The Mercy of God
P. Hannay. Ezekiel 18:32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dies, said the Lord GOD: why turn yourselves, and live you. I. THE BENEVOLENCE OF GOD'S OWN CHARACTER. He who is love, and who delights therefore only in happiness, being at the same time a holy and just Governor, must no doubt punish sin, and punish it severely; but never can He punish for the sake merely of giving pain, nor can He ever find any pleasure in the death of him that dieth, viewed in itself and apart from the reasons why it takes place. II. THE ARRANGEMENTS HE MADE WITH MAN IN HIS ORIGINAL STATE OF INNOCENCE. The native immortality of man's first constitution, the high capacity of enjoyment with which he was endued, the inexhaustible sources of entertainment presented to him in a world every part of which was very good; and then the beautiful garden itself, still more rich and highly decorated than the smiling world around it, and placed under man's care, that in keeping and dressing it he might be the more happy; these, and other such arrangements, surely indicated anything but a disposition to take pleasure in the death of him that dieth. Or, look at the subsequent arrangements made with Adam, and in him with ourselves, who shall say that the agreement was a hard one? III. THE UTTER DETESTATION IN WHICH JEHOVAH HOLDS SIN, THE CAUSE OF DEATH. Properly, this is the one thing which He detests. Hence, it is described in His word as that abominable thing which He hates. And among the reasons why He so abhors sin, this is one of the first — that it is the enemy of all happiness, the source of all misery. IV. THE METHOD OF RECOVERING US FROM SIN WHICH GOD HAS ADOPTED. You here find Him doing everything to preserve men from death. But what is still more remarkable, after they had disregarded all these precautions of Divine love, and fallen by their iniquity, you next find Jehovah making arrangements for their recovery from death. And then such arrangements! V. THE VARIOUS AND SUITABLE MEANS EMPLOYED TO BRING US TO THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE SAVIOUR THUS PROVIDED FOR US. First of all, He puts the Gospel on record, by the instrumentality of men guided in doing so by His own Spirit. There we read of our degradation and ruin by sin, that we may know our disease; and of the eminent skill and qualifications of the Physician, that we may be induced to make application to Him for the remedy of His blood and grace. And then, lest all this should fail of taking our attention and impressing our conscience, we are warned, in the most impressive manner of our approaching destruction; and we are argued with — we are encouraged — we are invited — we are entreated — to flee for refuge, to lay hold on the hope set before us. VI. THE WORK OF RENDERING ALL THESE MEANS EFFECTUAL HE PUTS INTO THE HANDS OF HIS OWN SPIRIT. Jehovah knew too well the obstinacy of the hearts He would have to deal with, to hope for the repentance of a single sinner without providing in this way for the regeneration of his soul by a Divine operation. Such a change manifestly requires an exertion of Divine power as truly as resurrection or creation can do in their more common signification. Great, however, as this work is, its accomplishment is every way secured by the appointment of the Holy Ghost to the office. (P. Hannay.) Parallel Verses KJV: For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye. WEB: For I have no pleasure in the death of him who dies, says the Lord Yahweh: therefore turn yourselves, and live.