SERMON XIX. GUILT REMOVED, AND PEACE RESTORED. PSALM li. 15. O Lord, open thou my lips, and my mouth shall show forth thy praise. THE history of David is full of instruction. Every thing recorded of him affords us either consolation or caution. In his example, we see much of the sovereign power and providence of God. When a youth, though the least of his father's house, he was singled out, and called from following sheep, to rule a kingdom. We see him supported through a variety of difficulties, and at length established in his throne, to the amazement and confusion of his enemies. In him likewise we have a striking proof of the evil that is in the heart of man. Who would have thought it, that David, the man so highly favoured, so wonderfully preserved, the man after God's own heart, who in the time of his distress could say, 'My soul thirsteth for God, even for the living God; that he should be in an unguarded hour seduced, surprised, and led captive of the devil! From gazing he proceeds to adultery, from adultery, to murder, and at length sinks into such a stupid frame of mind, that an express message from God was needful to convince him of his sin. And in this circumstance we further see the riches of divine grace and mercy; how tenderly the Lord watches over his sheep, how carefully he brings them back when wandering from him, and with what rich goodness he heals their back-slidings, and loves them freely. David was fallen, but not lost. The thing which he had done displeased the Lord.' Yet his loving kindness and faithfulness were unutterable. He was interested in that covenant, which is well ordered in all things and sure;' and therefore, when he confessed his sin the Lord assured him, by his servant Nathan, that he had put away his sin, and he should not die for it.' However, though the Lord is thus gracious in passing by the iniquity of his children, yet he will let them know, by sorrowful experience, that it is an evil and a bitter thing to sin against him.' Though he will not cast off, he will chasten; he will *Psalm xlii 2. 2 Sam. xi. 27. || Jer. ii. 19. 2 Sam, xxiii. 5. withdraw his presence, and suspend his gracious influences; and this to a sensible heart is a heavy punishment. Though David was delivered from the fear of death and hell, he penned this psalm in the bitterness of his soul. He did not consider the Lord as his enemy, but as a friend and father, whom he had greatly offended. He longed to be reconciled; but could not as yet recover his former confidence. He hoped, indeed, that a time of refreshment would come from his presence; and therefore he continued waiting; but for the present he made heavy complaints, that his bones were broken, and his mouth stopped. He had lost his strength and life, and found he could not restore himself. He was struck dumb by his late fall; and therefore he breathes out this prayer, 'O Lord, open thou my lips, and my mouth shall show forth thy praise.' From these words I propose to consider that mournful case, which too often happens in the Christian life, when the believer's mouth is stopped and his lips closed, so that he cannot show forth the praises of his God. And in this view, 1. I shall point out to you the persons who have reason to make this complaint. 2. Explain what is implied in their lips being thus shut up. 3. Show you by what means the Lord opens the closed lips. And, 4. I shall observe, that when a person's lips are thus opened, his mouth, and all that is within him, will certainly show forth the Lord's praise. May the Holy Spirit apply the word, and command a blessing upon the whole ! I. This petition especially suits two sorts of persons. 1. The blacksliding believer; one who has formerly known the goodness of God; has rested in his love, and rejoiced in his salvation; has tasted that the Lord is gracious,* and walked with comfort in the way of his commandments; but at length, by an unguarded conduct, or by building wood, hay, and stubble, upon the Lord's foundation,† has grieved the good Spirit of God, and he is withdrawn. The comforter and instructor of his soul is far from him; and therefore he sits in darkness and silence. He only retains a sense of his loss, and can do no more than sigh out this prayer: O Lord, open thou my lips.' 2. The doubting believer. The unbelieving believer, if I may be allowed the expression, I mean one who has been deeply convinced of sin, and taught, by the Spirit of God, that there is no salvation but in the Lord Jesus Christ. One who loves the word, * 1 Pet. ii. 3. +1 Cor. iii. 11-13. Lam. i. 16, 6 * and ways, and people of God, who is careful to the utmost of his power to abstain from the evil that is in the world, and esteems the loving kindness of the Lord to be better than life." One at whom the enemy has often thrust sore that he might fall,t but the Lord has secretly upheld him through many a bitter hour, and he finds he is not cut off yet, though he perhaps expects it every day. Such as these have, indeed, sufficient ground to say, If the Lord was not on my side, I had been swallowed up long ago.' They have reason to conclude, with David, By this, if by nothing else, I know that thou favourest me, seeing my enemies, who have assaulted me so continually, have not yet prevailed against me.' But yet, through a sense of past guilt, a sight of present corruptions, the prevalence of unbelief, the workings of a legal spirit, the want of a clear apprehension of the Lord's way of justifying the ungodly, and from the force of Satan's temptations, who is exceeding busy to press all these things upon the heart, their mouths are stopped likewise. They cannot believe, and therefore they cannot speak. However, there are seasons and intervals when they obtain a little glimpse of hope, and then the whole desire of their souls is expressed in the words of my text. ' O Lord, open thou my lips, and my mouth shall show forth thy praise.' II. I proceed to consider what may be included in this case, what it is to have the mouth stopped. The persons I have mentioned have the same liberty of speech in common affairs as others; but because they cannot converse freely with him, who notwithstanding all their doubts, and fears, and follies, still maintains a secret hold of their souls, they account themselves no better than dumb. They cannot speak to the Lord, nor of him, nor for him, as they wish and ought to do. These are the three heads of their complaint, and therefore they sigh, and say, O Lord, open thou my lips.' 1. Alas! says the believer that has sinned, and lost his strength, 'O that it was with me as in times past!' I well remember when I had freedom of access, and found it good to draw near to my God; when I could pour out all my complaints and cares before him, and leave them with him. I remember the time when my heart was overwhelmed within me, and my spirit was burdened. I saw myself a wretched, helpless sinner. Innumerable evils took hold of me. I thought I was marked out for destruction. I found Satan at my right hand, waiting for a permission to seize my soul, and make me his prey for ever.