I tell you, Sirs, you must not trust your own apprehensions nor judgments with the mercy of God; you do not know how he can cause it to abound; that which seems to be short and shrunk up to you, he can draw out, and cause to abound exceedingly. There is a breadth, length, depth, and height therein, when God will please to open it; that for the infiniteness can swallow up not only all thy sins, but all thy thoughts and imaginations, and that can also drown thee at last. 'Now unto him that is able,' 'as to mercy,' 'to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen!' (Eph 3:20,21). This, therefore, is a wonderful thing and shall be wondered at to all eternity; that that river of mercy that at first did seem to be but ankle deep should so rise, and rise, and rise, that at last, it became 'waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over!' (Eze 47:3-5). Now all this is written, that Israel might hope. 'Let Israel hope in the Lord; for with the Lord there is mercy.'
Sixth. As there are with God mercies, tender, great, rich, a multitude, and mercy that abounds, so to encourage us to trust in him, there is mercy to COMPASS US ROUND ABOUT. 'Many sorrows shall be to the wicked, but he that trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall compass him about' (Psa 32:10). This is, therefore, the lot of the Israel of God, that they shall, trust in their God, be compassed with mercy roundabout. This is mercy to do for us in this world, that we may arrive safely in that world which is to come. Another text saith, 'For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favor wilt thou compass him as with a shield' (Psa 5:12). As with a shield. This compassing of them, therefore, is, to the end, they may be defended and guarded against them that seek their hurt. When Elisha was in danger because of the Syrian army, 'behold the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire, round about him,' to deliver him (2 Kings 6:15-17). Round about on every side; or as David hath it, 'Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side' (Psa 71:21). 'I will encamp about my house,' saith God, 'because of the army, because of him that passeth by, and him that returneth' (Zech 9:1).
This, therefore, is the reason why, notwithstanding all our weaknesses and also the rage of Satan, we are kept and preserved in a wicked world; we are compassed roundabout. Hence, when God asked Satan concerning holy Job, he answered, 'Hast thou not made a hedge about him, his house, and all that he hath on every side?' (Job 1:10). I cannot come at him; thou compassest him and keepest me out. By this, then, is that scripture opened, 'Thou art my hiding-place, thou shalt preserve me from trouble, thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance' (Psa 32:7). And, indeed, it would be comely if we, instead of doubting and despairing, did sing in the ways of the Lord: have we not cause thus to do, when the Lord is round about us with sword and shield, watching for us against the enemy, that he may deliver us from their hand? (Jer 31:12).
This is also the reason why nothing can come at us, but it may do us good. If the mercy of God is round about us, about us on every side, then no evil thing can by any means come at us, but it must come through this mercy, and so must be seasoned with it, and must have its deadly poison, by it, taken away. Hence, Paul, understanding this, saith, 'And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God' (Rom 8:28). But how can that be? Did they not come to us through the very sides of mercy? And how could they come to us so, since Satan pryeth to wound us deadly in every, or in some private place, if mercy did not compass us round about, round about as with a shield? He went round about Job to see by what hog-hole he might get at him, that he might smite him under the fifth rib.[20] But, behold, he found he was hedged out round about; wherefore he could not come at him but through the sides of mercy; and, therefore, what he did to him must be for good. Even thus, it also shall be in conclusion that with all the wrath of our enemies, when they have done what they can, we shall be made to stand by the mercy of God. 'Why boasteth thou thyself in mischief,' said David, 'O mighty man? The goodness of God endureth continually' (Psa 52:1). And that will sanctify to me whatever thou doest against me! Therefore, this is another singular encouragement to Israel to hope in the Lord, for there is with his mercy to compass our roundabout.
And for the exercise thereof when we feel ourselves after the worst manner of assault. Here is, I say, room for hope and for the exercise thereof when we think of ourselves after the worst manner of assault. 'Wherefore should I fear,' said David, 'in the day of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?' (Psa 49:5). Wherefore? Why now there is all the reason in the world to fear the day of evil is come upon thee, and the iniquity of thy heels doth compass thee about. The hand of God is upon thee, and thy sins, which are the cause, stand round about thee, to give in evidence against thee; therefore thou must fear. No, saith David, that is not a sufficient reason; he that trusteth in the Lord, Mercy shall compass him about. Here is also ground to pray in faith, as David said, 'Keep me as the apple of the eye, hid me under the shadow of thy wings, from the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about' (Psa 17:8,9).
