VkVu 111.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 145
dependent, his comfort doth not hang upon the creature ; if you take away the creature, you do not take away his portion. As the pliilo- sopher could say, when all were hewailing the loss and spoil of the enemy, I carry all mine with me ; so a Christian carries all Ids trea- Kure about him. There is the same expression, Heb, x. 34, ' Ye took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.' A Christian iiath a substance that is out of the reach of spoiling, since inward comfort is far better than riches, and all this lumber that is without.
3. All other things will never give you satisfaction. A worldly heritage may give us a bellyful, but cannot give us a heartful : Ps. xvii. 14, ' Their bellies are tilled with hid treasure.' Tliey which are rich and great in the world have more dishes at their tables, but those have a more delicious feast in their souls tliat have chosen God for their portion. All other heritages do but yield more matter for sin, more fuel for wickedness, to be spent upon lust, pride, luxury, appetite ; that is all the difference. Tiie heart of man is not satis- fied with these things ; and yet if the heart could be satisfied, con- science could not, for that is a sore place ; still our sore will run upon us. Thus you see there is no heritage like this, that lietli out of the reach of the world, and that will fill up the whole heart, and yield satisfaction. You know all other things cannot help us in many worldly cases. In sickness spiritual comfort doth only relish of sweet- ness. A man doth never relish the comfort of the covenant as when he is under sickness, and'deprived of other things. For all other heri- tages, we know the best of them at first, but this is a heritage that grows upon us ; here we have the pledge and earnest of our inheritance : an earnest is a small thing to bind the bargain in lieu of a greater sum.
4. This heritage sanctifies all our heritages. Oh ! it is a sad thing to enjoy a heritage with a curse and the wrath of God. ' First seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all other things shall be added ;' then they are cast in over and above, as paper and pack- thread into the bargain, and are cast in in a sanctified way. A man may grow worse for every other portion, all the Avorld will not bring one dram of grace ; but this improves the world, and betters us.
5. Again, this is a good sign of adoption, when we have the spirit of God's children, both in God's gift and our choice. When men take the promises for their portion, it is a sign they have a good spirit. There is no mark put upon them that have an excellent disposition and dexterity to grow great in the world; but to be labouring and striving after an interest in the testimony of the Lord, it is a sign we have a child's spirit.
6. Again, this is a peculiar portion, and alwaj-s goes along with the favour of God. Other things a man may have with the hatred of God ; God giveth gifts to all his creatures. Isaac had the inheritance, but the children of the concubines had gifts. So every creature may have common gifts, a common portion, abundance of supplies in outward things, but no right in the promises of God ; and all this may be with- out the love of God.
7. Again, they that refuse this heritage the Lord will cause his vengeance to seize upon them. It is not arbitrary whether you will
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take the testimony of the Lord for your heritage or no. God cannot endure to be despised. When Nabal despised David's kindness, ' I will cut off every one that pisseth against the wall.' So when the Lord hath made such an offer of himself and his Christ in covenant, and love hath gone to the uttermost to save, and we turn hack, then ' snares, and brimstone, and a horrible tempest, this shall be the por- tion of their cup,' Ps. xi. 6. It would make a man's heart tremble to think of the heirs-apparent of the land of darkness, that is, wicked men : God will give them their portion with hypocrites in ' everlasting burnings.' Therefore take heed of refusing this portion ; you can look for nothing but terrible things from God, for his love is despised. Well, then, go in God's name, and take hold of the covenant.
Again, this may be of use to press believers to live answerable to such an heritage. Am I an heir of heaven, and so uncomfortable and dejected ? Can I have an interest in the promises and be no more affected ? This returning upon our hearts, Kom. viii. 31. When the apostle had spoken that we should be co-heirs with Christ, and laid forth the privileges of the covenant, he concludes, ' What shall we say to these things ? ' So, Christians, go home, return upon your heart, and say. Have I an interest in him, and live at such a low rate both for comfort and grace ? Do I walk in such a low and unsuitable manner ? Do I look upon this as the only sure heritage for my soul. Urge your heart with such questions as these.