VeR. 8.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 75
warm upon the heart, we may keep close to our work while the in- fluence continues ; but afterward, how cold and dead do men grow ! as vapours drawn up by the sun, at night fall down again in a dew. The people were upon a high point of willingness, mighty forward, and ready to offer whole cart-loads of gold and silver, 1 Chron.'xxix. 18. What snith David? '0 Lord God, keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and stablish their heart unto thee.' We are not always in a like frame.
2. Our strength lies in God, and not in ourselves. When the apostle had exhorted his Ephesians to all Christian duties, he concludes it thus : Eph. vi. 10, ' Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.' This might is in God, he is our strength. And 2 Tim. ii. 1, 'Be strong in the grace that is in Jesus Christ.' God would not trust us with the stock in our own hands, now we have spent our portion, and played the prodigals, but would have us wait upon him from morning to morning : Ps. xxv. 4, ' Show me thy ways, 0 Lord, teach me thy paths ; lead me in thy truth, and teach me.' We are apt to embezzle it, or foi'get God, both which are very mischievous. When the prodigal got his stock in his own hands, he went into a far country, out of his father's house. God would not hear from us, there would not be such a constant commu- nion and correspondence between him and us, if our daily necessities did not force us to him. Therefore, that the throne of grace might not lie unfrequented, God keeps the strength in his own hands. We need to consult with him on all occasions.
3. God gives out his strength according to his own pleasure. God many times gives the will, when he suspendeth the strength that is neces- sary for the performance. Sometimes God gives scire, a sense and conscience of duty ; at other times he gives velle, to will, to have a purpose ; and when he gives to will, he doth not always give j)osse, to be able — not such a lively performance. It is possible he may give the will where he doth not give the deed ; for it is said, Phil. ii. 13, ' He worketli both to will and to do of his good pleasure.' And Paul certainly doth not speak as a convinced, but as a renewed man, when he saith, ' To will is present with me, but how to jjerform that which is good, I find not.' He had received the will, and not the deed — finding presupposetli searching. When we have done all we can, yet how to bring our pur- poses into actions, we cannot tell. Peter had his resolutions (and no doubt they were hearty and real), yet when he comes to make them good, what a poor weakling was Peter ! Pidabat se 2^osse, quod se velle sentiehat — he thought he could do that which he could will, saith Austin: John xiii. 37, 'Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thee.' We look upon the willing spirit, and not upon the weak flesh. It is possible we may lean upon recent dispositions and aflections, as if they would carry us out, without dependence upon God. Therefore,foralltheparts of spiritual strengtlihemust besoughtto.
The use is —
Use. To press you to beware of presumption and self-confidence, when your resolutions are at the highest for God, and your hearts in the best frame. Resolution is needful, as was said before ; but all our confidences must arise from God's promises, not our own, if we mean
76 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. IX.
not to be left in the dirt. Tliis self-confideuce in spiritual things I shall show —
1. How it discovereth itself.
2. How to cure it.
1. It discovereth itself —
[1.] Partly thus, by venturing upon temptations without a call and warrant. When men will lay their heads in the lap of a temptation, and run into the mouth of danger, they tempt God, but trust to themselves. Peter would be venturing into the devil's quarters ; but what is the issue ? He denies his master. Dependence upon God is ever accompanied with a holy solicitude and cautelous fear, Phil. ii. 12, 13. When we go out of God's way it is a presuming upon our own strength ; for he will keep us in viis, in his ways ; not in prcecipitiis, when we run headlong into danger.
['2.] Wlien men neglect those means whereby their graces or comforts may be fed and supplied. A man. that is kept humble and depending will be always waiting for his dole at wisdom's gates, Prov. viii. 34. We cannot regularly expect anything from God but in God's way. They who depend upon God will be much in prayer, hearing, and taking all opportunities. But when men begin to think they need not pray so much, need not make such conscience of hearing ; when we are more arbitrary and negligent in the use of means, then we be- gin to live upon ourselves and our own stock, and do not depend upon the free grace of God to carry us out in, our work.