3. It is not a slight and superficial esteem, but such as is deep and solid : Mat. xiii. 20, ' He heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it.' It is a blessed thing to hear of the pardon of sin, Heb. vi. 5, to taste of the good word of God, and of the powers of the world to come ; as they that cheapen wines taste, though they do not go through with the bargain ; some inclination of heart, half a mind to be thoroughly godly and religious : John v. 35, ' They rejoiced in his light for a season.' They were much taken with John for a while, and the novdty and excellency of his doctrine. But when is this esteem deep and solid ? It may be known — (1.) By the root of it ; (2.) The ground and formal object of it ; (3.) The manner or way how we come by it.
[1.] The root of it When the root of this esteem is a vital prin-
326 SERMONS uroN PSALM cxix. [Ser. CXL.
ciple of grace : Mat. xiii. 21, 'He hath not root in hhnself.' The word is riot ingrafted, James i. 21. The people had a good inclination : ' All that the Lord hath spoken, we will do,' Deut. v. 29. But, ' Oh ! that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me and keep all my commandments always,' &c. They had a mind to do well ; but where faith, fear, and love are not planted, there may be some stirrings of conscience, but not a full purpose of heart. There is the approba- tion of an awakened and enlightened conscience, and the approbation of a renewed heart. A convinced man approveth, and a converted man approveth, but in a different manner. The one is but a flash, like fire in straw, the other hath a durable affection.
[2.] When the ground and formal object of it is not a temporal, natural, or carnal motive, but the moral goodness of the law ; because it is the pure and holy word and will of God, who is the lawgiver, wdiose authority is absolute. There may be carnal motives to incline us to esteem the word, as the novelty of John's doctrine : John v. 35, ' They rejoiced in his light for a season ;' delight to hear a plausible and rational discourse, as Ezekiel's hearers, Ezek. xxxiii. 32, ' And lo thou art to them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, that can play well upon an instrument ; for they hear thy words, but do them not.' Or carnal motives, as they Gen. xxxiv. 22, 23, ■ Herein will tlie men consent to dwell with us, to be one people, if every male among us be circumcised, as they are circumcised. Shall not their cattle and their substance be ours ? Only let us consent unto them,' &c. And so temporal interests. Eeligiou hath a portion for which it is courted. The consent of many to the law is the same which Mahometans have to the Alkoran ; education in it, ancestors embracing of it, the countenance of the law, the custom of the country, &c.
[3.J Tlie manner or way how we come by it, b}^ much prayer and serious deliberation. Some by chance are surprised and affected with a good motion, suddenly good, but habitually bad ; they will in all haste become religious, but, alas ! this estimation or approbation of God's ways is entertained but for a time, but afterwards vanisheth and cometh to nothing. There must be a clear distinct knowledge of the excellency of God's ways: otherwise in a fit, or in a good mood, we choose that which is good ; but the interest in evil not being re- nounced in heart, it causeth an easy retreat into the former sinful course.
4. It must be such an esteem as hath a lively and effectual in- fluence upon our hearts and Avays. There is a liking that only pro- duceth a velleity and wish, and doth not engage the soul to prosecute the things willed, or forsake the things nilled ; but there is such an effectual liking and esteem as will produce a constant, habitual will- ingness, that will have the authority of a principle, and hath a power- ful command over the whole soul, to set it a-working to do the will of God, and will admit of no contradiction by contrary desires, but maketh us act with life, power, and earnestness. Cold and inconstant wishes produce no fruit in the heart. The general course of most men's lives is as if they had no liking to the law of God. It may be they may dislike and sacrifice some of their weaker lusts and smaller interests, which they can well spare, but corruption doth ordinarily
VeR. 128.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 327
bear sway in their hearts and lives. In the text it is, ' I esteem all thy precepts, and hate every false way.' It is true, a man that ap- proveth the law is not wholly freed from sin. There are sins of ordi- nary infirmity, that cleave to ns while we are in the world, yea, taint our best actions : Isa. Ixiv. G, ' But we are all as an unclean thing, all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.' And sometimes, though there be a principle of grace, a child of God may be overborne by the vio- lence of a temptation, carried into presumptuous sins, which may make strange havoc in the soul. David prayeth, Ps. xix. 14, that God would keep him from presumptuous sins ; but for the most part the children of God are influenced by their consent and esteem of the law of God. And the renewed part for the generality hath the upper hand, and prevaileth, and the flesh is weakened ; as the house of David grew stronger and stronger, 2 Sam. iii. 1, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.