206 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. LXXIV.
liness will not be orderly ; we shall either be guilty of a profane neglect of that course of duty that is necessary to keep in the life of grace, or turn religion into a sour superstition and rigorous course of obser- vances. Charity will not be orderly ; we shall give to wastefulness, or withhold more than is meet, to the scandal or prejudice of the world towards religion. Not perform justice ; we shall govern to God's dis- honour, obey to his wrong, punish with too much severity, or forbear wqth too much lenity ; our reproofs will be reproaches, our praises flattery. Sobriety will not be orderly ; we shall deny ourselves our necessary comforts, or use them as an occasion to the flesh ; either afflict the body and make ourselves unserviceable, or wrong the soul and burden and oppress it with vain delights. It short, even the higher acts of religion will degenerate ; our fear will be turned into desperation, or our hope into presumption ; our faith will be a light credulity, or our search after truth will turn into a flat scepticism or irresolution ; our patience will be stupidness, or our constancy obstinacy ; we shall either slight the hand of God, or faint under it ; so that there is need of good judgment and knowledge to guide us in all our ways.
Secondly, Why this is so earnestly to be sought of God. The thing is evident from what is said already. But further —
1. Because this is a great defect in most Christians, who have many times good affections, but no prudence to guide and order them ; they are indeed all affection, but no judgment ; have a zeal, but without knowledge, Eom. x. 3. Zeal should be like fire, which is not only fervidus, but liicidns, hot, but bright. A blind horse may be full of mettle, but he is ever and anon stumbling. Oh ! then, should we not earnestly seek of God good knowledge and judgment ? The Spirit of God knoweth what is best for us. In the scriptures he hath indited prayers : Phil. i. 9, ' This I pray, that your love may abound more and more, in knowledge, and in all judgment ;' that our love and zeal " should have a proportionable measure of knowledge and judgment going along with it ; and Col. i. 9, ' That ye may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding ;' and again, Col. iii. 16, ' Let the word of God dwell in you richly in all wisdom.' These places show that it is not enough to have warm affections, but we must have a clear and a sound mind.
2. The mischief which ariseth from this defect is so great to them- selves, to others, and the church of God.
[1.] To themselves.
(1.) Without the distinguishing or discerning act of judgment, how apt are we to be misled and deceived ! They that cannot distinguish meats will soon eat what is unwholesome ; so, if we have not a judg- ment to approve things that are excellent, and disapprove the contrary, our fancies will deceive us, for they are taken with every slight appear- ance ; as Eve was deceived by the fruit because it was fair to see to, Gen. iii. 6, with 2 Cor. xi. 3, ' For I fear lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.' Our affections will deceive us, for they judge by interest and profit, not duty and con- science. The affections are easily bribed by those bastard goods of pleasure, honour, and profit : 2 Cor. iv. 4, ' In whom the god of this
VeR. 66.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 207
world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not.' The con- sent of the world will deceive lis, for they may conspire in error and rebellion against God, and are usnally the opposite party against God : Kom. xii. 2, ' And be not conformed to this world, but be ye trans- formed by the renewing of your minds/ Good men may deceive us ; true and faithful ministers may err both in doctrine and manners, as the old prophet seduced the young one to his own destruction : 1 Kings xiii. 18, ' He said unto him, I am a prophet also, and an angel spake unto me by the word of the Lord, saying, Bring him back with thee into thy house, that he may eat bread and drink water. But he lied unto him." In what a woful plight, then, are Christians if they have not a judgment, and a test to taste i doctrines and try things, as the mouth tasteth meats ! How easily shall we take good for evil and evil for good, condemning that which God appro veth, and approv- ing that which God condemneth !
(2.) Without the determining act of judgment, how fickle and irresolute shall we be, either in the profession or in the practice of godliness. Many men's religion lasts but for a pang ; it cometh upon them now and then, it is not their constant frame and constitution. For want of this purpose and resolute peremptory decree for the profession of godliness, there is an uncertainty, levity, and wavering in religion : men take up opinions lightly, and leave them as lightly again. Light chaff is carried about with every wdnd : Epli. iv. 14, * That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and car- ried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive/ If we receive the truth upon the credit of men, we may be led off again, and we shall be ready to stagger when persecution cometh, especially if we see those men from whom we have learned the truth fall away ; if we have not lSlov arijptjfj.ov, a steadfastness of our own : 2 Peter iii. 17, ' Beware lest ye also, being led away by the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness.' Men should have a steadfastness pro- per to themselves, not stand by the steadfastness of another, the examples of others, the countenance or applause of the world, or the opinion of good men ; but convincing reason, by which their minds may be enlightened, and their judgments set for God. So for prac- tice ; we are off and on, unstable in all our ways, Why ? Because we content ourselves with some good motions before we have brought our hearts to this conclusion, to choose God for our portion, and to cleave to him. All in haste they will be religious, but sudden im- perfect motions may be easily laid aside, and given over by contrary persuasions ; but when our hearts are fixed upon these holy purposes, then all contrary solicitations and oppositions will not break us or divert us. Satan hath small hopes to seduce or mislead a resolved Christian ; loose and unengaged men lie ojDen to him, and are ready to be enter- tained and employed by any new master.