482 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. LI.
necessity upon me, that I can do nothing but sin against thee. And after that, Be/or midaham quasi mortem consuetudinis mutationem (Aug. Confes. lib. viii. cap. 7). Thus are "we by little and little en- slaved, brought under the power of every toy. Things are lawful as subordinate helps ; but we, contrary to the law of reason, and the in- clination to true happiness, immoderately desire them ; and these desires being excessive, get a complete victory over our souls : and at length we are brought under the power of every creature : 1 Cor. vi. 12, ' All things are lawful, but I will not be brought under the power of any.'
[.5.] There is one thing more that maketh the carnal life to be a mere slavery ; and that is, the fear and terror which doth arise from the consciousness of sin, the fear of death and damnation, and wrath to come, which doggeth sin at the heels. When Adam sinned, he was afraid, Gen. iii. 7; and carnal men are 'all their lifetime subject to bondage through the fear of death,' Heb. ii. 15. There is a fire smothering in the bosom of a sinner, and sometimes it flashes out in actual gripes and liorrors; they have grievous damps of heart ; so that sinners are so far bondmen, that they dare not seriously call themselves to an account for the expense of their time and employments, which every one should do, nor think seriously of death, or God's judgment, or hell. He that is always under the check of a cruel master cannot be said to be a freeman. Now so is every man that is not in Christ ; let him be never so great, and mighty, and powerful, he is €vo-)(o^ Bov- Xe/a?, ' subject to bondage,' in danger of hidden fears, easily awakened in his heart. Well, then, call you this a free life ? As jolly and jocund as wicked men seem to be, or as great as they are, it is a liberty of the flesh taken by men, not given by God; the quietness of the flesh, but bane of the soul.
2. On the contrary, the true liberty is in the ways of God.
[1.] There we are directed how to attain to our great end, which is true blessedness : Mat. vii. 14, ' Strait is the gate and narrow is the way that leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.' A way of sin seemeth broad and easy to the flesh, but it is strait and hard to the spirit ; and the way of duty strait and narrow to the flesh, but, because it is to life, it is broad to the spirit or new nature : ' I shall walk at liberty.' To a renewed heart the divine commandments are not grievous, 1 John v. 3, for by this means they come to enjoy God, and walk to their happiness, and attain to the end for which they were made. A poor heart goes home cheerfully.
[2.] In loving, fearing, praising, serving God, the noblest faculties are exercised in the noblest and most regular way of operation. The soul is in the right temper and constitution ; they are the highest actions of the highest faculties, elevated by the highest principles, about the highest objects. The objects are God, Christ, heaven, the great things of eternity. The principles are the love and fear of God, the faculties, understanding, and will, not sensitive appetite ; these exercised in thinking of God, and choosing of God.
Secondly, The second part of the demonstration is that there is liberty given to walk in that way. Ever since Adam's fall every man is a spiritual slave, under the dominion and power of sin and Satan,
YeTI. 45.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 483
and the curse of the law ; but now, ' Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty,' 2 Cor, iii. 17; true Christian liberty, or a power given us to walk flimiliarly with God, and cheerfully and comfortably in his service. By grace a man is freed —
1. From the yoke of oppressing fears.
2. Tiie tyranny of commanding lusts.
1. We are freed from the bondage of sin : Eom. viii. 2, ' The law of the spirit of life, which is in Christ Jesus, hath made us free from the law of sin and death ;' John viii. 36, ' If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.' There is a liberty in that which is good : Ps. cxix. 32, 'I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.'
2. We are freed from those doubts and fears and terrors which accompanied the state of sin : Job xxxvi. 8, ' If they be bound in fetters, and be holden in the cords of affliction ;' Job xiii. 27, 'Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks ; ' Lam. iii. 7, ' He hath hedged me about, that I cannot get out ; he hath made my chain heavy.' So that the meaning is, I shall walk at liberty, be cheerful and enlarged in heart ; for I seek thy precepts.
Thirdly, There is liberty in that walking : it is the fruit of strictness. There is a twofold liberty : —