Use 2. Have we such an esteem and affection to the word of God ? Then—
1. We will do that which in other cases a greater love would incline us to do ; otherwise it is but a compliment ; we will diligently exer- cise ourselves in the word of God. Labour is the fruit of love : ' Ke- membering your labour of love,' 1 Thes. i. 3. He that doth not take more pains in the pursuit of heavenly things than of carnal, doth not love the one above the other ; for love is industrious : John vi. 27, * Labour not for the meat that perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life.' What a deal of pains do men take for a little pelf, to heap up treasure, and fill their houses with the good things of this world, and spend all their time and wit, their care and strength, on outward things ! The stream runneth stronger for the v/orld when there is no proportionable care taken for the benefits which the word offereth. God maketh offer of grace and glory. Men are as those that travel by water, and see buildings ashore, and praise them as they pass by, but never enter into them, never look after them more. If you are ready and earnest in the pursuit of the one, careless and cold in the other; you think no time enough for the one, but grudge all time for the other : it is a sign the one hath a greater share in our hearts than the other. We are to seek worldly things in some measure, because God hath appointed every one some work to do ; but when there is such a manifest disproportion between our seeking the one and the other, it showeth which way our souls bend ; if a nice difference, that hardly distinguisheth it, give suspicion, more especially when such a manifest disproportion.
2. We will part with the one for the other's sake, if carnal things can withdraw us from the pursuit of heavenly things : Heb. xii. 16, ' As Esau, who for one morsel of bread sold his birthright ; ' and heavenly things cannot make us to part with carnal things. Many make void the law to seek riches and wealth : 2 Tim. iv. 10, ' Demas hath for- saken us, having loved this present world ; ' break God's commands for a small hire, and do so constantly, frequently, easily ; it is a sign they do but compliment, and speak from their judgments, not from their hearts, when they say they love God better than the world, or fine gold, the chiefest excellency of it. Would a man dispense with his obedience to the word, and be thus affected ? What is deliberately, habitually preferred, that hath the greater love. We can neglect our
320 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. CXL.
duty to God, trample upon God, Christ, lioaven, scripture, conscience, duty, in the w;iy to make speed after worldly thin^^s.
3. Wherein do we place the happiness of us and ours? To carnal men nothing is so dear as their present jirosperity. 13o you value yourselves to be more happy when you have a little grace and sense of God's love than if you iiad all the world : Ps. iv. 6, 7, ' There be many that say, Wiio will show us any good? Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.' And for your children, do you rejoice to see them great or good ? Many are delighted to see their children thrive in the world, do well in the world, but careless wdiethcr they have grace, yea or no. If you take the world still as a great part of your felicity, it is a sign you iiave low thoughts and respects ibi- the word of God.
SERMON CXL.
Therefore I esteem all tliy precepts concerning all things to he right ; and I hate every false way. — Ver. 128.
In this verse a child of God is set forth by two marks : —
1. His approbation and esteem of the law of God in all the parts and points thereof, I esteem all tliy prece'pts concerning all things to he rigid.
2. His hatred of all sin as contrary thereunto, and I hate every false way : the one as the effect of the other.
First, In the first branch, take notice of — (1.) The illative particle, therefore. (2.) His respect to the word, I esteem thy precepts to he right. In the Septuagint it is 'jrpo'i irdaa^ ra? evroXck aov Karcop- SovfiTiv, I was directed or set right unto all thy laws. But it maketh no difference in effect from our translation ; for they that esteem the law will embrace and practise it. (3.) The extent and universality of this respect : there is a double universal particle, cdl thy precepts con- cerning all tilings ; the general drift of them, and every particular matter and circumstance that falleth under this law, it is all right ; I approve of whatsoever thou commandest, without any reservation and exception ; all, even all, have I approved.