Use 2. Whenever you look to heaven, remember that within you
VeR. 89.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 405
have a God who hath fixed his residence and shown his glory there, and made it the seat botli of his mercy and justice. You have also there a Saviour, who, after he had died for our sins, sat down at the right hand of majesty, to see his promises accomplished, and by his word to subdue the whole world. There are 'angels that fulfil his commandment, hearkening to the voice of his word,' Ps. ciii. 21. There are glorified saints, who see God face to face, and dwell with him for evermore, and came thither by the same covenant which is propounded to us as the charter of our peace and hope. Without, we see the siui and moon and all the heavenly bodies move in that fixed course and order wherein God hath set them ; and will God show his constancy in the course of nature, and be fickle and changeable in the covenant of grace, wherein he hath disposed the order and method of his mercies ?
Use 3. To cure our unbelief, b}^ considering how God's grace is settled in the covenant, so as to leave no cause or occasion of doubting or suspecting the truth and certainty of those blessings which he hath promised us ; and shall we live in jealousy, as if we were not upon such sure terms with God ? If we transact with another about certain benefits, the transaction may prove to no purpose, if the matter about which we contract with them hath no being, or the terms be impossible, or the conveyance be not firm and strong, so as to hold good in law. Now, none of these can be imagined in our entering into covenant with God. For—
1. Eternal life is not a chimera, or a thing that hath no being. To'U might run uncertainly, 1 Cor. ix. 24, if it were a dream or a well- devised fable. No ; it is the greatest reality in the world, Heb. iv. 9, we cannot be mistaken ; we see it before us in the promises so con- firmed.
2. It is not upon impossible terms, but such as are performable by the grace of God : Eph. ii. 8, ' By grace ye are saved through fiiith, and that not of }t)urselves, it is the gift of God.' And the apostle telleth us, Eom. iv. 16, 'It is of grace, that it may be sure to all the seed.' It is gi-ace maketh it sure. God giveth what he rcquireth. There are conditions that concern making covenant and keeping covenant. First, conditions for making covenant : Jer, xxiv. 7, ' I will give them an lieart to know me, that I am the Lord ; ' Ezek. xxxvi. 26, ' A new heart wnll I give you, and a new spirit will I bestow upon you.' After this, for keeping covenant : This is a covenant that keepeth us as well as we keep it : Jer. xxxii. 40, 41, ' I will put my fear into their hearts, that they sliall not de])art from me;' so Ezek. xxxvi. 27, there is a j)romise of influence, ' I will put my spirit into you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments and do them.' This to prevent the danger of discovenanting.
3. Or that the conveyance be not strong and firm, so as to make a plea in law ; for it is as strongly confirmed as anything can be by God's word and oath, as before it is upon record in heaven among the ancient decrees of God. It is wiitten in the word for our comfort ; yea, upon our hearts. It is sealed by the blood of Christ, Heb. ix. 16, 17; sealed by the Spirit, Eph. i. 13. And therefore the conveyance will bear a plea, both now in prayer, and hereafter before the tribunal of
406 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. XCIV.
God. We may show hira his promises, plead the satisfaction of Christ, as he pleadeth it in heaven, Heb. ix. 24. But where is there room for any doubt ? If any, it must be of your qualification ; for on God's part all is ordered and sure ; and there two things : — First, That all the qualifications of the gospel must be evangelically interpreted, not legally; not in absolute perfection, but prevalent degree, Mark ix. 29, and Can. v. 2. Secondly, Your only way to obtain comfort is to make the qualification more explicit : 1 John ii. 5, * Whosoever keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby we know that we are in him;' and 1 John iii. 19, 'Hereby we know that we are of the truth.'
4. Let nothing that is uncertain keep you from this blessed and sure covenant. All things without it are uncertain. Kiches are uncertain, 1 Tim. vi. 17. The like may be said of honours, they are slippery I)laces ; of friends, health, life itself. Kow, do not forsake your own mercies for lying vanities. Some vain thing or other taketh us off from God and seeking his favour, which will certainly prove a lie to you ; therefore employ your time, care, and thoughts about these things.