436 SERMONS UPON PSALM cxix. [Ser. XCVIII.
niightil}', I have a secondary confirmation. When I have eyes to see the impress of God upon the word, then I feel the power of it ; and when I have felt the power of it, it is confirmed in my soul, 1 Cor. i. 6. When we feel the blessed effects, the quickenings and comforts of the word, it is a mighty help to faith. So 1 John v. 10, ' He that belie veth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself What is that witness in himself? Why, the witness of the Spirit, applying the blood of Christ to the conscience, sanctifying and quickening the heart ; then he hath the witness in himself, and is more confirmed that Jesus is the Christ, and the word of God is true, and cannot easily be divorced from it ; he hath felt the effects of it in his own heart : Col. i. 5, 6, ' For the hope that is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, and knew the grace of God in truth.' We guess at things before, and have but a wavering faith, such as may let in some work upon the soul ; then we know it in truth, then it is more fully made good to us, l)y the con- vincing, comforting, and sanctifying Spirit, that evidenceth it to our souls, and this can be no other but the truth of God ; this makes our faith more strong and rooted, and we may be confirmed in the hope and belief of the gospel, and may not easily be removed therefrom.
(2.) Take faith in the other notion, for a dependence upon God, for something that we stand in need of. Every manifestation of his grace should be kept as an experience by us for afterwards, when that frame may be away, when God may hide his face, and all dead in the soul ; as David in his infirmity ' remembered the years of the right hand of the most high,' and former experiences of God, Ps. Ixxvii. 10. As he, in an outward case, for outward deliverances, remembered the former help and succours he had from God, so we may remember former grace and former quickening. There are many ups and downs in the spiritual life, for even the new creature is changeable, both in point of duty and in point of comfort. Now it is a mighty confirma- tion when we remember what God hath done : —
(1st.) In point of duty. Sometimes you shall find you are dull and heartless under the ordinances of God ; in reading and hearing you find little life, lazy, and almost indifferent, whether you call upon God in secret, or hear the word, or join in the communion of saints ; no relish in any duty, do it almost for custom's sake, or at best but to please your consciences : you must do it, and you drive on heavily, not for any great need you feel of them, or good you find by them, or hope you expect from them. Now it is of great use to remember how I have waited upon God formerly, and he hath quickened, refreshed, and comforted me ; and therefore it is good to try again, to keep up our dependence upon his ordinances, when this dulness seizeth upon the soul, and this listlessness ; when conscience is sleepy, and the heart hangs off from God, remember I have been quickened.
(2d.) If it be in point of comfort, fears and sorrows, why ! is there no balm in Gilead ? no physician there ? Hath not God relieved in like straits before, and given in fresh consolations, when you have bemoaned yourselves and opened your case before liim ? There are none acquainted with the spiritual life but have many experiences both of deadness and comfort. Now one is a great help against the
YeR. 93.] SERMONS UPON' PSALM CXIX. 437
other, that our hands may not wax faint and feeble. God, that hath comforted; may comfort again, and why should I neglect his appointed means ? No ; I will continue there, and lie at the pool where the waters haye been stirred.
[2.] They are of use, again, to stir up our aflfections to God and his word.
(1.) To increase our loye to God. Oh ! we should keep the im- pression of his kind manifestation still upon the heart, that the mercy may be continually acknowledged. Surely it is a fayour that God will manifest himself to us, and own us in our attendance upon his word and other duties. The Lord Jesus promiseth it as a great blessing : John xiy. 21, 'He that loyeth me, and keepeth my commandment, shall be loyed of my father, and I will loye him, and will manifest myself to him.' Now, then, when any such sensible fayour is youch- safed to us, we should not forget it, but lay it up as a continual ground of thankfulness and loye to God : Cant. i. 4, ' We will be glad, and rejoice in thee ; we will remember thy loye more than wine.' When God hath treated us most magnificently in his ordinances, either at his table or word, and hath refreshed and reyiyed our souls, oh ! we will remember this, and lay it up for the honour of God, and knit our hearts in a greater loye to God.