(3d.) They entreat the favour of God with all their hearts, because their business lies mainly with God. Their work is to walk closely
122 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. LXV.
with God, and keep up a strict communion with him. A carnal man's business lies with God sometimes in his trouble ; but when he licks himself whole and is at ease, he can live without it. But a godly man's business is always with God, for God is always with him, in trouble and out of trouble. Therefore that is a notable speech, Ps. xci. 9, ' Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the Most High, thy habitation ; ' a refuge, that is a place of retreat in time of war ; a habitation, there is our residence in time of peace, when every one sits under his own vine and fig-tree. Now, a godly man makes God not only his refuge but his habitation ; therefore it concerns him to prize the favour of God, and keep in with him, for he is otherwise at an utter loss ; therefore he must study to get all clear : if God be angry with him, his business is at a stand, and he cannot walk cheer- fully with him from whom he expects all.
tise 1. To reprove those that are indifferent whether they enjoy God's favour, yea or nay ; so they may enjoy the creature they are satisfied. Surely God is not these men's portion, for their only care is what they shall eat, how they may be clothed, how to live well in the world ; but were never acquainted with this kind of trouble about God's favour : Ps. x. 4, it is said, ' The wicked tln-ough the pride of liis countenance will not seek after God ; God is not in all his thoughts.' He never troubles himself how to keep in with God ; it never goes to his heart. He is such an one as can bring to pass whatever he pro- jecteth and desireth, without troubling himself with the fetters of religion and the care of a strict duty : he can live at large, and yet obtain his heart's desire, and thinketh them the only wise men, fit for his imitation, that can increase in worldly enjoyments without troubling themselves with such niceties as perplex others : he scorneth to trouble himself with prayer, and the observances which are neces- sary to waiting upon God. Again, it reproves those that lie stupid and senseless under God's active displeasure. These are not as gross as the former, but make some profession of respect to God, but have not yet a tender sense of God's accesses and recesses, his comings and goings. When the Lord hides himself from their prayers, and doth not give out the wonted influences of his grace and comfort, they mind it not, do not with earnestness seek to recover it again. If you did make this your business without interruption, when you have not the smiles of God, the want of this would create pain.
Use 2. Of exhortation, to press us, if we would have God for our God, then to seek his favour above all things. Wait with an affec- tionate earnestness in every ordinance for some new discovery, some comfortable intimation of God's word : Ps. cxxx. 6, ' My soul waiteth for thee.' What ? for outward deliverances ? No ; but ' I wait for the Lord, and in his word do I hope.' Again, in every enjoyment it is not enough to have the creature with God's leave (so can all men have it, it is their portion), but you must have it with God's love, as a token from God, wrapt up in the bowels of Christ, God gives many gifts to wicked men, but doth not give them his love. This we should look after, that we may find our comforts to be sprinkled with love, that if God deliver you out of any strait, he may love you out of it, Isa. xxxviii. 17.
Ver. 5S.] sermons upon psalm cxix. 123
Secondly, For the manner, ' I have sought thy fovour.' How ? ' With my whole heart.' Note —
Boot. When we pray for the favour of God, it must be with our whole heai't.
There is this intended in it —
1. The constant favour and presence of God, we must pray for it, for without prayer faith lies idle, Heb. iv. 16.
2. They that pray for it, their hearts must be set upon what they pray. It is not enough that our tongues babble out a cold form, as many learn to pray as parrots speak, by rote. They say, not pray a prayer : James v. 17, ' Elias prayed earnestly ; ' in the margin, and so in the original, he ' prayed in prayer.' A man may take up words of course, and say things after others, which are not indeed the real desires of his heart ; so they pray as if they prayed not, slightly, without any warmth and affection.
3. It is not enough that our hearts concur, but our whole hearts must go along with this work. Many times we pray but with half a heart : —
[1.] Partly when prayer is a fruit of memory and invention, but not the fruit of conscience. Common illumination will tell us how prayer is to be formed according to the tenor of the Christian faith ; so men may repeat words such as the understanding judgeth fit, without any answerable touch upon the heart. This is their sin who are more care- ful about notions in prayer than the affections.