[3.] Here is the nature of this obedience, or the thing commanded, to keep thy -precepts. What is that ? — to observe the whole rule of faith and manners. Believing in Christ, that fixlls under a command : 1 John iii. 23, ' This is his command, that we should believe in him whom he hath sent.' Kepentance is under a command : Acts xvii. 30, ' He hath commanded all men everywhere to repent.' Upon your peril be it, if you refuse his grace. So gospel obedience falls under a command, the great God hath charged us to keep all his precepts ; to make conscience of all duties that we owe to God and man. Acts xxiv. 6 ; the smaller as well as the greater, Mat. v. 19. God counts his authority to be despised and laid aside, and the command and obligatory power of his law to be made void, if a man shall either in doctrine or practice count any transgression of his laws so light and
Ver. 4.] SERMONS urox rSALJI CXIX. 41
venial as not to be stood upon, as if it -u'cre but a trifle. Christians, if we had the awe of God's authority upon our hearts, what kind of persons would we be at all times, in all places, and in all company? what a check would this be to a proud thought, a light word, or a passionate speech ? — what exactness would we study in our conversa- tions, had we but serious thoughts of the sovereign majesty of God, and of his authority forbidding these things in the word !
To offer some reasons of the point, why it is of so much profit to consider the authority of God in the command.
1. Because then the heart would not be so loose, off and on in point of duty ; when a thing is counted arbitrary (as generally we count so of strictness), the heart hangs off more from God. When we press men to pray in secret, to be full of good works, to meditate of God, to examine conscience, to redeem time, to be watchful, they think these be coimsels of perfection, not rules of duty, enforced by the positive command of God ; therefore are men so slight and careless in them. But now, when a man hath learned to urge a naughty heart with the authority of God, and charge them in the name of God, he lies more under the awe of duty. Hath God said I must search and try my ways, and shall I live in a constant neglect of it ? Hath God bidden me to redeem my time, and shall I make no conscience how I waste away my precious hours ? Hath God bidden me keep my heart with all keepings, and shall I let it run at large without any restraint and regard ? It is my debt, and I must pay it, or I shall answer it at my peril in the great day of accounts ; it is not only commended but commanded : 2 Kings v. 13, ' If the prophet had bidden thee do some great thing, wouldst thou not have done it ? how much rather then, when lie saith to thee, Wash, and be clean? '
2. We cannot be so bold and venturous in sinning, when we re- member how the authority of God stands in the way : Prov. xiii. 13, ' He that fears the commandment, he shall be blessed ; ' not only the penally, but the command. The heart is never right until we be brought to fear a commandment more than any inconveniencies what- soever. To a wicked man there seems to be nothing so light as a command, and therefore he breaks through against checks of conscience. But a man that hath the awe of God upon him, when mindful of God's authority, he fears a command. Jude 9, it is said of Michael the archangel, ' He durst not bring a railing accusation.' He had not the boldness, when the commandment of God was in his way.
3. Many times we are doubtful of success, and so our hands are weakened thereby. We forbear duty, because we do not know what will come of it. Now, a sense of God's authority and command doth fortify the heart against these discouragements : Luke v. 5, ' Master, we have toiled all the night, howbeit at thy command we will cast down the net.' A poor soul that hath long lain at the pool, that hath been labouring, following God from one duty to another, and nothing comes sensibly of it, yet 'at thy command,' &c., be will keep up his endeavours still. This is the very case in the text, ' Blessed is the man that keeps thy precepts, and that seeks him with the whole heart.' Then, presently, 'Thou hast commanded ;' that is, though our obedience had no promise of reward, and our felicity were
42 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. V.
not proposed as the fruit of it, yet the command itself, and the authority of God, is a reason sufficient.
4. In some duties that are not evident Ly natural light, as believing and owning of Christ, the heart is more bound to them by the sense of a command, than by any other encouragement. It is Grod's pleasure it should be so : John vi. 29, ' This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent ;' 1 John iii. 23, ' This is his command- ment, that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ.' It is enough to set a servant about his work, that it is his master's pleasure. Thou dost not stand disputing whether thou shouldst re- pent or not, obey or not, abstain from fleshly idols, yea or nay, or from fornication. And why should you stand aloof from the work of faith, and doubt whether you should believe or not ? We have many natural prejudices, but this, his command, is a mighty relief to the soul. It is his command we should believe in his Son. It is not only a matter of comfort and privilege, but also a matter of duty and obedience ; and therefore, though we have discouragements upon us — I am un- worthy to be received to mercy — yet this will bend the heart to the work. God is worthy to be obeyed ; it is his commandment. Thou dost not question whether thou shouldst grieve for thy sins — wliy should you question whether you should believe in Christ ? If God had only given us leave to believe, we could not have had such an advantage, as now he hath interposed his authority, and commanded us to believe: ' Kejoice in the Lord ; and again I say, Rejoice,' Phil. iv. If God had only given us leave to refresh ourselves in a sense of his love, it were an invaluable mercy ; but we have not only leave to rejoice, but a charge. It is our duty to work up our heart to a comfortable sense of the love of God, and a fruition of his favour.