Use 1. Por reproof of three sorts: —
1. Of those that would have ease and comfort, but care not for duty ; would have the love of God to pacify their consciences, but never mind this, to have their hearts directed in God's ways: Hosea x. 11, ' Ephraim is as an heifer that is taught, that would tread out the corn but not break the clods.' It yielded food, Deut. xxv. 4. They would be feasted with privileges, yet abhor service, when they prize comfort.
VeR, 135.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 419
To these we may argue not only ah incongruo — how disinfj^enuoiis it is to separate duty and comfort ; to be so ready to expect all from God, and so unwilling to do anything for him. It is contrary to the dis- position of Gods children, Titus ii. 11, 12, and Kom. xii. 1 ; — but ab impossihili. Will God ever delight in you till you be conformed to his image ? Christ came not to make a change in God, but in us ; not to make God less holy, but us more holy. It is not agreeable to the reasonable nature to conceive that God should be indifferent to good and bad, or a friend to those that break his laws. Would you think well of that magistrate that should let men rob and steal and beat their fellow-sulyects, and not only connive at them but receive them into his bosom ? You that have but a drop of the divine nature cannot delight in the company of sinners, 2 Peter ii. 8.
2. Those that would have the favour of God, but expect it should be showed to them in temporal things. Alas ! these things are promis- cuously dispensed to all ; can be no evidence of his special love. God is behindhand with none of his creatures, Eccles. ix. 1, 2 ; sometimes evil things to good men, and good things to evil men. Josiah died in wars as well as Ahab. Is Abraham rich ? so is Nabal. Is Joseph honoured by Pharaoh ? so is Doeg by Saul. Hath Demetrius a good report of all men ? 3 John 12, so have false teachers, Luke vi. 26. Hath Caleb health and strength ? Josh. xiv. 11, so have wicked ones: ' No bands in their death ; ' Ps. Ixxiii. 4, ' Their strength is firm. Was Moses beautiful ? Acts vii. 20, so was Absalom, 2 Sam. xiv. 25. Did God give learning and wisdom to Moses and Daniel? &c., Dan. i. 17, so to the Egyptians, Acts vii. 22. . Long life to Ishmael, Gen. xxv. 17, as well as to Isaac, Gen. xxxv. 20.
3. The children of God that murmur and repine at their sufferings when others, ignorant of the mind of God and the strictness of his ways, fare better, Ps. xvii. 14. It is often seen that ' he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow,' Eccles. i. 18. Drones and sots have their ampler revenues, but we should not be thereby discouraged. It is their portion : Pro v. iii. 31, 32, ' Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways ; for the froward are an abomination unto the Lord, and his secret is with the righteous.' They are hateful to God while they flourish. It is a greater evidence of God's favour and friendship to understand his counsel in the word, and to be acquainted with the mysteries of godliness, than to enjoy all the power and great- ness in the world ; the knowledge of a despised, hated truth, than to flourish in opposition against the ways of God, through ignorance, obstinacy, and prejudice.
Use 2. Is direction to us : —
1. For strict walking. If we would have a comfortable sense of God's love, we must resolve upon a strict course of holy walking : Gal. vi. 16, ' And as many as walk according to this rule, j^eace be on them, and mercy upon the Israel of God ;' and Ps. Ixxxv. 8, and Eph. iv. 30.
2. If we would walk strictly, we must go to God for continual direc- tion : Ps. Ixxxvi. 11, ' Teach me thy way, 0 Lord ; I will walk in thy truth : unite my heart to fear thy name ; ' Ps. cxliii. 10, ' Teach me to do thy will, for thou art my God; thy spirit is good, lead me into the
420 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. CLT.
land of uprightness.' Especially when blinded with interest, or apt to be carried away with temptations.
3. God's teaching is not only directive, but persuasive ; it prevents sin, Ps. cxix. 133 ; quickens to duty, Ps. cxix. 33-3.5. Teach and keep, and make me to go ; for that is the difference between literal instruction, which we have from man, and spiritual instruction, which we have from God. God's teaching is drawing, John vi. 44, 45.
SERMON CLI.
Bivers of water run down mine e7/es, because they keep not tliy law. —
Ver. 136.
Most of the sentences of this psalm are independent, and do not easily fall under the rules of method ; so that we need not take pains in clearing up the context ; the verse needs it not, the time permits it not : only you may observe this, that often in this psalm David had expressed his great joy, and now he maketli mention of his exceeding grief. There is a time to rejoice and a time to mourn ; as times vary, so do duties ; we have affections for every condition. Indeed, in this valley of tears mourning is seldom out of season, either with respect to sin or misery, for ourselves or others. David, that did sometimes mourn for his own sins, and watered his couch with tears, Ps. vi. 6, he took also his time to mourn and bewail other men's sins : ' Rivers of tears run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law,'