4-1 SErvMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeFv. V.
to them. Indeed, we think it a small matter to stand upon every circumstance ; but God doth not think so. Uzzah was struck dead in the place for failing in a circumstance — he would stay the ark, which shook. The Bethshemites, sinning in a circumstance, it cost them the lives of many thousands. Lot's wife, for looking back, was turned into a pillar of salt. Let these things beget an awe upon our hearts of the great God, and of what he hath enjoined us.
Use 2. It informs us of the heinous nature of sin. Of sin in general, it is avofii'a, ' a transgression of the law,' 1 John iii. 4 ; that is, a con- tempt of God's authority. It is an unlording of him and putting him out of the throne. Every sin is an affront to God's authority ; it is a despising of the command, 2 Sam. xii. 9 ; you rise up in defiance to God, and cast off his sovereignty in despising his command ; more particularly, sins against knowledge, or against conscience. You may see the heinousness of these sins by this — all sins, they proceed either from ignorance, or from oblivion, or from rebellion. Sins of ignorance, they are not so heinous, though they are sins. A man is bound to know the will of his creator ; but then ignorance of it is not so heinous. To strike a friend in the dark is not so ill taken as in the open light. So there are sins of oblivion, which is an ignorance for the time, for a man hath not such explicit thoughts as to revive his knowledge upon himself. He is overtaken. Gal. vi. 1, This a great sin too. Why? For the awe of God should ever be fresh and great upon the heart, and we are to ' remember his statutes to do them.' But now, there are sins of rebellion, that are committed against light and conscience, whether they be of omission or commission. We are troubled for sins of commission against light ; we should be as much for sins of omission, for they are rebellions against God, when we omit a duty of which we are convinced : James iv. 17, ' To him that knoweth to do good, and doth it not, to him it is sin.'
Secondly, Come we to the manner of this obedience, Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligenthj. From thence note —
Doct. That we should not only do what God hath required, but we should do it diligently.
1. Because the matter of keeping God's precepts doth not only fall under his authority, but the manner also. God hath not only required service, but service with all its circumstances : 1 Cor. ix. 24, ' I so run that I may obtain.' It is our duty, not only to run, but so run, not as in jest, but as in good earnest : Rom. xii. 11, ' Fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.' Not only serving the Lord, but seething hot_ in spirit, when our affections are so strong that they boil over in our lives. And James v. 16, ' The fervent effectual prayer;' that prayer which hath a spirit and a life in it. Not only prayer is required, but fervency, not dead and drowsy devotion. So Luke vii. 18, not only it is re- quired that we hear, but to ' take heed hoio we hear,' with what reverence and seriousness. And Acts xxvi. 7, 'The twelve tribes served God instantly, day and night,' with the uttermost extension of their strength, so the word signifies. And for charity, it is not enough to give, but with readiness and freeness. Be ' ready to communicate;' like life-honey it must drop of its own accord.
A^ER. 4.] SERMON'S UrON TSALM CXIX. 45
2. The manner is the great thing which God requires ; it is very valuable upon several grounds : Prov. xvi. 2, ' The -svays of man arc clean in his own eyes ; but the Lord weigheth the spirits.' What doth God put into the balance of the sanctuary when he comes to make a judgment? When he would weigh an action he weighs the spirits. He considers not only the bulk, the matter of the action, but the spirit, with what heart it was done. A man may sin in doing good, but he cannot sin in doing loell ; therefore the manner should be looked to as well as the matter.
3. It is a good help against slightness. We are apt to put off God with anything, and therefore we had need to rouse up ourselves to serve him with diligence : Josh. xxiv. 19, ' You cannot serve the Lord, for he is a jealous God,' &c. It is another matter to serve the Lord than the world thinks of. Why? For he is holy and jealous ; he is holy, and so hates the least failing ; and very jealous, sin awakens the dis- pleasure of his jealousy — he will punisli for very little failings. Ananias and Sapphira struck dead in the place for one lie ; Zacharias struck dumb for an act of unbelief ; Moses, for a few rash words, never entered into the land of Canaan ; David, for a proud conceit in numbering the people, lost seventy thousand men with the pestilence ; the Corinthians, many of them died for unworthy receiving. God is the same God still: he hates sin as much as ever; therefore we should not be slight.