Attributes of God - Charnock - XLV - Chapter 12 (God's goodness) concluded

Required reading
Attributes of God by Charnock (Available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Continue Chapter 12 (A discourse upon the goodness of God) by reading up to the paragraph commencing 'The second use is a use of comfort.'

My summary
Today we finish Charnock's teaching on the goodness of God.

Last week we saw the first use of the doctrine, which was one of instruction.

This week Charnock gives us his second use which is one of comfort.  In God's goodness there is comfort:
(i) in our addresses to him;
(ii) in afflictions;
(iii) as it is a ground of assurance of happiness;
(iv) in the midst of public dangers.

Then Charnock's third use is one of exhortation.  We are exhorted to:
(i) endeavour after the enjoyment of God as good;
(ii) often meditate on the goodness of God;
(iii) be thankful for divine goodness;
(iv) imitate this goodness of God.

What grabbed me
I enjoyed this subpoint: 'A sense of it [God's goodness] will keep us humble. A sense of it would effect that for which itself was intended; viz., bring us to a repentance for our crimes, and not suffer us to harden ourselves against him. When we should deeply consider how he hath made the sun to shine upon us, and his rain to fall upon the earth for our support; the one to supple the earth, and the other to assist the juice of it to bring forth fruits; how would it reflect upon us our ill requitals, and make us hang down our heads before him in a low posture, pleasing to him, and advantageous to ourselves! What would the first charge be upon ourselves, but what Moses brings in his expostulation against the Israelites (Deut. xxxii. 6): 'Do I thus requite the Lord?' What is this goodness for me, who am so much below him; for me, who have so much incensed him; for me, who have so much abused what he hath allowed? It would bring to remembrance the horror of our crimes, and set us a blushing before him, when we should consider the multitude of his benefits, and our unworthy behaviour, that hath not constrained him even against the inclination of his goodness, to punish us: how little should we plead for a further liberty in sin, or palliate our former faults! When we set Divine goodness in one column, and our transgressions in another, and compare together their several items, it would fill us with a deep consciousness of our own guilt, and divest us of any worth of our own in our approaches to him; it would humble us, that we cannot love so obliging a God as much as he deserves to be loved by us; it would make us humble before men. Who would be proud of a mere gift which he knows he hath not merited? How ridiculous would that servant be, that should be proud of a rich livery, which is a badge of his service, not a token of his merit, but of his master's magnificence and bounty, which, though he wear this day, he may be stripped of to-morrow, and be turned out of his master's family!'

Yes, it is most humbling when you understand how good God is to sinners.

Even yesterday I was humbled as God in his goodness gave me the joy of baptising four people at our small church, despite the feeble efforts of his sinful servant. 

He is a good God indeed!

Next week's reading
Commence Chapter 13 (A discourse upon God's dominion) by reading up to the paragraph commencing 'III. The third things is the nature of this dominion'.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.