4. Pray, as David doth here, ' Turn away mine eyes.' He calleth upon God for the assistance of his grace ; and Ps. cxli. 3, ' Set a watch upon the door of my lips.' He that bendeth and inclineth the heart by his grace to look after better things, must also bridle the senses. It is lust sets the eye awork, and causeth a deep complacency and delight in carnal things, and that is cured only by God's grace, Mark x. 27 ; therefore go and beg this mercy of him.
5. Constant watchfulness. Alas ! we cannot open our eyes but we meet with a temptation, a door open for Satan to enter by ; therefore we had need diligently and constantly to watch, especially when lusts are like to be stirred. Lot's wife might not look towards Sodom, but Abraham was bidden to look upon it. It was no temptation to him, but it was to her ; she had her heart hankering after it, Gen. xix. 17,
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compeared with ver. 28. When we are in danger of a temptation, we should keep a severe and strict hand upon the senses, that they may not dwell unnecessarily upon alluring objects.
6. We have renounced the pomps and vanities of the world in baptism, and shall our eyes and hearts run after them ? This is implied in our baptism, for baptism is called ' the answer of a good conscience towards God,' 1 Peter iii. 21. It is an answer to God's demand in the covenant. God puts us to the question whether we will renounce the world and the vanities and pleasures thereof. Now, when we have renounced these things, shall our eyes and our hearts run after them ? shall we turn the senses against God who gave us the use of them ? yea, against our souls ? To shame you that have been no more faithful to your baptismal vow, consider what heathens have done. Basil relateth that Alexander, a young man, in the heat of blood and in the flower of his age, refused to see Darius's daughter. It is a shame, saith he, for him that hath conquered so many men to be conquered by a woman. It is said of some heathen that he put out his eyes that they might not be a snare to him. We have grace that we may not use such violence to our nature, but certainly the eyes of our lusts should be put out ; you see our baptism engageth us. If lieathens, those that never came under such an engagement to God, if they by the light of nature saw that the guarding of the senses was a help to the soul, it concerns us much more to renounce the pomps and vanities of the world.
Secondly, We come to the request, ' Quicken thou me in thy way.' By quickening is meant the actuation of the spiritual life ; he beggeth grace to perform his duty to God with cheerfulness, liveliness, and zeal.
Dod. Quickening is very necessary for them that would walk in God's ways.
I shall not consider it here as a prayer to God, or as it is a blessing to be asked of God, but as it is necessary to obedience ; and here I shall inquire —
1. What quickening is.
2. Show the necessity of it.
First, What quickening is. It is put for two things — (1.) It is put for regeneration or the infusion of grace ; (2.) For the renewing the vigour of the life of grace, the renewed influence of God, whereby this grace is stirred up in our hearts. First, for regeneration or the in- fusion of grace : Eph. ii. 1,2,' When we were dead in trespasses and sins, yet now hath he quickened us.' Then we are quickened or made alive to God when we are new born, when there is a habitual principle of grace put into our hearts. Secondly, Quickening is put for the renewed excitation of grace, when the life that we have received is carried on to some further increase ; and so it is twofold, either by way of comfort in our afflictions, or enlivening in a way of holiness.
1, Comfort in afHictions ; and so it is opposed to fainting, which is occasioned by too deep a sense of present troubles, and distrust of God and the supplies of his grace. When the affliction is heavy upon us, we are like birds dead in the nest, and are so overcome that we have no spirit or courage in the service of God : Ps. cxix. 50, ' This is my
396 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeE. XLII.
comfort in affliction, for thy word hath quickened me.' Then we are said to be quickened when he raisetli up our hearts above the trouble, by refining our sutfering graces, as faith, hope, and patience. Thus he is said to ' revive the contrite one/ Isa. Ivii. 15 ; to restore com- fort to us, and to refresh us with the sense of his love.
2. There is a quickening in duty, which is opposed to deadness of spirit, which is apt to creep upon us, that is occasioned by negligence and slothfulness in the business of the spiritual life. Now, to quicken us, God exciteth his grace in lis. An instrument, though never so well in tune, soon grows out of order. A key seldom turned rusts in the lock ; so graces that are not kept awork lose their exercise and grow lukewarm, or else it is occasioned by carnal liberty or inter- meddling with worldly things. These bring a brawn and deadness upon the heart, and the soul is depressed by the cares of this world : Luke xxi. 34, ' Now, when you are under this temper of soul, desire the Lord to quicken you by new influences of grace.