h his
way, that they, finding the infinite distance, might have other thoughts
of themselves and of him both. It is a song, it is true, but a sad song.
The people of God's mourning should be of this nature,--mixed, not pure
sorrow. It is hard to determine whether there be more matter of
consolation or lamentation, when such a comparison is made to the life,
when God's goodness and our evils are set before our eyes, which may most
work the heart to such affections. Nay, I think it possible they may both
contribute to both these. Is there any more abasing and humbling principle
than love? How shall the sinner loathe himself in his glorious presence?
Will not so much kindness and mercy, so often repeated, as oft as it is
mentioned, wound the heart in which there is any tenderness? And, again,
when a soul beholds its own ingratitude and evil requital of the Lord's
kindness, how vile and how perverse it is, how must it loathe itself in
dust and ashes! Yet is not all ground of hope removed. Such a sad sight
may make mixed affections. If we be so perverse and evil, then he is
infinitely good, and his mercy and goodness are above our evils; if we
have dealt so with him, yet is he the Rock that changes not, he is a God
of truth, and will not fail in his promise. Nay, though it be sad to be so
evil, void of all goodness, yet may the soul bless him for evermore, that
he hath chosen this way to glorify his name, to build up his praise upon
our ruin. May not a soul thus glory in sad infirmities, because his
strength is perfected in them, and made manifest? May not a soul choose
emptiness in itself, that it may be beholden to his fulness? How
refreshing a view might the saddest look on our misery and emptiness be,
if we did behold his purpose of manifesting his glory in it! You see here
a comparison instituted between two very unequal parties, God and man;
there is no likeness, let be equality in it, yet there is almost an
equality in unlikeness. The one is infinitely good and perfect; well, what
shall we compare to him? Who is like thee, O God, among the gods? Angels'
goodness, their perfection and innocency, hath not such a name and
appearance in his sight. So then, there can be no comparison made this
way. Let no flesh glory in his sight in anything, but, "let him that
glorieth, glory in the Lord," for in the sight of the glorious Lord, all
things do disappear and evanish. But surely nothing, though most perfect,
can once come withi