4. When this f alleth out, we should use all due means to recover those ' that have deserted us, and draw them unto us again ; the favour is worth diligence. A man would not be cast out of the hearts of God's people. The apostle saith, Heb. xii. 14, ' Follow peace with all men,' StcoKeTe etp/]v'>]v, not only embrace it when it is offered to us, and fairly droppeth into our mouths, but pursue it with earnestness ; we must pursue it as a man pursueth something running from him to take it. It is explained, Ps. xxxiv. 14, ' Seek peace, and pursue it.' If the issue answer not our first attempt, we must seek it again ; not giving up the cause for desperate, lest despair quench our endeavours.
0. One great meaus to recover a good understanding among God's people is prayer. David goeth to God about it, ' Lord, let them turn to me.' The Lord governeth hearts and interests, both are in his hands, and useth this alienation or reconciliation either for judgment or mercy. God, when he pleaseth, can divert the comfort of godly friends, and when he pleaseth he can bring them back again to us. The feet of God's children are directed by God himself : if they come to us it is a blessing of God ; if not, it is for a correction. He made Jacob and Laban meet peaceably. Gen. xxxi., and in the next chapter Jacob and Esau.
Use. The use is direction to us in these times, when there are such
VeR. 80.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 339
distances and alienation of hearts and affections between the people of God.
1. Let ns not be troubled at it over-much. Godly men were estranged from David, either being misled by delusions and false reports, or loath to come to him because of his troubles and low con- dition. And partly because it is no strange thing for a good man to by forsaken of his friends; so Job, chap. vi. 15-17, 'My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, and as the stream of brooks they pass away, which are blackish by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow is hid : what time they wax warm, they vanish ; when it is hot, they are consumed out of the way ;' so David : Ps. xxxi. 11, ' I was a reproach among all mine enemies, and a fear to mine acquaintance ;' yea, so Christ himself. I know the temptation is very great. Man is ^wov TToXiTiKov, a sociablc creature. To go alone in our duty is very hard ; but we ought not to look on ourselves to be alone while God is with us, John xvi. 32. Christ is a pattern of all dispensations as well as trials : Heb. xiii. 5, ' I will not leave thee nor forsake thee.' He is so far from forsaking, that he will not leave us.
2. Let us recommend the case to God : Zeph. iii. 9, ' That they may call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent ;' Eom. XV. 6, 7, ' That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God : wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.' Non sunt isfa litigcmdi sed orandi tempore/. Beg a coalition of all those that fear God, that, laying aside prejudice, they may turn one to another. The spirit of concord is God's gift. Christ prayeth, John xvii. 21, 22, ' That they may be one, as thou. Father, art in me, and I in thee ; that they also may be one in us, that the world may believe thou hast sent me : and the glory which thou gavest me, I have given them, that they may be one as we are one.'
3. Let us carry it so that the children of God may have no occasion to turn from us. Scandalous sins are roots of bitterness : Heb. xii. 15, ' Lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.' Encourage the godly to pray for you : Heb. xiii. 18, ' Pray for us ; for we trust we have a good conscience in all things, willing to live honestly.' To love you. Good men are not unworthy of our prayers, and incapable of the benefit of them ; the more you excel in grace the more they will delight in you : Ps. xvi. 3, ' But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.'
SEKMON LXXXVIIL
Let my heart be sound in thy statutes, that I he not ashamed. —
Ver. so.
In this verse we have — (1.) A petition, let my heart he sound in thy statutes ; (2.) An argument from the fruit and effect of granting it. that I he not ashamed ; that is, then I shall not, otherwise I certainly
340 SERMONS UPON PSALM cxix. [Ser. LXXXVIII.
shall, be ashamed. He would avoid that inconveniency that was so grievous to him in the eyes of wicked men. First, In the petition I shall take notice —
1. Of the person praying, David.
2. His qualification, intimated in the word my heart.