Secondly, The next circumstance is the argument, ' According to thy word.' What word doth David mean ? Either the general pro- mises in the books of Moses or Job, which intimate deliverance to the faithful observers of God's law, or help to the miserable and distressed, or some particular promise given to him by Nathan or others. Chry- sostom saith. Quicken me to live according to thy word : but it is not a word of command, but a word of promise. Mark here —
1. He doth not say, Secundum meritum meum, but secundum verhum tuum; the hope, or that help which we expect from God, is founded upon his word ; there is our security, in his promises, not in our de- servings — Promittendo se fecit dehitorem, &c.
2. When there was so little scripture written, yet David could find out a word for his support. Alas ! in our troubles and affiictions no promise occurreth to mind. As in outward things, many that have less live better than those that have abundance ; so here. Now scrip- ture is so large, we are less diligent, and therefore, though we have so many promises, we are apt to faint, we have not a word to bear us up.
3. This word did not help him till he had lain long under this heavy condition, so that he seemed dead. Many when they have a promise, think presently to enjoy the comfort of it. No ; there is w^aiting and striving first necessary. We never relish the comfort of the promises till the creatures have spent their allowance, and we have been exer- cised. God will keep his word, and yet we must expect to be tried.
4. In this his dead condition, faith in God's word kept him alive. When we have lost feeling, and there is nothing left us, the word will support us : Kom. iv. 19, 20, ' And being not weak in faith, he con- sidered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb ; he staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God.'
5. One good way to get comfort is to plead the promise to" God in prayer. Chirograplia iua injiciebat tihi, Domine. Show him his handwriting ; God is tender of his word. These arguings in prayer are not to work upon God, but ourselves.
Use. Well, then, let us thus deal with God, looking to him in the sense of our own weakness, praying often to God for quickening, as David doth in the text. God keepeth grace in his own hands, and dispenseth
VeR. 26.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 213
it at liis pleasure, that he mny often hear from us, and that we may renew our dependence upon him. It is pleasing to him when we de- sire him to renew his work, and hring forth the actings of grace in their vigour and histre. And let us acknowledge divine grace if there be strong actings of faith and love towards God. lie is to be owned in his work.
SERMON XXVII.
/ have declared my luays, and thou heardest me : teach me tlxy statutes. — Ver. 2G.
In this verse you have three things : —
1. David's open and free dealing with God, I have declared my ways.
2. God's gracious dealing with David, and thou heardest me.
3. A petition for continuance of the like favour, teach me thy statutes.
First, For the first, ' I have declared my ways ; ' that is, distinctly and without hypocrisy laid open the state of my heart and course of my affairs to thee, note —
Boct. They that would speed with God should learn this point of Christian ingenuit}", unfeignedly to lay open their whole case to him ; that is, to declare what they are about, the nature of their affairs, the state of their hearts, what of good or evil they find in themselves, their conflicts, supplies, distresses, hopes ; that is declaring our ways ; the good and evil we are conscious to. As a sick patient will tell the physician how it is with him, so should we deal with God if we would find mercy. This declaring his ways may be looked upon —
1. As an act of faith and dependence.
2. As an act of holy friendship.
3. As an act of spiritual contrition and brokenness of heart ; for this declaring must be explained according to the sense of the object of what David means by this expression, ' My ways.'
First, His businesses or unclertakings ; I have still made them known to thee, committing them to the direction of thy providence ; and so it is an act of faith and dependence, consulting with God, and acquainting him with all our desires. This is necessary —
1. That we may acknowledge the sovereignty of his providence and dominion over all events : Prov. xvi. 9, ' A man's heart deviseth his way, but the Lord directeth his steps.' Man proposeth, but God dis- poseth, and carrieth on the event either further than we intended, or else contrary to what we intended.
2. AVe must declare our ways to God that we may take God along with us in all our actions, that we may ask his leave, counsel, bless- ing : Prov. iii. 6, ' In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.' There is a twofold direction, one of God's provi- dence, the other of his counsel. The direction of his providence, that is understood : Prov. xvi. 9, ' A man's heart deviseth his way, but the Lord directeth his steps.' But then there is the direc-