[2.] There is a particidar ex[)erience, when borne out in the confes- sion of truth in the time of trial. A man that out of love to God's commands hath endured troubles and trials, and hath overcome temptations, will see more cause to love these commandments, and to increase his obedience to them, than ever before in ordinary tempta- tions : Ps. xix. 11, ' Moreover, by them is thy servant warned, and in keeping of them there is a great reward.' When they see that divine truth is like to bear out itself, and man that doth confess it, in such cases, they feel the excellency of God's truth, and the po.wer of God sustaining them that confess it, therefore embrace heartily the Lord's commands, and take pleasure in his ways. The Lord appealeth to this experience : Micali ii. 7, ' Do not my words do good to him that walketh uprightly ? ' Have not you found the fruit answerable ? Therefore the children of God value and esteem and look upon them as the greatest means of their safety and comfort.
6. Because of their love to God, they have a value for everything which cometli from God and leadeth to him. Common mercies point to their author, and their main end is to draw our affections to him, and enable us in his service ; but these are apt to be a snare, and are used as an occasion to the flesh. But here is a greater impression of God on his word and laws ; their use is more eminent to direct us to God, therefore are valued above ordinary comforts : Job xxiii, 12, * I have not gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.' They are his commandments, therefore dear to us, who hath obliged us so much in Christ, whose love they believe and have felt. The word is wholly appointed to maintain the life of grace in us.
Use 1. Is to show us how to bring our hearts to the obedience of God's commands.
1. Love them, if we would keep them. Nothing is hard to love. An esteem will quicken us to the obedience of them.
2. Delight in them, for then all goeth on easily. Delight sweeteneth everything, though in themselves toilsome or tedious ; as fowling, hunting, fishing. Delight never mindeth difficulties. The reason why the commands are grievous is want of love and delight.
Use 2, Showeth of what kind our obedience must be — free and un- constrained ; when we are not forced to our duty, but do willingly delight in it and the law which prescribeth it, and do bewail our daily failings. Many do some external works of obedience, but not with an inward delight, but out of custom or compulsion. Gud never hath our heart till he hath our delight, till we willingly abstain from what may displease him, and cheerfully practise what he requireth of us ; when it is grateful to obey, and all pleasures to this are nothing worth.
12 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. {SeR. LIV.
SEEMON LIY.
My hands also u'ill I lift up to thy commandments, lohich I have loved ; and I ivill meditate in thy statutes. — Ver. 48.
In the morning we opened one profession of David's respect to the word of God ; now follows another. He would employ all his faculties about the commandments of God, which is his last argument : his mind, for here is meditation promised; his heart, for here is love asserted ; his tongue, for that is his original request which occasioned all these professions ; and here his hands, his life, ' My hands also will I lift up,' &c. Observe —
1. The ground or cause of his respect to the commandments of God, in that clause, ivhich I have loved.
2. A double eEect, I ivill lift up my hands to thy commandments, and / U'ill meditcde in thy statutes.
Lifting up the palms or hands is a phrase of various use.
1. For praying: Ps. xxviil 2, ' Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry unto thee, when I lift up my hands towards thy holy oracle ; ' Lam. ii. 19, ' Lift up thy hands towards him, for the life of thy young children,' &c. ; Hab. iii. 10, ' The deep uttered his voice, and lift up his hands on high.' Thence the apostle, 1 Tim. ii. 8, ' I will, therefore, that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, with- out wrath and doubting.'
2. For blessing others. Aaron lift up his hands towards the people, and blessed them. Or for praising or blessing God : Ps. cxxxiv. 2, ' Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord ; ' so Ps. Ixiii. 4, ' Thus will I bless thee while I live ; I will lift up my hands in thy name.'
3. For swearing or vowing : Gen. xiv. 22, ' I have lift up my hand to the most high God/ that is, sworn ; so Kev. x. 5, the angel ' lift up his hand and swore.' So of God : Ps. cvi. 26, ' Therefore he lifted up his hand against them, to overthrow them in the wilderness,' that is, ' swore they should not enter into his rest.'