Use 3. Let the entertainment we have upon our first entrance into the study of religion encourage us to follow on to know the Lord, that we may see more into his mind and counsel concerning us. When we are first serious, we have notable experience of light and comfort and
352 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SkPv. CXLIII.
power ; this is a bribe to draw us on further ; more li^ht, for it is a ojrowing thin<]j: Prov. iv. 18, ' The path of the just is as the shining light, that sliineth more and more to the perfect day ; ' more taste, 1 Peter ii. 3, 4, ' If so be that ye have tasted that tlie Lord is gracious, to wliom coming as to a Hving stone,' &c. It sliould sharpen and put an edge upon our desires; more power: James i. 18, 19, 'Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first-fruits of his creation ; wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.' You saw the en- trance, and your first acquaintance with the word succeeded well.
Docf. 2. By the word of God we get light, or our understandings arc enlightened : Prov. vi. 23, ' For the commandment is a lamp, and the law is light, and reproofs of instruction are the way of life.'
1. Light is a great benefit. This is the perfection of the rational nature, the benefit that we have above the beasts : ' He teacheth us more than the beasts of the field.' They are guided by instinct, ruled by a rod of iron ; we have reason, and in it more resemble God, who is light, and in him is no darkness at all, 1 John i. 5 ; we come nearest to our happiness in heaven ; it is called ' The inheritance of the saints in light,' Col. i. 12. Our knowledge is perfected, and the vision of God is our happiness : 1 Cor. xiii. 12, ' For now we see through a glass darkly, tlien face to face ; now I know in part, then I shall know even as also I am known.'
2. This light hath excellent properties.
[1.] It is hix manifestans ; it manifesteth itself and all things else. How do I see the sun but by the sun, by its own light ? How do I know the scripture to be the word of God, but by the light that sliineth in it, commending itself to my conscience ? So it manifests all things else. By this light a man may see everything in its own colours ; it layeth open all the frauds and impostures of Satan, the vanity of worldly things, the deceits of the heart, the odiousness of sin : Eph. V. 13, ' All things that be reproved are made manifest by light, for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.' It sets out the odiousness of .sin as a breach of God's most holy law, enmity against the great God, the procurer of his eternal wrath. Nothing manifests things as this light doth.
[2.] It is lux dirlgcns, a dii'ecting light, that we may see our way and work. As the sun lighteth man to his labour, so doth this direct us in all conditions : Ps. cxix. 105, ' Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.' It directs us how to manage ourselves in all conditions, in prosperity, adversity ; in all affairs, paths, steps ; in all the particular actions of our life ; it filleth us with spiritual pru- dence ; the wayfaring, the fool, the man of parts that is a stranger, tlie man of mean parts, all may meet with plain and clear directions hence 1,0 guide them in the way to heaven.
[3.] It is lax vivijicans, a quickening light, lux est vcJticulum inflii- entiarum : John viii. 12, ' I am the light of the world : he that fol- loweth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life ;' Eph. v.. 14, ' Awake thou that slee[)est, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.' That light was the life of men, so is this
VeR. 130.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX, 353
spiritual life ; it not only cliscovereth the object, but helpetli the faculty, filleth the soul with life and strength.
[4.] It is lux exhilarans, a comforting, refreshing, cheering light : Eccles. xi. 7, ' Light is sweet, and it is a comfortable thing to behold the sun.' It is so in two respects : —
(1.) It ]n'esents us with excellent grounds of comfort, not only against afflictions, but against distress of conscience, which is the greatest trouble that can befall the creature, such as the sense of God's love in Christ ; so it rejoiceth the soul : Ps. xix. 8, ' The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart ; the commandments of the Lord are pure, enlightening the eyes.' It doth good to the heart. Others tickle the senses, but are not affliction-proof, stead us not when God rebuketh us for sin. The light of God's countenance is displayed in the word : Ps. iv. 6, 7, ' There be many that say, Wlio 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 thiit their corn and wine increased.'