Human Depravity and Divine Mercy

Spurgeon, Charles Haddon

Genesis 8:21

And the LORD smelled a sweet smell; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake…

I. A MOST PAINFUL FACT. Man's nature is incurable. The statement of Scripture is corroborated by —

1. The confessions of God's people.

2. Our own observation.

II. GOD'S EXTRAORDINARY REASONING. Good reasoning, but most extraordinary. He says, "I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth." Strange logic! In the sixth chapter, He said man was evil, and therefore He destroyed him. In the eighth chapter, He says man is evil from his youth, and therefore He will not destroy him. Strange reasoning! to be accounted for by the little circumstance in the beginning of the verse, "The Lord smelled a sweet savour." There was a sacrifice there; that makes all the difference. When God looks on sin apart from sacrifice, Justice says, Smite! Smite! Curse! Destroy!" But when there is a sacrifice God looks on us with eyes of mercy, and though Justice says, "Smite!" He says, "No, I have smitten My dear Son; I have smitten Him, and will spare the sinner." Rightly upon the terms of Justice, there is no conceivable reason why He should have mercy upon us, but grace makes and invents a reason.

III. INFERENCES. If the heart be so evil, then it is impossible for us to enter heaven as we are. Another step; then it is quite clear that if I am to enter heaven no outward reform will ever do it, for if I wash my face, that does not change my heart.

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