[2.] Second reason ; that when the mind is fraught with truths, and gotten a good stock of knowledge by God's precepts, then it will be checking and urging the soul to caution against sin ; and therefore the more understanding you yet by God's precepts, the more are you warned and put in mind of things: Ps. cxix. 11, 'I have hid thy word in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.' When the word hath laid up in the heart a good stock of knowledge, there will be one thought or other that will be rising up and defying all temptations wherewith you are assaulted: Eph. vi. 17, ' Take unto you the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God/ In the spiritual conflict we need weapons not only defensive but offensive ; not only the shield of faith, but the sword of the Spirit, that we may destroy and slay sin, and withstand temptation, and chase away Satan from us. AVhat is this sword of the Spirit ? The word of God. The more seasonable relief the more fresh thoughts you have to withstand temptations which are apt to come in upon you : Prov. vi. 21, 22, ' Bind them upon thine heart : when thou goest, it shall lead thee ; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee ; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.' This will always be urging him to duty, and warning him of his danger.
A word of use. (1.) Get understanding ; (2.) Never count your- selves to understand anything but as you increase in hatred of sin.
1. Get understanding. Partly — (1.) Because there are many false ways you will never discern without much understanding. There are many false ways that are palliated and represented under the show of good, and we are easily ensnared unless we have light to choose our way : 1 Cor, ii. 8, * Had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.' A man will be carried on with a great deal of life and activity in a way contrary to God : Acts xxvi. 9, ' 1 verily thought with myself that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.' Oh ! the tyranny and madness of an erring conscience and an ignorant zealot ! What a ready prey is a man to Satan, and is carried headlong to destroying courses, when a man hath more zeal and earnestness of spirit than knowledge to guide
VeR. 104.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 63
him ! How will he stumble and dash upon things that are very con- trary to the will of God. (2.) If they can discern them, they shall not have a heart and skill to remedy them without understanding. We shall not have a heart, for light will be urging, calling upon us, mind- ing us of our duty, warning us of danger ; whereas otherwise we shall go on tamely, like an ox to the slaughter, and like a fool to the correc- tion of the stocks. We shall not have this restless importunity of conscience, which is a great restraint of sin ; and then we shall not have the skill, for all is misapplied and misconceived by an ignorant spirit, for the whole business of his religion is making cordials instead of purges, and potions instead of antidotes, catching at promises when threatenings belong to him, lulling his soul asleep with new strains of grace, when he should awaken himself to duty. ■ 2. Never count yourselves to have profited in anything till your hearts are awakened into a further hatred of sin. Christians ! they are but notions ; it is not saving knowledge unless it be in order to practice ; men have no understanding that have not this active and rooted enmity against sin : Ps. cxi. 10, ' A good understanding have all that they do his commandments ;' they that hate sin more, and are more weary of corruption. He is made wiser by the word that is made better by it. It is not the talker against, but the hater of iniquity that is the wise man. If wisdom enters upon the heart, and breaks out in our practice, by that is our thriving in knowledge to be measured : 1 John ii. 3, ' Hereby we know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.'
This was God's scope in giving the word, not to make trial of men's wits, who could most sharply conceive, or of their memories, who could most faithfully retain, or of their eloquence, who could most nimbly discourse ; but of the sincerity of the heart, who could most obediently submit to the will of God. Jer. xxii. 16, when he had spoke of hating of sin, and doing good, ' Was not this to know me ? saith the Lord.' This is to know God to hate sin. Outward things were not made for sight only, but for use, as herbs, plants, and stars. So our reason, and the scriptures the Lord hath given us ; it is not only for sight, but for use, that we may be wise to salvation ; not that we may please our- selves with acute notions about the things of God, but seriously set our hearts to practise.