[4.] These three attributes suit with God's threefold relation to us. By his almighty power he becometh our creator ; as most wise, our supreme governor ; as most good, our gracious benefactor. We depend upon him for our present supplies, and from him we expect our future hopes. His creation gives him a right to govern us, his wisdom a fit- ness, and his bounty doth encourage us voluntarily to give up ourselves- to his service.
[5.] These three attributes do most bind our duty on us, as they beget in us love, fear, and faith, or esteem, reverence, and trust, which are the three radical graces that result from the very being and owning of God, and are the cultus naturalis enjoined in the first command- ment. His wisdom as a lawgiver begets reverence and fear ; his good- ness is the object of love, and his power of trust. If he be most wise, there is all the reason in the world that he should rule and govern us ; for who is fitter to govern and make laws than he that is most wise ? If he be most good, infinitely good, there is all the reason in the world that you should love him, and no show of reason why you should love the world and sin before him. If powerful and all-sufficient, there is- all the reason you should believe in him, as one that is able to make good his word, either by promise or threatening. Faith goeth upon that: Eom. iv. 21, he was ' strong in faith, being fully persuaded that what he had promised he was able to perform.' He is God all-suffi- cient, tlierefore his promises are not to be distrusted, his threatenings not to be slighted. Tliere is no resisting or standing out against him, in the twinkling of an eye he can tear you in pieces, pluck away the guilty soul from the embraces of the unwilling body. A spark of his wrath makes thee a burthen to thyself. So for promises ; one word of his mouth can accomplish all the good that is contained in them. And it is observable that the respects of the creature, that are pecu- liarly due to one of these attributes, are sometimes in scripture directed to another. It is said, Hosea iii. 5, ' They shall fear the Lord and his-
YeR. 55.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. SD
goodness in the Latter days ; ' and love him for his power and great- ness, and believe in him for his wisdom. Again, they trust him for his goodness, love him for his wisdom, fear him for his power ; all these changes are in scripture.
Secondly, Why God is best remembered when his name is studied ? The reason is, because the study of his name doth increase those three fundamental radical graces before mentioned.
1. The studying of his name increaseth our love: ' Thy name is as an ointment poured forth, therefore the virgins love thee/ Cant. i. 3. Ointment kept close in the box doth not diffuse its savour, but oint- ment poured forth is full of fragrancy and reviving, it perfumeth the whole house : John xii. 3, ' The house was filled with the odour of the ointment.' So when the name of God is not considered, we are not comforted and strengthened and quickened; but pour it forth, take it abroad in your serious thoughts and believing meditations, and that doth attract and draw hearts to him. When we consider the mercy, grace, power, wisdom, truth, and justice of God, these affect all those that have any spiritual discerning. This is the way to draw esteem from carnal hearts ; he hath authority to make laws, for he is the wise God ; power to back this authority, for he is the almighty Creator, who can frown thee into nothing ; but yet he is good and gracious, ready to receive you, and pardon, and do you good, though you have rebelled against him. To pour out this name is our duty, and then poor crea- tures will be prevailed with : it is our duty to do it in the discoveries of the gospel, your duty to ponder upon it in your private meditations. The wisdom of God in the word showeth your duty, his power what need you have to bind it on your hearts ; and your case is not without hope, for you have to do with a good God : there is no mercy to such as fear not his powerful justice, and no justice for such as flee from it to his mercy. See how God poureth out his name : Exod. xxxiv. 5-7, * And the Lord descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord ; and the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed the Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long- suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeiDing mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children unto the third and fourth generation.'
2. The studying of God's name increaseth our faith and trust : Ps. ix. 10, ' They that know thy name will put their trust in thee.' God is first known, and then trusted, and then served. If God were known more he would be mo)-e trusted, and if he were more trusted we would not be so double-minded and unstable in the profession and practice of godliness. We little study God, and because we study his name so little, our faith is weak, and therefore we are so uncertain in our con- versations. It is well when all our comfort and duty is immediately fetched out of the name of God, or his nature considered by us.