More particularly in this antithesis I observe —
1. The subject, or thing spoken of, thy commandment ; that is, the whole word of God.
2. The predicate or attribute, what is said of it ; it is broad.
3. The amplification of this attribute, it is eJ.'ceeding hroad ; you cannot easily understand the use and benefit of it.
1. The subject, or thing spoken of, ' Thy commandment is exceeding broad.' This breadth must be spoken of with respect to the former clause ; it is broad for its use, and then it is broad for its duration and continuance.
[1.] It is broad for use. A man may soon see to the bottom of the creatures, but the wisdom and purity and utility of the word of God, and the mysteries therein contained, and the spiritual estate that we have thereby, you cannot see to the end of that ; it extendeth to all times, places, persons, actions, and circumstances of actions ; it hath an inconceivable vastness of purity and spirituality. But you will say, There is a set number of precepts, how say you then ' it is exceeding broad ' ? Their use is large ; and it is here put for the whole word of God. Adoro plenitudinem scripturarum tuarum, saith Tertullian. Here are remedies for every malady, and a plentiful storehouse of all comforts, satisfaction to every doubt ; nothing pertaining to the holiness and happiness of man is wanting ; nothing more requi.site to direct, comfort, and support men in all conditions, prosperity, adversity, health, sickness, life, death. "What shall I say ? It is the word that sanctifies all our comforts, 1 Tim. iv. 5 ; it is the word that maintaineth
460 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. C.
our lives, Mat. iv. 4 ; it is the word that fitteth us to an immortal being, 1 Peter i. 23. We cannot easily express the comprehensiveness of it, and the benefit we have by it. When all earthly things fail, the word will be a sure comforter and counsellor to us ; it doth not only tell us what we should do, but wliat we shall be. In short, the word of Grod describeth the whole state of the church and the world, and what shall become of it in the world to come. There is a foolish curiosity that possesseth many in the world, who desire to know their destiny, and what is in the womb of futurity ; as the king of Babylon stood upon the headways to make divination. Now, let this curiosity be turned to some profitable use ; nothing deserves to be known so much as this, What shall become of us to all eternity ? If the question were, Shall I be rich or poor, happy or miserable in this world ? it were not of such great moment, for these distinctions do not outlive time ; but the question is of great moment, whether I shall be eternally miserable or eternally happy ? It is a foolish curiosity to know our earthly state, the misery of which cannot be prevented by our prudence or foresight; but it concerneth us much to know whether we are in a damnable or saveable condition, while we have time to remedy our case ; and this the word of God will inform you of assuredly. Well, ' the command- ment is exceeding broad.' This is the word that discovereth to you the nature of God and the holy angels, the souls of men, the state of the world to come. Who is the author of scripture ? God ; ' thy com- mandments.' The matter of scripture ? God ; it was not fit that any should write of God but God himself. What is the end of this word ? God. Why was this word written but that we might ever- lastingly enjoy the blessed God ? As Cassar wrote his own com- mentaries, so God, when there was none above him of whom he could write, he wrote of himself; by histories, laws, prophecies and promises, and many other doctrines, hath he set himself forth to be the creator, preserver, deliverer, and glorifier of mankind ; and all this is done in a perfect manner. Men mingle their imperfections with their writings; though holy and laudable for their names, yet they discover themselves in all they do ; their words and speeches are never so perfect but there is something wanting, and here jou can find nothing but God ; here God hath written a book whose words are perfect, nothing can be added, nothing taken away. To say there is an idle word in scripture, is great blasphemy, saith Basil. We have no reason to run to human inventions, for the word i^rescribeth every duty, everything that is to be believed and done in order to salvation. Open the gap once, and there is no end ; one brings in one thing, and then another, and from hence comes all the ceremonies that do abound in the church. It is not only most perfect, but most profitable, and containeth all kinds of learning. Common crafts will teach us how to get our bread, but this how to get tlie kingdom of heaven. Law preserveth estates, the testament of men ; this the testament of God, the charter of our in- heritance. Physic cureth diseases of the body; this affiicted minds and distempered hearts. Natural philosophy raiseth men to the con- templation of the stars, but this to the contemplation of God their maker. By history we come to know of the rise and ruin of king- doms, states, and cities ; by this, the creation and consummation of the