3. The utility.
[1.] That we may begin with God, to yield up our wills absolutely to his will ; it is upon a belief that this is his will concerning us ; for his will concerning our duty is revealed in his precepts : ' He hath showed thee, 0 man, what is good ; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God ? ' Micah vi. 8. Certainly an oliedient creature desireth to know no more but what God will have him to do ; and therefore it is needful we should believe what is God's will, that we may resolve upon his will : Kom. xii. 1, 2, ' I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service ; and be not. conformed to this world ; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.' The first thing that we do in grace is to arm ourselves with a resolution to obey God's will, though it be never so contrary to our own, or to the wills of men, or the course of the world's fashions : 1 Peter iv. 1, 2, 'Forasmuch, then, as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind : for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin ; that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.' Now, that this resolution may be made know- ingly and with the greater strength, not only with the strength of inclina- tion or our own resolved, renewed will, but in the sense of God's authority, a strong belief is necessary that this course of life is pleasing to God.
[2.] That we may hold on with God in an awe-ful, watchful, serious course of godliness, it is necessary that the belief of the commandments be deeply impressed upon us. Alas ! otherwise we shall be ofl" and on, forward and backward, according to the impulsion of our own inclina- tions and affections, and the sense of our interest in the world. Many of the commandments are crossing to our natural inclinations and corrupt humours, or contrary to our interests in the world, our profit, pleasure ; and nothing will hold the heart to our duty but the con-
220 SERMoxs UPON PSALM cxix. [Ser. LXXY.
science of God's authority : This is the Lord's will, then the gracious soul submitteth : 1 Thes. iv. 8, ' For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that 3^e should abstain from fornication;' and 1 Peter ii. 15, ' For so is the will of God, that with well-doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.' That is reason enough, and instead of all reasons, to a believer, to awe and charge his heart, that we may not shift and distinguish ourselves out of our duty, that we may shake off sloth and negligence, much more deceits, and fraudu- lency, and corrupt affections. Many shifts will be studied by a naughty heart that dispense with our credit, esteem, honour, prefer- ment in the world for our loyalty to God. Nothing but a deep belief of the sovereignty of God and the sight of his will can be of suflficient power to the soul when such temptations arise, and our duties are so contrary to the inclinations of the flesh : Heb. xi. 8, ' By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed ; and he went out not knowing whither he went ;' and ver. 17, 18, ' By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac ; and he that had received the promises offered up his only-begotten son ; of whom it is was said. That in Isaac shall thy seed be called ;' Gen. xii. 3, ' In thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.' Oh ! how have believers need to bestir themselves upon such an occasion, and to remember no evil can be compared with God's wrath, no earthly good with his favour : that transitory delights are dearly bought if they endanger the soul to compass them : ' That the sufferings of this life are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us ! ' Eom. viii. 18. The ordinary experience of believers in lesser temptations is enough to evince this, &c. Use. 1. For reproof.
1. That men do so little revive the belief of God's commandments, hence sins of omission : James iv. 17, ' Therefore to him that knowetli to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin ;' of commission : Jer. viii. 6, ' I hearkened and heard, but they spake not aright ; no man repented him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done ? Every one turned to his course, as the horse rusheth into the battle.' Would men venture to break a known law if they did consider that it was the command of God that hath power to save and to destroy ? Surely want of faith in the precepts is a great cause of their coldness in duty, boldness in sinning : Prov. xiii. 13, ' Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed ; but he that feareth the commandment shall be i-ewarded.' Now any one would fear God's commandment if he did consider it in all its circumstances.