EPC Australia

That God is good is too obvious to be denied: though, alas, we are so little affected with it. He is good to all, and his tender mercies are over all his works. He openeth his hand, and satisfieth the desire of every living thing. As to ourselves, he made us. He placed us so high in the scale of beings. He furnished, for our reception, a world filled with his bounty and beauty. He gives the sweet interchange of hill and vale, and wood and lawn. He makes the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice, and, in the succession and produce of the seasons, he crowns the year with his goodness. He not only provides for our support, but for our comfort. He not only feeds and clothes, but feasts and adorns us. All our senses might have been so many inlets of pain, but they are the avenues of a thousand pleasures: and we are furnished with the most delightful colours, and sounds, and relishes, and perfumes. Our food might have been rendered distasteful; but He has made it pleasant; and connected gratification with the most necessary act of life. No one eats from a sense of duty, or to avoid death, but for pleasure.

Distinguished from this general kindness of God, there is, however, a peculiar goodness, and which regards us, as sinners. It is called in the Scriptures, mercy and grace. It led him to remember us in our low estate, and to make provision for our salvation from every effect of the Fall. He spared not his own Son; he delivered him for our offences, and raised him again for our justification. And in him all things are now ready for our acceptance. And in him, unworthy as we are, we may obtain all spiritual blessings in heavenly places, for ever. Herein is love. And this favour which he bears unto his people, and which regards the soul and eternity — this good will of him that dwelt in the bush, is what we are supremely to seek after.

But what is the best way to know this goodness? David does not say, Hear, and know; read, and know; believe, and know — but, Taste and see that the Lord is good. That is, apply to him for yourselves, instead of relying on the authority of others; as in a case of disputed relish you determine not by testimony, but taste. In other words, it means experience. Experience is knowledge derived from experiment, in contradistinction from theory. Since the mighty mind of Bacon beat down hypothesis, and introduced the inductive system, philosophy has reasoned from facts, and experimental philosophy has been much applauded. Why then should we ridicule experimental religion? Is there no standard in divinity to which we can appeal? Is there no test to be applied to the truth of pious pretensions? Are there no facts to bear out or to contradict what the Scripture says of sin; of repentance; of hope; of peace and joy in believing?

Some, and in our day many, know divine things in a way of speculation; but they are not under their operation — they feel not the powers of the world to come. And these are the most unlikely characters to be wrought upon. They are familiar with the truths of the Gospel; they admit all the preacher advances; they acknowledge all he proves, but it has no influence over the heart and life. They believe in hell, but make no attempt to flee from the wrath to come. They believe in heaven, but do not set their affection on things above. They believe in the value of the soul, and that its redemption ceaseth for ever, and yet neglect the only opportunity to embrace the things that belong to their peace. They go through the Bible, but its threatenings do not alarm, and its promises do not allure them. They resist every motive. They have been wooed and awed a thousand times in vain. They see and approve better things, and follow worse. They are not happy, and contrive not to be miserable. They are in the jaws of death, and yet are at ease in Zion. What paradoxes, what contradictions are you! Of what worth is your knowledge? To know a refuge, and never enter it! To know a remedy, and never apply it! To know good, and never partake of it! This will not only leave you to perish, but deprive you of excuse, and aggravate your sin and condemnation. Like Uriah, with his fatal letter, you carry information that will place you in the front of the battle. Be not satisfied, therefore, till you know these things to purpose — which can only be by your knowing them experimentally.

Then your heart will be established with grace, and you will be so confirmed in the truth, that you will not be led away by the error of the wicked, to fall from your own steadfastness.

Then you will desire greater degrees of it, and having tasted that the Lord is gracious, your prayer will be, "Lord, evermore give us this bread."

Then you will be excited and qualified to address others. You will speak from the heart, and recommend a tried remedy, a remedy that has effectually cured yourselves. "Lo this, we have searched it, so it is: hear it, and know thou it for thy good."

Morning Exercises For Everyday In The Year
By Rev. William Jay