„ LXXXVIL "But I will meditate in thy precepts. Let those that fear thee turn unto me, and those that have known thy testimonies," ver. 78, 79, . . . . 331
„ LXXXVIIL " Let my heart be sound in thy statutes, that
I be not ashamed," ver. 80, . . 339
„ LXXXIX. " My soul fainteth for thy salvation j but I
hope in thy word," ver. 81, , . 349
„ XC. " Mine eyes fail for thy word, saying, When
wilt thou comfort me," ver. 82, . 361
„ XCI. "For I am become like a bottle in the smoke : yet do I not forget thy precepts," ver. 83, 372
„ XCII. " The proud have digged pits for me, which
are not after thy law," ver. 85, . , 381
„ XCIIL "For ever, 0 Lord, thy word is settled in
heaven," ver. 89, . . .391
„ XCIV. " Thy word is settled in heaven," ver. 89, . 400
Vlll CONTENTS.
PAGE
Sermon XCV. " Thy faithfulness is unto all generations :
thou hast established the earth, and it abideth," ver. 90, . . . 407
„ XCVI. " They continue this day according to thine
ordinances : for all are thy servants," ver. 91, .... 413
yy XCVII. " Unless thy law had been my delights, I
should then have perished in mine afflic- tion," ver. 92, . . . .420
J, XCVIII. " I will never forget thy precepts : for with
them thou hast quickened me," ver. 93, 428
„ XCIX. " I am thine, save me : for I have sought thy
precepts," ver. 94, . . . 442
^ C. " I have seen an end of all perfection : but
thy commandment is exceeding broad," ver. 96, .... 451
99
CI. " Oh, how love I thy law ! it is my medita- tion all the day," ver. 97, . . 463
CII. " Oh, how love I thy law ! " &c., ver. 97, . 472
cm. " Thou, through thy commandments, hast made uae wiser than mine enemies; for they are ever with me," ver. 98, . 482
SEVERAL SEEMONS UPON THE
CXIX. PSALM.
VOL ViJ.
SEVERAL SERMONS UPON THE CXIX. PSALM.
SEKMON LIII.
And I loill delight myself in iliy commandments, ivhich I have loved. — Ver. 47.
The man of God is giving arguments to enforce his request that ' the word of truth might not be taken utterly out of his mouth.'
1. He coukl not bear it, because all his hopes of felicity were built upon it, ver. 43.
2. He promiseth constancy of obedience, ver. 44.
3. Liberty of practice, ver. 45.
4. Liberty of profession, not hindered by fear or shame, but should be borne out with confidence in that profession.
5. He urgeth in the text with what delight he should carry on the work of obedience, ' And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.' In which observe —
1. His great pleasure and contentment is asserted and professed, I tuill delight myself.
2. The object of it, in thy commandments.
3. The fundamental reason or bottom cause of this delight, ichicii I have loved.
Doct. A gracious heart doth love and delight in the commandments of God : the godly are described by it. Hence David makes it the character of a blessed man : Ps. i. 2, ' His delight is in the law of the Lord, and in that law doth he meditate day and night. And Ps. cxii. 1, 'Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, and delighteth greatly in his commandments.' Paul asserts of himself, as a comfortable evidence of his sincerity in the midst of his infirmities, Kom. vii. 22, ' For I delight in the law of God after the inward man.' By ' the inward man' he means the renewed part, that is pleased with all tilings that please God, if we have such a delight as is above the delight of sense, &c. I will —
1. Explain the point as it lieth here in the text.
2. Show how the heart is brought to this ; for corrupt nature is otherwise afiected.
4 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. LIII,
First, To explain the point.
1. His pleasure and contentment is asserted, ' I will delight myself.' A Christian hath his joys and delights, but they are pure and chaste ; they delight in the Lord, and in his word and ways : Phil, iv, 4, ' Ke- joice in the Lord always ; and again I say, Eejoice.' He hath a liberty, aXXa jjiovoi) iv Kvpio), ' but only in the Lord,' 1 Cor. vii. 39 ; not only mcaj, but must. It is his duty. Joy is a great part of his work ; not our felicity or wages only, but our work also. Now, I shall prove that all the pleasures and delights of the earth are nothing to the plea- sures and delights which the godly do find in God and in a holy life.
[1.] These delights are more substantial. It is not a superficial joy that they are delighted withal, but a substantial joy. It must needs be so, partly because these are better grounded, not built upon a mistake and fancy, but the highest warrant and surest foundation which mankind can build upon, the word of the eternal God, which can never fail ; whereas the joy that is merely built upon carnal de- lights is built upon a fancy and mistake. Both are represented by the apostle : 1 John ii. 17, ' The world passeth away, and the lust thereof ; but he that doth the will of God abideth for ever.' If they considered the shortness of their pleasures, and in what a doleful case their wealth, and honour, and fleshly delights will leave them, they would have little list to be merry till they had looked after a more stable blessedness. The world will be soon gone, and the lust and gust thereof gone also ; but he that goeth on with the work of holiness, building on the promise of another world, layeth a sure foundation. Partly because they do more intimately affect the soul. Sensual de- lights do not go so deep as the delights of holiness : Ps. iv. 7, ' Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time when their corn and their wine increased ; ' like a soaking shower that goeth to the root. The other tickleth the senses ; poor, slight, and outside com- forts, that do not fortify the heart against distresses, much less against the remembrance of our judge, or the fears of an offended God, or the serious thoughts of another world. For these two reasons, the joys of a Christian, stirred up in him by the conformity of his will to the will of God, are solid, substantial joys. A wicked man may be jocund and jovial, but he hath not the true delight ; he may have more mirth, but the Christian hath the true joy : ' In the midst of mirth the heart is sorrowful.' It is easy to be merry, but it is not easy to be joyful, or to get a substantial delight.