SERMON X.
WJiereivitJi sJiall a young man cleanse Ms icay ? By idking heed thereto according to thy icord. — Ver. 9.
In the former part the Psalmist showeth that the word of God pointeth out the only true way to blessedness. Kow, the main thing which the word enforceth is holiness. This is the way which we must take if we intend to come to our journey's end. This David applieth to the young man in the text, ' Wherewith shall a young man cleanse,' &c.
In the words there is — (1.) A question asked ; (2.) An answer given.
In the question there is the person spoken of, a young man. And \\\S: vfoxk, ivherewith shcdl he cleanse his luay? Omnis qucestio sup- 'ponit unurn, et inquirit o.liud. In this question there are several things supposed.
1. That we are from the birth polluted with sin ; for we must be cleansed. It is not, * direct his way,^ but ' cleanse his way.'
2. That we should be very early and timeously sensible of this evil ; for the question is propounded concerning the young man.
3. That we should earnestly seek for a remedy how to dry up the issue of sin that runneth upon us. All this is to be supposed.
That which is inquired after is, what remedy there is against it ? what course is to be taken ? So that the sum of the question is this : How shall a man that is impure, and naturally defiled with sin, be made able, as soon as he cometh to the use of reason, to purge out that natural corruption, and live a holy and pure life to God ? The answer given is, ' By taking heed thereto according to thy word.' Where two things are to be observed — (1.) The remedy; (2.) The manner how it is applied and made use of.
1. The remedy is the word — by way of address to God, called thy
VeR. 9.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 83
word; because if God had not given direction about it, v:e should liave been at an utter loss.
2. The manner how it is applied and made use of, by taking heed thereto, &c , by studying and endeavouring a holy conformity to God's will.
[1.] I begin with the question ; for, as the careless world carrieth the matter, it seemeth very impertinent and ridiculous. AVhat have youth and childhood to do with so serious a work ? When old age hath snowed upon their heads, and the smart experience of more years in the world hath ripened them for so severe a discipline, then it is time to think of cleansing their way, or of entering upon a course of repen- tance and submission to God. For the present, Dandum est cdiquid hide cetcdi — youth must be a little indulged ; they will grow wiser as they grow more in years. Oh ! no ; God demandetli his right as soon as we are capable to understand it. And it concerneth every one, as soon as lie cometli to the use of reason, presently to mind his work, both in regard of God and himself.
(1.) In regard of God, that he may not be kept out of his right too long : Eccles. xii. 1, ' Eemember thy creator in the days of thy youth.' He is our creator ; we have nothing but what he gave us, and that for his own use and service. And therefore the vessel should be cleansed as soon as may be, that it may be ' fit for the master's use.' It is a kind of spiritual restitution for the neglects of childhood and the for- getfulness of infancy, when we were not in a capacity to know our creator, much less to serve him. And therefore, as soon as we come to the use of reason, we should restore his right with advantage.
(2.) In regard of himself. The first seasoning of the vessel is very considerable : Pro v. xxii. 6, ' Train up a child in the way in which he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.' When well principled and seasoned in youth, it sticketh by them, before sin and worldly lusts have gotten a deeper rooting. If Solomon's observation be true, a man's infancy and younger time is a notable presage what he will prove afterwards : Prov. xx. 11, ' Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.' Much may be known l)y our young inclinations. But, alas ! this is not full out the case. The vessel is seasoned already ; but ' wherewith shall a young m.ixn cleanse his way?' which presupposeth a defilement. No infant is like a vessel that newly cometh out of the potter's shop, indifferent for good or bad infusions. The vessel is tainted already, and hath a smatch of the old man and the corruptions of the flesh : Ps. li. 5, ' Behold I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.' We came polluted into the world; ou? business is to stop the growth of sin. As a child walloweth in his filthiness, so we do all spiritually wallow in our blood : Ezek. xvi. 4, 5, ' As for thy nativity, in the day thou wast l)orn, thou wert not washed in water, nor swaddled at all. No ej^e pitied thee, to do any of these unto thee, to have compassion upon thee ; but thou wast cast out into the open field, to the loathing of thy person in the day that thou wast born. And when I saw thee polluted in thy own blood, I said unto thee, when thou wast in thy blood, Live,' &c. Therefore the question is very savoury and profitable, ' Wherewith shall a young man,' kc.