(2.) The name of his powder. Oh ! think often of that almighty power that maketh and conserveth all things, that givetli a being to you and every creature, and will do so to his promises, though never so unlikely ; for what cannot he do that bringeth all things out of nothing by his word ? Therefore our confidence in him should be more strong and steadfast ; for why should we have any jealousies and dis- trusts of him who is omnipotent ? In your greatest wants he is all-suffi- cient, and can supply you: Gen. xvii. 1, ' I am the almighty God; walk before me, and be thou. perfect.' In your greatest dangers he can deliver you : Dan. iii. 17, ' Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, 0 king.' In your lowest estate he is able to raise you up : Rom. xi. 23, 'And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in ; for God is able to gratf them in again.' Whatever difiiculties oppose themselves against the thing promised, he can remove them, for nothing is too hard for the Almiglity : Phil. iii. 21, ' He is able to subdue all things to himself,' How weak and despicable soever the vis- ible means be, God can work by them : 2 Chron. xiv. 11, 'It is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or them that have no power.' All is alike to omnipotency. Instruments or means may be too great for God's honour to be used, never too small or weak for him to work by.
(3.) The name of his goodness. God is infinitely good, effectually good, independently good, and ail-sufficiently good. If good be amiable in our eyes, so should God be. He hath all that is lovely in the crea- tures in a more eminent degree, and therefore our affections, that are scattered to them, should be united in God. He is the supreme good, and the fountain of all goodness. Oh ! how should we love this God, and that above all things in the world, or else we do not love him aright. This is that which draweth in your hearts to him, and upon this should your thoughts dwell. He showed his goodness to you in creation, when he made you a little lower than the angels ; but much more in redemption, when he preferred you above the angels ;
92 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. LXII.
for ' he did not take hold of angels, but took hold of the seed of Abra- ham.' What should you be doing but admiring of this, and showing forth the virtue and force of this love ? ' God is love, and dwelleth in love,' 1 John iv, 16. Oh ! shall the paltry things of this world draw off your love from God, who is goodness itself ? Let this prevail with you to lay down all your doating upon the creature, that you may no more follow the shadow, but cleave to the substance. We owe all that we are, all that we have, all that we hope for, to his goodness ; and there- fore let us consecrate and dedicate ourselves to his service and glory.
2. To study it so as some good may come of it. We should keep our thoughts on this holy subject —
[1.] Till we admire God. The degree of the saints' knowledge here below is only to proceed to admiration : Ps. viii. 1, '0 Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth ! ' When we have studied God, silence will be the best eloquence, and admiration advance him more than speech. Admire the name of his being. Creatures in their highest glory may be described, an account may be given of them ; but his nature is Wonderful, can be admired, but not told. Admire liis wisdom : Ps. civ. 24, ' 0 Lord, how manifold are thy works ! in wis- dom hast thou made them all.' Admire his love : Oh, how excellent is thy loving-kindness ! Ps. xxxvi. 7; ' Oh, how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee, which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men !' Ps. xxxi. 19. The name of his power: Ps. cxlv. 3, ' Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised ; his greatness is unsearchable.' The object is too big for the faculty : it is a contempt of God when we think of him and do not admire him. Oh, the riches of his wisdom, height of his power, breadth of his love !
[2.] Till we make some practical improvement of him ; otherwise to know God is but a vain speculation, a work of curiosity rather than of profit. By the sight of God the heart must be —
(1.) Drawn off from the creature, self, and sin.
(2.) Drawn unto God.
(1.) Drawn off—
(Isi.) From the creature. That is a true sight of God which abaseth all things beside God, not only in opinion but affection ; that attracteth and uniteth the soul to God, and draweth it off from all created excellences. The sight of God's purity darkens the purity of the angels, and staineth the pride of all created glory : Job iv. 18, ' Behold, he put no trust in his servants, and his angels he charged with folly.' So that is a true sight of God's excellency that draweth off the heart from the vain, changeable, and empty shadow of the creature ; and God is not truly amiable to us till this effect be in some measure wrouj^ht in us : 1 John ii. 15, ' Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world : if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.' So that our love to God will be known by the decay of our love to earthly things.