VeR. 51.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 39
SERMON LVII.
The ijroud have had me greatly in derision ; yet have I not declined from thy law. — Ver. 51.
In these words are —
1. David's temptation.
2. His constancy and perseverance in his duty notwithstanding that temptation.
First, In the temptation observe —
1. The persons from whom the temptation did arise, the proud. Tlie wicked are called so for two reasons : —
[1.] Because either they despise God and contemn his ways, which is the greatest pride that can fall upon the heart of a reasonable creature : Eom. i. 30, ' Haters of God, despiteful, jiroud.'
[2.] Or else, because they are drunk with worldly felicity. In the general, scoffing cometh from pride. What is, Prov. iii. 34, ' He scorn- eth the scorners, and giveth grace to the lowly,' is, James iv. 6, ' He resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.'
2. Observe the kind or nature of the temptation; he w\as had in derision. This may be supposed either for dependence on God's pro- mises, or for obedience to his precepts. Atlieistical men, that wholly look to the i)leasing of the flesh and the interest of the present world, make a mock of both. We have instances of both in scripture.
[1.] They make a mock of reliance upon God when we are in dis- tress; think it ridiculous to talk of relief from heaven when earthly power faileth : Ps. xxii. 7, 8, ' They laugh me to scorn, saying. He trusted in the Lord.' The great })romise of Christ's coming is flouted at by those mockers : 2 Peter iii. 3, 4, ' There shall come in the last days mockers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming ? for since the fathers fell asleep all things con- tinue as they were from the creation.' Such scoffers are in all ages, but now they overflow. These latter times are the dregs of Christianity, in which such kind of men are more rife than the serious worshippers of Christ. At the first promulgation of the gospel, while truths were new, and the exercises of Christian religion lively and serious, and great concord among the professors of the gospel, they were rare and infrequent. Before men's senses were benumbed with the frequent ex- periences of God's power, and the customary use of religious duties, and the notions of God were fresh and active upon their hearts, they were not heard of ; but when tlie profession of Christianity grew into a form and national interest, and men fell into it by the chance of their birth rather than their own choice and rational conviction, the church Avas l)estered with tliis kind of cattle. But especially are they rife among us when men are grown weary of the name of Christ, and the ancient severity and strictness of religion is much lost, and the memory of those miracles and wonderful effects by which our religion was once confirmed almost worn out ; or else questioned and impugned by subtle wits and men of a prostituted conscience. Therefore now are many mockers and atheistical spirits everywhere, who ask, ' Where is the
40 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. LVII.
promise of his coming?' question all, and think that there are none but a few credulous fools that depend upon the hopes of the gospel.
[2.] Their obedience to his precepts. And so whosoever will be true to his religion, and live according to his baptismal vow, is set up for a sign of contradiction to be spoken against. It is supposed the mocking by the heathen of the Jews is intended in these words, Lam. iv. 15, ' Depart ye ; it is unclean ; depart, depart, touch not : when they fled away and wandered.' The words are somewhat obscure, but some judicious interpreters understand them of the detestation of the Jewish religion, their circumcision, their sabbaths, &c. But however that be, certainly the children of God are often mocked for their strict obedience, as well as their faith.
3. Observe the degree, greatly. The word notetli continually. Tho Septuagint translates it by,cr06Spa; the vulgar Latin by usque valde and usqiie longe. They derided him with all possible bitterness, and day by day they had their scoffs for him ; so that it was both a grievous and a perpetual temptation.
Secondly, His constancy and perseverance in the duty; that is set forth—
1. By the rule in the word, thy law. If we have God's law to justify our practice, it is no matter who condemneth it ; we have God's warrant to set against man's censure. It must be God's way wherein we seek to be approved ; otherwise our reproach is justly deserved, if it be for obstinacy in our own fancies.
2. The firmness and strictness of his adherence: / have not de- dined. The word signifies either to turn aside or to turn back. Sometimes it is put for turning aside to the right hand or to the left ; as Dent. xvii. 11, ' Thou shalt not decline from the way which they shall show to thee, to the right hand or to the left ;' sometimes for turning back: Job xxiii. 11, ' My feet have held his steps; his way have I kept, and not declined ; neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips.' As it is taken for turning aside, it noteth error and wandering ; as it is taken for turning back, it noteth apos- tasy and defection. Now David meaneth that he had neither declined in whole nor in part. Understand it of his faith : all their scoff's and bitter sarcasms did not discourage him, or tempt him to forsake his hold, or let go the comfort of the promise. Understand it of his obedience : he still closely cleaved to God's way. A declining implieth an inclining first. Well, then, David did not only keep from open apostasy, but from declining or turning aside in the least to any hand. Testimonies we have of his integrity in scripture: 1 Kings xiv. 8, ' David kept my commandment, and followed me with all his heart, to do only that which was right in my sight.' His great blemish is mentioned elsewhere : 1 Kings xv. 5, ' David did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, and turned not aside from anything which he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.' However, the derision of his enemies made him not to warp.