3. Man by way of diminution. And to lessen the fear of this evil, this term 'Adam' is given them, to show their weakness in com- parison of God. Thou art God, but they that are so ready and for- ward to opi)ress and injure us are but men ; thou canst easily over- rule their power and break the yoke. I think this consideration chief est, because of other places: Ps. x. 18, 'Thou wilt judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.' The oppressors are but men of the earth, a piece of red clay, earth in his composition, earth in his dissolution, frail men, that must within a while be laid in the dust. But it is more emphatically expressed, Isa. li. 12, 13, ' Who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man that shall be made as
VeR. 134.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 39D
grass ; and forgettest the Lord thy maker, which hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth ; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy ? and where is now the rage of the oppressor ? ' When thou hast the immortal and almighty Grod to be thy protector and saviour, shouldest thou be afraid of a weak mortal man, that is but Adam, a little enlivened dust ? Within a little while he and all his fury is over and gone.
Secondly, The promise of duty, 'I will keep thy precepts.' Which is a constant observation of all God's commandments, if God would interpose for his rescue. But did David do well to suspend his obedience upon so uncertain a condition ? I answer — No ; we must not understand it so as if he did indent with God upon those terms and no otherwise ; or as if before he had not kept them ; and would then begin. No ; he would keep them, however, and had kept them ; only this would be a new engagement to press him to keep them more constantly, more accurately. Look throughout this psalm, and you shall find David still at his duty whatever his condition be : ver. 51, ' The proud have had me greatly in derision ; yet have I not declined from thy law.' There he is scorned, but not discouraged, Ver. 61, ' The hands of the wicked have robbed me ; yet have I not forgotten thy law.' There plundered, wasted, stripped of all, yet not discouraged. Ver. 69, ' The proud have forged a lie against me ; but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart.' There falsely accused, but not discouraged. Ver. 83, ' I am become like a bottle in the smoke ; yet do I not forget thy statutes.' There dried up and shrunk into nothing, yet not discouraged. Ver. 87, ' They had almost consumed me upon earth ; but I forsook not thy precepts.' Ver. 141, * I am small and despised ; yet I do not forget thy precepts.' So that his meaning was, not that he would serve God no longer unless he would deliver him ; but the meaning is, he should have a new obligation and encouragement : this will engage me afresh. He doth aforehand in- terpose a promise that he would walk with God more closely. From the words thus opened, we have three points : —
1. Deliverance from oppression is a blessing to be sought from the hands of God in prayer.
2. When God delivereth us from the oppression of man, we should be quickened and encouraged in his service.
3. When we are praying for deliverance, we may interpose a promise of obedience.
First, For the first point, that deliverance from oppression is a bless- ing to be sought from the hands of God in prayer. I shall show it first by answering the question why, and then show you how. 1. Why ? The point may be strengthened by these reasons : — [1.] We have liberty to ask temporal things. Many think it too carnal to pray for health, food and raiment, long life, temporal deli- verance. What God hath promised we may lawfully pray for ; for a prayer is but a promise put in suit. Now these blessings are adopted into the covenant, as being useful to us in our passage ; and therefore we may ask them. What Christ has taught us to pray for, that we may pray for ; for he said, ' After this manner pray ye,' Mat. vi. 9 ; and one request is, ' Give us this day our daily bread.' Protection and
400 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. CXLIX.
maintenance we ask, as well as pardon and o;race. It condnceth to the honour of God that we should ask tliese things of him, that we may testify our dependence, and acknowledge his inspection and government over the affairs of the world : Ps. ix. 7, ' He hath prepared his throne for judgment.' Courts of justice among men are not always open to hear the j)laintiff, but the Lord holdeth court continually ; we may come to the Lord every day. No man's petition and complaint is delayed for an hour. He hath prepared his throne for this end and purpose, to hear the complaints of his people when tliey are oppressed ; therefore we may pray for temporal things.