Who is a God like unto Thee?

"Who is a God like unto Thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He retaineth not His anger for ever, because He delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, He will have compassion upon us: He will subdue our iniquities: and Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea." -Micah 7:18-19 [KJV]

My soul! hast thou ever duly and thoroughly pondered over the several interesting volumes of grace recorded in this glorious scripture? If not, make them the subject of this evening's, song. Let every chapter contained in them, pass and re-pass in review before thee, and see whether, in the close of the whole, the astonishment of the man of God is not thine also; crying out, "Who is a God like our God? a God in Christ, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin!"  

And, first, "He pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of His people." Yes; in Jesus, the Son of His love, He hath done all this, and more than this, for He hath taken the objects of His clemency into favour.  

Secondly, the cause of all these unspeakable felicities is assigned; "because He delighteth in mercy." It is from Hmself, and His own free sovereign grace, that these blessings flow. Not what the highly-favoured objects merit, but what grace can do for them. Not what claims they have to His bounty, but how His grace can best be magnified in their salvation. Sweet and precious consideration to the breast of every poor sinner! My soul! I hope that thou canst truly participate in the delightful thought.  

Thirdly, He that delighteth in mercy, will delight again to return unto His people, to turn their hearts to Himself, and then His returns to them will sweetly follow, to their apprehension, and to their joy."  

Fourthly, He will not only pardon their iniquity, but "He will subdue their iniquities: not only take away the guilt of sin, but also destroy the dominion of sin; not only cast their sins behind His back, but "cast them into the depths of the sea:" and so effectually shall they be lost, that if the sin of Judah be sought for, it shall not be found. The depths of the sea, that fountain which God hath opened in the Redeemer's blood, shall more completely bury them, than the congregated waters of the ocean cover any mountain or hill cast into them. Say now, my soul! dost thou not look up to a God in Christ, and cry out, with the prophet, in the same holy rapture and astonishment, "Who is a God like unto Thee?" 

-Robert Hawker (1753-1827 A.D.) 

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