VeR. 54.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 75
•we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God ; and not only so, but we glory in tribulation also.' How joyful are those that see themselves prepared for everlasting lite ! 2 Cor. v. 1, Tor we know that if our earthly tabernacle be dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.' Yea, when a Christian knoweth his duty, his way is plain before him ; it is a mighty satisfaction : Ps. xix. S, ' The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart,' Look into the lives and examples of the saints ; who have more true joy than they ? The disciples esteem the grace of the gospel such a great treasure, that though they suffer persecution for it they are filled with joy: Acts viii. 8, 'And there was great joy in that city ; ' 1 Thes. i. 6, ' Having received the word with much affiiction and joy in the Holy Ghost;' 2 Cor. vii. 4, *I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.' Preachers, though with great hazard they perform their office, should be joyful : Acts xx. 24, ' Neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy ; ' Phil. ii. 17, 18, ' Yea, and if I be offered for the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy and rejoice with you all ; for the same cause also do ye joy and rejoice with me.' The world will reply — I know not what this spiritual consolation meaneth ; it seemeth hard to relinquish that which I see, that which I feel, that which I taste, for that which I see not, and it may be shall never see.
Ans. 1. By concession, the joy of the saints is the joy of faith. God is unseen, Christ is within the heavens, great hopes are to come : 1 Peter i. 8, ' In whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory;' 2 Cor. v. 7, ' For we walk by faith, not by sight.'
2. Thus you see that the world cannot alway rejoice in those things which they take to be the proper objects of joy : they have alternative vicissitudes, now rejoice, now mourn ; nor can it be otherwise, for they rejoice in things which cannot always last. If they rejoice when theii" worldly comforts increase, they are sad when they wither ; if they rejoice when their children are born, they weep when they die : but a Christian hath always his songs, for he must always rejoice in the Lord, who is an eternal God : Phil. iv. 4, ' Ptejoice in the Lord always ;' in Christ, who ' hath obtained eternal redemption for us,' Heb. ix. 12 ; in the promises, which give an eternal influence : Ps. cxix. Ill, ' Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever, for they are the rejoicing of my heart.' The flesh cannot afford anything so delightful as a Christian hath ; the word will hold good for ever.
3, We cannot altogether say that a Christian doth rejoice in that which he cannut see ; for all that they see is their everlasting Father's wealth : 1 Cor. iii. 21, ' All are yours, for you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.' If they look to heaven, they can rejoice and say. Glory be to thee, 0 Lord, who hast prepared this for our everlasting dwelling- place. If they look to the earth. Glory be to thee, 0 Lord, who dost not leave us destitute in the house of our pilgrimage. If they consider their afllictions, they rejoice that God is not unmindful of })Oor crea- tures, who are beneath his anger as well as unworthy of his love : Job vii. 17, 18, ' What is man that thou shouldst magnify him, and that thou shouldst set thine heart upon him, and that thou shouldst visil.
76 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. LXI.
him every morning, and try liim every moment?' — that God should trouble himself about us, that we may not perish with the ungodly world. The same love that sendeth them prosperity sendeth adversity also, which they find by the seasonableness of it.
SEEMON LXI.
/ have rememhered thy name. 0 Lord, in the night, and have hept thy
laiu. — Ver. 55.
We often read and sing David's psalms, but we have little of David's spirit. A man's employment is as the constitution of his mind is, for all things work according to their nature. A man addicted to God, that is to say, one who hath taken God for his happiness, his word for his rule, his Spirit for his guide, and his promises for his encouragement, his heart will always be working towards God day and night. In the day he will be stutlyiug God's word ; in the night, if his sleep be inter- rupted, he will be meditating on God's name ; still entertaining his soul with God. The predominant affection will certainly set the thoughts awork. The man of God had told us in the former verse what was his chief employment in the day-time, and now he telleth us how his heart wrought in the night. Night and day he was remem- bering God and his duty to him. In the day the statutes of God were his solace, and as songs to him in the house of his pilgrimage ; in the night the name of God was his meditation : ' I have remem- bered thy name, 0 Lord, in the night, and have kept thy law.' In which words observe —