SERMON CXXII
TJiy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever : for tliey are the rejoicing of my heart. — Ver. 111.
Use 1. It informs us what is the reason why a believer, that hatli nothing in hand, nothing to live upon, yet is not only patient, but com- fortable and joyful, as the men of the world when their corn, wine, and
142 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXlX. [SeR. CXXII.
oil increase. Whence are these men maintained, supplied, and kept at such a rate of cheerfulness? Their inheritance lies in the promise. As Christ said, ' I liave meat and drink the world knows not of ;' so they have land and estate the world knows not of ; they liave all in God. You account him a richer man that hath much land, and a thousand pounds in honds, than he that hath only a hundred pounds in ready money; so a child of God that hath one promise is richer than all the world : he hath bonds, and his debtor cannot fail him. Let me tell you, a man may not only live by faith, but he may grow rich by faith. You read of living; by faith, Gal, ii. 20 ; this is that which supports and keeps up a believer in heart and life. This will not only keep body and soul t()<2,"etlier, but help us to grow rich.
Use 2. For examination. You have heard much what it is to have an heritage in the testimonies of the Lord. Oh ! but who is the man ? Try yourselves. Let me propound a few plain questions.
1. Were you ever chased out of yourselves in the sense of the insufliciency of your worldly portion, and the curse due to you ? Are you driven out of yourselves ? Heb. vi. 18, there is a comfortable place : ' God, willing to show unto the heirs of promise the immuta- bility of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation.' Oh ! who are these heirs of promise ? If we could find out that, we are sure there is enough in God ; there they are named who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us. There is none ever took the testimony of the Lord for their portion, but they came first to take hold of it as men in danger, ready to sink and perish and be undone. Our first redress is to take sanc- tuary in the covenant, to flee to Christ, represented there as a city of refuge, that we may be safe. It is an allusion to a man which fled from the avenger of blood. When taken out of the city of refuge, under the law he was to die without remedy. So a poor soul that first takes hold of the covenant runs for sanctuary there first, before he comes to take possession of the comforts of it.
2. What do you take to be your main and your great work ? Do you make it your main care to keep up your interest in the promises ? the great business you drive on, you would sit down in as your work and employment ? What do you wait upon as your great project and design in the world ? Mary chose the better part, Luke x. 42 ; do you make this your choice, your work and business you drive on, that you may be possessed of the whole land of promise, and enjoy eternal life, and clear up your right and title to heaven ? 1 Tim. vi. 19, * Laying up in store a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold of eternal life.'
3. Are you very chary of your interest ? Oh ! you would not hazard it upon such easy terms. This is that all your hap]iiness de- pends upon. What ! shall I break with God for such a trifle ? Are you afraid to lose your inheritance by sin, as a man his treasure by theft ? Are you careful and wary in this kind, that you may not hazard your interest ? 1 Kings xxi. 3, said Naboth, ' God forbid that I should sell mine inheritance.' Mark, there was a king would traffic with him, and that inheritance was but a poor vineyard of the
VeR. 111.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 143
earth, but it was that which was descended from his father : now God forbid I shoukl sell it. Thus will be the disposition of God's children. Oh ! here lies my all, ray happiness, my daily supplies from God. God forbid that upon every trifle and carnal satisfaction I should break with God. It was a great profaneness in Esau, Heb. xii. 16, ' who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.' It is an argument that God is little valued, or the covenant and testimony of the Lord, when you can part with them for a mess of pottage, when the consolations of God are so cheap, and you can part with them for a little temporal satisfaction, and sell your part in Christ at a very easy rate.
4. What respect do you bear to the promises of God ? Do you often meditate upon them ? Have you recourse to them in straits ? Do you keep them up as the choicest things upon your heart, upon which all your comfort depends, as a man would keep the key safe which opens to all his treasure ? Do you carry the promises as a bundle of myrrh in your bosom ? Because this is the key that gives you ad- mission to the blessings promised. A man will keep his bonds chary, and will be often looking over them and considering them. So are you meditating upon the promises ? Are they the rejoicing and delight of your souls ? Do you keep them near and dear to you ? AVhen alone, do your hearts run upon them ? For a man may know his heritage by his musing and imagination. When Nebuchadnezzar Avas alone, ' Is not this great Babel which I have built for the honour of my majesty ?' He was thinking of his large territories. So if you have taken the testimonies of the Lord for your heritage, your heart will be running upon them. Oh ! what a happiness is it for God to be my God, and my interest cleared up in eternal life, and the great things of the covenant ! Many times the flesh interposeth : Ps. cxliv. 15, ' Happy is that people that is in such a case.' You will be ad- miring carnal excellency sometimes, but then you will check your souls : ' Yea, rather, happy is that people whose God is the Lord.'