(2.) On the other side, ' thousands of gold and silver.' Where wealth is set out — (1.) By the species and kind of it — gold and silver ; gold for hoarding and portage, silver for present commerce. (2.) The quantity, ' thousands,' that is, thousands of pieces, as that addition is used, Ps. Ixviii. 30, ' They shall submit themselves with pieces of silver,' or talents, as the Chaldee paraphrase expoundeth it. ' Money answereth all things,' Eccles. x. 19. It can command all things in the world, as the great instrument of commerce.
[2.] The value and preference of the one above the other, ' it is better,' and it is ' better to me.' It is better in itself, that noteth the intrinsic worth of the word ; it is better to me, that implieth his own esteem and choice. To say, in the general only, It is better, implieth but a speculative approbation, which may be in carnal men: Rom. ii. 18, ' And approvest the things that are more excellent ; ' but to say. It is better to me, implieth a practical esteem, which is proper only to the regenerate. It is more dear, precious, and sweet to them than the greatest treasure. Could we have such a holy affection to the word, and say also, To me, and to me, we should thrive more in a course of godliness ; for a man is carried on powerfully by his choice and esteem, his actions are governed and determined by it.
Doct The word of God is dearer to a gracious heart than all the riches in the world.
Let me bring proofs : Ps. xix. 10, ' More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold.' So speaking of spiritual wis- dom, which is only to be had by the word of God, he saith, Pj-ov. iii, 14, ' That the merchandise thereof is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.' So Prov. viii. 11, 'For wisdom is better than rubies, and all the things which are to be desired are not to be compared with it.' These expressions are fre- quently used, because the greatest part of mankind are miserably bewitched with the desire of riches ; but God's children are otherwise affected, they have a better treasure.
Let me prove two things : —
1. That the word of God, and the benefit we get by it, is better than thousands of gold and silver,
2. That the children of God do so esteem it. Both must be proved ; the one to show the worth and excellency of the word, the other to show the gracious disposition of the hearts of God's children. There
VeR. 72.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 263
is no question but that If these things were well weighed, the law of -God's mouth, and thousands of gold and silver, we should find there is a great inequality between them ; but all men have not a judgment to choose that which is most worthy. Many take glass beads for jewels, and prefer toys and trifles before a solid good. Gold and silver draw the hearts of all men to them, and their affections blind their judgment ; and then, though the weights be equal, if the balances be not equal, wrong will be done. We do not weigh things with an equal balance, but consider them with a prejudiced mind, and a heart biassed and prepossessed with worldly inclinations.
First, then, for the things themselves ; surely gold and silver, which is digged out of the bowels of the earth, is not worthy to be compared with the law that cometh out of the mouth of God. If you compare the nature, use, and duration of these benefits that you have by the one and the other, you will see a vast difference.
1. The nature. The notion of riches is abundance of valuable things. Now there are true riches and counterfeit riches, which have but the resemblance and show. The true riches is spoken of Luke xvi. 11, and is opposed to that mammon and pelf which the world doteth upon. Grace giveth us the true riches and wealth. It is good to state what are the true riches and the false. The more abundance of truly valuable things a man hath, the more he hath of true riches. A child counteth himself rich when he hath a great many pins and points and cherry-stones, for those suit his childish age and fancy, A worldly man counteth himself rich when he hath gold and silver in great store by him, or lands and heritages, or bills and bonds ; but a child of God counteth himself rich when he hath God for his portion, Christ to his redeemer, and the Spirit for his guide, sanctifier, and comforter ; which is as much above a carnal man's estate in the world as a carnal man's estate is above a child's toys and trifles, yea, in- finitely more. Well, then, surely the word of God will make us rich, because it revealeth God to be our God, according to our necessity and capacity : Ps. xvi. 5, 6, ' The Lord is my portion : I have a goodly heritage ;' and it revealeth unsearchable riches of grace in Christ, Eph. ii. 1, iii. 8, pardon of sins, and life eternal. They that have Christ want nothing, but are completely happy. So for the Spirit ; what are all the riches of the world to those treasures of knowledge, comfort, and holiness which we have by the Spirit! What is in one evangelist, ' He will give his Holy Spirit to them that ask him,' Luke xi. 13, is in another. Mat. vii. 11, 'He will give good things to them that ask him.' The Spirit is instead of all good things, so that the word is able to enrich a man more than all the wealth of the world can. It giveth us abundance, and abundance of better things ; so that a man is not absolutely poor that wants gold and silver, but he that wants the benefits which the word of God offereth and conveyeth to us. Gold and silver are but one sort of riches, and but the lowest and meanest sort. You do not count a man poor if he have lands, though he hath not ready-money ; much less is a man poor if he hath gold, though he hath not silver. So a Christian is not poor if he hath God and Christ and the Spirit, though he say, with the apostle Peter, ' Silver and gold have I none,' Acts iii. 6.