Lesson 41 Outline. (The preaching of the word and compassion for the souls of men.)
Worship service 12/10.

Greetings and grace to the people of God through the faithfulness of God and the mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ. Born in sin and under God’s wrath, we have been saved and washed from our iniquities by His own suffering and death. By His stripes we are healed. By his death we are given life. The just for the unjust. ‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭16:5‭-‬6‬ says, “None eye pitied thee, to do any of these unto thee, to have compassion upon thee; but thou wast cast out in the open field, to the lothing of thy person, in the day that thou wast born. And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live.” It is through the compassion and mercy of God that we are washed from our pollution, and through His faithfulness we are brought to the enjoyment of the everlasting kingdom. Not for our sakes does He do this, but for His word’s sake, for the covenant promises made to the fathers, for the promise of life to those elected in the covenant of grace before the world began. And therefore knowing that all things are in His power and we are promised life through His name, we come before Him to worship. As we prepare our hearts for worship, and would receive His word with grace, let us pray before the reading of the scripture.

Our gracious and merciful Father, we come unto thee in all reverence and humility, bowing ourselves before thee, acknowledging thy incomprehensible greatness and majesty, (in whose presence we do now in a special manner appear, even in the reading of the word, a most precious ordinance) and also our own vileness and unworthiness to approach so near unto thee. We also confess the utter inability of ourselves to accomplish so great a work, even to understand and profit; and humbly beseech thee for pardon, assistance, and acceptance, in the whole service here to be performed; and for a blessing on that particular portion of thy holy word now to be read in the assembly of the saints: All in the name, and through the mediation of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

Psalm 13.

To him that excelleth. A Psalm of David.

13 How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?

2 How long shall I take counsel within myself, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?

3 Consider and hear me, O Lord my God: lighten mine eyes, that I sleep not in death;

4 Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that afflict me rejoice when I am moved.

5 But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.

6 I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.

Previously we looked upon this Psalm as an eminent display of the Christian’s comfort and sure hope in the midst of trial and affliction. How that even when the saint is sorely pressed down by grief and sorrow, because God is His ally and faithful friend, He hath ever cause to take courage and rest quietly in His love. Now, also vital to note is that David here does not merely complain of great trials, or of grievous afflictions, but also that of long continuance, saying , “how long O Lord” repeated four times for emphasis, once for each season of the year. For it comes to pass according to the providence of God that the saint is not merely beaten, or brought into a trial of faith, but cast into a condition where succor and remedy is removed utterly from their sight. Moreover that even after long continuance, God has not granted them their petition of deliverance, or shown them outward signs of favor. And here the word of Christ to His disciples must be brought to mind when He says, “Pray and cease not… For will not God hear His elect crying out to Him day and night, though He bear long with them? I tell you He will avenge them speedily.” But let us recall to mind that although it is not necessarily sinful to pray to God for worldly success and to be able to live comfortably and at peace with men, yet chiefly our goal and aim must always be the purification of the soul from sin and uncleanness, which is consistent with a life of suffering. Yea suffering has the peculiar ability to expedite and add wings to the mortification of the flesh, for which we are the rather to bless God for than pine under. And then the scripture must be fulfilled which saith, “and let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing”. For God would have patience be perfected in the soul, and the chief and most effectual manner of trying patience is by a long continuance of trial or want. Now when patience hath been exercised and that precious fruit of the Spirit is borne in our soul by His secret operation, then God will certainly avenge us and give us the victory we long waited for. Just as the scripture saith, “though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations” and again, “casting all your care upon Him, for He careth for you” These trials of long continuance drive us the more to seek our remedy in the governor of the world, and show us beyond all doubt that He alone is able to raise us up out of our lowly estate. But this we must always bear in mind, that perfect victory is not for this life, nor must it ever be hoped for while we are yet tainted with corruption in our bosom, for at the last day, when the great trumpet shall sound and heaven and earth shall be judged in the sight of our just and holy God, then that which was long waited for, even perfect union and communion with God and the saints in heaven will be at last realized and all our suffering and the purpose thereof will be brought to light, the wisdom of God will be glorified and His comfortable favor shall wipe away all tears that have ever been shed by His people from the beginning of the world, and they being wrapped up in holy amazement will justify God and His works. Then be patient now, dear Christian when you suffer under grief or hardship, for God assuredly knows your needs and wants, and is full of compassion and mercy. Take heart and wait for His promise, for it is better to lose this world and all it’s goods, all it’s comforts, all it’s joys, all it’s vain ravishments, and to gain one grain of that holy grace of patience which is precious to God. Bear your suffering then with love to God and confidence in His faithfulness. He will make good on His word, and forever blessed will be all those who wait patiently for Him.

