In the words you have —
1. The privilege, blessed.
2. The manner and form of its consideration ; not so much in the nature and formality of it, as the way that leadeth to it. Or,
First, Here is a uxiy spoken of in the general.
Secondly, This way specified, the law of the Lord.
Thirdly, The qualification of the persons' sincerity, the undefiled ; and constancy, luho wall:
Doct. 1. That it standeth us much upon to have a true notion of blessedness and blessed men. David beginneth with that.
1. All desire it; Christians, pagans, all agree in this. When Paul was dealing with the heathens, he urgetU two notions wherein God might be taken up. That of a first cause: Acts xiv. 17, 'Never- theless he left not himself without witness, in that he did irood, and
6 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. I.
gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness/ And a chief good, Acts' xvii. 27. As in the one place, there must be a cause of showers of rain and fruitful seasons ; so in the other, there must be a universal good, or else the inclinations of nature were in vain. Among Christians, the good and bad, that do so seldom agree in anything, yet agree in this, every man would be happy, and not miserable : Ps. iv, 6, ' There be many that say, Who will show us any good ? ' Good, good, is the cry of the world. It is intended in the very nature of desire ; for everything that is desired is desired as good, suh ratione honi. As God implanted in us affections of aversation to avoid what is evil, so afiections of choice and pursuit to follow after what is good. Well, then, out of a prin- ciple of self-love, all would be happy ; they would have good, and they would have it for ever. Inanimate creatm'es are, by the guidance and direction of Providence, carried to the place of their perfection. The brute beasts seek the preservation and perfection of that life which they have ; so do all men hunt about for contentment and satisfaction. To ask Avhether men would be happy or not, is to ask whether they love themselves, yea or nay ; but whether holy, is another thing.
2. All without grace are much mistaken in it. (1.) Some mistake in the end. They desire good in common, not that which is indeed the true good ; they seek happiness in riches, honours, pleasures ; and so they fly from that which they seek, whilst they seek it. They intend happiness, but choose misery : Luke xvi. 25, ' Thy good things ; ' and Ps. iv. 7, ' Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and wine increased.' TAeiV corn, wine, and oil, not only possessed by them, but chosen by them as their felicity and portion. (2.) They fail in the means. They know them not, like them not, or else faint in the prosecution of the end by them. They discern them but weakly, as a spire at a distance; they see it so as they know not whether they see it, yea or nay, as the blind man saw men walking as trees. The light of nature being so dim, they consider them but weakly ; the mind being diverted by other objects, they desire them but weakly; the afiections being pre- possessed and intercepted by things that come next to hand, velleities and cold inclinations they may have, but no serious volition or firm bent of heart. Or suppose a man under some conviction, both as to end and means, yet his endeavours are very cold and slack ; they do not pursue it with that eai-nestness, exactness, and uniformity of endeavour which is requisite to obtain their happiness. They are like children that seem to desire a thing passionately, but are soon out of humour : ' The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing, for his hands refuse to labour.' When true happiness is sufliciently revealed, we like it not upon God's terms, John vi. 34. The Jews, when our Saviour told tliem of the bread of God that came down from heaven to give life to the world, said unto him, ' Lord, evermore give us of this bread.' But it is said, upon hearing the conditions of obtaining it, ver. Q6, ' they murmured, went back, and walked no more with him.' All would live for ever ; but when they must follow a despised Christ up and down the world, and incur censures and
YeR. 1.] SERMONS UrON PSALM CXIX. 7
dangers, they like none of tliat : Ps. cvi. 24, ' Yea, they despised the pleasant land, and believed not his word,' . The land was a good land, but the way to it was through a howling wilderness. When they heard of the strength and stature of the men, their fortifications, they fell into passion and murmur, and gave over the pursuit of Canaan. Heaven is a good place, but men must get to it with such difficulty, therefore they are loath to be at the cost. Men would be happy with that kind of happiness wliich is true happiness, but not in the way which God propoundeth, being prepossessed with carnal fancies. It is counted a foolish thing to wait upon God in the midst of straits, conflicts, and temptations : 1 Cor, ii, 14, ' The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him ; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.' More prejudices lie against the means than the end; therefore, out of despair, they sit down with a carnal choice, as persons disappointed in a match take the next offer. Since they cannot have God's happiness, they resolve to be their own carvers, and to make themselves as happy as they can in the enjoyment of present things.