Fourthly, These powerful experiences in this kind will be and should be i-ecorded and remembered by us ; for, saith David, ' I will never forget thy precepts.'
1. They will be remembered if we have met Avith any powerful experiences of the Lord's quickening and awakening the heart. (1.) We will remember Avhat most concerns us. (2.) We Avill remember all those things which make notable impressions upon our souls.
[1.] Things that concern us will be remembered by us. Every one's memory is as his affections are. Let a child read the scripture, that chapter wherein mention is made of Joseph's parti-coloured coat, that Avill stick in his mind more than better things, because it suits Avith his childish fancy, and his desires that his parents should make such a garment for himself. And it is usually obser\^ed that youth is most taken with the histories of the Bible, because of their desire to know things past. And if once they come to manly age, they are more taken with the doctrines of the Bible, because Avhen they grow men they begin to form their opinions of religion. And elder persons are taken with psalms, and holy deA^otional strains in scripture, because then, as they grow in age, it is time to address themselves to God. Persons in doubts and fears by reason of sin will be most affected Avith tenders of grace, as suiting best Avith their condition ; persons in afflic- tion, with the consolations appointed for the afflicted ; persons in
YeR. 93.] SERMONS UPOX PSALM CXIX. 435
conflict with any sin, with those passages which afford most direct help against them. Still that which more especially concerns us should and will be most observed and remembered by us, for there it speaks to our very hearts. Now, saith the soul, in such a point, in such extremity, the word of God did my heart good ; I shall remember it as long as I live ; when a seasonable word is spoken to their case ; their judgment was not passed over by the Lord : I was dead, and it revived me ; disconsolate, and it comforted me ; ready to-stray, and it reduced me ; under such a temptation, and it relieved me. I should transcribe the whole scripture, especially the psalms, if I should tell you how often David takes notice what the word of God did to him in such and such <a condition ; for still things that nearly concern us, they will affect us, and be remembered by us.
[2.] Those things will be rememl)ered that make any notable im- pression, that leave a lively sense upon the heart ; they impress a notice of themselves, and will not be forgotten : Luke xxiv. 32, ' Did not our heart burn within us while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?' If opening of the scriptures causeth any burning of heart, or any strange workings of soul, when the heat is gone and past yet the burning cannot be forgotten ; they remembered Christ still, and can speak of the actings of the Spirit, not only when they are on, but when they are over and past. Christ was vanished out of sight and gone, yet they cannot forget the warmness of heart they felt while he opened the scriptures to them : Cant. v. 4, ' He put in his hand by the hole of the door, and my bowels were moved for him;' and ver. 6, 'My soul failed when he spake.' Oh ! if we be soundly humbled or soundly comforted, or be effectually moved and stirred to the remembrance of God, then heavenly things that occasion this will not be forgotten.
2. These things should be remembered to confirm our faith, to in- crease our love.
[1.] To confirm our faith. Faith is taken either for a general assent to the word, or for a dependence upon God for some blessing that we want or stand in need of.
(1.) If we take it for a general assent to the word, why, these notable quickenings and experiences of the convincing or comforting or convert- ing power of the word, they are a secondary confirmation of the truth of the word to lis. I tell you why I put in that word, a secondary con- firmation ; they are not a primary, for we must believe the word before we can feel its efficacy and find it to be effectual to us ; and therefore the primary grounds of faith are the impressions of God upon the word, the secondary are the impressions of God upon the heart. Now I have felt the virtue and power of the truth upon my soul, and all the world shall not draw me from it. 1 must have a primary confirma- tion of the truth of the word before I can believe, and before it can work in me. The apostle saith, 1 Thes. ii. 13, 'Ye received the word, not as the word of man, but as the word of God, which effectually worketh in you that believe.' First I receive it as the word of God by some marks, and notes, and characters, some impress of God upon his word ; some- what God hath left of himself in the word, and that awes my heart to reverence it, there I receive it upon my heart ; but when it works in me