[1.] A sound belief, for it is reality that will work upon us. Affec- tion is always according to the strength of the persuasion.
[2.] There must be application. Every kind of operation is by the touch. The nearer the touch the greater the virtue ; so the more close they are upon the heart, and touch, and concern us, the more they work upon us.
[3.] There must be consideration : we must seriously revolve these things in our mind, and debate with ourselves ; as, for instance, what a strict and precise account we are to give at the day of judgment, the inexpressible pains of hell and ineffiible joys of heaven. Generally we do not believe these things. If we were persuaded there is a heaven and hell, if we did think of them with application, and say, Soul, thou must one day go either to heaven or hell, thou must one day apjwar before God, and be put under a sentence of everlasting death, or receive a sentence of everlasting life ; if we did consider them with serious and with inculcative thoughts : Is it indeed so ? then let me consider what I must do ; this reasoning and debating, and whetting these truths upon the heart, would work upon us, and we should sooner see the fruit. As Elisha stretched himself often upon the Shunamite's son, and kept stretching himself till the child began to wax warm and sneezed, and then he opened his eyes, so we should spread truth upon the heart till affection begin to quicken it.
Use 1. Eeproof, and that of three sorts of persons : —
1. Those that go musing of vanity all the day, and never can find a thought for God, for Christ, for the covenant, or for the great truths of the word. They have thoughts and to spare for other things. Do those love the word of God, and never spend a thought about it ? I'rov. vi. 21. If the word were bound upon us as a jewel and chain,
4S0 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIS. [SeR. CII.
then when thou goest it would lead tlice, when thou sleepest it would keep thee, and when thou awakest it would talk with thee. Tlie word would ever be running upon our minds if we had any hearty affections to it. Christians, think with yourselves ; have you thoughts for other things, and none for God, Christ, heaven, and everlasting glory ? Would you count him to be a charitable man that should throw away his meat and drink into the kennel, rather than give to him that needs and asks it? So, would you count him to be a godly man, one that liatli a sincere love to God, that hath thoughts he knows not what to do with, but casts them away upon every idle toy and base inconsider- able thing, and not a thought for God P to suffer his thoughts to run waste ; yea, run riot in envious ripenings, or unclean glances, or revengeful or proud imaginations ; that can have thoughts for such trifles, and never a thought for God, and forget him days without number ? Jer. ii. 32. Have these affections to the word of God ?
2. It reproves those persons to whom good thoughts are looked upon as a burden and melancholy interruption, and when they rush into their minds, are thrown out again like unwelcome guests. These seem to be described by those words, Kom. i. 28, ' They did not like to retain God in their knowledge ;' when men like not to entertain thoughts of God. If they fasten upon our hearts we soon grow weary of them. Christians, to a gracious heart, one that loves God and his word, thoughts of God and holy things are very comfortable and sweet : Ps. civ. 34, ' My meditation of him shall be sweet.' But when they are so unwelcome, and seem so troublesome to your souls, have you a love to them ? To be weary of the thoughts of God is to degenerate into devils ; for it is part of the devils' torment to think of God : they believe and tremble ; the more explicit thoughts they have of God, the more is their horror increased. If it be so with you, judge whether you have this affection,
3. Those that read and hear, but do not meditate in order to affec- tion and practice. This duty must have its turn too. If you will ever manifest affection, and increase affection, j'ou must take some time to meditate and season your thoughts : James i. 24, ' For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.' They lay aside thoughts of what they hear and read, and so go into their old course again. When you hear or read anything of the Avord of God, the greatest part of the task is yet behind ; you are to meditate, to exercise your thoughts therein. When men hear and do not meditate, it is like the seed which fell upon the pathway : Mat. xiii., ' The fowls of the air came and picked it up.' When you do not labour to cover it, to get it into your heart by deep and ponderous thoughts, the devil comes and takes it away again, when you work it not into your souls. " Bare hearing leaves but little impression, unless we debate and revolve it in our minds. ' God spake once, and I heard it twice,' saith Job. He had it not only at the first delivery, but at the rebound ; he went it over again in his thoughts.