VeR. 56.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 101
[5.] Protection in their work. They are under the special care and conduct of his providence while they keep his precepts : ' He keepeth them as in a paviUon ; thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy pre- sence from the pride of men,' Ps. xxxi. 20. And who are they that are kept? ' Those that fear him and trust in him,' ver. 19. Pray, mark, when they had no visible defence, when they seemed to be left open as a prey to the oppressions and injuries of their potent adver- saries, yet there is a secret guard about them, and they are kept, the world knoweth not how : God's favour and providence is their sure guard and defence. Whatever contentious and proud men design and threaten against them, yet they never have their full will upon them. Many a child of God hath ridden out the storm, and may come and say, ' This I had, because I kept thy precepts.' This it is to keep close to God and hold fast our integrity. Elsewhere the Lord expresseth himself to be ' a wall of fire round about his people,' Zech, ii. 5, which should affright at a distance, and consume near at hand. In those countries, when they lay in the fields, they made fires about them to keep off the wild beasts ; so God, when he seeth it fit to excuse his people from trouble, he can in the most unsafe times, and when they are weakest, protect them by his secret hand, bridling their enemies, and making their attempts ineffectual. Satan is sensible of this privy guard: Job i. 10, ' Hast thou not made a hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side ? ' The Avorld seeth not this invisible guard, but the devil seeth it. There is no gap open for mischief to enter and break in upon them. This can God do when he pleaseth ; and a man that holdeth fast his integrity, and goeth on in his duty, referring himself to God's keeping, shall have experience of it, and when the danger is over, say, ' This I had, because I kept thy precepts.'
[6.] In public and common judgments God maketh a difference ; and some of his choice ones are marked out for preservation, and are as brands plucked out of the burning, whilst others are consumed therein. This is done oftentimes, I cannot say always. The Jews have a proverb that two dry sticks may set a green one on fire : a good man may perish in the common judgment, that is the meaning of the proverb. And sometimes their condition may be worst ; as Jeremiah : the whole city was besieged, and he in the dungeon. Chaff and corn is threshed in the same floor, but the corn is ground and baked. But this is the best way we can take to be hid in the common calamity, though there be not an absolute certainty ; for the comfort is but propounded with a possibility : Zeph. ii. 3, ' Seek righteousness, seek meekness ; it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord's anger.' Though God hath a peculiar eye to the godly, yet their temporal safety is not put out of all doubt ; it may be, or it may not be ; but their eternal comforts are sure and safe. Yet strict and humble walking is the only way ; and in some cases God showeth that there shall be a distinction between his people and otliers, and when others are overwhelmed, they shall be preserved ; as Eccles. viii. 12, ' Surely I know it shall be well with them that fear the Lord, which fear before him ; but it shall be ill with the wicked ; ' and Isa. iii. 10, ' Say unto the righteous it shall be well with him, for they shall cat of the fruit of their doings ; but
102 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. LXIII.
say unto the wicked it sliall be ill with them, for the work of his hands shall be given to him ;' and Jer. xv. 11, ' Verily it shall be well with this remnant : I will cause the enemy to treat them well in the day of evil and affliction.' All these places speak of delivering them from trouble, or moderating the trouble to them. If there be an uncertainty in the thing, yet a probability ; but whenever it is done, it is a singu- lar favour, and we must own it as the fruit of obedience : ' This I had, because I kept thy precepts.' We must expect the temporal reward of godliness with much submission, and venture upon his providence.
[7.] So much of sanctified prosperity as shall be good for them : Mat. vi. 33, ' First seek the kingdom of God, and the righteousness thereof, and these things shall be added.' God will cast them into the bargain ; and though he may keep them low and bare, yet ' no good thing will he withhold,' Ps. Ixxxiv. 11. So that a child of God sur- veying all his comforts may say. This and that and the other mercy I had from the Lord's grace ; these comforts and these deliverances came in ' because I kept thy precepts.'