Use 2. Express these virtues of the word. We must be righteous and true if the word of God be so, for the impression must answer the seal and stamp : Kom. vi. 17, ' But God be thanked that ye were the servants of sin ; but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doc- trine which was delivered you ; ' 2 Cor. iii. 3, ' Ye are declared to be the epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God ; not in tables of stone, but in fleshly tables of the heart ;' Phil. ii. IG, ' Holding fast the word of life, that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.' A Christian is the Bible exemplified ; such a con- formity there must be there to the law of God ; the same light that shinetli forth in scripture should shine forth in the lives of the godly ; so it was in Hezekiali : Isa. xxxviii. 3, ' Ptemember, 0 Lord, how I have walked before thee in truth, and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight.' And of David it is said, 1 Kings iii. 6, ' Thy servant David walked before thee in truth, and righteous- ness, and uprightness of heart.'
1. For righteousness. A Christian's business is to give to every man his due, to do what he is bound to do to God and man ; Mat. xxii. 21, to ' render to Ctesar the things that are Ctfisar's, and to God the things that are God's.' Whether by the law of nature : 1 Tim. v. 8, ' If any provide not for his own, and especially for them of his own house, he liatli denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.' Or by relation, as Boaz did the part of a kinsman to Kutli : Ruth iii. 13, ' Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will per- form unto thee the part of a kinsman, well ; let him do the kinsman's part : but if he will not do the part of a kinsman, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as the Lord livetli.' Or by place or station : Neh. vi. 11, ' And I said. Should such a man as I flee ? and who is there that, being as I am, would go into the temple to save his life ? 1 will not go in.' Or by paction or agreement : Col. iv. 1, ' Masters, give to your servants that which is just and equal.' Or according to
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rules of prudence, equity, charity : Phil. iv. 5, ' Let your moderation,* TO eineiKh, ' be known unto all men ;' whether it be fear or honour that be due : Eom. xiii. 7, ' Eender therefore to all their dues, tribute to whom tribute is due, custom to whom custom, fear to whom fear, honour to whom honour.' Or good- will : ver. 8, 'Owe no man any- thing, but to love one another/
2. For truth. You are to adhere to the truth, ' not to be carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive ; but, speaking the truth in love, ye may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ,' Eph. iv. 14, 15. To speak nothing but truth in your ordinary communication : Eph, iv. 25, ' Wherefore, putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour.' To perform what you promise, though to your loss : Ps. xv. 4, ' He sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.' Thus should the whole course of our lives express the properties of the word.
Use 3. To show the reason why men are so backward in obedience, so prone to what is evil, so uncomfortable in trouble. We do not be- lieve that the testimony of Grod is righteous and true, very true, every tittle of it ; but we are slow of heart to believe ; therefore is the faith- fulness and truth of the word inculcated. Christ saith, ' Believest thou this ? ' John xi. 25. Could we believe the word more, what advantage should we have in the spiritual life! what fear of God! what joy of faith ! what readiness of obedience ! But we cannot depend upon God's word, and therefore are easily shaken in mind. Our hearts are like a sea, one Avave riseth up after another. We must be fed with sense, and God must do all immediately, or else we are apt to sink under our discouragements.
SERMON CLVI.
My zeal hath consumed one, because mine enemies have forgotten thy ioo7'ds. — Ver. 139.
In these words you may observe — (1.) Two different persons ; (2.) A different carriage mentioned.
1. Two different persons are spoken of, David and iiis enemies. By enemies is not to be understood those only that were troublesome to himself, but those who were an opposite party to God, who opposed themselves against God and godliness ; these without any breach of the law of love may be counted enemies : Ps. cxxxix. 21, 22, ' Uo not I hate them, 0 Lord, that hate thee ? And am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee ? I hate them with a perfect hatred ; I count them mine enemies.' It is a comfort and satisfaction to the godly to have no enemies to themselves but such as are enemies to God also, such as rise up against God.