5. Good men are but in part good, and it is fit their carnal part should be chastised, that while there are remainders of sin there should be some trouble, that God should burn and cut here that he might spare hereafter, that we should be judged of God, and not condemned witli the world, 1 Cor. xi. 32. It is better that we should have our troubles than all our consolations here, and nothing but hell and misery in the world to come.
Use 1. Information. If God be righteous, then all that comes from him is righteous. His word and his works. 3Iodus operandi sequiiur modum essendi. 'Righteous art tliou, 0 Lord;' and then, * Upright are thy judgments.' God acts according to his being. It is true a man may be just, and yet all that proceeds from him may not always be just. Why ? He is not essentially just ; but God being essentially just, all that he does or says is just also. A man's actions are one thing, and his rule another. A carpenter that hath a line without him, may sometimes chop beside his line ; but a man whose hand is his own line can never chop amiss. So a man's rule is with- out him ; his righteousness is one thing, his nature another ; he may swerve, and be just.i But God's act is his rule, his righteousness is himself; therefore whatever he does is just and righteous. Men may be deceived, but God deceiveth none, and is deceived by none.
1. His word, and every part of his word, is just ; it is in all things right, commanding those things which natural justice exacteth, and ibrbidding those things which have a natural sinfulness and turpitude
VOL. Yin. 1 Qu. 'unjust'?— Ed. 2 F
450 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. CLIV.
in them. God is just, and all his judgments are just. The way he hath set down for the justifying of sinners and receiving them are just and righteous, lloni. iii. 2G ; and the way he hatli set down for the sanctifying of men, to guide men in holiness, it is a just law : Kom. vii. 12, ' The commandment is holy, just, and good,' becoming such a pure nature to give, and having nothing of exorbitancy or irregularity.
2. The way God hath prescribed for saving such as follow this way of sanctification is just. The righteous judge will give a crown of righteousness in that day, 2 Tim. iv. 8. And the way for punishing sucii eternally as do despise eternal mercies is just : tiicy have re- ceived a just recompense of reward, especially those that neglect so- great salvation, Heb. ii. 3. God's law flows from his righteous nature, and it is a copy of his righteousness ; therefore it becometh those that confess God to be righteous to acknowledge his laws such, and to live according to them.
3. His works. God hath his judgments for those that do not ac- cept the way of righteousness prescribed by him : Ps. cxlv. 17, ' The Lord is just in all his ways, and holy in all his works.' We are too busy in interpreting wrongs to others, but when it lights upon us we do not acknowledge it : Neh. ix. 33, ' Thou art just in ail that is- brought upon us,' &c. Nay, if thy hand be never so smart upon us, Lord, thou art righteous in all. The only way to suppress murmur- ing and silence disputes, and rebuke the waves and winds of discon- tent that toss the soul to and fro, is to remember all God's ways are- just and true. God taketh it ill when we question any of his works: ' Are not my ways equal ? saith the Lord,' Ezek. xviii. 25. "When we thus acknowledge the dispensations of God to ourselves, we may with profit observe them to others, that we may applaud his proceedings : Rev. XV. 3, 'Great and marvellous are thy works, just and true are thy ways, 0 king of saints.' So Kev. xix. 2, ' For true and righteous are his judgments, for he hath judged the great whore which did cor- rupt the earth with her fornications.' There is no hurt done, but they are confirmed in his promises, and the rule set down in the scripture, not afflicted but on just ground. It is good to observe this in all his dispensations.
Use 2 .If God be a righteous God, and all his judgments right, this is terror to wicked men, that securely wallow in the pleasures of sin, without remorse and trouble. Go on in the way of your own hearts, give satisfaction to your senses, please your eye, withhold not your heart from any comfort you delight in ; but remember, for all these things God will bring thee to judgment. As cold water stays the working of the boiling pot, so these sober thoughts of God's justice and judgment may abate the fervours of youthful lusts. When you are pampering the flesh, letting loose the reins to all wanton desires, Go on in them ; there is a righteous God. Men harden themselves by two things— by God's patience for the present, and thoughts of his mercy for the future.
1. By God's patience for the present. When God doth not strike, but withholds his hand : Ps. 1. 21, 22, ' These things hast thou done, and I kept silence ; but I will reprove thee, and set them in order be- fore thine eyes.' Christians, patience and forbearance is not absolute