250 * SERMONS UPON PSALM cxix. [Seu. LXXVIII.
liave dominion over me ;' and Ps. xxvii. 7, ' Hear me, 0 God, when I cry witli my voice ; have mercy upon me, and answer me ;' if we do not suffer this desire to languish and die, but still it be recommended to God daily. My business is rightly to understand and perfectly to do thy will ; this is my one and great request, which I will ever and ever urge. I cannot give over this prayer till thou beest all in all, and showest me the utmost of thy bounty. We desire many things, but Ave are soon put out of the humour ; as children, that seem pas- sionately and pettishly to desire a thing, but by presenting other things to them they are diverted and stilled ; but it is not so with God's people. As Naomi said of Boaz, Kuth iii. 18, ' For the man will not be in rest until he have finished the thing this day ;' so a child of God will not be satisfied till liis desire be in some measure accomplished.
2. In what manner we should pray.
[1.] With earnestness. Slight prayers bespeak their own denial: Prov. ii. 1-5, ' My son, if thou Avilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee ; so that thou incline thine ear to wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding ; yea, if thou criest after know- ledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding ; if thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures ; then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.'
[2.] With confidence : he is wont to do it for you. Ask nothing contrary to his nature. We sliould come with a confidence of speed- ing ; there is in him a propensity and inclination to help us. What would ye do to a hunger-bitten cliild if he cometh to you for a knife or an apple ? You would deny him them, but not meat to satisfy his hunger. If for bread to play with, or meat when he hath enough, you would deny liim, not gratify his fancy : if he come to be taught his book, you would readily hear him. So when we come not for temporal things, but spiritual comforts, when spiritual comforts are not asked out of course, and for form's sake, yea, not only for comforts, but necessary grace to do his will, surely it cannot be that he should cast off them that love him, and would fain be conformed to his will, that come humbly, and long, and pray, and seek for his grace.
[3.] That this confidence must be evangelical. He sets before his eyes God's goodness, or readiness to be gracious to all that call upon him ; so that all the hope we have to prevail should not be taken from anything in us, but something in God himself. We must expect and ask blessings from God, for God, and because of God's sake. It is not for any good we deserve, or have done, or can do, that God taketh care of his weak foolish children, but for the glory of his name, his grace and constant goodness. God is our fountain, our reasons are his goodness, our end his glory. This is the true way of address- ing ourselves to God, deprecating sins for which he may harden us, and remembering his mercies on which we ground our hope. So doth David : Ps. xxv. 5, 6, ' Lead me in thy truth, teach me ; for thou art the God of my salvation ; on thee do I wait all the day. Kemember, O Lord, thy loving-kindnesses and thy mercies ; for they have been ever of old.' His eternal love is assigned as the cause of all: Ps. xxiii. 3, ' He leadeth us in paths of righteousness, for his name's sake.'
VeR. 71.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 251
3. What should be the grounds aud impelliug principle of prayer.
[1.] A strong bent to please God, and that all your affections and actions may be ordered so as to be acce]>table in his sight. Those that stand in awe of God are loafli to offend him ; they may expect direction and light in all difficult cases : Ps. xxv. 12, ' "What man is lie that feareth the Lord ? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose ;' ver. 14, ' The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him, and he will show them his covenant.'
[2.] A desire to enjoy him ; for these things are valuable as they lead us to God. Our solid joy lieth not in outward things, but in our communion with God : Ps. cxxxix. 24, ' Lead me in the way everlast- ing ;' and Ps. Ixxiii. 24, ' Thou shalt guide me by thy counsel, and afterward receive me to thy glory.' Their business is to be happy hereafter, and well guided here, that they may attain that happiness. ^o\v there is an inseparable connection between our walking in the time of this life, and receiving into heaven after this life ; and he that is resolved to walk by the rule of God"s direction, may promise himself to be received into glory after his journey is ended. So Ps. xliii. 3, * Send out thy light aud thy truth to lead me to thy holy hill' They would fain take the nearest way to heaven, and follow God's counsel in all things. We have his word continually to guide us in this way, but we need also the assistance of his Spirit. The promised rest is much in their eye, and doth mightily prevail with him : they would have God to be their guide here, that he may be their rest hereafter.