[2.] We are to observe it in practice : Luke xi. 28, ' Yea, rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it ; ' that is, not only that hear it, but do it. Many have this word in their mind and memory, but not in their lives. AVithout this, hearing is nothing ; liking, knowing, assent, pretended affection is all in vain : 1 John'ii. 4, ' He that saith I know him, and keeps not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.' Our actions are a better discovery of our thoughts than our w^ords. When we get a little knowledge, and make a little profession, we think we observe his commands ; "but he is a liar if he be not exact, and walk close with God. It is not enough to understand the word, to be able to talk and dispute of the testimonies of God, but to keep them. It is not enough to assent to them that they are God's laws, but they must be obeyed. The laws of earthly princes are not obeyed as soon as believed to be the king's laws, but when we are punctual to observe them. This is to keep the commandment of God ; it implies both exactness and per- severance : Kev. iii. 8, ' Thou hast kept my word ;' that is, thou hast not apostatised as others have done ; and Prov. vi, 20, ' Keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother,' that is perseverance. You see by the first note who are the blessed men ; they which own God's testimony in his word, and accordingly look upon it as a great charge and trust Christ hath reposed in them and given to them that they should keep his law. Now, certainly these are blessed. Why ?
(1.) They are blessed or cursed whom Christ in the last day will pro- nounce blessed or cursed. Now, in the last day to some he will say, ' Come, ye blessed of my Father ;' to others, ' Go, ye cursed ;' and he hath told us beforehand, that it is he that keepeth his testimonies whom he will own in that day, ]\Iat. vii. 20-22. Many will come and challenge acquaintance with Christ : ' Lord, we have prophesied in thy name,' &c. ; ' Thou hast taught in our streets' (so it is in Luke) ; but Christ will disown them : ' I know you not ; depart from me, ye Avorkers
20 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. II.
of iniquity.' Many will pretend to be of Christ's side, take up the opinions of the country wlierein they live, frequent ordinances, &c. ; but because they kept not his testimonies, Christ will not own them. When men are to be posed, they count it a favour to know the ques- tions aforehaud. God hath told us what will be the great evidence according to which he will proceed in the day of judgment — Have you kept my testimonies ? He that keeps close to God's word will find acceptance.
(2.) They are blessed for whom Christ mediateth. Kow, Christ me- diateth for those that keep his word : John xvii. 6, ' They have kept thy word.' It is a grief to your advocate when he cannot speak well of you in heaven. But as soon as he seeth any fruits of obedience, where they consult often with God's testimony, though they have many failings, yet are careful as much as in them lies, then he goes to the Father, and acquainteth him with it.
(3.) Those that are taken into sweet fellowship and communion with God, certainly they are in a blessed condition. Those to whom God will be intimate, and manifest himself in a way of gracious commu- nion, are blessed. Xow thus he doth to those that keep his testi- monies : ' If any mau love me, and keep my commandments, my Father will love him, and we will make our abode with him.' The whole Trinity will come and dwell in his heart.
But now you must know, there is a twofold keeping of God's testi- monies— legal and evangelical. Legal keeping is in a way of perfect and absolute obedience, without the least failing ; so none of us can be blessed. Moses will accuse us ; there will be failings in the best. But now evangelical keeping — that is, a filial and sincere obedience — is ac- cepted, and the imperfections Christ pardoneth. If God's pardon help us not, we are for ever miserable. The apostles had many failings ; sometimes they manifested a weak faith, sometimes hardness of heart, sometimes passionateness when they met with disrespect, Luke ix. ; yet Christ returns this general acknowledgment of them when he was pleading with his Father, ' Holy Father, they have kept thy word.' When the heart is sincere, God will pass by our failings, James v. 11, ' Ye have heard of the patience of Job.' Ay ! and of his impatience too, his cursing the day of his birth ; but the Spirit of God puts a finger upon the scar, and takes notice of what is good. So long as we bewail sin, seek remission of sin, strive after perfection, endeavour to keep close and be tender of a command, though a naughty heart will carry us aside sometimes, we keep the testimony of the Lord in a gospel sense. Bewailing sin, that owns the law ; seeking pardon, that owns the gospel ; striving after perfection, that argueth sincerity and uprightness. Well, then, here is the discriminating note ; if we would know whether we come within the compass of David's blessed man, if we have a dear and tender esteem of God's testimonies, when we would fain have them impressed upon our hearts, and expressed in our lives and conversations, ' They keep his testimonies.'