1. Press God about this, not only to grant his %vord unto the church, but to grant it unto you, unto your persons : ' To reveal his Son in me,' Gal. i. 16. There is a general benefit, ' He hath showed his word unto Jacob, and his statutes unto Israel,' Ps. cxlvii. 19. And there is a particular benefit, ' Grant me thy law graciously.' The whole church may be under a covenant of grace, and some particular members of it may be all that while under a covenant of works, if they have only an external law without to show them what is good, but not a law within to urge and enable them to do it — Lexjuhet, gratia juvat. Literal in- struction belongeth only to the first covenant ; but when the word is made ours, that is a privilege of the second covenant, ' The ingrafted word that is able to save our souls,' James i. 21,' when it is received in our hearts, and doth prosper there, and fructify unto holiness, when it is written over again by the finger of the Spirit.
2. See if this effect be accomplished, if the law be granted to you. It is so — (1.) When you have a sense and conscience of it, and you own it as your rule for the governing of your own heart and life : Ps. xxxvii. 31, ' The law of God is in his heart ; none of his steps shall slide.' It is not in his book only, but in his heart, to guide all his actions. (2.) It is so when you have some ability and strength to perform it. Their hearts carry them to it : as Ps. Ix. 8, ' I delight to do thy will, 0 God; yea, thy law is in my heart.' They have not only a sense and con- science of their rule, but a ready spirit to perform it, and set about this work cheerfully and heartily. A ready aiid cheerful obedience to God's Avill is the surest note that the law is given to us ; when the study and practice of it is the great employment and pleasure of our lives.
Doct. 2. (1.) The law that is odious to the flesh is acceptable to a gracious heart. What others count a restraint, they count a great benefit and favour : Piom. viii. 7, ' The carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.' They shun all means of searching and knowing themselves, wishing such things w^ere not sins, or not desiring to know them to be so ; there- fore hate the law, and will not come to the light, John iii. 20, ' For every one that doth evil hateth the light ; neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.' As a man that hath light w^are is loath to come to the balance, or counterfeit coin to the touchstone, or as a bankrupt is loath to cast up his estate. They hate the directions and injunctions of the word as contrary to their lusts : 1 Kings xxii. 8, ' He doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil,' said wicked Ahab ; and therefore would not hear him, and yet he was the prophet of the Lord. They are loath to understand their duty, are willingly ignorant : 2 Peter iii. 5, ' For this they are willingly ignorant of,' &c. But now a gracious heart desireth nothing more than the knowledge of God's Avill ; how contrary soever to their hists, they approve it : Eom. vii. 12, 'Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.' The law and commandment, that which wrought such
288 SERMONS upox PSALM cxix. [Ser. XXXI.
tragical effects in his heart. Therefore they desire the knowledge of it above all things : Ps. cxix. 72, ' The law of thy mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver,' more than all earthly riches what- soever ; it is the best thing they can enjoy, to have a full direction in obedience. (2.) The practice is welcome to their souls : 1 John v. 4, ' His commandments are not grievous.' They are to others, not to them, because of the suitableness of their hearts : to a galled shoulder, the least burden is irksome, but to a sound back it is nothing ; love sweetens all.
Use. Do you count the law an enemy or a friend ? The law is an enemy to them that count it an enemy, and a friend to them that count it a friend. It is a rule of life to them that delight in it, and count it a great mercy to know it, and be subdued to the practice of it ; but it is a covenant of works to them that withdraw the shoulder, count it a heavy burden not to be borne. Well, then, which do you comphiin of, the law or your corruptions ? What are you troubled with, light or lusts ? A gracious heart groaneth not under the strictness of the law, but under the body of death ; not because God hath required so much, but because they can do no more.