Thirdly, The subsequent operation of the saints ; they that are acted by God act under him: ' Then will I run the way of thy commandments.'
VeR. 32.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 335
First, Mark, he resolveth, ' Then I will run.' He doth not say, Then I should run, but tvill run, as binding his soul by a resolution, and his resolution by a solemn promise, ' Then I will run the way of thy com- mandments.' Here I might take occasion to speak of the good of binding the heart, and being resolved in a course of godliness. It is good to engage us to come to God, to keep to God, and to be hearty in his service.
1. This is that Avhich engageth us to come to God, because of our- selves we are off and on, hanging between heaven and hell, and have many loose and wavering thoughts, until we come to a firm pur- pose and determination, and that engageth the heart : Jer. xxx. 21, ' Who is this that engageth his heart to approach unto me, saith the Lord ? ' Before we come to this engagement, there are several things: — (1.) A simple and bare conceit of the w^ays of God, or of the good- ness of holiness, this will not bring us to God, some general approba- tion of his ways. Many will say, 'God is good to Israel,' Ps. Ixxiii. 1 ; but the heart never comes off kiudly to choose God till the judgment determines, ' It is good for me to draw nigh to God,' ver. 28. This puts an end to many anxious traverses, debates, and delays in the soul. (2.) There are weak and wavering purposes, and faint attempts in the soul, that end but in wishes, wdiich are soon broken off; but we are never converted and thoroughly brought to God till there be a full and fixed purpose : Acts xi. 23, ' He exhorted them all, that with full purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.' AVhen it comes to a plenary thorough purpose of heart, then grace hath wrought upon us.
2. As it will bring us to come to God, so it causeth us to keep to God. He that is unresolved is never constant : James i, 8, ' A double- minded man is unstable in all his ways.' There is in us a changeable heart, a rebelling nature ; that meeting with temptations from with- out, unless there be a fixed purpose, alas ! we shall be unstable in all our ways ; all good washes and faint purposes come to nothing, but we shall give out at every assault. But wdien we are firmly and habitu- ally resolved, Satan is discouraged. This bindeth our holy purposes, like hemming of the garment, that keepeth it from ravelliug out. Whilst we are thinking and deliberating what to do, we lie open to temptations, the devil hath some hope of us ; but when the bent of our hearts is set another way, and the devil sees we are firmly resolved, and have holy purposes, he is discouraged. This was that -which made Daniel so courageous and resolute in God's service : Dan. i. 8, ' He purposed in his heart that he w'oidd not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat.'
3. By resolution we are quickened to more diligence and serious- ness. Good purposes are the root of good works, and without the root there is no fruit to be expected. A true and inward purpose will not let us be idle, but still urging and soliciting us to that which is good, then w-e make a business of religion ; whereas otherwise we make but a sport and recreation, that is, mind it only by the by. But now, ' One thing have I desired, and that will I seek after,' Ps. xxvii. 4. When the heart is set upon a thing we follow it close, whatever we neglect. Whereas otherwise we are very lazy, careless, and do it
336 SERMONS upox PSALM cxix. [Ser. XXXY.
as if we did it not ; this makes us diligent, earnest, careful to maintain communion between God and us.
Use. Well, then, do you thus resolve and engage your hearts to walk with Grod. And for your direction —
1. Let it be the resolution of the heart, rather than the tongue : Jer. XXX. 21, 'Who is this that engageth his heart V And Acts xi. 23, ' He exhorted them loith imrpose of heart to cleave to the Lord.' Our resolution is not to be determined and judged of so much by the course of our language as by the bent of our heart. Empty promises signify nothing unless they are the result of the heart's determination : Dent. V. 28, 29, ' The people hath said well,' saith God, ' all that the Lord hath said, we will do. Oh, that they had such a heart within them ! ' Otherwise the duty hath no root, unless it be a fixed deter- mination of the soul.
•2. Let it not be a weak, broken, but full resolution. Cold wishes are easily overcome by the love of the world : Acts xxvi. 23, ' Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.' That will not do, unless we be altogether. Carnal men, though they are not converted, yet they have a kind of half turn ; they have good wishes on a sudden upon a lively sermon ; they would, but they will not. There needs a strong bent of heart. Bad purposes are more easily resolved and performed than good ; Satan, the world, and the flesh do not hinder, but further them ; so that good resolutions need to be thoroughly made : 1 Chron. xxii. 19, ' Xow set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God.' When the heart is fixed by a persevering durable purpose, grace possesses it.