Thy mercy, my God, is the theme
of my song. Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morse's For Zion's Tour. The Lord will spare nothing
in His purpose to deliver His elect bride and keep her protected
and safe at all times. And I give unto them eternal
life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them
out of my hand. This is the essence of His promise
made through the psalmist. Thou shalt not be afraid for
the terror by night, nor for the arrow that flyeth by day,
nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness, nor for the destruction
that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy
side, and ten thousand at thy right hand, but it shall not
come nigh thee. The Lord knows that we are but
dust, he knows our frame, and he speaks great words of comfort
to his own. Has he not sent his own messengers
with the gospel of good tidings, which speaketh on this wise?
But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he
that formed thee, O Israel, fear not, for I have redeemed thee.
I have called thee by thy name, thou art mine. When thou passest
through the waters, I will be with thee. and through the rivers
they shall not overflow thee. When thou walkest through the
fire, thou shalt not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle
upon thee. For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel,
thy Savior. I gave Egypt for thy ransom,
Ethiopia and Saba for thee. Since thou wast precious in my
sight, thou hast been honorable, and I have loved thee. Therefore
will I give men for thee and people for thy life. Fear not,
for I am with thee. I will bring thy seed from the
east and gather thee from the west. I will say to the north,
give up, and to the south, keep not back. Bring my sons from
far and my daughters from the ends of the earth, even every
one that is called by my name. For I have created him for my
glory. I have formed him. Yea, I have made him. He spared
not his own son, sending him to suffer in the room instead
of those which he loved from before the foundation of the
world. Wherefore then arise those doubts and fears which beset
the sons of God from time to time? Does he not continually
teach those who tremble at the mention of his glorious name,
that he intends to give them the kingdom? Is the gospel message
not true when he says, Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them
he also called, and whom he called, them he also justified, and whom
he justified, them he also glorified? What then shall we say to these
things? If God be for us, who can be
against us? He that spared not his own son,
but delivered him up for us all, how should he not with him freely
give us all things? Who shall lay anything to the
charge of God's elect? It is God that justifies. Is
it not appropriate that we should tremble when we consider our
own crimes against our Deliverer? I tell you that none who are
convinced by the Holy Ghost of their own sin can escape this
dark foreboding, which causes even the strongest of men to
cry out for mercy, as that mountain and morass of sin which caused
their Savior shame and suffering is revealed to them by His power.
Such fear and trembling is ordained by Him that He might then soothe
the troubled brow and whisper sweet words of comfort to those
He is pleased to disturb. If we be without chastening,
then we are not his sons. If we are not troubled by our
own sin, then we cannot be called by his name. For his spirit does
indeed reprove his people and convinces them of sin, righteousness,
and judgment. Yet this is not the destination
for which his people are designed, but rather the preparation in
the journey. For he will bring his people into a place of great
blessing. For thou, O God, hast proved us, thou hast tried us,
as silvers tried. Thou broughtest us into the net,
thou lay'st afflictions upon our loins. Thou hast caused men
to ride over our heads. We went through fire and through
water, but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place. Those
to whom the gospel of Jesus Christ has been revealed are not among
those who died without having received the promise as the Old
Testament saints were. We have received the promise
as those who have seen the light of the glory of God in the face
of Jesus Christ. We are not waiting for it to
be revealed, since John said, And the word was made flesh and
dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory. The glory is of the
only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. Yet
we can somewhat identify with those who confess that they are
strangers and pilgrims in the earth. For we yet see through
a glass darkly, desiring to behold him face to face. Therefore,
we rejoice in the hope that Job expressed when he said, For I
know that my Redeemer liveth and that he shall stand at the
latter day upon the earth. And though after my skin worms
destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God, whom I
shall see for myself and mine eyes shall behold and not another,
though my reins be consumed within me. Wherefore, comfort one another
with these words.