342 SERMONS UPON PSALM cxix. [Ser. CXLII.
[3.] In comfortin<2; poor distressed souls. Their sore runneth upon them, and their soul refViseth comfort, when they have all thins^s in the world; hut yet as there are no sorrows like wounds of conscience for degree, so no comforts : gi'oans unutterahle, so joys unutterahle : nothing left that will comfort ; it is as the whole of their joy. The reviving of poor wounded spirits is one of tlie greatest wonders in the world. Creatures can do nothing, reason and human discourse can do nothing ; it proceedeth from the apprehension of God's wrath provoked by sin : Job xxxiii. 23-25, ' If there be an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show unto man his uprightness, then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit ; I liave found a ransom: his flesh shall be fresher than a child's; he shall return to the days of his youth.' Nothing but the covenant of his peace will still such a soul ; a scripture wound will only be cured 'by scripture plasters. He that puts the soul on the racks of conscience can only release us: 'I create the fruits of the lips to be peace;' Jer. vi. 16. ' Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls ;' Mat. xi. 28, 29, ' Come unto me. all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me ; for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls.'
[4.] The confirming and strengthening power of the word, that we may despise the world, encounter all difficulties and discouragements, and to be cheerful as the martyrs were in the midst of flames, all the oppositions of Satan : 1 John ii. 14, ' I have written unto you young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one ;' Acts xx. 32, 'And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among them that are sanctified.' In the word of his grace God hath assured us of the great privileges of Christianity, support and defence here, and glory here- after ; and that is a mighty strengthening to the soul, and maketh a Christian also glorious and becoming all those hopes and promises that are given him.
SERMON CXLII.
Thy testimonies are ivonderful; tlierefore doth my soul keep them.— Ymi. 129.
Use 1. Reproof to several sorts.
1. Of those proud carnalists that scorn the simplicity of the word. Many wit themselves into hell by lifting up the pride of reason against the word of God; think all respect to the word to be fond credulity. To them the gospel seemeth a base and a mean doctrine, whereas it is indeed wonderful. They never studied it, and therefore think nothing but })lain points in it, have no spiritual eyes, and are looking on wliat is uppermost. There is nothing vulgar. The angels prize
VeR. 129.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 343
what tliey contemu: Eph. iii. 10, 'To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God.' They despise the word, as if it were too low a discipline for their wit and parts, scoff at that as mean which a gracious heart findeth to be mystery ; they see none of this sublimity that we speak of ; this pearl of price seemeth to them but as a common stone. This is pride not to be endured, for the fool- ishness of man to contemn the wisdom of God. The excellency of scripture can never be sufficiently understood ; they never pierced the depths of scripture, else they would find it sublime and subtle enough ; but they are ignorant of what they seem to understand so well : 1 Cor. viii. 2, ' If any man think that he knoweth anything, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.'
2. Others that give up themselves to the itch of curiosity must have mysteries made more mystical, and therefore fly from the letter of the scriptures to ungrounded subtleties and spiritualities, as if all the written word were an allegory : Eev. ii. 24, ' But to you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan.' Men must have jSuOt), bat ^dOt^ rov XaTava, are loath to be tethered, and tied up to a few common truths. The bait to our first parents was the fruit of the tree, it is good for knowledge: Gen. iii. 5, 6, ' God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thei'eof and did eat.' If any be of such a rigid temper and constitution as not to be moved with the pleasures of the senses, Satan draweth them to nice and ungrounded speculations ; they would be wise above the rate which God hath allowed, run into strange and uncouth notions ; and so many, otherwise of a sober life, have an unsound judgment.