YeI:. 96.] SERMONS UPON PSALM cxix. 4G1
world. Rhetoric serves to move affection ; this to kindle divine love. Poetry eauseth natural delight ; this delight in God : no writing like this.
[2.] As it hath a breadth for use, so for duration and continuance ; it is the eternal truth of God, that shall live for ever : Mat. v. 18, * Heaven and earth shall pass away, but not one jot or tittle of the law shall fail.' So Mat. xxiv. 35, ' Heaven and earth shall pass away, but thy word shall not pass away.' But how doth the word continue for ever ? Xot the word itself, but —
(1.) The obligation and authority of the word continueth for ever. It is an eternal rule of faith and righteousness to the church, that is more stable than heaven and earth. Let me show you how the doctrine is perpetual. The original draught is in God himself. The substance and matter of the moral law is perpetual, namely, the per- fect love of God and of our neighbour ; but the form is not ; we shall have no need of precepts, and prohibitions, and promises, and threat- enings in the light of glory, which we have need of in the light of grace. Fierce horses need a bridle, and there is other kind of discipline for children when grown up than when young. When they are young, we correct their bodies ; but Mhen they are grown up, we correct and punish them by disinheritance. The prop is removed when the thing standeth fast upon its own basis. TThen we come to heaven, we have intuitive apprehensive knowledge ; we shall have no other bible but the Lamb's face. Many things that are necessary by the way are not necessary when faith is changed into vision and hope into fruition. Scripture is necessary, as letters to the spouse from her beloved while absent, when present there is no such need. TTe need not a bond when payment is made ; so scripture is the indenture between us and God here ; but when that is past, we shall not need scripture.
(2.) It is eternal in the fruit; it bringeth forth the blessing of eternal life to them that keep it and obey it : 2 John 2, ' For the truth's sake that dwelleth in us, and shall be in us for ever.' So John viii. ol, ' He that beheveth in me shall never see death.' Why ! holy men die as well as- others ; but they have a being in the world to come; and therefore the word of God is called 'the word of eternal life,' John vi. 68 ; that is the end and use of it, it maketh them capable of eternal life that obey it. So 1 Peter i. 25, ' The word of God abideth and continueth for ever.' It is the seed and principle of eternal life ; it is the charter of their everlasting privileges they shall enjoy in the world to come. But how doth the word endure for ever ? It is not meant subjectively, but effectively, because it assures us of eternal life upon obeying it, and threatens eternal death to all that reject it.
Use 1. Oh ! then, let us be much iu hearing, reading, sttidying, and obeying this word, that makes us everlastingly happy. If the com- mandment be so exceeding broad, why do we make no more use of it ?
1. Let our hearts be more taken up about it ; that should be our main care wherein to busy ourselves day and night, Ps. i. 1. Our delight should not be in vain books and empty histories, but in the law of God : we should often look into the charter of our great hopes.
2. Be directed by the word of God, it will direct you in every business : Ps. cxix. 105, ' Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.' Here is direction for you in prosperity and adversity.
462 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeK. C.
3. study it that you may be sanctified by it : John xvii. 17, ' Sanctify them by thy truth ; thy word is truth.' This is the great benefit that we have by the word, it is the instrument of sanctification.
4. Be much in the study of the word, that you may be assured by it, that you may make out your own qualification to the kingdom of heaven : Acts xiii. 46, ' Since you put away the word of God from you, you judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life.' When you let God's book lie by neglected, and never hear it, nor read it, nor meditate on it, the thing is past all question, you judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life.
Use 2. Let this commend the word of God to us, that eternal life is in it. Other writings and discourses may tickle the ears with some pleasing eloquence, but that is vanishing, like a musician's voice. Other writings may represent some petty and momentary advantage, but how soon shall an end be put to all that ? so that within a little time the advantage of all these books shall be gone. The statutes and laws of kings and parliaments can reach no*further than some temporal reward or punishment ; their highest pain is killing of the body, their highest reward is some vanishing and fading honour, or perishing riches. But God's word concerning our everlasting estate, our eternal well or ill being, eternal life and death, is wrapt up in these laws and commandments ; these are rewards and punishments suitable to the eternal majesty of the lawgiver. Here is life and immortality brought to light, and ofiered to them who have so miserably lost it, and involved their souls in an eternal death ; therefore let us have a pre- cious esteem of the scripture, which shows us the way of escaping that misery into which we have plunged ourselves, and a way of obtaining eternal blessedness. Do not, then, go to a wrong guide and rule ; nothing more necessary to be known than what our end is, and the way that leadeth to that end. The most part of men walk at random, and run an uncertain race ; they have neither a certain scope nor a sure way. Men's particular inclinations and humours are an ill guide, for they incline us to please the flesh, and so we shall miss of everlast- ing blessedness, and wander in a by-path that leadeth to destruction. Naturally man is more addicted to temporal things than spiritual, and to worldly vanities than to spiritual enjoyments; and it is in vain to persuade men to look after better things till the carnal affections be mortified , and one way and great means to mortify carnal afi"ections and inclinations is to consider the vanity of the creature ; and when our affections are weaned from the world, we must look after some better things to set our hearts upon. That good which satisfieth all the desires and capacities of man had need to be an infinite and an eternal good. Now, these better things are only discovered in the word of God. The word of God discovers that there is such an estate as ever- lasting glory and blessedness. The word telleth us plainly and per- emptorily who shall go to heaven and wdio to hell. Well, then, if you would have this comfort, you must see whether you have embraced it with that reverence, faith, and obedience which the importance of it doth require.