2. Let me now show the good that cometh to us thereby. David saith indefinitely, ' This I had ;' not telling us what good or privilege it was, only in the general it was some benefit that accrued to him in this life. He doth not say. This I hope for, but. This I had. And therefore I shall not speak of the full reward in the life to come. In heaven we come to receive the full reward of obedience. But a close walker, that waiteth upon God in a humble and constant obedience, shall have sufficient encouragement even in this life. Not only he shall be blessed, but he is blessed ; he hath something in hand as well as in hope. As David saith in this 119th Psalm, not only ho shall be blessed, but he is blessed. As they that travelled towards Zion, they met with a well by the way : Ps. Ixxxiv. 6, 'Who passing through the valley of Baca, make it a well : the rain also filleth the pools.' In a dry and barren wilderness through which they were to pass, they were
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not left wholly comfortless, but met with a well or cistern ; that is, they had some comfort vouchsafed to them before they came to enjoy God's presence in Zion, some refreshments they had by the way. As servants, that beside their wages have their vails, so, besides the recompense of reward hei'eafter, we have our present comforts and supports during our course of service, which are enough to counter- balance all worldly joys, and the greatest pleasures that men can expect in a way of sin. Let me instance in the benefits that believers find by walking with God in a course of obedience, that every one can say, • This I had, because I kept thy precepts.'
[1.] Peace of conscience, a blessing not to be valued; and this we have because we keep his precepts : Isa. xxxii. 17, ' The work of right- eousness shall be peace, and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.' They shall be free from those unquiet thoughts wherewith others are haunted. A wicked man's soul is in a mutiny, one affection warreth against another, and all against the conscience, and conscience against all; but in a heart framed to the obedience of God's will there is peace. Pax est iranquillitas ordinis — when every- thing keeps its place there is peace ; when the elements keep their place, and the confederacies of nature are preserved, then there is peace : so when a man walketh in a holy course there is peace ; when the thoughts and affections are under rule and government, there is a serenity and quiet in the soul. Now, this is never brought to pass in the soul but by obedience and holy walking according to the rule of the new creature : Gal. vi. 16, 'As many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy shall ])e upon them, as upon the whole Israel of God.' Such an accurate and orderly life is the only way of obtaining this peace and harmonious accord in the soul. So Ps. cxix. 165, ' Great j)eace have they that love thy law, and nothing shall offend them ; ' not only peace, but great peace — a peace that passeth all understand- ing, a peace bettei- felt than expressed ; and this resulteth from obed- ience, or the government of our hearts and ways according to the will of God. Look, as cheerfulness and liveliness accompanieth perfect health, or the tunable motion of the spirits in the body, so this serenity and quiet in the soul, the regular and orderly motion of our faculties ; thei-e is a sweet contentment of mind resulting from it. ' The peace of God shall keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ.' Li a troublesome world we need to have our hearts and minds kept and guarded from assaults of temptations, and diffident vexing cares and fears; and therefore it is mightily necessary in those times to get the peace of God, without which the soul is upon the rack. Oh, this sweet peace and calm that is in our hearts in the midst of all tempests and tossings from without ! A man is provided and fortified against the apprehension of injuries, troubles, dangers, and those heart-cutting cares which otherwise are apt to seize upon us. This a believer can say, This peace of conscience I had in the midst of all the troubles from without. Now this peace others cannot have: Isa. Ivii. 21, ' There is no peace, saitli my God, to the wicked ; ' they have not this inward tranquillity and serenity of mind; their affections are so un- ruly, and their consciences so unquiet, they are never able to rest. But how can this be ? None seem to be less troubled than wicked
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men. I answer — There is a difference between a dead sea and a calm sea ; a stupid conscience they may have, but not a quiet conscience : their consciences are stupefied by drenching their souls in worldly de- lights and pleasures ; but the virtue of this opium is soon spent, theii consciences are easily awakened by the convictions of the word, the sting of afflictions, the agonies of death. Well, then, this may the composed heart say, I had this peace, this serenity of mind, because I ke])t thy precepts.