Psalms 136:23 - Homilies By S. Conway

Remembered of God.

We were so; for—

I. WE WERE ALL IN " LOW ESTATE ."

1. By inherited nature inclining us to sin .

2. By our own actual sin .

3. By our subjection to earthly care and sorrow .

4. By death overtaking us all .

II. BUT GOD REMEMBERED US .

1. He might have acted far otherwise . Condemned us all to death, or forgotten us and left us to go our own ways.

2. But he remembered us. Indeed, though it seemed to our eye as if we had but just come into God's mind, we had, in fact, never been absent from his mind. (See the evolution of man's redemption from the first purpose of grace in God down to our own individual redemption.) On and on the blessed work proceeded.

3. And he remembers us still .

III. THE EXPLANATION OF THIS IS THE NEVER - FAILING MERCY OF GOD .

1. For think of God . Could he, being so great and gracious as he is, do other than give this redemption to us?

2. Of the gift itself . Could we by any acts of our own purchase or procure it? Was it not utterly out of our reach?

3. Of ourselves . Not only are we lacking in great amount of merit, but in all merit. How but by God's mercy can we be saved?—S.C.