Psalm 51:1

When Dr. Carey was suffering from a dangerous illness, the enquiry was made, “If this sickness should prove fatal, what passage would you select as the text for your funeral sermon?” He replied, “Oh, I feel that such a poor sinful creature is unworthy to have anything said about him; but if a funeral sermon must be preached, let it be from the words, ‘Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness; 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, Born August 17th, 1761: Died —
“A wretched, poor, and helpless worm
On your kind arms I fall.”

Only on the foundation of free grace can the most experienced and most honoured of the saints approach their God. The best of men are conscious above all others that they are men at 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 for their unprofitableness.

We need the Lord to have mercy on our good works, our prayers, our preachings, our almsgivings, and our holiest things. The blood was not only sprinkled on the doorposts of Israel’s houses, but on the sanctuary, the mercy seat, and the altar, because sin intrudes into our holiest things, and the blood of Jesus is needed to purify them from defilement.

If mercy is needed even for our duties, what shall be said of our sins? How sweet the remembrance that inexhaustible mercy is waiting to be gracious to us, to restore our backslidings, and to make our broken bones rejoice!