348 SERMONS UPON PSALM cxix. [Ser. LXXXVIII.
An unsound heart will not bear out, but fall off to its own shame : James i. 8, The apostle telleth us, that ' a double-minded man is un- stable in all his ways.' Between God's supplies and carnal shifts he goeth backward and forward, or this way and that, as occasion re- quireth. We need truth of grace, that we may be able to endure all weathers ; and when we are put to trial we should be the more earnest with God for soundness of heart.
Thirdly, Here is the person of whom it is asked — of God : ' Make my heart sound in thy statutes.' Uprightness is the gift of God, and the work of his Spirit : Ps. li. 10, ' Create in me a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within me.' We are like a pewter vessel, battered by the fall ; and till we be cast anew we cannot be right with God, God worketh it in us at first, and still keepeth us and guideth us by his Spirit, or else we shall soon turn aside to our old bent and bias again. God beginneth the work of holiness, and maintaineth it against remaining corruption and outward temptations ; he still keepeth afoot a constant purpose, and steady endeavour in the heart, to walk so as may please God. Men of themselves have a kind of humour towards good for a fit ; but to go on sincerely to the end needeth grace from above.
Use. To press us to look after this firm established spirit. Now to this purpose —
1. Heartily resign yourselves to be directed and guided by God in all things whatsoever : Ezra vii. 10, ' He prepared his heart to seek the Lord.' To do it needeth such a fixed purpose.
2. Let us offer ourselves to God's trial . Ps. cxxxix. 23, 24, ' Search me, 0 Lord, and try me, know my heart and know my thoughts, see if there be any way of wickedness in me.' We must not only rest upon the testimony of our own consciences, but desire our hearts may be searched by God over and over. Besides, there are many ill humours mixed with our best affections, which we see not, and a secret appro- bation and indulgence we give to them. We are apt ever to deal favourably with ourselves ; and therefore desire God to pry into your most retired and reserved thoughts.
3. Let us walk still as in God's eye : Ps. cxix. 1G8, ' I kept thy pre- cepts and thy testimonies, for all my ways are before thee.' Whatever praise we have with men, we must see that our hearts be right with God, who is witness, approver, and judge, and searcheth the heart, and trieth the reins, and will not be put ofi" with shadows ; God's all-seeing eye is a special means to make a man upright.
4. Observe how often Ave step awr}^ Jer. xvii. 9, in those actions we perform. How careless are we of the spiritual part ; we regard the outside of the duty, but slightly pass over that affection that should accompany it. In resistance of our corruption, we rather deal with the fruit of it, that it break not out to our disgrace, than the root of it that secretly lurketh in our hearts. There is a great deal of guile of spirit in the best, and therefore we had need to ' make straight steps to our feet,' Heb. xii. 13. There is some defect in matter, manner, or aim. We are many times set awork by others, yet expect wages of God.
5. Let us be often and earnestly dealing with God i'or this sincere heart ; it is called 'godly sincerity,' 2 Cor. i. 12. Why ? Because it
YeR. 81.] SERMONSUPON PSALM CXIX. 349
comes from God, and carries the soul to God again. ' Tlie new man is created in righteousness and true holiness, after the image of God,' Eph. iv. 24, and hath a tendency in it to draw us to God again.
SEKMON LXXXIX.
My soul faintetli for thy salvatmi ; hut I hope in thy ivord. —
Ver. 81.
This verse is wholly narrative, and consists of two branches : —
1. The first clause showeth how he stood affected to God's salvation, my soul fainteth for thy salvation.
2. His support till that affection was satisfied, hut I hope in thy ivord.
Before we can make any further progress in explaining and applying this scripture, we must first see what is this salvation which is here spoken of. Salvation in scripture hath, divers acceptations ; it is put —
1. For that temporal deliverance which God giveth, or hath pro- mised to give, to his people. So it is taken Exod. xiv. 13, ' Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord that he will show you to-day ; ' that is, the wonderful deliverance which he will work for you. So Lam. iii. 26, ' It is good that a man should both iiope, and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord ; ' meaning by salvation, their recovery out of captivity. It was their duty to wait for this deliverance ; and though it were long first, yet, having a promise, they were to keep up their hope.