Reason 5. Because it is very acceptable to God, and a note of sincerity to hold out against trials, yea, to increase in zeal when others desert him. Many will flock to Christ, and resort to him in his prosperity. When religion is befriended, painted butterflies and gaudy carnalists will prove summer friends to him ; but when winter frosts and blustering storms come, they are gone ; like those that go to sea, not for a voyage to ride out all weathers, but for recreation : Christ maketh little of their friendship. But now, Luke xxii. 28, 29, ' Ye are they that have continued with me in my temptations ; and I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me.' When David was crowned king in Hebron, then those that followed him in the wilderness were not forgotten, but preferred by him. To
312 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. CXXXIX.
serve God in a crowd, and with store of company, is not so praise- worthy. Every one Avill bo in the fashion, and there is a revokitioii of fashions in religion ; bnt to own him in a time of defection, when others look stran_ii:e npon him ; then to keep our zeal and strictness i^ commendable. Tcmporihus malis aitsus esse bonus.
Use 1. Information. That the general corrupt custom and example of those with whom we live is not a sufficient excuse for our sinning. It is so in the minds of many, but it is not so indeed. It is indeed a temptation, and a strong incitement; but temptations to the con- trary do not excuse from duty. This will appear to you if you consider —
1. The state of a Christian ; he is not of this world : John xv. 19, * If ye were of the world, the world would love its own ; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.' He Avas separated for God's use in. baptism, and must make good his baptismal vow, live as one that is separated from the world and their course of life, that he may act for God: Ps. iv. 3, ' Know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself ; ' therefore it is no excuse for him to say, I do but as others do ; he is to reckon his hours by the sun, not the town- clock ; to take God's direction, not the voice of the multitude, as one of their stamp, and at liberty to comply with their fashions.
2. The course 6f God's dispensations, which is to exercise and try his children before he crowneth them. None go to heaven without their trials.
3. The duty of God's children, intimated in the cautions and descriptions and injunctions of the word: Exod. xxiii. 2, 'Not to follow a multitude to do evil ; nor to walk according to the course of this world ; ' Eph. ii. 2, ' The lust of men,' 1 Peter iv. 2 ; nor the corruptions of the times : Eom. xii. 2, ' Be not conformed to this world,' &c. Many such hints everywhere, that show it a crime, &c.
4. The opposition of the wicked should make us more courageous ; for then it is put to a plain contest, who shall have the better, Christ or Satan ? Therefore we should discover that he that is in us is stronger than he that is in the world, 1 John iv. 4. Wicked meu have their end and purposes if they can overcome the disciples of Christ, and discourage them from owning their profession. AVe are to be more than conquerors, Piom. viii. 37.
Use 2. AVe ought to be so far from being involved in the conspiracy of others against God, that our zeal should increase by otiiers de- clining, and we should love religion when it is commonly despised. That is our commendation, esse boiium facile est, &c. Till we are in termino, we have our difficulties, till we are gathered to angels, e'l'w /3eXov9, out of gunshot. Our business is not to give way to evils, but to resist them with the greater courage. Indeed it is hard for a man to keep himself free from the infection of the times he lives in. We all complain of the badness of the times ; but let us not make them the worse for us. If we would be good in bad times, we need —
1. Much holiness and heavenly-mindedness, that we may be burning and shining lights, conducting men to Christ, as the star that shone at Christ's birth : Phil. ii. 15, ' That ye be blameless and harmless^,
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the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and per- verse generation, among whom ye shine as lights in the workl.' Noah, by preparing an ark, condemned the workl, Heb. xi. 7. This is tlie way to a})]iear for God in tlie histre of real grace, when we are taken off from other means.
2. Much faith or foresight of things to come : Heb. xi. 7, ' By faitli Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark.' To see the ruin of the wicked when iDrosperous, this kept David in his integrity : Ps. Ixxiii. 17, ' I went into the sanctuary, then understood I their end.' When he was once able to look through their honours and greatness and riches by the light of the sanctuar}^, he overcame the temptation which did so greatly press and shake him. So here in the text, ' It is time for thee. Lord, to work, for tliey have made void thy law ; tlierefore I love thy commandments above gold, yea, above fine gold.' There is a worm in the root; they are under God's curse : Job v. 3, ' I have seen the foolish taking root, but suddenly I cursed his habitation;' which predicteth their ruin, thougli little appearance of their fall.