Calvin,
The Psalmist does not as yet feel how much he has profited by praying; but depending upon the hope of deliverance, which the faithful promise of God enabled him to entertain, he makes use of this hope as a shield to repel those temptations with the terror of which he might be greatly distressed. Although, therefore, he is severely afflicted, and a multiplicity of cares urge him to despair, he, notwithstanding, declares it to be his resolution to continue firm in his reliance upon the grace of God, and in the hope of salvation. With the very same confidence ought all the godly to be furnished and sustained, that they may duly persevere in prayer. Whence, also, we gather what I have formerly adverted to, that it is by faith we apprehend the grace of God, which is hidden from and unknown to the understanding of the flesh.

Trapp: Notwithstanding all the endeavours of earth and of hell to cast down this castle of my confidence, I will not quit it; but be still as a green olive tree in the house of God: I will trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever, Psalms 52:8 .

Calvin,
“David, it is true, had not yet obtained what he earnestly desired, but being fully convinced that God was already at hand to grant him deliverance, he pledges himself to give thanks to him for it. And surely it becomes us to engage in prayer in such a frame of mind as at the same time to be ready to sing the praises of God; a thing which is impossible, unless we are fully persuaded that our prayers will not be ineffectual.”

And thus knowing that our prayers are accepted, not according to their own worth or merit but solely on behalf of the mercy of the Father through the righteousness and mediation of Christ we come before Him boldly to pray and to worship.

Opening prayer,
Our righteous and glorious Father, Lord of mercy and advocate of the afflicted, we thy people beseech thee and ask thee for pardon, assistance and grace. We are incapable of a good work, a pious sigh, a holy thought apart from thee. We are sinful by nature and contrary to thy law according to our own strength. We cannot therefore boast of free will, as if we have done what others also were capable of doing, but according to the scriptures attribute our salvation and blessedness to the free mercy and grace of God in the redemption of our Lord Jesus Christ whose name is salvation. Under His wings do we rest and in His holy word do we hope. We sit not with idolaters and we contemn the vain practices of the world. Those who call themselves by the name of the church are taking up common causes with heathen and heretics, celebrating vain and worthless holidays against thy commandments. Thou hast said in thy word, “Remember the Sabbath day” and “do not learn the way of the heathen”. But the men of this generation have continued to celebrate the birth of Christ, when thou hast never once commanded it in thy word. They sing silly songs bursting with ignorance and irreverence, and forsake the godly simplicity of the Psalms. They pretend to be of a joyful spirit without true conversion and regeneration which brings us low on account of a true knowledge of sin, before it exalts. They busy themselves with the buying and exchanging of gifts showing that they are of this world and their concern is happiness in it. But for thy people O Lord guide us by thy word and lead us by thy grace. Teach us that our only happiness is in thee despite our lack or low condition. Give us joy in thy Spirit which is not one season but all times of the year. And cause us by thy grace to keep the Sabbath day holy which is the only day thou hast consecrated for special observance. Make us to profit in the word. Make us holy as thou art holy. And help us to reject the ways of this world, which are pleasing to the natural senses.

And do it by thine own power for thine own glory, that thy people might rejoice in thee and thee alone through the knowledge and righteousness of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, in whose holy name we pray, Amen.

