368 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. XXXIX.
3. A f^ood frame of heart mast be kept up, for the joy of a Christian may be impaired by his own folly and prevalency of carnal distempers. There is dulness and a damp that is apt to creep upon us ; either by carnal pleasure, or worldly lusts and cares, we may abate of our cheer- fulness. Christ tells us, Luke xxi, 34, that both of them overcharge the heart. Or some presumptuous sin lately committed, when the weight of it lieth upon the conscience, we lose this free spirit : Ps. li. 12, ' Kestore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and uphold me with thy free spirit ; ' our delight is quenched, and we lose that free spirit which otherwise we should have. And therefore we must watch against carnal distempers, and also presumptuous sins, that we may not lose our liberty and our comfortableness in God's service; for. when a Christian hath a good frame of heart, he is filled as with glad- ness, and the joy of the Lord is as oil to the wheels, and it strengthens his affections, and he is carried on with a great deal of cheerfulness.
4. There is needful, too, some experience ; for besides the joy of God, there is the inward pleasure of a good conversation. The ways of God are all ways of pleasantness to them that walk in them, Prov. iii. 17. They which will make trial will find Christ's yoke easy ; yea, they will find a sweetness in God's ways beyond whatever they could think or expect. Some experience of the pleasantness in the paths of wisdom breeds great delight.
Secondly, What are the effects of this delight ?
1. A cheerfulness of spirit, a ready obedience : Ps. xl. 8, 'I delight to do thy will, 0 my God.' They find more solid joy in living holily than in all the pleasure of sin and vanity of the world ; therefore they cheerfully practise that which God requireth of them.
2. They are full of joy and gladness in all their approaches to God : Ps. cxxii. 1, ' I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.' Oh ! then they can go to God, and draw off from the distractions of this world, that they may unbosom themselves, that they may be in God's company, either in public or private.
3. They are weaned from earthly pleasures. When they have tasted of this hidden manna, the garlic and onions of Egypt lose their relish; and they find more sweetness, more rejoicing, in the testimony of their consciences, than ever they could find in the world. It is their meat and drink to do the will of God, to be just, holy, temperate, strict, to walk closely with God ; here is their pleasure and delight of their souls : John iv. 34, ' My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.'
Now the reasons of this. They which have their hearts set upon holiness must have delight. A man whose heart is set upon earthly things will come and howl for corn, wine, and oil, outward enjoy- ments, Hosea vii. ; and a man that makes a loose profession of religion would fain be feasted with comforts, and eased of the smart of his conscience ; he loves to hear of the privilege part of Christianity ; but they come not to God with a true heart, whatever profession they make, Heb. x. 27. They embrace Christ as Judas kissed him, to betray him, or as Joab embraced Amasa, that he might smite him under the fifth rib ; so these are so earnest for pardon of sin, and the privilege part of Christianity, but mind not the higher part, which is
VeR. 36.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 369
sanctification. But now a man that is follen in love with holiness, and whose heart is sincerely bent to God, desires grace to incline his heart to God and the wa3^s of God, and keep exactly with him.
Secondly, As this is the reason of asking, so likewise of granting, * Make me to go in the path of thy commandments, for therein do I delight.' Take four considerations for this:—
1. God will add grace to grace. When God liatli given the will, he will give the deed, further grace, to add new influences to his own seed. We tell God of the dispositions that are in our hearts, that he may perfect them, and ripen his own seed : John i. 16, ' Of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace ; ' grace upon grace, or grace after grace. God's giving one grace is an argument why he will give more grace.
2. God looks after affection rather than action. Sometimes he takes the will for the deed, but never the deed for the will. Where there is a will and delight in his ways, that is it which is most acceptable to him. Look, as to love sin is more than to commit it — a man may commit it out of frailty, but he that loves and cherisheth it is exceed- ing bad — so where there is delight in the ways of God, and the soul is gained to them. This is that God looks after, the affection.