Spurgeon: August AM
* 08/29/AM
"Have mercy upon me, O God."
--Psalm 51:1
When Dr. Carey was suffering from a dangerous illness, the
enquiry was made, "If this sickness should prove fatal, what
passage would you select as the text for your funeral sermon?"
He replied, "Oh, I feel that such a poor sinful creature is
unworthy to have anything said about him; but if a funeral
sermon must be preached, let it be from the words, 'Have mercy
upon me, O God, according to Thy lovingkindness; according unto
the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.'"
In the same spirit of humility he directed in his will that the
following inscription and nothing more should be cut on his
gravestone:--
WILLIAM CAREY, BORN AUGUST 17th, 1761: DIED - -
"A wretched, poor, and helpless worm
On Thy kind arms I fall."
Only on the footing of free grace can the most experienced and
most honoured of the saints approach their God. The best of men
are conscious above all others that they are men at the best.
Empty boats float high, but heavily laden vessels are low in the
water; mere professors can boast, but true children of God cry
for mercy upon their unprofitableness. We have need that the
Lord should have mercy upon our good works, our prayers, our
preachings, our alms-givings, and our holiest things. The blood
was not only sprinkled upon the doorposts of Israel's dwelling
houses, but upon the sanctuary, the mercy-seat, and the altar,
because as sin intrudes into our holiest things, the blood of
Jesus is needed to purify them from defilement. If mercy be
needed to be exercised towards our duties, what shall be said of
our sins? How sweet the remembrance that inexhaustible mercy is
waiting to be gracious to us, to restore our backslidings, and
make our broken bones rejoice!