[3.] To supply and strengthen us. It is our food. Alas ! what a poor languishing Christian will a man be that doth not often make use of the word ! This strengthens him against corruptions, quickens him in duties, and gives success in conflicts. The sword of the Spirit is the choicest weapon. It is ' the power of God to salvation,' Eom. i. 16 ; and 'the word of his grace, which is able to build us up,' Acts XX. 32. If our heart be dead in prayer, here is the rod of Moses to strike upon the rock to make the waters gush out. Therefore, since we have such benefit by the word, we should long and desire to get such a strong affection.
3. Consider what benefit you will have by these desires after the word. It will keep up our diligence, and Avill make us exercise our- selves therein. Desire doth all that is done in the world ; digging for knowledge is tedious, but the end sweetens it. They that have an affection to the word shall never be destitute of success therein ; ' God will fulfil the desire of the saints.' He that satisfieth the gaping of the young raven will these desires A strong affection to the word is the argument that moves God : Ps. cxlv. 19, 'He will fulfil the desire
VeR. 21.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 193
of them that fear him ; he also will hear their cry, and will save them.' And if this desire be painful, yet it is salutary and healthful to the soul. In this sickness there is health ; in this weakness there is strength ; in this thirst, comfort ; and in this hunger, satisfaction.
For means —
[1.] Get a high esteem of spiritual enjoyments. Valuation and esteem precede desire. Wicked men, that value themselves by carnal comforts, their souls run out with vehement longing that way. A child of God, that values himself by spiritual enjoyments, by know- ledge, grace, subjection to God, that counts these his greatest benefits, his main desire is to be acquainted with the word of God. The word liath a subserviency to his end. Poor low-spirited creatures, that value themselves by the plenty of external accommodations, they will never feel this longing after the word. Prov. viii. 10, ' Receive instruc- tion rather than silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold.'
[2.] Let a man live in the awe of God, and make it his business to maintain communion with him, and then he will be longing after him. This will show the necessity of the word of God for his comfort and strength upon all occasions. A lively Christian, that is put to it in good earnest, he must have the word by him to direct, comfort, and strengthen him ; as he that labours hard must have his meals, or else he will faint and be overcome by his labour. We content ourselves with a loose profession, and so do not see the need of food, have not this hungering longing desire after the bread of life. Painted fire needs no fuel ; a dead formal profession is easily kept up ; but a man that makes it his business to maintain communion with him, and much exercised to godliness, is hungering and thirsting that he might meet with God.
SERMON XXII.
Thou, hast rebiiked the proud that are cursed, ivhich do err from thy commandments. — Ver. 21.
In the 18th verse, the prophet had begged divine illumination, that his eyes might be opened to see more into the nature of the word. He backeth that petition with three arguments. The first is taken from his condition in the world, ' I am a stranger upon earth.' The second argument is taken from the vehemency of his affection to the word, ' My soul breaketh,' &c. A man that is regenerate, as David was, he hath not only some faint and languid motions towards holy things, but a great and strong affection of heart, ' My heart even breaketh for the lonsinc:,' &c. In this verse here is the third reason, ' Open mine eyes.' AVhy ? Because ernng from the commandment is dangerous, and bringeth us under God's curse, which will be executed by the rebukes of his providence. There have been ever some that op- posed God, but yet they have ever been blasted by God ; he hath always vindicated the contempt of his law by the severe executions of his justice upon the contemners of it, ' Thou hast rebuked the proud.' We should not let pass God's judgments without profit ; but the more
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the law is owned from heaven, the more entirely should we apply our- selves to the obedience of it. Therefore this is one reason why David begs for light, direction, and strength, for ' thou hast rebuked the proud,' &c. ; therefore. Lord, teach me, that I may not come under the rebukes of thine anger.
Some read the words in two distinct sentences, * Thou hast rebuked the proud ;' and then, ' Cursed are they which do err from thy com- mandments.' But it comes all to one with our reading ; therefore I shall not stand to insist upon examining the ground of this difference.