Vers. 78, 79.] sermons upon psalm cxix. 337
3. Thoiigli it be so great a blessing, yet often it falleth out that there are great discords and estrangements between those that fear God and know his testimonies ; godly men may be strange one to another. David complaineth, Ps. Ixix. 8, ' I am become a stranger to my bre- thren, and an alien to my mother's children ; ' and Ps. xxxviii. 11, ' My lovers and friends stand aloof from my sore ;' they stood afar off then when wicked men had wounded him. Now this may come to pass — [1.] Through carnal fear, as the godly may be deterred by the fear of the proud ; therefore he desireth they may recover their courage. An afflicted condition, as it might increase the violence of the proud, so it might diminish the affections of the godly. . Affliction is harsh to flesh and blood, and good men in their sharpest conflicts may be de- serted, not only of those who make fair profession, but are really godly, and stand in the gap alone. Christ himself hath paved the way ; he was left alone ; so Paul complaineth, 2 Tim. iv. 16, ' At my first answer no man stood with me, but all did forsake me : I pray God it be not laid to their charge.' The godly may forsake our fellowship, though they wish well to us when we are persecuted, as the rest of the lierd forsake the wounded deer ; they may shrink from us and our iifflictions. It will be a great mercy if owned in our troubles. Paul look notice of Onesiphorus's not being ashamed of his chain, when some turned away, 2 Tim. i. 15, 16.
[2.] They may be alienated by prejudice. Persons truly godly may be deceived by the proud. His enemies had depraved his cause ; as in the former verse, his enemies represented him as a strange person : so they might be seduced by their slanders, and so engage against him, till they were disabused and reduced, as now he beggeth God in mercy to do for him. The equity of my cause being known, let them join themselves to me ; as Job to his friends : Job vi. 29, ' Keturn, I pray you, let it not be iniquity ; yea, return again, my righteousness is in it ;' that is, in this matter. Every good man would desire this ; but David was the head of the party, and chief of the godly's sight. Often it falleth out that the godly may take distaste and offence at us.
[3.] There may be some offence given by us. Chrysostom and Theodoret think it relateth to David's sin after he had committed jidultery with Bathsheba, and plotted the murder of Uriah. Theodoret thinks that he was withdrawn or separated from the communion of the church, according to his foul act; and therefore prayeth for a redinte- gration, and that they might return to intimacy with him again, and lie gathereth it from l^ymmachus's translation, who doth not read it. Let them turn unto me, but Let them converse with me as freely as before. Thus the disciples were oftended with Paul, till God hardened i their hearts towards him, Acts ix. 13. Saul was ashamed to see any of those whom he had persecuted ; Ananias was afraid, as the lamb to come near the wolf, till God prepared both by an internal vision ; so ver. 21-27.
[4.] From difference in judgment about lesser things. We should, Phil. iii. 15, 16, ' Be thus minded ; and if in anything ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same
1 Qu. ' softened '?— Ed. VOL. VII. T
338 SERMONS UPON PSALM cxix, [Ser. LXXXVII.
things.' There should be a union in heart, way, and scope, Eom. xiv., but often it doth fall out that passion, because of lesser differences, may- occasion an unkindness between very brethren : Acts xv. 37-39, ' And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who de- parted from tliem from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other ; and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus.' That paroxysm between Paul and Barnabas.
[5.] From "the providence of God permitting it for wise reasons. Job owneth God in it : Job xix. 13, 14, ' He hath put my brethren far from me, and mine acquaintance are verily estranged from me. My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me.' Sa doth Heman : Ps. Ixxxviii. 8, ' Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from me ; thou hast made me an abomination to them.' Partly to humble us and try us, for our depending too much upon man, and making us ourselves again with our party. A winnowing storm may be sent to this purpose. We think our faith and resolution strong, now God will try how we can stand alone. And partly to drive us to God : ' With thee the fatherless find mercy,' Hosea xiv. 3 ; Ps. Ix. 11, ' Give us help from trouble ; for vain is the help of man ; ' Ps. xii. 1, ' Help, Lord, for the godly man ceaseth ; the faithful fail from among the children of men.' We shall not have too much comfort by any crea- ture, to turn us to believe in God alone. We are prone to look to the creature, and to have our hearts drawn away from God. And partly to conform us to Jesus Christ : John xvi. 32, ' Behold the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone ;' Mat. xxvi. 56, 'But all this was done that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.' This is part of the bitter cup.