4. When taken in a fault, that God will pity our weakness and iniirinities iu his service: Mai. iii. 17, ' I will spare them as a man gpareth his son that serveth him ; ' that is, he will continue his favour
278 SERMONS UPON TSALM CXIX. [SeR. CXXXVI.
and good-Avill to them that .serve him. So surely they that have a conscience, and are privy to their manifold infirmities and failings, will admire this.
5. Thongh for the main we give up ourselves to live according to the will of God, yet consider, notwithstanding our sins, what constant Immbling considerations there are to keep us sensible of our defects. (1.) All that you do is not worthy of God. Who can serve so great a majesty as the Lord is, according as he should be served ? Josh. xiv. 29, ' You cannot serve the Lord, for he is a holy and a jealous God.' Alas ! such is the poverty of human condition, that they can never perform, service becoming his majesty. Have you a due sense of his purity and holiness ? Nay, how jealous he is of the re.s[)ects of his people ! (2.) Not worthy of such a i)ure law, which requireth such perfect service at our hands : Ps. xix. 6-8, ' The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul,' &c. What doth that speculation produce, that a short exposition of the law begetteth a large opinion of our own righteousness ? (3.) Not worthy such great hopes : 1 Thes. ii. 12, ' That yc walk worthy of God, who hath called you to his kingdom and glory.' Since Ave have such great wages we should do more work. Is this for heaven ? Is this for eternity ? (4.) Not such as will answer our obligations. We are indebted to all the persons of the Trinity ; God himself for our portion, Christ our Eedeemer, the Spirit for our guide and comforter. The Gentiles were greatly obliged to God for fruitful seasons. The Jews, though acquainted only with God's patience and forbearance, the ceremonial law was a testification of guilt, or a bond that showed the creature's debt ; this bond was not cancelled. (5.) Not answerable to the new nature in God's chil- dren ; they would be in a state of perfect conformity and subjection to God. A seed worketh through the clods ; so they groan under the relics of corruption and sin, Rom. vii. 24, longing for the time when they shall be more like God, when they shall serve him without spot or blemish ; therefore are unsatisfied with their present imperfections. These things considered, we should ever keep humble antl thankful, praising God's grace : Isa. Ixiii. 7, ' I will mention the loving-kindnesft of the Lord, and the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord hath bestowed upon us ; and the great goodness towards the house of Israel which he hath bestowed on them, according to his mercies, and the multitude of his loving-kindnesses.'
Use 5. Directeth us how to pray. Cast yourselves at God's feet, pleading his mercy. We have heard the kings of Israel are merciful kings, 1 Kings xx. 31. You have heard so of the God of Isi-ael ; try what mercy will do for you. Say, as David here, ' Deal Avitli thy ser- vant according to thy mercy.' My prayers have no other foundation of hope but thy mercy; I am nothing, and would be nothing, but what I have from thee ; 1 have no merits, but thou hast mercy ; all that I have, and expect lo have, floweth and must flow from this fountain. Take heed of challenging duty as a debt. No, Lord ; thy mercy is all my plea ; as all thy servants before have done : Lord, remember me in thy mercy ; if any have other things to plead, let them plead ; I am resolved to use no other plea: Ps. xiii. 5, * But I have trusted in thy mercy.'
YeR. 124.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 279
Second branch, teach me thy statutes. This may be considered apart by itself, or with respect to the context.
First, Apart, as an entire prayer in itself. So the doctrine is, — Doct. It is God must teach us his statutes. This will appear if we consider —
1. What it is to be taught of God. There is a difference between grammatical knowledge and spiritual illumination, or a literal instruc- tion and a spiritual instruction ; a greater difference than there is between teaching a child to spell and read the words, and a man to understand the sense. Literal instruction is when we learn the truths contained in the word by rote, and talk one after another of divine things. But spiritual illumination is when these things are revealed to us by the Spirit of God ; as we read of" the evidence and demon- stration of the Spirit, 1 Cor. ii. 4. Others have a form of knowledge, Eom. ii. 20. Some have only the report of Christ, have but a human credulity, or the recommendation of others, that reveal the doctrine of God to them. Others receive a revelation made to their souls ; their eyes are opened by the S[)irit, Isa. liii. 1. Once more, there is a difference between the Spirit's enlightening in a way of gifts and common grace, and his enlightening in a way of special and saving grace. Some that are enlightened by the Spirit fall away, Heb. vi. 4. Others are taught of God, so as to come to him by Christ, John vi. 45. This latter sort, that are savingly enlightened, have not only their minds opened, but their hearts inclined. So to be taught as to be drawn to faith and practice, this is proper to God, who is the sove- reign dispenser of grace.