4. Pride in gifts ; for we are told, James iv. 6, ' God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble.' The garland we put on our own heads soon withers, and those gifts which we are puffed up with are presently blasted, and have deadness upon them ; for he will teach us to ascribe all to himself,
5. Some great and heavy troubles. We read, ver. 107 of this psalm, ' I am afflicted very much : quicken me, 0 Lord, according unto thy word.' Oh ! when we are afflicted sore, there is a deadness upon the heart, the spiritual life clogged. With what alacrity did they go about good things before ! But then there is a damp ; worldly sorrow deadens the spirit, as godly sorrow quickens it, and is a means to keep us alive to God.
6. Another cause is carnal liberty, or intermeddling Avith worldly vanities. So much we may learn from that prayer, Ps. cxix. 37, ' Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity, and quicken thou me in thy way.' Oh ! when the children of God let loose their minds to vanity, and take immoderate liberty in the delights of the flesh, there is a deadness comes upon them, for therefore he goes to the cause : ' Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity.' Immoderate liberty in earthly things, or in gratifying the flesh, brings on a deadness upon the heart. The Spirit withdraws when the soul is taken off from other com- forts, and is more addicted to vain ])leasures : Jude 19, ' Sensual, not having the Spirit.' As we are enlarged to the flesh, we are straitened to the spirit. As sensuality increaseth, so the life and vitality of grace decays.
Secondly, In such cases, the word of God is the only means to quicken us. Why the word ? For two reasons : —
432 SERMONS UPON PSALM cxix. [Seu. XCVIII.
1. Because the word contains the most quickening considerations, and the affections are wrought upon by serious and ponderous thoughts; for there God interposeth in the way of the highest authority, straitly charging and commanding us, under pain of his displeasure : and there he reasons with us again in the most potent and strong way of argumentation, from the excellency of his commands, their suitableness to us as we are reasonable creatures; from his great love to us in Christ, whom he hath given to die for us ; from the danger if we re- fuse him, which is no less than everlasting torment ; from the benefit and happiness in complying with his motions, which is no less than eternal and complete blessedness both for our bodies and souls ; and all this is bound upon us by a strict day of impartial accounts. Oh, what a company of quickening considerations are there, to set us awork with life, vigor, and seriousness, when we are to answer for our neglects, or else to receive the reward of our diligence! Now what will quicken us if this will not? If the high and glorious authority of the supreme lawgiver awe us not, if the reasonableness of God's commands invite us not, if the wonderful love of God in Christ constrain us not, if the joys of heaven do not allure us, and the horrors of ever- lasting darkness do not preserve upon us a lively sense of our duty, what will work upon us if this do not, and gain us to a constant diligent care and serious preparation for our own happiness and salvation ? Out of what rock was the heart of man hewn, that all this shall be brought to him in the most persuasive way, as it is in the word of God, and will not work upon him ? Again, if the deadness should arise from our negligence in our duty, the word of God how powerfully doth it quicken us ! But if the deadness should arise from sorrow and discomfort, is not the word as powerful to raise and quicken the soul to a delight in God as to inforce our duty ? What puts a damp upon us ? Is it fury of men ? We have a living God to trust to, who will remain when they are gone, who will pardon our sins, help us in all our straits, who will lay upon us no more than we are able to bear, who will never leave us utterly destitute, but will sanctify all, and make all work together for the best, for our everlast- ing salvation, and finally bring us into his glorious presence, that we may live for ever with him. Here is comfort enough, whatever our heaviness be ; such a powerful God to stand by us in all our troubles, and make all work for good, that at length we may be brought home to God. If this word did but dwell richly in our souls, it would keep us fresh and lively, and we need not fear man or devil, Col. iii. 16. Again, 1 John ii. 14, ' The word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.' We need fear nothing, for whoever trouble us, they are something under God. Whatever is our misery, and whatever befalls us, it is something less than hell, which we have escaped by Christ, and will all be made up in heaven. The first sight of God and the first glimpse of everlasting glory will recompense all the sorrows of the present life, and as soon as we step into heaven, all shall be forgotten. In short, God's particular providence, fatherly love and care, the example of Christ, the promise of the comforting Spirit, the hopes of glory, should revive us in all our languishings. So that if deadness comes from backw^ardness and slowness in our duty.