3. The subject or place where the word is hidden, in the heart. Not the brain, or mind and memory only, but the heart, the seat of affec-
100 SERMONS urox rsALM cxix. [Ser. XII.
tions. To hide the word in our hearts is to understand and remember it, and to be affected to it and with it. Christ saith, John xiv. 21, ' He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me.' First we must have them, and then keep them. First we know them, then assent to them, and then approve them, because of the authority of the lawgiver, and the excellency of the thing com- manded ; and then respect them as a treasure that we are chary of; and having them still in our eye, do thereby regulate our practice and conversation. In short, by holding it in our hearts is meant not only a knowledge of the word, but an assent to it ; not only au assent to it, but a serious and sound digestion of it by meditation; not only a digestion, but a constant respect to it, that we may not transgress it as it is a rule, nor lose it as it is a treasure, but may have it ready and forthcoming upon all occasions.
The points are these : —
Doct. 1. One duty and necessary practice of God's children is to hide the word in their hearts.
Doct. 2. That in hiding the word in our hearts, there must be a right end ; our knowledge of it and delight in it must be directed to practice.
1. That one duty and necessary practice of God's children is to hide the word in their hearts. See it confirmed by a scripture or two : Josh. i. 8, ' This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and night ; ' Job xxii. 22, ' Keceive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thy heart.' By the law is meant the whole word of God. ' Lay up his words,' as we would do choice things, that they may not be lost or embezzled ; and lay them up as treasure to be used upon all occasions. ' In the heart ; ' let them not swim in the brain or memory only, but let the heart be affected with it : Col. iii. 16, ' Let the word of God dwell in you richly ; ' be so diligent in the study of the scripture, that it may become familiar with us, by frequent hearing, reading, meditating, conferring about it. As a stranger, let it not stand at the door, but receive it into an inner room ; be as familiar as those that dwell with you. God complaineth of his people : Hosea viii. 12, * I have written to them the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing.' To be strangers to the word of God, and little conversant in it, is a great evil. What is it to hide the word in our hearts ? (1.) To understand it, to get a competent knowledge of it; we take in things into the soul by the understanding : Prov. ii. 10, ' When wis- dom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul.' There is first an entrance by knowledge. (2.) When it is assented unto by faith. The word is settled in the heart by faith, otherwise it soon vanisheth : Heb. iv. 2, ' The word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.' (3.) When it is kindly entertained : John viii. 37, Christ complains, ' Ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you,' ov ^wpet iv vfiiv. Men are so possessed with lust and prejudice, that there is no room for Christ's word. Though it break in upon the heart with evidence and power, yet it is not entertained there, but cast out again as an unwel- come guest. (4.) When it is deeply rooted. Many men have flashes
VeR. 11.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 101
for a time ; their affections may be much aloft, and they may have great fits and elevations of joy and delight, but no sound grace : John V. o5, ' Ye rejoiced in his light for a season.' But now the word must be settled into a standing aftection, if we would have comfort and j)ro- fit by it. We read of ' the ingrafted word,' James i. 21. There is a word bearing fruit, and a word ingrafted. Till there be the root of the matter in us, in vain do we expect fruit.
The reasons why this is one duty and practice of the saints, to hide the word in their hearts, are two: —
Beas. 1. First, that we may have it ready for our use. AVe lay up principles, that we may lay them out upon all occasions. Man hath an ingestive and an egestive faculty ; when it is hid in the heart, it Avill be ready to break out in the tongue and practice, and be forthcoming to direct us in every duty and exigency. When persons run to the market for every pennyworth, it doth not become good housekeepers. To be to seek of comforts when we should use them, or to run to a book, is not so comfortable as to hide it in the heart. As Christ saith, ' A good scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven, briugeth forth out of his treasure things new and old,' Mat. xiii. 52. He . hath not only this year's growth, but the last year's gathering (for so is the allusion made) ; he hath not only from hand to mouth,, but a good stock by him. So should a Christian have not only knowledge from hand to mouth, but a good stock and treasure in his heart, which is a very great advantage in these seven things.