[2.] They would not willingly sin against God, either out of igno- rance or perverse aflections ; therefore, if God will direct them and a,ssist them in the work of obedience, their great care and trouble is over. It is a good sign that a man hath a simple, honest spirit, when there is rooted in his heart a fear to ofiend God, and a care to please him. He may err in many things, but God accepts him as long as seeking knowledge in order to obedience, Eph. v. 15-17. All that God requireth, both for matter and manner, is, that we would not comply with sin ; seeing the time is evil and full of snares, we should not be unwise in point of duty.
[3.] They have a holy jealousy of themselves. David desired to use every condition well, whether he were in prosperity or trouble. The context speaketh of afilictions that were sanctified ; but a new con- dition might bring on a new alteration in the soul. Prosperity would make him forget God, and trouble overwhelm him, if God did not teach him. In what state soever we be, we must desire to be taught of God, otherwise we shall fail : Phil. iv. 11, 12, ' For I have learned, in what- soever state I am, therewith to be content : I know how to be abased, and how to abound ; everywhere and in all things I am instructed.' Unless the Lord guide us, we shall be as Ephraim was, ' a cake not turned,' Hosea vii. 8, baked but on one side, quite dough and raw on the other side ; fail in the next condition, though passed over one ■well.
[4.] A sense of the creature's mutability. Comparing it with the former verse, I observe, that though he kept God's commandments, jet he craveth further grace, and desireth that he may be still taught, because he knew not all that he might know, and was ready to err both in practice and judgment : and this must teach us to desire God's guidance and direction, not only when we have erred, but when we do well. Many, when they have smarted for their errors, will desire God to teach them ; but David kept this continual dependence upon God for daily grace, both for turning away of evil, and also for doing good : Prov. iii. 5, 6, ' Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not upon thine own understanding : in all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths ; ' which we are to follow in our places and oallings. We are apt to ascribe too much to our present frame and resolutions. God must still be called to for his counsel and blessing in every business.
[5.] An evangelical frame. He pleadeth not merit, appealeth not
248 SERMONS UPON PSALM cxix. [Ser. LXXVIIL
to justice, but to God's grace and goodness. This should be the special groundwork of our prayers. The Lord doth all ' to the praise of his glorious grace,' Eph. i. 7 ; and he will not have that glory in- fringed, either in part or in whole. The Spirit of God is very tender of it in scripture, and we should be very tender of it in our addresses to God, that all conceits of our own worth be laid aside, and that we wholly fly to God's goodness and mercy. The whole work of sanctifi- cation, from its first step to its last period, is all of grace, all must be ascribed to God's free goodness.
[6.] The will of God revealed in scripture is a subject that is never perfectly known. "While we are in the way to glory there is always some new thing to be learned of it and from it, even by those that are the greatest proficients in the knowledge of it ; and therefore we must be still scholars in this school, and when we have learned never so much we must still be learning more. This is continued, lasting work, for David is ever and anon at his old request, ' Lord, teach me thy statutes ;' and not without reason, since it is not sufiicient to know God's will in some few great and weighty actions of our lives, but in all, whether of greater or lesser concernments. And when we know generals, yet we are so apt to err in particular cases, and since the com- mandment of God is so exceeding broad, Ps. cxix. 96. Every day we may see more into it, and may be more fully informed of the mind of God. We every day see more in a promise than we did before, in a precept than we did before ; therefore the apostle saith, 1 Cor. viii. % ' And if any man think that he knoweth anything, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.'
Use. Here is a pattern and precedent for us ; especially now we have engaged our souls to God, let us seek this directive grace. It implieth pardon, and that maketh way for joy and comfort; for God teacheth pardoned sinners. A sure light and dii-ection prevents many troubles of spirit and anxious doubts. It is a pledge and assurance of our getting home to God ; those whom God guideth are sure to be safe in the issue.