436 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. CLII.
There are many Judases, many Cains in thy nature. I was in times past as bad as any, as bold with sin, and as notorious a sinner. Every sin therefore • should be a fresh bleedinj; wound in our own souls. They are but the picture of thy natural flice : Titus iii. 3, ' We in times past were foolish, disobedient, deceiving, and being deceived.' Thou seest them given up to vain pleasure ; remember how it was with thee before conversion, and let this humble thee.
6. If all this do not work, consider the holy angels, that are noway interested, but as it conduceth to God's glory; that do not communicate with us in nature and blood, how they rejoice at the welfare of man. As when the world was made : Job xxxviii. 7, ' When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy.' So when Christ came, and assumed human nature at his birth : Luke ii. 14, * Suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good-will towards men.' And when the creature repenteth : Luke XV. 7, ' I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons which need no repentance.' So should we mourn over them to God, who are our flesh, our neighbours, united in the bonds of duty and neighbourhood, it may be church relation.
7. I might tell of the fruits of mourning. The greater party of mourners, the more hope of preservation. We have complained of drought, we have dry bottles : judgments are kept off as long as there is a sighing party ; you are preserved, Ezek. ix. 4, as Lot out of Sodom. But if the righteous God see not this fit, and a godly man may be swept away, as two dry sticks burn a green one, j^et you shall laugh when others mourn. In heaven there will be joy enough ; this is the valley of tears. Wicked men, though now they are dry wood, yet they are fit fuel for hell. Consider of these things. It is a difficult work to soften the heart, and you have need of all the help that may be.
[1.] Consider the compassion of Christ to thee. If he had not mourned and sighed in the garden, and sweat drops of blood, where had thy soul been ? Thou wert in thy blood when free grace went a- sighing after thee in the ministry of the word: Ezek. xvi. 6, ' I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live ; yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live.' Tliese are intending considerations : 1 Tim. i. 13, ' Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious ; but I obtained mercy,' rj\e')]67)v. If I had not been all to"^ be- bowelled, and all toi be-mercied, I had been a brand fit for the burning
[2.] Take heed of sensuality : Hosea iv, 12, ' My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staft' declareth unto them ; for the spirit of whoredoms hath caused them to err, and they have gone a-whoring from under their God.' It taketh away the heart, the tenderness and softness ; no one thing doth more brawn the spirit. To be given to uncleanness, past feeling : Eph. iv. 18, ' Having the undei'standing darkened, being alienated from the life of God, through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart.'
[3.] Beg the assistance of God's Spirit ; he can smite the rock and make waters gush out. That thou mayest not be discouraged, look upon precedents in scripture, the tender hearts of God's people there. ^ Here ctW to sisuifies altorjcthcr, as in Judses is. 53. — Ek.
VeR. 137.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 437
The Spirit of God wrought them to this frame : ' Cry, 0 arm of the Lord ; put on strength as in the ancient days.' God hath promised it : Zech. xii. 10, ' I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhahitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of su})plications ; and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him as one mourneth for his only son,' &c.; and then it follows, ' And the land shall mourn, every family apart,' &c.
SEEMON CLIII.
Righteous art thou, 0 Lord, and u].)riglit are thy judgments. —
Ver. 137.
This psalm is spent in commendation of the word of God. The man of God sometimes commends it for its efficacy, sometimes for its sure- ness and certainty, and at other times for its sweetness. In this octonary or portion, the word of God is commended for its righteousness. David was sore troubled for the wickedness of his enemies, yea, tempted greatly to impatience and distrust, by looking upon their prosperous estate ; for if you consult with the context, you shall find this was spoken in a time of defection, when rivers of tears ran down his eyes because men kept not the law of God. When carnal men pass their time in joy and the godly in tears, it is good then to meditate of God's righteousness. So does David. When they were making void God's law, he was in deep sorrow and tears. It is good so to do, that we may humble ourselves under his mighty hand, and compose our soul to patience and a quiet submission, and with hope to wait upon God in the midst of wrongs and injuries. Simo Caltu telleth us that the emperor Mauritius used these words when he saw all his children slain before his face, and himself ready to be slain after them by Phocas. The historian tells us, eirl TTcivTcov iireKoXetTo, St/cato? el Kvpie koI eiidel^ at KpiaeL<; aov — that he did in the presence of all meekly submit to this great and heavy calamity, crying out, ' Kighteous art thou, 0 Lord, and upright are thy judgments.'