Use 1. A warning to them that are in prosperity, that they do not carry it proudly against God, his ways and people. God hath un- horsed many that have held their heads very high ; therefore let none presume to do evil because they are high and exalted. There is a foolish and mad confidence which wicked men have in their pros- perity, as if they were above the reach of providence, and therefore abuse their greatness to contempt and oppression. When men are up they know nothing moderate. Former judgments upon the proud and disobedient, that contemn God, his people and ways, should a little check them. God, that hath scattered the proud in the imagi- nation of their hearts, Luke i. 51, can do it again, juid will, when men will not take warning. As Nazianzen, when his heart was like to be corrupted and grow wanton with ease and prosperity, I thought, saith he, of reading the Lamentrtions of Jeremiah, and of the doleful con- dition of the church in former times. This means he took to reduce himself to a holy sobriety. This is the thing God aimed at in the ceremonial law. In the thank-offerings, leavened bread was required,
VeR. 118.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 213
which was allowed in no other sacrifice ; thereby showing we should not so surfeit and run riot with our mercies as to forget the bitterness of former afflictions, together with the causes of them.
Use 2. Not to be dismayed at the prosperity of the wicked, so as to be troubled either about your own persons, or about the cause of God, or to cry up a confederacy with them that err from God's statutes when uppermost. AVicked men are ]iere supposed to be in power, height, and pride of spirit ; but God treadeth them down : and to be full of craft and subtlety ; but their deceit is falsehood ; that is, for all their might and subtlety, they are not able to resist God. David was shaken with this trial, when evil men w^ere great flourished in wealth and authority, Ps. Ixxiii. 17; but how doth he settle his heart? 'I went into the sanctuary, and there I understood their end.' When we look to the end of things, that will settle us ; but when we see God's work by halves, we miscarry : we make anotlier judgment when we see God's work brought to perfection than we did when we only saw the beginning of it. Therefore let us not be altogether dismayed ; a little faith will help us against the temptations from sense. When the Lord shall have tried and humbled his people, then the cup is put into the hand of the wicked, and God will throw tliem down from the seat of their arrogancy, and trample upon them like dust. What should hinder ? Cannot God do it, or will he not? Cannot he do it? Yes ; very easily. Poor earthen vessels that oppose him, they do but dash themselves against a rock, they do but break themselves in pieces ; all attempts are nothing ; God will laugh them to scorn. Or else will he not do it ? Doth not he hate sin as much as before, or love his people as much as ever ? What God punisheth in one he punisheth in all, if repentance prevent not ; he oweth them a shame, therefore will pour contempt and disgrace upon those that dishonour him, Ps. liii. 5. It might soon be known what will become of them, if you would but awaken faith ; you may look upon it as a thing accomplished already : he shall tread down all iniquity under his feet, Mai. iv. 3.
Use 3. Observe the judgments upon those that err from God's statutes, that we may fear before the Lord, and believe in him, and learn to obey his statutes. David trembled to see Uzzah smitten, 2 Sam. vi. 7, 8 ; so should we when God revenges the quarrel of any commandment. Examples of judgments are lively instances, and are apt to strike deep upon the heart. Therefore, when we read or hear or see any of these, we should look upon it as a warning piece let off from heaven to warn us not to sin after the similitude of their trans- gression. God comes to speak to us in the language of sen;ie ; when we cannot understand by faith, he makes good his threatenings. The unbelieving Israelites were destroyed, Jude 5 ; Aaron's sons for offer- ing strange fire were consumed, Lev. x. ; Uzzah for touching the ark ; Lot's wife for looking back turned into a pillar of salt ; therefore it is said, ' Eemember Lot's wife,' Luke xvii. 32. So in every age there are remarkable judgments, how God treads down those that err from his statutes ; which should be observed, not to censure others, but for our own caution.
But now, because men are apt to misapply providence by a mali-
214 SERMONS UPON TSALM CXIX. [SeR. CXXIX.
cious interpretation, and to make perverse judg-ments of the sins of others, I shall give you some rules how you may avoid censure on the one hand, yet not hinder profit on the other,
1. It is certain God's judgments upon others must be observed : Jer. vii. 12, ' G-o unto my place which was in Shiloh, where I set my name at the first, and see what I did to it, for the wickedness of my people Israel;' Amos vi. 2, 'Pas.^ ye to Calnch, and see; and from thence go ye to Hamath the great ; then go down to Gath of the Philistines : be they better than these kingdoms?' It is stupidncss not to take notice of God's hand. Providence is a comment upon the word of God, written many times in blood, and those that will not observe it shall feel it. ' Eemember Lot's wife.' One observeth upon those words, Lege Mstoriam, ne fias Mstoria — observe the instances of God's wrath upon others, lest thou be made an instance thyself. Some- times God meets Avith this sinner, sometimes that ; any that will go on in a way of sin and disobedience against God.