1. The vehemcncy of his passion, I opened my mouth, and panted.
2. The reason or cause of it,/o?' I longed for tlnj commandments. First, 'I opened my mouth, and panted ;' a metaphor taken from
men scorched and sweltered with heat, or from those that have run themselves out of breath in following after the thing which they would overtake. The former metaphor expressed the vehemency of his love, the other the earnestness of his pursuit ; he was like a man gasping for breath and sucking in the cool air. Judea was a hot country, and therefore such expressions are frequent. The like expressions, that come somewhat near it, are those : 2 Cor. vi. 11, '0 ye Corinthians, our mouth is opened to you, our heart is enlarged ;' when he did vehe- mently desire their profit. And Job saith, 'They waited for my speech as the rain ; they opened tlieir mouth wide, as for the latter rain,' Job xxix. 22. A vehement, passionate desire affects the mind as an insatiate thirst the body. Thus will they be affected that are sensible of tlie wonders of the law, and enlightened by it. The reason of this passion : ' I longed,' noteth a high degree of desire. What did he long for ? God's commandments ; that is, the saving knowledge of the doctrine of salvation, or to find the use, benefit, light, comfort, and power of the word of God.
Doct. That God's children have strong and vehement affections and desires after the comfort and benefit of the word of God.
Here is — (1.) Opening the mouth; and (2.) Panting, as for fresh air ; and (3.) Longing for the commandments. All three expressions imply an iutensiveness of affection. Surely David prized hfiliness at a greater rate than we do, or else he would not use expressions so strange to us ! See the like, Ps. cxix. 20, ' My soul breaketh for the longing it hath unto thy judgments at all times.' Desire is the stretching forth of the soul to the thing desired. Now his soul did so stretch towards tliese spiritual comforts, that it did even break and crack again in the stretching. So Ps. xlii. 1, 'As the hart panteth after the ^vater-brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, 0 God.' Harts are thirsty creatures, especially when chased, or having eaten serpents.
Considerations.
1. The soul never worketh better than in the strength of some eminent affection. In all things that we take in hand we do but so- so, act but chilly and weakly, while we have a listless and remiss will ; but when the force of affection is upon us, the soul is carried on strongly, either in abomination or prosecution ; for affections are the forcible and vigorous motions of the will. Now the soul never doth well but under such an affection. Were it not for affections, our nature would be sluggish and idle ; as Plutarch, wo-Trep Ku^epvr]T7)<; 7rvevfxaro(; €KXL7rovTo<;, like a pilot at sea without a wind. The ship moveth slowly when there are no winds stirring to fill the sails ; or like a chariot without wheels or horses, or a bird when her wings are clipped. They spur us on to what we affect. Men are heavy and lazy because they have no afiection : Exod. xxxvi. 2, ' And Moses
VeR. 131.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 359
called Bezaleel and Alioliab and every wise-hearted man, in whose heart the Lord had put wisdom, even every one whose heart stirred him up to come unto the work to do it/ Man findeth a force within himself, his heart maketh him willing ; the stronger the affections, the better the man acteth, witli greater strength and vivacity ; for they are the vigorous motions of the will.
[2.] Of all affections, desires are most earnest and vehement, for they are the vigorous bent of the heart to that which is good, the motion and endeavour of the soul after it. As to good, the will choosetli it, and the heart affects a union with it, or desires to obtain it. This affection of union, simply considered, is love, which is an inclination of the soul to good, it presseth the heart to it ; but as it is an absent good, it is desire, which exciteth to pursue it earnestly. Desire doth all that is done in the world, for it lifteth up the soul to action, that we may possess those things that we desire ; I desire it, and therefore I labour for it. Therefore the main thing that God craveth is the desire : Prov. xxiii. 26, ' My son, give me thy heart/ which is the soul of desires ; and therefore the people of God plead their sincerity : Isa. xxvi. 8, 9, ' The desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee ; with my soul have I desired thee in the night, yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early.' Get but a desire to good things, to God, to his word, and it will be a great help to you in spiritual things : Prov. xi. 23, ' The desire of the righteous is only good.' It is well when the soul is set right ; this is a strong, active, commanding faculty.