SERMON XXXVI.
Teach me, 0 Lord, the ivay of thy statutes, and I shall keep it unto the end. — Ver. 33.
The man of God had promised to run the way of God's command- ments ; but being conscious of many swervings, beggeth God further to teach him.
In the words two things are observable : —
1. A prayer for grace,
2. A promise made upon supposition of obtaining the grace asked. He promiseth —
[1.] Diligence and accuracy of practice, Iivill Jceep it.
[2.] Perseverance, unto the end.
First, In the prayer for grace observe —
1. The person to whom he prays, 0 Lord.
2. The person for whom, teach me.
3. The grace for which he prayeth, to be taught.
4. The object of this teaching, the ivay of God's stahdes.
The teaching which he beggeth is not speculative, but practical ; to learn how to walk in the way of God.
1. David, a man after God's own heart, maketh this prayer. The more love any have to God, the more they desire to know his ways. Carnal men are of another spirit ; they say. Job xxi. 14, ' Depart from us ; we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.' The more ignorant the more quiet. They that love their lusts cannot heartily desire the knowledge of those truths which will trouble them in the following of their lusts. We often consult with our affections about our opinions ;
340 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. XXXVI.
and \Yhere we have a mind to hate, we have no desire to know. Ordi- nary professors, a little knowledge servetli their turn, some fewohvious truths, hut others, such as David, follow on to know the Lord. David, that had a singular measure of knowledge already, yet there is no end of his desire in this psalm ; and shall we he contented as if we needed no more ?
2. Consider David, a prophet, a teacher, a penman of scripture. There was some knowledge which the prophets got by ordinary means, and some by immediate revelation ; as Daniel by vision, and Daniel by reading of books, Dan. vii. 2, ix, 2 ; either by a new revelation, or by the study of what was already revealed. And if extraordinary men were bound to the ordinary duties of God's service as the means of their improvement and growth in grace, such as reading, prayer, hear- ing, meditation, use of seals, &:c., surely none can plead exemption or conceit themselves to be above duties. Now, that they were thus bound we find by David's prayer for knowledge, Daniel's reading of books, namely that of Jeremiah, and all of them meditating or inquir- ing diligently what manner of salvation should ensue : 1 Peter i. 10. 11, 'Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you ; searching what or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufterings of Christ, and the glory that should follow;' meditating and prying into the meaning of that salvation which by the motion of the Spirit they held forth to others, labouring to make these truths their own, and to get their hearts aftected therewith. In their prophetic revela- tions they were (^epo^ievoi, 2 Peter i. 21, forcibly moved by the Spirit, and carried beyond their intention, and the line of their natural strength, but in other things they got knowledge by the same means that we do, and as believers were to stir up the gifts and graces which they had in the ordinary way of duty, waiting and crying for the influ- ences of the Lord's grace. You must distinguish, then, of what they did wlien they acted as prophets and when they acted as believers.
3. David, that had means external sufficient to direct him in the way of God, as the scriptures then written, the ordinances of the law, and the expositions of the scribes, yet beggeth God to teach him. So must we beg God to teach us, vrhatever means we have. It is true we have an advantage above the Old Testament church, as we have their helps and more, and the doctrine of salvation is now clearer, and the gifts and graces of the Spirit more plentifully dispensed since the price of redemption is actually paid, than before, when God gave out grace and glory only upon trust ; yet still we are to go to God for his teaching, because the means are not successful unless he join his in- fluence ; especially to give us this practical knowledge, teaching in order to keeping the way of God's statutes. I say, though we have the word, and many pastors and teachers better gifted than in the Old Testatment, Eph. iv. 11, yet God must be our teacher still, if we mean to profit ; for ' Paul may plant, and ApoUos may water, but God giveth the increase,' 1 Cor. iii. 6. To seek knowledge in the means with the neglect of God well never succeed well with you ; as we ministers must not rest upon our work, but pray much for success
VeR. 33.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 341
{pene orasse est bene shcdm'sse — Luther), so you hearers must not rest in the fruit of our studies, but still beg God to teach you every truth.