VeR. 116.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 197
(2.) Life natural is short and uncertain, but this eternal grace is an immortal flame, a spark that cannot be quenched. All our labour and toil is to maintain a lamp that soon goeth out, or to prop up a taber- nacle that is alwa)'s falling; when we have made provision for it, taken away this night, &c. ; it is in the power of every ruffian and assassin : but this is a life that beginneth in grace and endeth in glory. (3.) The outward life is short, but yet we soon grow weary of it ; but this is a life that we shall never be weary of 1 Kings xix. 4, Ehjah requested for himself that he might die. The shortest life is long enough to be encumbered with a thousand miseries. If you live to old age, age is a burthen to itself: ' Days come in which there is no pleasure,' Eccles. xii. 1 ; but you will never wish for an end of this life. (4.) In the preparations and costs which God hath been at to bring about this life at first. Without any difficulty God breathed into man the breath of life. Gen. ii. 7 ; but to procure this life of grace, God must become man, and set up a new fountain of life in our natures, John x. 20. And not only so, but to die : John vi. 51, 'My flesh which I give for the life of the world.' Consider the price paid for it. God would not bestow it at a cheaper rate than the death of his only Son. (5.) In the provisions of it : Isa. Ivii. 10, ' the life of thy hands.' With a great deal of toil and labour we get a few supports for it ; but this is fed with the blood of Christ, influences of grace, and comforts from the S])irit ; not with gross things, but sublime, high, noble. (6.) In the use for which it serveth. It fitteth us for com- munion with God, as the other fits us for communion with men. Things can have no communion with one another that do not live the life of one another. We dwell in God, and God dwelleth in us. (7.) Its necessities are greater, which show the value of the life. The higher the life, the more dependence. Things inanimate, as stones, need not such supplies as things that have life. Where plants will not grow, they must have a kindly soil. Among plants the vine needs more dressing and care than the bramble ; beasts more than ])lants ; their food appointed God hath most left to man's care, as the instru- ment of his providence ; man more than beasts, saints more than men, much waiting upon God. No creature so dependent, in need of such daily supplies, as the inward man. (8.) Its sense is greater. There is a greater sensibleness in this life than in any other life. All life hath a. sweetness in it. As any life exceedeth another, so more sensibleness ; a beast is more sensible of wrong and hurt than a plant. As the life of a man exceedeth the life of a beast, so more capable of joy and grief. As the life of grace exceedeth the life of a man, so its joy is greater, its grief is greater, trouble of conscience, a wounded spirit. So the joy of saints is uns])eakab]e and glorious, peace that passeth all understanding. 4. When is this life in good plight? It showeth itself in these two effects — (1.) A comfortable sense of God's love. (2.) A holy disposi- tion to serve and please God. The vitality of it lieth in these two graces — faith and love ; when they are kept up in their height and vigour, then it is a life begun. It lieth in the height of faith, appre- hending and applying God s love to the soul : I live by faith ; and the lieight of love swaying and inclining the heart to obedience, 2 Cor. v. 14. Therefore they desire God to uphold them, that they might be
198 SERMONS UPON TSALM CXIX. [SeR. CXXVIII.
kept in heart and comfort, and in a free inclination to serve him. Now when they find any abatement of faith, so that they cannot re- joice in the promises as they were wont to do, they count themselves dead ; or Avhen their inward man doth not delight itself in the law of God, but they are dull and slow to good things, they look upon them- selves as dead. But on the other side, when they find the vigour of this life in them, they are merry and glad ; when they feel their wonted delight in prayer and holy exercises, this is that they mainly prize. That which is not seen and felt is as if it were not to their comfort, not to their safety.
Use. To exhort us all to look after this life, and when you have got it, to be very chary of it. First, look after this life. You that are alienated from the life of God through ignorance and hardness of heart, be invited to come to him ; it is for life : Job ii. 4, ' Skin for skin, and all a man hath, will he give for his life.' We all desire life ; vile things that live excel more precious that are dead: 'A living dog is better than a dead lion,' Eccles. ix. 4. A dog was an unclean beast, and of all creatures a lion is the most noble and generous. A worm is more capable of life than the sun. Now, if life natural be so sweet, what is life spiritual ? No such life as this ; it fits us for communion with God and blessed sjjirits. Christ chide th them, ' You will not come to me that you might have life.' Better you had never lived, if you live not this life of grace. When beasts die their misery dietli with them, but yours beginneth. Secondly, If you have tliis life begun, be chary of it. If the bodily life be but a little annoyed we complain pre- sently ; but why are you so stupid and careless, ond do not look after this, to keep the spiritual life in good plight ? Let your prayers and desires be to have this life strengthened ; make this your prayer, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man. A Christian maketh this to be his main comfort and his main care. Oh ! how busy are we to provide for the outward man, that we may be well fed, well clothed ! Most men's care is for back and belly. Oh ! be more care- ful for the inner man ; let that be refreshed with the blood of Christ aud the comforts of the Spirit. Be careful for the soul, that you may keep up a lively faith, and a constant sense of blessedness to come, and so rejoice in God. Oh ! how much time and pains do men waste in decking and trimming the body, when in the meantime they neglect their souls ! We may all fall a- weeping when we consider how little we look after this inner life, to keep that in heart and vigour.