3. Consider whose word it is. God's word is the signification of his will who is merciful, able, true. (1.) There is benignity and goodness, by which he is willing to help poor creatures, though we can be of no use and profit to him. The hen receiveth no benefit by the chickens, only her trouble of providing for them is increased ; but they are her own brood, therefore she leadeth them up and down that they may find a sustenance : so doth God to the creatures. We are the work of his hands, therefore he pitieth us, and is willing to save
VeR. 42.] SERMONS uroN rSALM CXIX. 453
us ; and not only so, but carried us in the womb of his decree from all eternif}'. (2.) His truth and fidelity is laid at pawn with the creature in the promises: Ps. cxxxviii. 2, ' Thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.' He standeth much on his truth, is punctual in his promises. It is a great disgrace done to God if we do not trust him upon his word ; we ' make him a liar :' 1 John v. 10, ' He that believeth not God hath made him a liar,' and so not God. (3.) He is able to make it good ; his word never yet found difficulty : ' He spake the word, and it was done.' There is the same power that goeth still along with his word. If he say he will do this, who can let ? Therefore, none that ever yet trusted in God were disappointed : Ps. xxii. 5, ' They trusted in thee, and were not confounded.'
4. From the benefits of this trust.
[1.] This fixeth and establisheth the heart against all fears, which so often prove a snare to us : Ps. cxii. 7, ' He shall not be afraid of evil tidings ; his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord.' Ill news and cross accidents falling out in the world do not dismay him, because he looketh higher, because he hath set God against men, the covenant against providences, eternal things against temporal ; he is not fearless, yet his heart is established and fixed.
[2.] It allayeth our sorrows, and maketh us cheerful in the midst of all difficulties and discouragements : Ps. xiii. 5, ' I have trusted in thy mercy ; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation ;' so Ps. lii. 8, ' I am like a green olive-tree, for I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.' As some trees are green in winter ; this will make a man flourish notwithstanding opposition, and all the bitter cold blasts of trouble and worldly distress.
[3.] It quiets the heart as to murmurings and unquiet agitations of spirit, to wait God's leisure. When there was a storm in David's spirit, he allayeth it thus : Ps. xlii. 5, ' Why art thou disquieted, 0 my soul ? hope thou in God, for I shall yet praise him.' On the contrary, murmuring, impatience, and vexation is the fruit of distrust : Ps. cvi. 24, 25, ' They believed not his word, and murmured in their tents.' They that distrust God's promise fall a quarrelling with his provi- dence. Did we believe that the wise God is still carrying on all things for our good, we would submit to his will.
[4.] It banisheth and removeth far from us distracting cares and fears ; these are a great sin, a reproach to our heavenly Father: Mat. vi. 25, ' Therefore I say unto you. Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, nor what ye shall drink ; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on ;' and ver. 32, ' After all these things do the Gentiles seek ; for your heavenly Father kuoweth that ye have need of all these things,' As if your chiklren, when you are able to maintain them, should dis- trust your allowance, and beg their bread from door to door. We are forecasting many things, take God's work out of his hands, and are anxious in inquiring what we shall eat, what we shall drink, what shall become of such a business and affair. Xow, how shall we be eased of these tormenting thoughts ? Prov. xvi. 3, ' Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established \ 2 Chron. XX. 20, ' Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established.'
[5.] It keepeth us from warping and turning aside to crooked paths.
454 SERMONS UPON PSALM cxix. [Ser. XLVIII.
As long as we are persuaded tliat God will maintain us by honest and lawful means, we are kept upright with God; but an unbelieving per- son makes haste ; right or wrong, he will be his own carver. Men, if they have not faith enough to trust God in an ordinary course of pro- vidence, think God is a bad pay-master, and therefore take up with present things : Zeph. iii. 2, ' She obeyed not my voice, she trusted not in the Lord;' that was the reason of her corruption, oppression, and deceit ; this was the reason why they rose up against Moses, and would go back to Egypt ; they would not believe God could maintain them in the wilderness. Warping and declining from God cometh from want of faith.