Secoiidbj, These things must be improved by meditation ; so saith David, ' I will meditate on thy precepts.^
1. Sleepy reason is unuseful to us, and truths lie hid in the heart without any efficacy or power till improved by deep, serious, and press- ing thoughts. Non-attendancy is the bane of the world : Mat. xiii. 19, ' When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and under- standeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that
334 SERMONS UPON PSALM cxix. [Ser. LXXXVII.
which was sown in his heart.' Those invited to the wedding, Mat. xxii. 5, made light of it. Men will not suffer their minds so long to dwell upon holy things as to procure a good esteem of them ; then in ' seeing they see not, and in hearing hear not ; ' as when you tell a man of a business whose mind is taken up about other things. A sudden carrying a candle through a room giveth us not so full a survey of the object as when you stand a while beholding it. A steady contempla- tion is a great advantage. Attending is the cause of believing, when we grow serious : Acts xvi. 14, ' Whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended to the things spoken by Paul;' Acts xvii. 11, 'And these were more noble than they of Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind.' If people would often return to consider, they would not be hardened in sin : Ps. iv. 4, ' Commune with your own heart upon your bed ;' Hag. i. 5, ' Now, therefore, thus saith the Lord of hosts, Consider your ways.' God's complaint was, they would not consider his ways. Job xxxiv. 27 ; Isa. i. 3, ' My people doth not consider,' Punning thoughts never work upon us, nor leave any durable impression, like the glance of a sunbeam on a wave. When the soul is besieged by a constant battery of truths, it yieldeth ; but a mind scattered upon impertinent vanities groweth not up to any considerable strength of faith, or joy, or comfort, or holiness.
2. God will not be served by the by and at hap-hazard. David taketh a resolution to study his duty. The more deliberate our reso- lutions are the better : Ps. cxix. 59, ' I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.' AVe shall never stumble upon a good course by chance : Isa. Ivi. 4, ' And choose the things that please me ;' not take them upon some sudden motion, but after mature and serious deliberation.
3. To divert the mind from other things. Afflictions and troubles stir up a multitude of thoughts in us : Ps. xciv. 19, ' In the multi- tude of my thoughts.' Sometimes self-oppressing thoughts, carking thoughts, envious thoughts, and repining at God's providence ; the object of our trouble is ever before us. Now, there is no way to get rid of these but by exercising them upon better things. Troubles make us concerned about matters of weight ; they employ our minds usefully, which before were scattered to impertinent vanities : Ps. xxxix. 3, ' My heart was hot within me ; whilst I was musing the fire burned.' That our minds may not be a prey to inordinate passions ; we pore upon the trouble, and the heart is heated like an oven stopped up ; and therefore keep the mind well employed.
4. Frequent meditation keepeth our principles in view and memory. We are apt to forget in our sorrows : Heb. xii. 5, ' And ye have forgot- ten the consolation.' It is not ready at hand to support us in the time of trouble. A seasonable remembrance of truths is ar great relief to the soul ; it is the Spirit's office.
Thirdly, That afflictions and molestations have a great tendency and subserviency to promote and advance these holy thoughts where they are sanctified and work the right way.
1. They make us understand the word more fully and clearly than before. Vexatio dat intellectum ; qui trihidantur, saith Luther, sacras literas melius intelligunt ; securi et foriunati eas legunt, sicut
Vers. 78, 79.] sermons upon psalm cxix. 335
Ovidii carmen. A full third part of the scriptures are lost to the secure and fortunate.
2. As they clear the sight, so they purge the taste, and give us a spiritual relish. Carnal comforts cloy the spiritual appetite ; when they are removed from us, then we taste heavenly things : Ps. xciv. 19, ' In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul/
3. They quicken the heart to our duty, and so make us more awe-ful and watchful : Ps. xciv. 12, ' Blessed is the man whom thou chasteneth, 0 Lord, and teachest him out of thy law ;' Ps. cxix. 167, * My soul hath kept thy testimonies, aud I love them exceedingly.' If God write his law upon our hearts by his stripes on our backs, it is a blessed effect. Our happiness is to be measured by our great end, which is conformity to God and enjoyment of God ; and therefore it doth not consist in outward comforts, riches, honour, health, civil liberty, and comfortable protection, but acceptance with God, and en- joyment of God. Xow, as afflictions increase grace and holiness, we are the more approved of God, and enjoy more of God.