SERMON XI.
With my ivliole heart have I souglit thee: 0 let me not ivander from thy commandments. — Ver. 10.
The Psalmist had in the former verse directed the young man to dili- gence and attention unto the word ; but the word doth nothing unless we join prayer ; and therefore now he gives an example in his own person. Having spoken of the power of the word to cleanse the way, now saith he, ' With my whole heart,' &c. Here take notice —
1. Of David's argument, with my whole heart have I sought thee.
2. His request, 0 let me not vjcinder from thy commandments. First, For David's argument, ' I have sought thee with my whole
heart.'' Pie pleadeth his own sincerity. I showed you largely what it is to seek God, and that with the whole heart, in the second verse. I shall not repeat anything ; only, that I may not dismiss this clause without some note, observe, first, that it is the duty and practice of God's children to seek him.
TeR. 10.] SERMONS UPON P.-AL:\I CXIX. 91
You have Davids instance in the text and elsewhere. It is their general character : Ps. xxiv. 6, ' This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, 0 Jacob. Selah.' God's children are a generation of seekers. They lind hereafter, but now they seek. Tiieir great business is to be seeking after God, more ample and full communion with him.
Seeking of God implies three things : —
1. There is a more general seeking of God, for relief of our sin and misery by nature.
2. ]More particular, upon special occasions.
3. There is a constant seeking of God in the use of his ordinances.
1. There is a more general seeking of God, for relief of our sinful and wretched condition by nature. Adam, when a sinner, ran away from God ; and therefore all our business is now to seek him, that we may find him again in Christ Jesus. The general address that is made to God for pardon and reconciliation, it is often called a seeking of God in scripture ; so it is taken Isa. Iv. 6, 'Seek ye the Lord while he may be found ; call upon him while he is near ; ' that is, get into favour with God before it be too late. So Amos v. 6, ' Seek the Lord, and ye shall live.' This notes our general address for pardon and reconciliation.
2. There is a more particular seeking of God; that notes our addresses to God either in our exigencies and straits, or in all our business and employment.
[1.] In our exigencies and straits. And so we are said to seek God when in doubts we seek his direction, James i. 5 ; when in weakness we seek strength ; in sickness, health ; in troubles, comfort. Asa is blamed that he ' sought not to the Lord, but to the physicians.' Paul's messenger of Satan drives him to the throne of grace : 2 Cor. xii. 8, ' For this I sought the Lord thrice.' He would knock again and again, to see what answers he could get from God.
[2.] In all our businesses and affairs God must be sought unto, and we must ask his leave, his counsel, and his blessing. Pagans, before the awe of religion was extinguished, would begin vath their gods in every weighty enterprise. A Jove j^yincipium was an honest heathen principle. Laban consults with his teraphim ; Balak sends for Balaam ; they had theii* oracles that they would resort to. So far as any nation was touched with a sense of a divine power, they would never venture upon anything without consulting with their gods. And it is enjoined as a piece of religious good manners to own God upon all occasions : Prov. iii. 5, ' In all thy ways acknowledge him.' It is an acknowledgment of God, an owning him as a God, that we would be asking his leave, counsel, and blessing. His leave must be asked, though the thing be never so lawful and easy. We are taught every day to ask our daily bread, thotTgh we have it by us, that we may not, like thieves and robbers, use his goods without his leave. So for his counsel ; he is sure to mis- carry that makes his bosom his oracle, his wit his counsellor. It is a high piece of spiritual idolatry to lean upon oiu" own understanding, and think to carry even the ordinary affair's of any day without asking coun- sel from God. And then his blessing. God is not an idle spectator, he disposeth of all events, and giveth the blessing : Jer. x. 23, ' The way
92 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. XI.
of man is not in himself ; it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps ; ' that is, as to any happy issue. God doth the more stand upon his right that he may the oftener hear from lis, and tliat we may have many occasions to bring us to the throne of grace. Now this is the constant practice of God's children. David always ran to the oracle or the ephod when he had any business to do : 1 Sam. xxiii., Shall I do thus and thus, or shall I not ? Jacob in his journey would neither go to Laban, nor come from him, without a warrant. Jehosha- phat in the business of Eamoth-Gilead would not stir a foot until he had counsel from God ; he sends not only to the captain of the host, but to the prophet of the Lord : ' Inquire, I pray thee, of the Lord to day,' 1 Kings xxii. 2 ; Judges i. 1, ii. 28.