172 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. XIX.
yet maldng nicany rich.' 2 Cor. vi. 9, 10. All the operations of the Spirit are wonderful: 1 Peter i. 8, ' Joy unspeakable and full of ij;lory:' Phil. iv. 7, ' Peace that passeth all understanding ; ' Piom. viii. 26, ' Groans that cannot be uttered.'
And now, what divine illumination contributeth to the sight of these wonders ?
1. It revealeth the truth of them, which otherwise is incomprehen- sible to the flesh: Mat. xvi. 17, ' Flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.' Without this, no cer- tain knowledge of Christ's person and office.
2. It more intimately acquainteth us with them : Mat. xiii. 11, ' To you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God ; to others it is not given.' All God's works are full of wonder, yet blind men cannot see them, though the sun shineth never so clearly. A beautiful room into which there is but a crevice, when we lay our eye close to it, we see it.
Use 1. From hence we may learn, that it is one degree of profit to see so much in the word of God as to admire it ; either at the mys- teries of godliness or ungodliness, which the word discovereth, w /Sddo^. They that are most enlightened have most cause to wonder ; for then they find truths which exceed all common reason, such as do not come into the minds of others, or, if they do, they seem incredible.
Use 2 is to encourage us to study the w^ord ; the wonders of God's works are many, but the wonders of his word greater. Quot articuli, tot miracula, the Papists say of Aquinas's Sums ; but more truly may it be said of the word of God ; all the doctrines of the word are a continued mystery. After man was fallen, it came not into the head of any creature how to satisfy justice, to make up the breach. Oh, the folly of them that despise the word, as curious wits and world- lings do, as if it were a mean knowledge in comparison of what may be acquired from Aristotle and Plato or the politicians of the world ! If there be in it some rudiments, something common with other writ- ings, yet there are greater things than these : ' The deep things of God,' 1 Gor. ii. 11 ; never such a revelation made to the world. And worldly men, that despise this study of the word, they despise that which angels wonder at, Eph. iii. 10, and ' desire to pry into,' 1 Peter i. 12, and make great matters of trifles. The Sun of righteousness, is not he worth the beholding ?
Use 3. Let us cease wondering atworldlythings,greatplaces,honours, heaps of wealth, fair buildings, as the disciples, Mark xiii. 1, ' Mas- ter, see what manner of stones and buildings are here ! ' It is said of Christ, Col. ii. 9, ' In him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily !' Fulness of the Godhead ! oh, wonderful ! The people wondered at that mass of money provided by David to build God a house, 1 Chron. xxix. 7, 8. Oh! but the unsearchable riches of grace, the rare plot of man's redemption, jMe'ya /xuaT/]pi.ov, how wonderful ! All in and about Christ is rare. His name is Wonderful. All the promises of God are TO, fiiyiara Koi- rl/uiia iTrayyeXfxara, ' exceeding great and precious pro- mises,' 2 Peter i. 4 ; they transcend man's capacity. It condemneth the stupidnessof them that are nothing moved or taken with things sogreat and wonderful — great in themselves, and should be precious to us.
VeR. 19.] SERMONS UrOX PSALM cxix. 173
SERMON XX.
I am a stranger in the earth : liide not thij commandments f)om me. — Ver. 19.
In the ISth verse David had begged divine illumination, ' Open mine eyes,' &c. He doth not desire God to make a plainer law, but to give him a clearer sight. That request he backs with three reasons in the following verses : —
1. His condition in the world, ' I am a stranger in the earth.' Strangers in a foreign country need guidance and direction.
2. His earnest affection to the word, ver, 20, ' My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times.' David had an earnest longing to be acquainted more with the will of God.
3. God's judgments upon those that contemn the word, ' Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, which do err from thy command- ments.' It is dangerous to walk beside the rule : Eom. i. 18, ' The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men,' &c. God hath owned both tables ; he hath punished ungodliness, a violation of the first table; and unright- eousness, a violation of the second table. Here God hath declared how he will own his name, therefore he begs illumination.
Now, the text giveth you this first reason, his condition in the world. Here observe two things : —
1. A representation of his case, I am a stranger uioon earth.
2. His request to God, hide not thy commandments from me. First, A representation of his case with respect to his quality, — what