5. By our worldly projects. Men show a loathing of this word by their eagerness to the world ; their hearts, with Martha, are cumbered with many things, while Mary sat at the feet of Jesus to hear his word, Luke x. We are very fervorous in worldly affairs ; there we can experiment this kind of affection which David speaks of to the word. BcAvare of this coldness to the word ; it is an ill symptom both to nations and persons.
Use 2. To press us to get this fervent and constant affection to the word. To this end consider —
1. Whose Avord it is. God's word ; and your best affections are due to him : Isa. xxvi. 8, * Our desires are to thee, and to the remem- brance of thy name ; ' there you shall hear of God, there God hath displayed his name. Our desires are to thee ; not only so, but to thy * memorial,' to ' the remembrance of thy name ; ' that is, to his word, which is as the bellows to blow up the sparks, and to quicken our affections to him.
2. See what benefits we have by the w^ord of God ; how beneficial it is to enlighten and direct us, quicken and comfort us, supply and strengthen us.
[1.] To enlighten and direct us. ' Light is pleasant,' saith Solomon ; ' it is a good thing to behold the sun with our eyes,' Eccles. xi. 7. If light natural be pleasant, what is light spiritual ? Therefore the Psalmist compares the word to the sun. The visible world can no more be without the one than the intellectual world can be without the other ; and the one doth as much rejoice the heart as the other : Ps. xix. 8, ' The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart ; the judgments of the Lord are pure, enlightening the eyes.' Oh ! it is a comfort to have light to see our way. When men begin to have a conscience about heavenly things, oh ! then they judge so indeed. To others we speak in vain when we tell them what light they shall have by the word. They say those that live under the arctic pole, at the autumnal equinoctial the sun setteth to them, and doth not rise again till the vernal, and so are six whole months under a perpetual night, as if they were buried in a grave ; but at the time of its re- turn, with what clapping of hands and expressions of joy do they welcome the sun again into their parts ! So when the word of God is made known to us, how should we welcome it ! The city of Geneva gave this for a motto, Post ienehras lux — after darkness, light; implying that the return of the gospel was as light after a long dark- ness ; as the coming of the sun again to those northern people. While Paul and his company were in that great storm at sea, when they saw neither sun nor stars for many days, and were afraid thev should
192 SERMONS UPOX PSALM CXIX. [SePv. XXI.
fall upon rocks and dangerous shelves, oh ! with wliat longing did they expect to see day again ! Acts xxvii. So a poor bewildered soul that had lost its way, or when a child of God doth see but by half a light, how desii-able is sure direction! Xow this cannot be had but from the word of God, ' To the law and to the testimony/
[2.] To comfort us in all straits. In the word of God there is a salve for every sore, and a promise for every condition. God hath plentifully opened his good-will to sinners. Therefore the children of God, when they labour under the guilt of sin, there they can hear of God's promises of pardon : Isa. Iv. 7, ' Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts ; and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God, for lie will abundantly pardon.' Against apostasy they have that promise : Jer. xxxii. 40, ' I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.' AVhen they are under weak performances, the word will tell them, ' Tlie Lord will spare you, and pity you as a man spares his only son,' Mai. iii. 17 ; and when they lie under troubles, incon- veniences, and deep crosses, there is a promise — the Lord will be with them in affliction ; the word will show them Christ in the affliction, and heaven beyond the affliction ; and then they are comforted, 1 Cor. X. 13. When they are troubled about worldly provisions, providing for themselves and families, it saith, Be contented, ' I will never leave thee nor forsake thee,' Heb. xiii. 5. When their children come to their minds and thoughts, what will become of them when we are dead and gone, the word will tell you of promises made to you and your children, and of God's taking care of them. In short, God is a sun and shield, and no good thing will he withhold,' &c. Ps. Ixxxiv. 11. There is all manner of blessings adopted and taken into covenant. Look round about the covenant, look into the word of God ; there is nothing wanting for the comfort of believers ; in every condition there is a promise to support and bear them up. Xow, because of this comfort they have in the word of God, therefore it quickens their desires.