Ver, G5.] sermons uroN psalm cxix. 201
3. Let US trace the benefits we enjoy to the founttain of them, the love of God ; then we will say, Ps. cxxxviii. 2, 'I will praise thy name for thy lovino^-kindness and truth.' This is not only to drink of the stream, hut of the fountain ; there the water is sweetest ; when we see all this coming from the special love of God to our souls. Otherwise God may give in anger : Hosea xiii. 11, ' I gave them a king in mine anger ;' as he gave the Israelites meat for their lusts: Isa. xxxviii. 17, 'Thou hast loved me from the grave;' this commeneleth all experi- ences, maketh us love God again.
4. Compare yourselves with others your betters, who would be glad of your leavings, — their nature, disposition, endowments better tlian yours, yet receive less from God. He hath not dealt so Avith any nation. Whence is all this to me ? John xiv. 22, ' Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself to us, and not unto the world ? ' Many would be glad of our relics.
5. Consider your un worthiness : Gen. xxxii. 10, ' I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all . the truth which thou hast showed unto thy servant ;' 2 Sam. vii. 18, ' Who am I, 0 Lord, and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto ? ' Pride is the cause of discontent. Where all is received freely, there is no cause of discontent : much of giving thanks if we have anything. When we look to desert, we may wonder more at what we have than what we want : if afflicted, destitute, kept low and bare, it is a wonder Ave are not in hell. All this is spoken because men are not thankful, We are eager till we have blessings, but when we have them, then barren in praises, unfruitful in obedience : like little children, forward to beg favours, but careless to acknowledge what they have received.
Doct 3. That in our thankful acknowledgments we should take notice of God's truth, as well as his benignity and goodness. David owned the kindness as coming according to his word. So do the servants of God observe his accomplishing promises : Josh, xxiii. 14, ' And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth ; and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things Avhich the Lord your God spake concern- ing you ; all hath come to pass unto you, not one thing hath failed thereof.' So Solomon : 1 Kings viii. 5G, ' Blessed be God that giveth rest to his people Israel, according to all that he promised ; there hath not failed one word of all his good promise which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant.' Thus Joshua and Solomon observe how his word was made good to a tittle, and in the rigour of the letter ; he hath not left undone anything, but accomplished all to the full. A great deal of benefit will come by it : —
1. For yourselves.
[1.] Your own faith will be confirmed by it, when you see that God is as good as his word, and bestoweth upon us the utmost that any promise of his giveth us to hope for : it is dictum factum with God ; he is no more liberal in word than in deed. Look, as it confirmeth our faith in the truth of the threatenings, when we are punished as our congregation hath heard, Hosea vii. 12, — they that would not believe their danger are made to feel it, — so our faith in the promise. God showeth what he will be to his servants, and after a little waiting they
202 SERMONS UPON PSALM cxix. [Ser. LXXIII.
find it to be so. Wait but a little while, and you shall find the effect of the promises : Ps. Ivi. 8, ' In God I will praise his word, in the Lord I will praise his word ; ' that is, I have g-reat cause to take notice of the promise ; to a believer it is as good as performance : so Ps. xix. 9, ' The judgments of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether.' Former experience begets confidence for tlie time to come : the Lord doth not deceive us with vain words. There is an eflect in them ; I shall find it ; what God saith he doth.
[2.] Your comfort is increased ; receiving things in a way of promise sweeteneth a blessing. It is good to see whence things come to us, , from the bounty of common providence, or from the promises of the ' covenant. There is a providential right and a covenant right. Devils hold their beings by a providential right, but the saints their blessings by covenant. The promise is made to God's servants, and the mercy conveyed by the promise is sanctified : 1 Cor. iii. 23, ' All are yours, and ye are Christ's, and Christ is God's ; ' 1 Tim. iv, 3, they are to be 'received with thanksgiving of them that believe and know the truth.' Believers are called ' heirs of promise.' Some blessings the very nature of them showeth whence they come ; but in others, as the deliverances and comforts of this life, the tenure of them is more com- fortable than the mercies themselves ; to have them not only from God's hand but heart. Wicked men have them as their portion, you as helps to your better portion : heirs of promisei^ an honourable title and relation. Such blessings are from love, and for our good.