First, For the note of inference, together with the duty inferred, ' Therefore I love thy commandments.' Some refer it to God's taking his time to work, as the judge of the world in punishing the wicked for their disobedience and contempt of his law ; as if he had said, Lord, though thou dost connive, and hold thy hands for a time, yet I know thou wilt undertake the defence of the righteous, and not let the wickedness of the wicked go un})nnished ; it will cost them dear in the issue, ' therefore I love thy commandments,' &c. This sense I cannot exclude. If I thought fit to prosecute it, it would yield this doctrine, that a little faith would help us to continue our affection to the word of God, notwithstanding the wickedness of those that oppose it. For in truth here this wickedness doth soon come to an end : Fs. Ixxiii. 18, ' Surely thou didst set them in slippery places, thou castedst them down into destruction.' But I rather refer it to the latter clause, ' They have made void thy law ; therefore I love thy commandments.'
Doct. The more others despise the ways and laws of God, the more should a gracious heart love and esteem them.
So doth David profess that his love to God's ways was so far from ceasing that lie found it increased rather.
Beason 1. Because the ways of God arc still the same they were before. If there be any difference, they only need to be more owned by us with greater zeal and cheerfulness because they are despised and forsaken by others. God is the same still, heaven the same, and the scriptures the same, whether we have company to Avalk with us in heaven's way, yea or no ; and therefore, why should not a Cliristiau be the same he was before ? Their contempt and hatred of God's ways
VeR. 127.] SERMONS UPON PSALM 'CXIX. 309
(loth not make void our obligation to God and the bonds of our duty to liim. If God had only required us to be good when we may be so with safety and ease, and would dispense with us at other times when religion is in disgrace, then indeed a Christian might change his course, and run with the cry as others do. But God had required in the worst times we should take God's part, and stand for him in the worst places, and keep his name even there where Satan's throne is, Eev. ii. 13, and be saints, though in Nero s household, Phil. iv. 22, under the nose of a raging persecutor. And as God is the same, so his ways are the same. Their contempt and hatred of holiness doth not hinder the love- liness of it to a spiritual eye. There is a beauty in God's despised ways : Heb. xi. 25, ' Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.' He saw more excel- lency in the tents of Jacob than in the courts of Pharaoh. When the outward glory of his ways is darkened, and they are put under re- proach and trouble, yet their inward beauty still remaineth, and may be seen by a spiritual, though not by a carnal eye ; by those that will not judge according to appearance, but judge righteous jtidgment, John vii. 24. The external glory, which is the favour of the world, out- ward prosperity and countenance, is foreign and accidental ; but this is essential, and ever remainth. And as holiness is the same, so the scriptures are the same ; they do not speak one thing to-day and an- other to-morrow, and leave us at a latitude to put ourselves into all changes and postures : 2 Cor. i. 19, ' For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, was not yea and nay,' saith the apostle, ' but in him was yea.' The scripture doth not allow saying and unsaying, and building again the things which v,'e have destroyed: Gal. ii. 18, ' For if I build again the things which I have destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.' Truth is the same in all ages ; not like an almanack, to be changed every year, or calculated peculiarly for one meridian. Nor is it always the same. Indeed, in some lesser things, that serve only for the conveniency of religion, we may upon weighty grounds change practice, and do that which is good where best may not be had. So heaven is the same still ; it not only serveth us as an antidote in prosperity, but as a cordial in adversity, and is at all times to be regarded. Well, then, since CJod, and holiness, and scripture, and heaven are always the same, why should not we ? If there be change, it should be in the degree of our love, that it be greater than it was before, to repair God in point of honour, and to testify against the defection of others, that we aie not of their stamp, who do not see by their eyes, nor walk by their principles, nor allow of their warpings. Meason 2. God expects more from gracious hearts, because of their relation to him and acquaintance with him ; and therefore, if others despise the laws of God, they should esteem them the more : John vi. 6G, 67, ' From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will you also go away ? ' It goeth nearer to Christ's heart that those should forsake him that are trained up in his bosom, that the devil should steal away souls under his own arm. Whatever defection others make, yet that those who have tasted of his mercy, drunk of his cup, feasted with his loaves, have had experience of his grace, will ye also ? He stood not