2. Entreat the Lord of his abundant grace to pity poor strangers, who are ignorant ; and desire him he would not hide his word from you, that you may walk in the nearest, closest way wherein he would have you walk. He may hide it from you as an absolute supreme Lord, for he is bound to give his grace to none ; and he may do it as a just judge ; he may leave you to your own infatuations and pre- judices. Say, Lord, pity a poor stranger and pilgrim.
The word may be hidden two ways, and take care of both : —
1. In point of external administration, when the powerful means are wanting. Oh ! it is a great mark of God's displeasure, when men are given up by their own choice to blind guides, to those that have no skill ■or no will to edify, or no abilities rightly to divide the word of truth ; only fill the ear with clamour and noise, but do not inform conscience, or move the heart by solid and powerful instruction from the word of God.
2. In point of internal influence, when the comforts and quickenings of the Spirit are withholden : ' Lord, withhold not thy Spirit from me.'
SEKMON XXI.
My soul hreakethfor the longing it hath unto thy judgments at all times. — Ver. 20.
David had begged divine illumination, ver. 18. The reason of his request was, because he was a stranger upon earth, and a stranger may easily be bewildered. Now here is a second reason why lie would
184 SERMO^'s UPON PSALM cxix. [Ser. XXr.
have God to open his eyes, because his heart was carried out with so strong an affection to the word. He that asketh a thing coldly doth but bespeak his own denial. But David was in good earnest when he prayeth for light ; it was not a dead-hearted, perfunctory petition, but such as came from an ardent, strong affection, ' My soul breaketh,' &c. In the words we have —
1. The object of David's affection, thy judgments.
2. The quality or kind of his affection : —
[1.] It was vehement, my soul breaketh ivith longing.
[2.] It was constant, at all times.
By misphalim^ judgments, is meant the word, which is the infallible rule of God's proceeding with sinners.
For the affection, I shall open that, and there first speak of the vehemency, ' My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath.' It is a metaphorical expression, to set forth the earnestness of his affection. The Septuagint renders it thus : iTreTToOrjaev y y^X^'j /^^^ "^^ eTrtOvfirjaac ra KplfMaTci aov — ' My soul coveteth to desire thy judgments.' Desire is the stretching forth of the soul to the thing desired. Now as things that are stretched out do break and crack in stretching; so, saith David, ' My soul breaketh for the longing.' Here is no respect to brokenness of heart in this place, it is only strength of desire that is expressed ; and the expression is used the rather —
1. Because affections, when strong, are painful, and affect the body with impressions answerable thereunto.
2. Not only the denial, but the delay of satisfying the affection, increaseth the pain. When they have not what they do desire, they are even broken in heart ; as Pro v. xiii. 12, ' Hope deferred maketli the heart sick ; but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life ; ' like apples of paradise, comforting and reviving. Now the constancy and continuance of this desire is set forth in these words, at all times ; not for a flash and pang, but it was the ordinary frame of his heart.
Doct. God's children have a strong, constant, and earnest bent of affection towards his word.
1. To open the nature of this affection.
2. The reasons of it.
First, The nature. There consider the object, the end, the pro- perties, and the effects.
1. The object of this affection is the word of God written or preached. As it is written in the scriptures, so it is their constant exercise to read it, and consult with it often : Ps. i. 2, ' But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law doth he meditate day and night ' ; and Josh. i. 8, ' This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and night.' As it is preached and explained : they submit to God's ordinance in that also, who hath appointed pastors and teachers, as well as prophets and apostles: Eph. iv. 11 — prophets and apostles to write scriptures; so pastors and teachers to open and apply scripture ; therefore James i. 19, they are 'swift to hear;' that is, take all occasions for that end and purpose.
2. Fur the end of this affection ; it is a sanctified subjection to God ; and strength and growth in the spiritual life : 1 Peter ii. 2, ' As new-
VeR. 20.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 185
born babes desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby ; ' not merely that you may know, but that you may grow thereby ; not to replenish the head with notions, but that you may in- crease in spiritual strength, and find more liberty of heart towards God.