Lesson 41.
The preaching of the word and compassion for the souls of men.

If, therefore, there be any spark in you of 1. love to God, be not content that any of yours should be ignorant of him whom you so much admire, or any haters of him whom you so much love. 2. If there be any compassion to the souls of them who are under your care, 3. if any regard of your being found faithful in the day of Christ, 4. if any respect to future generations, labour to sow these seeds of knowledge, which may grow up in after-times.

Intro.
This section is an essential part of a argument showing forth the Westminster Confession as an authoritative ecclesiastical document. The assembly did not give the people the option of conforming to these precious words, but annexed love to God, compassion for the souls of men, and faithfulness to the kingdom of Christ with subscription to it. “if any”
A conditional application. If there is in us love to God, we will so labor to establish sound doctrine in the world in opposition to the manifold heresies and aberrant forms of Worship so prevalent in the church today.

Throughout the lecture two essential things to keep in mind, compassion towards those outside the church (conversion) and inside (sanctification).

2. The quality of compassion for the souls of men. Matthew 9:36, Exp. Jude 22. WSC Q 102.
[1] Compassion as a necessary quality for the ministry.
[2] The nature and object of compassion.
(A subject in misery, mankind in sin and unbelief)
i. Those outside the church in ignorance.
ii. Those inside the church in unbelief.
iii. Members of the covenant in weakness and indwelling sin.
[3] The justification of compassion.
The object of compassion is sinners not the reprobate.
(Our own ignorance of the destination of men)
i. Signs of election in regeneration, but no ordinary signs of reprobation on the ignorant.
ii. God has put particular persons under our care so that we may have compassion on them.
How can we have compassion on persons we know not?
[4] The motive of compassion.
i. Our souls were once in the same condition: Captive to sin and Satan.
ii. The building of God’s kingdom in the church and household.
[5] The end of compassion.
i. Conversion according to the gospel.
ii. Repentance from sin and idolatry.
iii. Sanctification and a life of godliness.
[6] The termination of compassion.
(Open and obstinate rejection of the gospel.)
Matt. 10:13-15, Luke 19:41-42

Concluding application,
God’s wrath is reserved for His enemies, yet He has given us no knowledge of His secret election, moreover we were once ignorant and astray, therefore we are compelled to have compassion on those outside the church, outside the covenant mercy of God, and those still in sin and unbelief, especially those of our own household. Christ Himself shows compassion on the lost, He who knew no sin, how much the more should we who were saved from sin apart from works?

Closing prayer,
|Our gracious and merciful Father in heaven, thou are full of righteousness and Majesty, and we of sin and confusion. We have not done that which thou hast commanded in thy law, nor have we attained to the works of those before us. We are ashamed O God, we are ashamed of our current condition. Thy church is not well established on the earth and the cause of true religion does not prosper in the world. The men of this generation have taken up the cause of the wicked and false doctrine has been left unchecked and has made ruin of thy church. Those who call themselves by thy name have fallen for devilish opinions of free will, of the return of old testament sacrifices and of the coming of a carnal kingdom. Moreover true religion is not upheld by the state, but the magistrates in America and in the once godly nation of England countenance licentiousness and open immorality. They make laws protecting the wicked and look with suspicion on those who cling to the truth of the word. Save thy people O God from their troubles. Look on us with pity who look to thee with affectionate hope. We do not doubt whether thou wilt save us or whether thou wilt establish thy kingdom o’er the ashes of the enemy, but we with patience wait for it and pledge ourselves to thee and to thy gospel until that blessed day come. Therefore, we beseech thee O Lord, bear with our weakness, give us compassion for others as thou hast had compassion on us, help us to mortify the lusts of the flesh and overcome temptation and sin, create in us a new heart, willing to suffer for thy sake, and cause us ever to be zealous for thy cause and kingdom, and do it all for thy sake, and for thy glory in Jesus Christ in whose holy name and through whose mediation we pray, Amen.

YouTube Audio: https://youtu.be/i-jWXR2RXTE