In the words there is —
1. A delight asserted.
2. The object of it, in the loay of thy testimonies.
3. The degree of ijt, as much as in all riches.
By way of explication : The ' testimonies' of God are his word, for it testifieth of his will. Now the prophet saith not only, ' I have re- joiced in thy testimonies,' but 'in the loay of thy testimonies.' Way is one of the words by which the law is expressed. God's laws are ways that lead us to God ; and so it may be taken here, the way which thy testimonies point out and call me unto ; or else, his own practice, as a man's course is called his way ; his delight was not in specula- tion or talk, but in obedience and practice : ' In the way of thy testi- monies.' The degree, ' as much as in all riches,' As much, not to show the equality of these things, as if we should have the same aftec- tion for the world as for the word of God ; but as much, because we have no higher comparison. This is that worldlings dote upon and de- light in. Now, as much as they rejoice in worldly possessions, so much do I rejoice in the way of thy testimonies. For I suppose David doth not compare his own delight in the word with his own delight in wealth ; but his own choice and delight with the delight and choice of others. If he had spoken of himself both in the one respect and in the other, the expression was very high. David, that was called to a crown, and in a capacity of enjoying much in the world, gold, silver, lands, goods, largeness of territory, and a compound of all that which all men jointly, and every man severally, doth possess, yet was more pleased in the holiness of God's ways, than in all the world.' ' For what shall it profit a man to gain the whole world, and lose his own soul ? ' Mat. xvi. 26.
Doct. A gracious heart finds more true joy in the way of God's word than in all worldly things whatsoever.
VOL. VL I
130 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. XV.
To explain this, consider —
1. What this delight is.
2. How a gracious heart finds more delight in the word of God than in all worldly things.
3. The reasons why they do so,
1. What this delight is. I shall give you several distinctions.
[1.] There is a sweetness in the study of G-od's word, or when we give up ourselves to attain the knowledge of it. The very speculation and study produces a delightful taste, for three reasons : —
(1.) Truth is the good of the understanding ; therefore, when the faculty is suited with a fit object, this correspondence causeth a rejoic- ing and delectation: Pro v. xxiv. 14, ' My son, eat thou honey because it is good ; and the honeycomb, because it is sweet to thy taste : so shall the knowledge of wisdom be to thy soul when thou hast found it.' Every truth, if it be but a natural or philosophical verity, when we come to consider and see it with our own eyes, and have found it out by search, and do "not rejieat it by rote only, breedeth a delight. Plea- sure is applicatio convenientis convenienti; so it is true in theological truths ; we are the more affected with them the more they are repre- sented with evidence to the soul.
(2.) Scriptural truths are more sublime than other truths, and do en- noble reason with the knowledge of them : Deut. iv. 6, ' Surely this great nation is a wise and an understanding people.' Such doctrines as we meet with in the word of God concerning angels and the souls of men, the creation and government of all things, the redemption of men, must needs affect the heart, and breed a joy in the view and contemplation of them.
(3.) Because these truths are suitable to our necessities. To every man that hath a conscience, it cannot but be very pleasing to hear of a way how he may come to the pardon of sins, and sound peace of con- science, solid perfection, and eternal glory. Man is naturally under fear of death, Eom. i. 32, and would be glad of pardon ; weak, and unable to find out or attain to moral perfection, he would be glad of an exact rule, and gropeth and feeleth about for an everlasting happiness. Acts xvii. 27. So far as anything is found to this purpose in the writings , of men, they have a marvellous force and influence upon us. Any beam of this truth scattered in Plato or Socrates, of man's reconciliation with a just God, there is nothing in their writings ; the then world was under perplexity ; but yet of moral perfection, and an eternal state of blessedness, there were some glimmerings. Now, when these are re- presented to the understanding with such evidence and satisfaction as they are in the scriptures, where you have the only sufficient direction to true happiness, no wonder if they are greedily catched at. Now this delight, though good, I speak not of, because it may be in temporaries, who have a taste of the good word, to invite them to seek for more, Heb. vi. 4, and is a fruit of common illumination. The stony ground re- ceived the word with joy, Luke viii. 13 ; and though it may affect the heart, yet if not above all riches, it doth not prevail over carnal affec- tions.