would come in at God’s time, and cry for mercy, as they will do out of time! How much better would it be for them! God’s time is now, today, the present time (2Co_6:2), Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation. If men refuse God’s mercy in his time, he will deny his mercy when sought in their time, and out of his. (Isa_30:18) He waits to be gracious, and willing to be exalted in having mercy. Notwithstanding all the mercy with the Lord, all the mercy that is offered in the promise, the Lord never promised a sinner his mercy tomorrow. If you will beg his mercy today, you may have it, and it shall endure for ever. But God never gave an allowance and liberty to any man, to spend one day or hour in consulting whether he should beg God’s mercy or not. David had indeed a sad choice of judgments laid before him (2Sa_24:13), and is bid by the Prophet, Advise now, and see what answer I shall return to him that sent me. But for a perishing sinner, that hath an offer of God’s mercy in Jesus Christ, there is no delay allowed, but only he is bid ask it presently.
2. Receive God’s mercy. Receiving is easier than asking. Asking requires some pains; receiving is but a consent of the heart to take what is offered. Asking supposeth a great and needful blessing, that he that wants it would fain have; and therefore he begs it. Receiving implies, that this great blessing is in his offer fully and freely; and therefore he must accept it. Here is the state of things betwixt God and men in the gospel. The Lord brings his mercy near to them, offers it to them, bids them take and receive it; but many will not. God offers quarter to rebels in arms against him; but they stand upon their sword, and will not take quarter. Ministers’ work is, to intreat and beseech in Christ’s stead (2Co_5:20). God only can persuade and prevail with men. Mercy comes prepared and ready for men. It is prepared in the purchase of Christ; it is prepared in the well ordered covenant; and as prepared and ready, it is tendered freely to sinners: All things are ready, come to the marriage (Mat_22:4). All things are ready. God himself is ready to give mercy. Christ is ready; he is slain for us: let us come and keep the feast (1Co_5:7,1Co_5:8). The Holy Spirit is ready to seal you to the day of redemption, if you will accept of God’s mercy in the Redeemer. Heaven is ready, the way is plain, and all hindrances of law and justice removed (Heb_10:19,Heb_10:20). The city of refuge is ready; and its gates are open continually, to receive and give entrance to all that flee for safety (Heb_6:18). Alas! all things are ready; but men are not willing. There is not a moment’s time needed to ripen God’s mercy for men. No perishing sinner, that seeth his need of God’s mercy, and is willing to receive it, needs stay a moment, till mercy be ready for him, or he more ready for it: (Rom_10:6 - Rom_10:8) The righteousness which is of faith, speaketh on this wise, (How very few have ears to hear such a speaker, and such a speech?), Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is to bring Christ down from above): Or who shall descend into the deep: (that is to bring up Christ again from the dead). (Christ is come down already from heaven, and is gone back again to heaven.) But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is the word of faith which we preach. Mercy and salvation for lost sinners is prepared by Christ’s coming down, and going up again; and he hath lodged the power and virtue of his undertaking in the gospel. Suck at that well with faith, and thy soul shall be saved: there thou wilt find Christ, and all his fulness. There was never such a treaty made in the world. We can fetch no similitude fully like this amongst men. Thus the Lord pleads with men in the gospel:— “You are already undone with sin and misery lying on you, and you are every hour sinking into greater; let but my mercy in my Son enter in, and it will cure all that is past and present, and prevent all the misery that is coming on you.” And will not miserable sinners receive God’s mercy? Are you afraid of saving mercy? will it hurt you? why do ye not give it entrance? It is one of the greatest demonstrations what monsters sin hath made men, that they are unwilling to be saved by free mercy, in Jesus Christ. Open a door for God’s mercy, by a free receiving of it; or else you will find the door of his mercy shut against you, when you need it most. Your giving way to his mercy, is your receiving of it. Say with the heart, “Let God’s mercy enter in upon me, and save me its own way.” A yielding, and giving, and putting of a lost soul into the hand of Christ, is the nature of saving faith in him. Will ye not trust in his mercy? Is it not able to save you? Your want of a sense of your need of his mercy, is a giving the lie to all the threatenings and curse of the law; your doubting of the ability of his mercy to save you, is to give the lie to all the faithfulness and truth of God declared and sworn in the gospel.
3. Plead mercy. When you beg it, use no other plea for mercy, but mercy. When you beg mercy, you must beg mercy only for mercy’s sake. That that moves God to shew mercy, must be our argument in pleading for mercy. Wherefore doth God shew mercy? Because he will shew mercy, and delights in it (Mic_7:18). And therefore should we plead it. Mercy in his heart, is the only spring of mercy from his hand. David, who knew God’s mercy well, had tasted of it often, and needed it greatly, when fallen into a foul pit, thus pleads for mercy: (Psa_51:1) Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving-kindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Have a care of making any other plea for mercy from the Lord, but that of mercy with him. And stick to this plea, and it will prevail. If the Lord for trying of your faith, or Satan for shaking it, should say, How dare such a vile sinner as thou art, beg so great a gift as saving mercy, from so holy a God? the poor pleader hath a ready answer: “I want mercy as much as my soul is worth. In vain do I seek it of any creature; nothing but his mercy can save me. I beg mercy only for mercy’s sake: I bring nothing but a starving soul, and an empty hand. I beg his mercy as an alms, which will eternally enrich the receiver, and not impoverish the giver. What can such as I beg of such a God as he is, but mercy? His name is Mercy, my name is Misery. I would have my misery relieved by his mercy, and his mercy glorified in my relief.”
4. Hope in his mercy: (Psa_147:11) The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy, (Psa_130:7) Let Israel hope in the Lord: for with the Lord there is mercy. It is from the devil, for whom there is no mercy, that any of the most miserable out of hell are tempted to think there is no mercy with God for them. He envies men God’s mercy. He doth not only tempt to sin, but also to security in it, till the day of mercy be past. If God awaken a sinner to see his need of mercy in time, Satan tempts him to think that it is out of time. In such temptations he acts most like himself, a reprobate damned spirit; and in managing of them he hath great advantages, from his own craft and malice, and men’s just deserving of wrath. Look on all such thoughts as from that adversary, and treat them accordingly. When you beg mercy, look for it: expect to obtain it, when you would lay hold on it. The Lord will never keep back his saving mercy from a sinner that would have it as his life. When you plead for mercy, for mercy’s sake, hope to prevail; and that will help you to plead better.
So much for this exhortation. Will ye go home and do so? Will you study more your misery, and the greatness of his mercy; and ask and plead for it more earnestly? There is never better fruit of preaching, than when the hearers are sent away hungering and thirsting after the Lord’s mercy.