12 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SER. CLIX.
v. 11, 'Ephraim is oppressed, and broken in judgment, because he willingly walked after the commandment.' A little danger will draw men into the snare, when hell will not keep them from it. Oh, let us rouse up ourselves ! Is not man God's subject ? Is he not a more powerful sovereign than all the potentates in the world ? Doth he not in his word give judgment on the everlasting estate of men, and will his judgment be in vain ? Hath not God appointed a day when all matters shall be taken into consideration? If you can deny these truths, go on in sin and spare not ; but if conscience be sensible of God's authority, oh ! break off your sins by repentance, and walk more cautiously for the time to come ! Every sin is avo/xla, 1 John iii. 4, a breach of God's eternal law ; and will God always wink at your dis- loyalty to him ?
Nothing remaineth to be spoken to but the last clause, ' Thy law is truth.'
Doct. God's law is truth.
1. I shall show in what sense it is said to be truth.
2. The reasons why it is truth.
3. The end of this truth.
First, In what sense it is said to be truth.
1. It is the chief truth ; there is some truth in the laws of men and the writings of men, even of heathens; but they are but sorry frag- ments and scraps of truth, that have escaped since the fall ; but the truth of the word is transcendent to that of bare reason. Here are truths of the greatest concernment, matters propounded that are very comfortable and profitable to lost sinners, 1 Tim. ii. 16. Here moral duties are advanced to the highest pitch : Deut. iv. 6, ' Keep therefore and do them, for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations.' The end of these is not only to regulate your commerce with men, but to guide you in your communion with God, and help you to the everlasting enjoyment of him.
2. It is the only truth, that is, the only revelation of the mind of God that you can build upon ; it is the rule of truth. A thing may be true that is not the rule of truth. There is Veritas rcgulata, and Veritas regulans ; the word is the measure and standard, and they are true or false as they agree or disagree with it. Every custom and tradition must be tried upon it ; from the beginning it was not so ; from the beginning, my Christianity is Jesus Christ. We must not attend to what others did, but what Christ did, who is before all ; every dictate of reason must be tried by it, for here is the highest reason. It is written to make the man of God perfect, or else it can- not guide you to your happiness, 2 Tim. iii. 15, 16. Every revelation must be tried by it, Gal. i. 8. If an angel or man bring any doctrine which differs from or is besides the written word, it is a cursed doctrine : this is the rule.
3. It is the pure truth ; in it there is nothing but the truth, without the mixture of falsehood ; every part is true as truth itself. It is true in the promises, true in the threatenings, true in the doctrines, true in the histories, true in the precepts, true in the prohibitions. God will make it good to a tittle. True in moralities, true in the mysteries of faith ; not only true in duties that concern man and man, but in the
Veil 142.] sermons upon psalm cxix. 13
sublimer truths that concern commerce with God, where nature is more blind: Ps. xix. 9, 'The testimonies of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.' It is true where a carnal man would not have it true, in the curses and threatenings. If God's word be true, woe to them that remain in a sinful way, they shall find it true shortly, and feel what they will not believe. It is true where a godly man feareth it will not be true ; no promises contradicted by sense but will prove true in their performance. Whatsoever, in the hour of temptation, carnal reason may judge to the contrary, within a while you will see your unbelieving fears confuted.
4. It is the whole truth ; it containeth all things necessary for the salvation of those that yield up themselves to be instructed by it: John xiv. 26, ' He shall teach you all things,' and remember you of all things;' John xvi. 13, 'Lead you into all truth ; ' in all things that pertain to religion and our present conduct towards everlasting happi- ness. Therefore nothing is to be hearkened to contrary to what God hath revealed in his word ; there is no room left for tradition, nor for extraordinary revelations ; all that is necessary for the church is re- vealed there ; it is a full perfect rule.
Secondly, The reasons.
1. From the author ; God is a God of truth, and nothing but truth can come from him, for God cannot lie, Titus i. 2. The truth of the law dependeth upon the truth of God ; therefore it must needs be without error ; yea, it corrects all error ; if God could deceive or be deceived, you might suspect his word.