Vers. 116, 117.] sermons upon psalm cxix. 205
(Ps. cxli. 3, ' Set a watch, 0 Lord, before my mouth ; keep the door of my lips'), how soon should we betray our folly ! And therefore it is a happy day, and we have cause to bless God, when we have not by some words or works of ours interrupted our communion with him.
2. Consider how many things concur to lead us aside, corrup- tions within and temptations without, and, it may be, sometimes the example of others that are of esteem in the church. Corruption within, always fighting against grace — the flesh lusteth against the Spirit ; and temptations without, the favours and frowns of the world. If these things have not, they may befall us, and it is too late to seek armour in time of conflict.
3. And then to see men eminent for knowledge and profession tiu'n back from the holy commandment, and glorious stars fall from their orb and station ; this overturns the faith of many, 2 Tim. ii. 18. So that, all these things considered, we cannot stand a moment without God ; and therefore we should be more earnest with him for grace.
Doct. 2. The constant safety of God's people lies in sustaining grace.
1. Negatively ; without it we cannot be safe, partly because there are so many trials and temptations between us and home, by reason of the sleights of the flesh, the cunning of Satan, and oppositions of the world ; and partly because the measure of grace received is so small : Phil. iii. 13, ' I have not attained ; ' and the danger of sinning against God is so great : Amos iii. 2, ' You only have I known of all the families of the earth ; therefore will I punish you for all your ini- quities.' So that we are no longer safe from sin and punishment than God puts under his hand.
2. Positively ; by God's sustaining grace we are kept safe, both as the power and faithfulness of God are engaged for our defence.
[1.] The power of God is engaged : 1 Peter i. 5, ' Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.' The apostle first speaks of heaven, that that is kept for us, and then, presently, you are kept for it by the power of God. An earthly inheritance may be sure enough for the heir, but who can secure the heir from death and all other accidents ? But here God provides for our comfort. Not only our inheritance is sure, but we are kept. And how doth God keep us? By his power. Oh! what greater safety can there be ? He can mitigate the temptation, or else give a sup{)ly of strength ; he can keep off trials, or support us under them, 1 Cor. x. 13.
[2.] The faithfulness of God is engaged : 1 Cor. i. 9, ' God is faith- ful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son ; ' and 2 Thes. iii. 3, ' The Lord is faithful, who shall establish you, and keep you from evil.' Certainly God is able, but how shall we know that he will do it ? His truth is laid in pawn for what he hath promised, and therefore we may hold up our heads with confidence ; and this should comfort us against all fears and doubtful and uncertain thoughts.
Use. Instruction, to show us how constantly God must be sought to in prayer, and relied upon in the use of means for our preservation, both from sin and danger.
1. Sought to in prayei-. Our strength lies not in ourselves, but in
206 SERMONS UPON TSALM CXIX. [SeR. CXXVIII.
God : 2 Cor. iii. 5, ' Wo are not sufficient of ourselves to think any- thing as of ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God.' It is not only of God, but in God; there is our treasure kept: 2 Tim. ii. 1, 'Be strong in the grace tliat is in Christ Jesus ; ' and Eph. vi. 10, ' Be strong in the Lord, and in the ])Ower of his might.' If the stoclc were in our own hands, besides the danger of embezzling it, we should neglect God ; as when the prodigal son had his portion, ho went away from his father. Therefore God keeps grace in his own hand, to keep us humble, depending, observing, and to have a constant converse with him, that our eyes may be to liim ; as Ps. cxxiii. 2, * As the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the e3'es of a maiden unto the liand of lier mistress, so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God, until that he have mercy upon us ; ' that is, as maid and men servants look for their dole and portion, their allowance given to them, from their master and mistress, so God will still keep us to him. Dependence begets observance, to keep up our allegiance to the crown of heaven.
2. As he must be sought to in prayer, so I'elied upon in the use of means for our preservation. God keeps us, but not without our care and diligence. A Christian is said to keep himself, 1 Tim. v. 22 ; and this is pure religion, to keep ourselves unspotted, James i. 27 ; and 1 John v. 18, ' He that is begotten of God keopeth himself, that the wicked one touch him not ; ' and Jude 21 , ' Keep yourselves in the love of God.' What ! doth not this detract from all that was spoken before ? No ; we act with subordination and dependence upon him. Our keeping is from him, by him, and under him ; so we keep ourselves through his blessing upon the use of means, which he hath appointed for us to use.