VeR. 52.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 47
3. Take heed of the first declinings. God's saints may decline some- what in an hour of temptation, and yet be sincere in the main. Now evil is best stopped in the beginning: Heb. xii. 3, ' Consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners, lest ye be weary and faint in your minds.' Weariness is a lesser, and fainting a higher degree of deficiency. I am weary before I faint, before the vital power retireth, and leaveth the outward part senseless.
4. Since the proud scotf, encounter pride with humility. Mocking is far more grievous to the proud, who stand upon their honour, than to the lowly and humble. Therefore be not too desirous of the ap- plause of men, especially of the blind and ungodly world ; make no great matter of their contempt, and scorn, or slander.
SEEMON LVIII.
I have remembered tliy judgments of old, 0 Lord ; and have com- forted ra>jself — Ver. 52.
The man of God had complained in the former verse that the proud had him greatly in derision. His help against that temptation is re- corded in this verse ; where observe —
1. David's practice, / have remembered thy judgments of old.
2. The effect of that meditation, and have comforted myself. The explication will be by answering two questions : —
1. AVhat is meant by mishplmtim, judgments ? The word is used in scripture either for laws enacted, or judgments executed according to those laws. The one may be called ' the judgments of his mouth,' as Ps. cv. 5, ' Remember the marvellous works that he hath done, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth; ' the other, the judgments of his hand. As both will bear the name of judgments, so both may be said to be ' of old.' His decrees and statutes, which have an eter- nal equity in them, and were graven upon the heart of man in inno- cency, may well be said to be ' of old ; ' and because from the beginning of the world God hath been punishing the wicked, and delivering the godly in due time, his judiciary dispensations may be said to be so also. The matter is not much whether we interpret it of either his statutes or decrees, for they both contain matter of comfort, and we may see the ruin of the wicked in the word if we see it not in provi- dence. Yet I rather interpret it of those righteous acts recorded in scripture, which God as a just judge hath executed in all ages, ac- cording to the promises and threatenings annexed to his laws. Only ki that sense I must note to you, judgments imply his mercies in the deliverance of his righteous servants, as well as his punishments on the wicked ; the seasonable interpositions of his relief for the one in their greatest distresses, as well as his just vengeance on the other, not- withstanding their highest prosperities.
2. What is meant by comfort ? Comfort is the strengthening the heart against evil, when either — (1.) Faith is confii-med; (2.) Love to God increased ; (3.) Hope made more lively.
48 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. LYIII.
Now these providences of God, suited to his word, comforted David, had more power and force to confirm and increase these graces, than all their theistical scoffs to shake them ; for he concluded from these in- stances, that though the wicked flourish they shall perish, and though the godly be afiiicted they shall be rewarded ; and so his f^iith, and hope, and love to God, and adherence to his ways was much encouraged. Comfort is sometimes spoken of in scripture as an impression of the comforting Spirit, sometimes as a result from an act of our meditation ; as here, ' I comforted myself.' These things are not contrary but subordinate. It is our duty to meditate on God's word and provi- dence, and God blesseth it by the influence of his grace ; and the Spirit may be said to comfort us, and we also may be said to comfort ourselves,
Doct. That the remembrance of God's former dealings with his people, and their enemies in all ages, is a great relief in distress.
The man of God is here represented as lying under the scorns and oppressions of the wicked. What did he do to relieve himself ? ' I remembered thy judgments of old, and have comforted myself.' So elsewhere, this was his practice : Ps. Ixxvii. 5, ' I considered the days of old, the years of ancient times ; ' again in the 11th and 12th verses, ' I will remember the works of the Lord ; surely I will remem- ber thy works of old : I will meditate also of all thy works, and talk of thy doings ; ' yet again, Ps. cxliii. 5, ' I remember the days of old, I meditate on all thy works ; I muse on the works of thy hands.' Thus did David often consider with what equity and righteousness, with what power and goodness, God carried on the work of his provi- dence toward his people of old. The like he presseth on others ; Ps. cv. 5, 'Kemember the marvellous works which he hath done, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth.' Surely it is our duty, and it will be our comfort and relief.