Doct. 3. Though the soul be in a fainting condition, yet it will accept of nothing but God's salvation, 'Thy salvation:' Ps. xciv. 18,
VeR. 81.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 357
' When I said, My foot slippeth ; thy mercy, 0 Lord, held me up ;' and ver. 19, 'In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy com- forts delight my soul.' Men may seek to get out of their troubles from wicked men two ways — either by carnal compliance, or by the use of indirect means.
[1.] By carnal compliance, when men violate and prostitute their consciences for their peace's sake. It is said of some, Heb. xi. 35, that ' They accepted not deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.' They might upon certain conditions have been freed from those cruel pains and tortures, but those conditions were contrary to the law of God. We have God's deliverance upon better terms than man's, and it is better in itself
[2.] By using indirect means to get off the trouble ; this is making too much haste : Isa. xxviii. 16, ' He that believeth shall not make haste.' Ravishing the blessing, rather than waiting for the issues of God's providence. Those that do so, God will reckon them with the w^orkers of iniquity : Ps. cxxv. 5, ' As for such as turn aside to their crooked ways, the Lord shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity : but peace shall be upon Israel.' They that shift for them- selves lose the benefit of God's protection. These are dealt with as open enemies. Now the reasons of the point are these : —
1. Because they are satisfied in God's providential government. God never puts power in the hands of wicked men but for his own holy ends. Therefore, while God continueth them, tliey are observing what God will do by them : 2 Sam. xvi. 11, ' Let him curse ; for the Lord hath bidden him.' God hath work for them to do, to mortify our wantonness, to break our stubborn humours.
2. Because God's salvation will come in the best time and in the best way: Ps. Ixii. 1, ' Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him Cometh my salvation ;' Isa. xxx. 18, ' God is a God of judgment : blessed are they that wait for him.' God doth all things with wisdom, and in the best manner.
Use. How afflicted soever we be, let us not seek to be delivered in a way not allowed by God, nor take any sinister courses, nor use any base shifts to rid ourselves out of danger. This is to distrust God, and to entangle ourselves the more, and to miscarry in a long voyage, after we are about to enter into the port. See the story of Saul's sacri- ficing, in 1 Sam. xiii., from the 8th verse to the 15th. If he had tarried a little longer all had been well. Before the day was quite over, Saul would sacrifice, and then Samuel cometh and telleth him God had rent the kingdom from him for his distrust and disobedience. So many will forestall the blessing.
Doct. 4. Hope keepeth us alive in the midst of ftiintings : ' My soul fainteth ; but I hope.'
1. Observe here, that though the faith of God's children seems to faint, yet it doth not die nor wholly fail. Some seem greedily to catch at promises at first, but their ardour is soon spent ; and when it is a troublesome business to wait upon God, they give it over. This is the faith and hope of temporaries, but the good ground ' bringeth forth fruit with patience,' Luke viii. 15. God's children tarry his leisure ; and though now and then they are ready to faint, yet they
358 SERMONS UPON PSALM cxix. [Ser. LXXXIX.
recover. Their faith, hope, and patience seemeth to be almost spent, yet it is not utterly put out ; as David here was not broken with long and tedious difficulties ; though he saw no end of his miseries, yet he would still depend upon God. There is an abiding seed, 1 John iii. 8. Their state is secured by God's covenant, that there shall be no total rupture nor utter deficiency. Perseverance is a condition of the new covenant, not only required, but given, as all conditions of the new covenant are. There is donuynpe'fseverantke, not only a power to perse- vere, but perseverance itself.
2. That which keepeth our faith from dying, and sustaineth the soul of the faithful, and keepeth life in them, is the resuscitation of our hopes. What doth hope to the supporting of a fainting soul ?
[1.] It draweth off the mind from things present to things future; and diversion is one way to cure trouble. While we pore only on our grievous troubles, they prove a temptation to us ; but hope lifts up the head, and looketh above these things. That poring on the affliction and trouble causes fainting ; see Lam. iii. 18-20 ; but remembering God's mercies and promises reviveth us. The remembering the great depth of affliction and extremity overwhelmeth us : I have them in mind continually, and so am dejected ; but when I begin to call to mind God's infinite mercies, I conceive some hope of recovery. That which was remembered is in ver. 22-26.