August 29

“Have mtrcy upon me, 0 God.” — Psalm li. 1.

^Jtl^HEN Dr. Carej was suffering from a dangerous ness, the inquiry was made, “If this sickness should prove fatal, what passage would you select as the text for your funeral sermon?” He replied, “0, 1 feel that such a poor sinful creature is unworthj’ to have anything said about him; but, if a funeral sermon must be preached, let it be from the words, ‘Have mercy upon me, 0 God, according to Thy loving-kindness; 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, Boen 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 honored 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 door-posts 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 «ins? How sweet the remembrance that inexhaustible mercy is waiting to be gracious to us, to restore our backslidings, and make our broken bones rejoice!