** *Psal. lxiii. 3. Job xxix. 2. +Psal. cxviii. 13. Psal. cxxiv. 3. **Zech. iii. 1. Psal. xli. 11. looked round, but saw no way to escape, and gave up all for lost. But, O! I remember, when none in heaven or earth could help me, how the Lord drew near to me in the day of my distress,* and said unto my soul, fear not, I am thy salvation.' He revealed himself as an almighty, suitable Saviour. He said, 'Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom.'+ brought me out of the horrible pit, and miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock.' He brought me into his banqueting-house, and his banner over me was love. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet unto my taste.' This was the beginning; but it was not all. Many a gracious visit he favoured me with afterwards. O the sweet hours of secret prayer! O the happy communion in which I walked with him all the day long! Then, in the multitude of thoughts within me, his comforts refreshed my soul.' Then I could smile at Satan's rage, and face a frowning world. Every blessing of common providence was doubly welcome, for I could read his name of love written upon it and every affliction brought resignation and peace, because I saw my Father's hand in it, and found at a throne of grace renewed strength always suited to my need. Happy were those times: but, alas! they are gone. 1 could hardly then persuade myself that I should be moved any more. I little thought there was such desperate wickedness in my heart, that, after so much experience of his goodness, I should foolishly wander from him again. But, O! what a change have I lived to see! I have grieved that good Spirit of God by which I was sealed, and now I find myself in the hands of my enemies. The Lord hides himself and stands afar off; and I have lost the power of prayer. Those precious promises which once were the joy of my soul, which I could boldly plead at the throne of grace, and say, all these are mine, have no longer any power or sweetness; I read them, but I cannot feel them; and my trials and sins, which once I could cast upon my Saviour, and find instant relief, are now a heavy burden, too great for me to bear. Mercies have lost their relish, and afflictions have lost their usefulness; since neither the one nor the other are of force to stir up my soul to prayer, O Lord, open thou my lips.' I remember, likewise, when I had this freedom in speaking with God, how pleasing it was to me to speak of him. My heart was full, and running over with a sense of his goodness, so that it was my meat and drink to say, ' Come unto me all you that fear God, and I will tell you what he hath done for my soul.' Then the *Lam. iii. 57. Cant, ii. 3, 4. VOL. II. Job xxxiii. 24. 28 Psalm xl. 2. Psalm lxvi. 16. company of his people was delightful indeed. The meanest of his children that would sit and hear me speak of his loving-kindness, was precious to me: I esteemed them the excellent of the earth, in whom was all my delight. 'We took sweet counsel together, and walked to the house of God in company.' And I thank God I love them still; but I can neither help them, nor be helped by them, as in times past. In vain they say unto me, 'Come, sing us one of the songs of Zion. Alas! how can I sing the songs of the Lord in a strange land? My harp is hung upon the willows, my tongue cleaveth to the roof of my mouth.'I I dwell in darkness and silence, as those who have been long dead. ' O Lord, open thou my lips.' And when I could thus speak to God, and of him, I had likewise liberty to speak for him. I was then very jealous for the Lord of hosts.' It wounded my soul to hear his name profaned, to see his commandments broken, and his Gospel slighted. I had a tender concern for poor sinners. I could not but wish that, if possible, every person I met might know what I knew, and feel what I felt. And especially where I had friendship and influence, I was ready to improve it to the best purpose. The love of Christ constrained me to lay myself out for his service.' I could not but oppose sin and self-righteousness, and plead the cause of my Saviour upon every occasion. I was not ashamed 6 I of the Gospel of Christ, for I felt it the power of God unto salvation in my own soul,' and durst recommend it to every one, as the only balm for sin and sorrow. But now the crown is fallen from my head; wo unto me that I have sinned !'** am shut out from the fountain, and all my streams are dried up. My comforts and my usefulness are declined together. O Lord, open thou my lips, and my mouth shall show forth thy praise.' Such is the complaint of the backslider in heart, when he is filled with his own ways. And, 2. This, with a little variation, will suit the doubting, tempted soul too. These will confess, that the experience I have described is the desire of their hearts. Such communication with God, such a freedom in his ways, such a zeal for his service, is the very thing they mean, when they entreat the Lord to open their lips. And, indeed, they cannot, they dare not deny but they have at times had some little tastes of them, otherwise they would not know what I mean. For these things are, to the natural *Psalm xvi. 4. 1 Kings xix. 10. **Lam. v. 16. Psalm lv. 14. Psalm cxxxvii. 3-5. |