[2.] There is no sincerity in them. All that is in the world is but a semblance and an appearance, that which tickles the senses ; it doth not go to the heart. You would have thought Belshazzar was merry at the heart when he was quaffing and carousing in the cups of the temple ; but how soon is the edge of his bravery taken off, Dan. v. 5, 6. Haman in the midst of his honours was troubled at the heart for want of Mordecai's knee. Those things which seem to aftect us so much cannot allay one unquiet passion, certainly cannot still and pacify the least storm of the conscience ; and therefore, whatever face men put upon temporal enjoyments, if they cannot see God's special love iu them, they want sincere joy. There is many a smart lash they feel when the world hears not the stroke : Pro v. xiv. 13, ' Even in laugh- ter the heart is sorrowful, and the end of that mirth is heaviness." All the laughter and merriment which men seem to receive from the creature, it is but a little appearance, not such as will go to the con- science, that will indeed and thoroughly rejoice and comfort a man, and give him solid joy.
[.S"] There wants eternity. An immortal soul must have an eternal good, ' pleasures for evermore,' Ps. xvi. 11. In this world we have but a poor changeable happiness : Luke xii. 20, it was said to the rich fool, ' This night thy soul shall be required of thee.'
Thus much for the first branch, blessed art thou, 0 Lord.
Secondly, I come from the compellation to the supplication, teach me thy statutes. And here observe— (1.) The person teaching; he speaks
VeE. 12.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 115
to God, ' Do tliou^ 0 God, teach.' (2.) We may consider the person taught, 'Teach me;' I, that have hid the word in my heart. David, that was a prophet, is willing to be a disciple. Those that teach others have need that God should teach them. The prophet saith, ' Teach me, 0 Lord.' David, a grown Christian, he desires more understanding of God's will. Certainly we should still ' follow on to know the Lord,' Hosea vi. 3. Heathens, that only knew natural and moral things, yet they saw a need of growth ; and the more they knew, the more they discovered their ignorance ; and always as they grew older, they grew wiser. How much more sensible would they have been of their defects in the knowledge of spiritual things, if they had in a little measure been acquainted with the mysteries of godliness, that pass all understanding, and are so much from human sense, and above the capacities of our reason ! Prov. xxx. 3, Agur said, ' I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy.' There is very much yet to be learned of God, and of his ways. Many think they know all that can be taught them. David, a great prophet, a man after God's own heart, yet is earnest that God would teach him his statutes. (3.) The lesson or matter to be taught, ' thy statutes ; ' so he calls the word, because the doctrines of it have the force of a law published ; they do unalterably bind, and that the soul and conscience ; and therefore the precepts, counsels, and doctrines of the word are all called statutes.
The point is —
Doct. If we would know God's statutes so as to keep them, we must be taught of God.
Here I shall inquire —
1. What it is, or how doth God teach us ?
2. The necessity of this teaching.
3. The benefit and utility of it. First, How doth God teach us ?
Outwardly, by his ordinance, by the ministry of man. Inwardly, by the inspiration and work of the Holy Ghost.
1. The outward teaching is God's teaching, because it is an ordi- nance which is appointed by him. Now both these must ever go together, external and internal teaching : ' Despise not prophecy, quench not the Spirit." If you would have any enlightening and quickening of the Spirit, you must not despise prophecy. We teach you here, and God blesseth. Jesus Christ, when he comes to teach his disciples, first he openeth the scripture, Luke xxiv. 37 ; and then, ver. 45, ' he opened their imderstandings.' Of Lydia it is said, ' God opened her heart in attending to the things spoken by Paul,' Acts xvi. 14. She was attending, and then God openeth her heart. When the eunuch was reading, then God sends an interpreter. The outward means are necessary ; it is God's teaching in part ; but the inward grace especially. Both these must go together ; for it is said, John vi. 45, 'Every man that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, Cometh unto me.' There must be a hearing of the word, and so there is a teaching from God. But —
2. The inward teaching, which is the work of the Spirit, that needs most to be opened. What is that ? It consists in two things — (1.) When God infuseth light into the understanding, so as we come to
116 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. XIII.