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I. GOD'S GOODNESS.

1. Goodness is the perfection of things for which they are desirable; perfection imports freedom from all defects, and fulness of all excellences, and is chiefly seen in the being, working, end of things; that which hath the noblest being, and therefore end, and therefore operations, is ever best and most desirable; desire is the reaching of the soul after that that likes us, because it is like us. Now the all-sufficient God is His own Being, His own end, His own act, or rule in action; yea, He is the Author of all good, the end and desire of all things (in natural respects), and therefore the perfection of all, and so all perfection and goodness.

2. God is —

(1)  Essentially good.

(2)  Causally good.

(3)  Eminently good.

(4)  Originally and absolutely the only good. Uses —

1. God is good, let us put it to good use; first, for humbling, see what we were once, good; for of goodness can come nothing but goodness; secondly, what we are now by nature, bad; for first, we are sunk as far from God as hell is from heaven.

2. See what we should be, good; goodness is ever admirable, and therefore (saith the philosopher) imitable. Now, Psalm 119:68 tells us that God is good, and doth good, and He is our copy and rule. First, therefore, we must be good, and then do good; first the sap must be good, and then the fruit, for as things be, so they work.

II. GOD'S MERCY.

1. It is everlasting.

(1) His essential mercy is everlastingness itself; for it is Himself, and God hath not, but is, things. He is beginning, end, being, and that which is of Himself, and ever Himself, is eternity itself.

(2) His relative mercy (which respects us, and makes impression on us) is everlasting too, in a sense; for the creatures, ever since they had being in Him, or existence in their natural causes, did ever, and ever will, need mercy, either preserving or conserving.

2. Reasons.

(1) From God's nature. He is good. Mercy pleaseth Him. First, it is no trouble for Him to exercise mercy. Secondly, it is His delight; we are never weary of receiving, therefore He cannot be of giving; for as it is a more blessed thing to give than to receive, so God takes more content in the one than we in the other.

(2) From His unchangeable word and covenant (Isaiah 54:10).

(3) From our need; every creature is compounded of perfection and imperfection; the first is the ground, the second is the object of mercy. Uses —

1. Dwell upon the mercy of God.

2. Put it to use.

3. Be ye merciful, as He is — to men's souls, bodies, estates, names.

(R. Harris, D. D.)

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KJV: O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

WEB: Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good; for his loving kindness endures forever.