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ENCOURAGEMENT TO TURN TO GOD
WE may discern many of the attributes of the Deity, as wisdom, power, and goodness, in the works of creation: but it is from the book of revelation only that we obtain the knowledge of his mercy. The Heathen indeed entertain some faint ideas that God will pardon them; though they know not how to approach him with acceptance, nor have any assurance that they shall find acceptance with him. But we are invited by God himself to come unto him, and are encouraged by an express promise that he will pardon even the vilest of returning prodigals.
In the words before us, we may see,
I. Our duty—
All of us by nature are in a state of departure from God, and of subjection to sin. Hence our duty is,
1. To forsake our sins—
[Every one has some “way” which he has marked out for himself; some way that is suited to his age, his education, his circumstances in life, or his constitutional propensities. Some are addicted to open vice; others to a more decent species of gaiety; others to the pursuit of riches; others to the more refined, though not less destructive, gratifications of literary pride; while others again regard nothing but their ease, and the indulgence of their peculiar habits. But whatever be our ways, if they be not such as are prescribed in the Scripture, and such as lead directly to heaven, they must be “forsaken.” We may indeed, and must, attend to our earthly duties; but in them, as well as in our religious exercises, we must seek the glory of God, and the salvation of our souls.
We must moreover forsake our “thoughts.” Even they who are most correct in their conduct, will find abundant matter for humiliation in their “thoughts.” What proud thoughts arise even from their supposed superiority to others! What vain, angry, envious, worldly, covetous, impure, and unbelieving thoughts lodge within us all, and find a welcome reception in our hearts! These then, no less than our ways, must be “forsaken:” we must watch and pray against them, and labour to have our minds occupied with holy and heavenly contemplations.]
2. To turn unto our God—
[As it is from God that we have departed, so it is unto God that we must return: nor will any reformation of our lives, or even renovation of our hearts, avail us, if this further change be not accomplished within us.
We must turn to him in humility. All of us, without exception, are guilty before God. Let us, even the best amongst us, only mark what our thoughts most easily recur to, and what they fix upon with the greatest frequency and delight, in those seasons when there is nothing particular to engage them, and we shall find no great cause for self-preference and self-complacency, Such a view of ourselves would shew us what we are before Him “who searcheth the heart and trieth the reins;” and would convince us that we need to abase ourselves before him with self-lothing and self-abhorrence.
We must also turn to him in faith. There is but one Mediator between God and man, whose merits and intercession must be the only grounds of our hope. In him, even in the Lord Jesus Christ, we must trust: we must make mention of his name and of his righteousness, even his only: and we must believe that God, for his sake, is willing to accept the very chief of sinners.
We must yet further turn to him in an unreserved devotedness both of heart and life. Mark, how entirely the heart of an unregenerate man gives itself to the world! Not that he never engages in religious duties; but, whatever he does, his affections are set upon things below, and not on things above. The very reverse of this is our duty: we are not to be so occupied with heavenly pursuits, as to neglect the duties of our place and station; but, in the midst of all our earthly occupations, God must have our hearts: his command must be the reason, his word the rule, and his honour the end, of all our actions. To fulfil his will, and enjoy his presence, should be the one object of our lives.]
Nor shall we decline this duty, if we consider what the text proposes for,
II. Our encouragement—
God will “shew mercy” to returning penitents—
[If it were doubtful whether our efforts would prove effectual for our salvation, we should not readily undertake the work of mortifying sin, and of turning unto God. But there is no doubt: for God delighteth in the exercise of mercy: “judgment is his strange work,” to which he is utterly averse: “he willeth not the death of any sinner, but rather that he should turn from his wickedness and live.” He invites us and expostulates with us in the most tender manner, “Turn ye: turn ye! why will ye die?” “Wilt thou not be made clean? O, when shall it once be?” — — — Let but the assurances of mercy which the Scripture affords to penitent sinners be considered, and no one will want a motive for abandoning his sins, and for returning to his God.]
He will “abundantly pardon” transgressions, however multiplied they may have been—
[They whom iniquities have been heinous and long-continued, are apt to despond, and to imagine themselves beyond the reach of mercy. But none need to despair: God’s mercy is infinite: though our sins may have been numerous as the sands upon the sea-shore, his mercies will far exceed them: “as the heaven in high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.” See what sinners have been forgiven! mark the transgressions of David, Manasseh, Peter, and others; see the peculiar aggravations of their guilt! and then say whether God will not multiply his pardons to the very utmost extent of our necessities? — — — After such a view of God’s mercy, our hearts must be harder than adamant, if we refuse to repent, and to turn unto him.]
Address—To those who,
1. Presume upon God’s mercy—
[You are at ease, because God is merciful: but are his mercies ever promised to those who live and die in sin? Are
not rather his judgments denounced against them? Search the Scriptures, and see if you can find one word to comfort those who persist in wilful impenitence: alas! you will soon find to your cost, that, as God is merciful to repenting sinners, so will he fulfil the declaration, that “except ye repent, ye shall all perish.”]
2. Limit it—
[Satan’s first device for the retaining of sinners under his dominion is, to represent God to them as a Being who it too merciful to punish them. His next endeavour is, to make them believe that their sins are too great to be forgiven, and that there is not mercy enough in the heart of God to pardon such transgressors as they. But, if any of us are tempted to entertain such thoughts of the Deity, let us only reflect upon the words of the text, and the many passages of Scripture which illustrate and confirm them, and we shall see at once the folly and impiety of limiting his mercies. Let such persons at least put the matter to a trial; and they shall find, by sweet experience, that “whatsoever cometh unto him, he will in no wise cast out.”]
3. Abuse it—
[Are there those in the world, who, because they have obtained mercy (as they think), are remiss in “working out their salvation?” Are there those who imagine, that, because they have “once overcome the world, they may be again entangled therein, and overcome” by it, without any danger to their souls? Let them know, that they are fatally deluded; and that, if they do not awake from their stupor, “their last end will be worse than their beginning.” If the mercy of God do not stimulate us to an unfeigned renunciation of all sin, and an unremitting activity in his service, we shall in vain hope that it shall be exercised towards us in the day of judgment.]
4. Enjoy it—
[What reason have you to admire and adore the goodness of your God! O, let a lively sense of it be ever on your minds. Be meditating daily how you shall most acceptably express your gratitude towards him. Labour to glorify him to the uttermost. Commend him to your fellow-sinners. Let your “ways” be such as shall be well-pleasing in his sight. Let your “thoughts” be devoutly occupied in praises and thanksgivings to him. And let your fellowship with him become daily more sweet, more intimate, and more abiding. Thus shall his mercy, which has already abounded towards you, be displayed in yet richer communications to all eternity.]