3. The valtie of the benefit itself. Saving knowledge, or the light of the Spirit, keepeth alive the work of grace in our hearts. Habitual graces will soon wither and decay without a continual influence. The increase of sanctification cometh into the soul by the increase of saving knowledge : 2 Peter i. 2, ' Grace be multiplied unto you, through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus Christ our Lord.' The more we grow thriving in knowledge, the more we grow in grace, and the heart and life is more engaged. As we learn somewhat more of God in Christ, our awe and love to him is increased: Eph. iv. 20, 21, 'Ye have not so learned Christ, if so be that you have heard him, and been taught of him as the truth is in Jesus ;' that is, if ye are taught and instructed by Christ himself in the truth. It is not every sort of hearing Ciirist or knowledge which will do us good. Many learn him and know him who abuse that knowledge which they have of him ; but if he efFec-
186 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. LXXII.
tnally teach no by liis Spirit, then our knowledge is practical and operative ; we will practise what we know, be careful to please God in all things,
4. From the temper of a gracious heart : a taste of this knowledge will make us desire a further supply, that we may be taught more, and the soul may be more sanctified ; therefore doth David deal with God for the increase of saving knowledge. We are contented with a little taste of heavenly doctrine, but holy men are not so. Show me thy mind, let me see thy glory : Hosea vi. 3, ' Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord.' They are for growth as well as truth; they experimentally know how good God is, and the more they know him the more they see their ignorance, and that there is more behind to be known of him. Before they had but a flying report of him, now they are acquainted with him, and have a nearer inspection into his ways, and this is but little in comparison of what they desire. We are bidden, 2 Peter iii. 18, to ' grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.' Present measures do not satisfy them ; they must grow in knowledge, as grow in grace, more love to Christ, more delight in his ways.
Prop. 3. In asking any spiritual gift we are encouraged by the bounty and mercy of God. David signifieth both.
1. His bounty or benignity, or that free inclination which is in God to do good to his creatures.
2. His mercy respects the creature as affected with any misery. Mercy properly is a proneness to succour and relieve a man in misery notwithstanding sin. Now the larger thoughts of mercy, the more hope ; partly because we have no plea of merit, and therefore mercy is the fountain of all the good which cometli to us from God. We can- not come to him as a debtor, and therefore we must come to him as a free benefactor. AVherewith can we oblige God ? We have nothing to give to him but what is his own already, and was first received from him: 'All things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee,' 1 Chron. xxix. 14 ; we pay the great governor of the world out of his own exchequer. The apostle maketh the challenge, Eom. xi. 35, ' Who hath given him first, and it shall be recompensed to him ? ' The sun oweth nothing to the beam, but the beam all to the sun ; the fountain oweth nothing to the stream, but the stream hath all from the fountain : so we have all from God, can bring nothing to him which was not his before, and came from him. Partly because there is a contrary merit, an ill-deserving upon us, for which he might deny us any further mercies : Ps. xxv. 8, ' Good and upright is the Lord ; and therefore he will teach sinners in the way ; ' if the sinner be weary of his wandering, and would be directed of the Lord for the time to come, God is upright, he will not mislead us ; and he is good, will i-eadily lead us in a right path. Sin shall not obstruct our mercies, and therefore must not keep the penitent supplicant back from con- fidence to be heard in his prayer, when he would be dii'ected in the ready way to happiness. If you would fain be reduced to a good life after all your straying, humbly lay yourselves at God's feet : 1 Kings XX. 31, 'We have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings : let us, I pray thee, put sackcloth on our loins, and
VeR. 64.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 187
ropes upon our heads, and f^^o out to the king of Israel ; peradventure he will save thy life.' If God were most tenacious, we have cause to beat his ears continually with our suits and supplications, such is our want ; but he is good, and ready to guide poor creatures ; nay. he is merciful ; and former sins shall be no obstruction to us, if at length we are willing to return to our duty.