2. Because if we love not the word, we may see great danger likely to ensue : even those terrible punishments by which he purgeth out the dross should make us fall in love with God's law. If we would not jierish with the wicked of the earth, we should not sin with the wicked of the earth. If we partake of their sins, we must partake of their plagues : Ps, ii. 12, ' Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, if hiy wrath be kindled but a little : blessed are they that trust in him.' When we see the danger of being enemies to God, or unsound with him, we have need to learn this wisdom of showing all affection and reverence and respect to Christ in his ways, and submit to him heartily ; there is no safety in any other course. If a spark of his wrath light upon us, how soon will it consume us ! The stupid world rcgardeth not this, to love his ways the more God giveth out proofs of his anger against those that despise them. Many are cut off in the midway sooner than they did or could expect, and yet they do not grow one jot the wiser. It is dangerous to stand out against God, his cause, work, or people.
VeR. 119.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 229
3. It doth endear the mercy of God to iis ; because he hath dealt otherwise with us, who in strict justice have deserved the same. God's judgments on the wicked commend his mercies to his children, Rom. ix. 23. The vessels of wrath fitted to destruction serve to sliow the greater love of God to the vessels of mercy ; the torments of hell inflicted on the wicked do the more set forth his love to the saints, to whom he hath appointed the joys of heaven. So the severity of God in his present judgments doth imply the love of God to his chosen people, who can take comfort in the promises when the threatenings are accom- plished upon others ; this might have been our condition too, but that grace hath made the difference. Well, then, as it doth endear the mercy of God to us, so it calleth upon us more highly to love and prize him and his word, because of this distinction.
4. It is not only a means to set off the love of God to us, but even his judgments upon others may be a necessary act of love to us. They are purged out as dross, that they may not infect us by their example, or molest us by their persecutions or oppressions. Now the more we are befriended in this kind, the more we are bound to serve God cheer- fully : Luke i. 74, 75, ' That being delivered from the hands of our enemies, we may serve God in righteousness and holiness all the days of our lives.' The world is one of those enemies, or the wicked of the earth ; therefore we should serve him faithfully.
5. By this means we see the world is governed by God, and we may the more safely commit ourselves to his protection upon the encourage- ment of his promises. If the affairs of the woild were governed by blind chance, and men might do what they listed without check and control, we might think that we had cleansed our hearts in vain, and that a man doth make himself a prey by the simplicity of his innocence. But when God punisheth the wicked in our sight, certainly this should teach us to be more holy in all our ways : Ps. Iviii. 11, 'A man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous, verily there is a God that judgeth in the earth.' They that knew not what to think of providence shall see there is a God in the heavens that doth wisely administer all things below ; and so we are encouraged to love him and serve him more heartily. Say, as the Psalmist, ' It is good for me to draw nigh to God,' Ps. Ixxiii. 28.
Use. Well, then, let our love to God, and liking and approbation of his law, be accompanied with the hatred of sin, the more we observe his judgments in putting away the wicked like dross, that we may be more holy, and seek after communion with God as our only blessed- ness. To this end : —
1. Let us bless God for giving a sure rule to walk by, and such promises of protection in the midst of the darkness and uncertainty of the present world. When others perish, you are safe : Isa. viii. 20, ' To the law and to the testimony,' &c. Thou shalt walk in this way safely, and shalt not stumble ; yea, please God, and you need not fear.
2. Let us walk exactly by this rule, since our temjwral and eternal safety and happiness is concerned thereby. For the world to come it is clear, as well as in this life : Prov. iii. 1, 2, ' My son, forget not my law, but let thine heart keep my commandments ; for length of days, and long life, and peace shall they add unto thee;' and Gal. vi. 16,