[SECOND. What is to be inferred from this reason?]
Should it be said there is such a lord has a son, a poor decrepit thing; he is forced to wear things to strengthen his ankles, things to improve his knees, things to enhance his loins, things to keep up his bowels, things to improve his shoulders, his neck, his hands, fingers; yea, he cannot speak but by the help of an engine, nor chew his food but by the help of an engine. What would you say? What do you think? Would you not say such a one is not worth the keeping, and that his father cannot look for anything from him, but that he should live upon high charge and expense, as long as he liveth; besides all the trouble such an one is like to be of to others. Why this is the case: Israel is such an one, nay, a worse. He cannot live without tender mercy, without great mercy, without rich mercy, without manifold mercy, and unless mercy abounds towards him. He cannot stand if mercy doth not compass him roundabout, nor go unless mercy follows him. Yea, suppose mercy that rejoiceth against judgment doth not continually flutter over him. In that case, the very moth will eat him up. The canker will consume him (Job 4:19). Wherefore it is necessary to make Israel live and flourish, everlasting mercy should be over his head, and everlasting mercy under his feet, with all the aforementioned mercies, and more in the bowels of it. But I say doth not this sufficiently show, had we but eyes to see it, what a sad and deplorable creature the child of God of himself is? O! This is not believed nor considered as it should. Vain man would be wise; sinful man would be holy; and poor, lame, infirm, helpless man, would be strong, and fain persuade others that he hath a sufficiency of himself. But, if it be so, what needs all this mercy? If thou canst go lustily, what mean thy crutches? No, no, Israel, God's Israel, when awake, stands astonished at his being surrounded with mercies, and cries out, 'I am not worthy of the least [I am less than the least] of all thy mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast showed unto thy servant' (Gen 32:10).
Second. This also showeth how sorely the enemies of Israel are bent to seek his destruction. The devil is, by way of eminency, called the enemy of God's people: 'the devil, your adversary' (1 Peter 5:8). And this, that there are so many mercies employed about us, and all to bring us to the place which God hath appointed for us, doth demonstrate it. Should you see a man that was not to go from door to door, but he must be clad in a coat of mail, must have a helmet of brass upon is head, and for his life-guard not so few as a thousand men to wait upon him; would you not say, Surely this man has store of enemies at hand, indeed this man goes continually in danger of his life? Why, this is the case, enemies lie in wait for poor Israel in every hole; he can neither eat, drink, wake, sleep, work, sit still, talk, be silent; worship his God in public or in private, but he is in danger of being stabbed, or being destroyed. Hence, as was said before, he is compassed about with mercy as with a shield (Micah 7:20). And again it is said concerning these, 'God's truth,' his mercy, 'shall be thy shield and buckler' (Psa 91:4). And again, 'He is a buckler to all them that trust in him' (2 Sam 22:31). Yea, David being a man sensible of his own weakness, and of the rage and power of his enemies, cries out to his God to take hold of shield and buckler, and to stand up for his help (Psa 35:2). But what need these things be asserted, promised, or prayed for? If Israel had no enemies, or none but such, he could, as we say, make his party good with all. Alas, their cries, their tears, sighs, watchings, and outcries, at sundry times, make this, beyond all show of doubt, a truth.
If Solomon used to have about his bed no less than threescore of the valiantest of Israel, holding swords, and being expert in war, everyone with his sword upon his thigh, because of fear in the night—and yet these fears were only concerning men—what guard and safe-guard doth God's poor people need, who are continually, both night and day, roared upon by the unmerciful fallen angels of hell! (Can 3:7,8). I will add, if it be but duly considered, all this guard and safeguard by mercy notwithstanding, how hardly this people do escape being destroyed forever, yea, how with hearts broken, and loins broken, many of them with much difficulty get to the gates of heaven! It will be quickly concluded that her enemies are swifter than eagles, stronger than lions, and that they often overtake her between the straits.
To say nothing of the many thousands that dare not so much as once think of true religion because of the power of the enemy which they behold, when, alas! They see nobody but the very scarecrows which the devil hath set up for I count the persecutor of God's people but the devil's scarecrow, the old one himself lies quat—yet, I say, how are they frighted! How are they amazed! What many of the enemies of religion have these folks seen today! Yea, and they will as soon venture to run the hazard of hell-fire, as to be engaged by these enemies in this way. Why, God's people are fain to go through them all, and yet no more able than the other to do it of themselves. Therefore, they are girded, compassed, and defended by this mercy, the cause of their godly perseverance.
Third. A third thing I infer from these words is what a loving God has Israel! 'Truly God is good to Israel. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so.' A loving God should take care of him and bestow so many mercies upon him. Mercies of all sorts, for all cases, for all manner of relief and help against all perils. What is man that God should so unweariedly attend upon him and visit him every moment? Is he a second God? Is he God's fellow? Is he of the highest order of the angels? Or what is he? O! he is a flea, a worm, a dead dog, sinful dust and ashes; he comes up like a flower and is cut down, and what a thing is it that God should so much as open his eyes upon such a one! (1 Sam 26:20; Job 25:6, 45:2,3). But then, what a thing is it that God should magnify him and that he should set his heart upon him! (Job 7:17). Yea, that he should take him into acquaintance with him, give his angels all ministering spirits for him! Yea, engage his mercy for him, his tender, great, manifold, and everlasting mercy for him, to compass him round withal, as with a shield, that nothing might work his ruin forever!
