2. Because it bindeth and helpeth to obedience, partly as it showeth the absolute necessity of obedience, because the terms of salvation are in- dispensably fixed, and will everlastingly stand in force ; therefore I must yield to God or perish. The soul cometh off most kindly to the ways of God when it is shut up unavoidably, without all hope of escape and evasion but by yielding to God's terms. The Lord will have the world
28 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [Ser. CLXI.
know that there is no hope of a dispensation : Mark xvi. 16, 'He that believeth shall he saved, and he that believeth not shall be damned/ The terms are peremptorily fixed ; there is no relaxation in the gospel covenant. Now this doth bind the heart exceedingly to consider, ver. 152 of this psalm, ' Concerning thy testimonies, I have known them of old ; thou hast founded them for ever.' And partly as it urgcth to speediness of obedience. You will not get better terms, for the right- eousness of God's terms is everlasting ; as good yield at first as at last. The laws of Christianity are always the same, and your heart is not likely to be better by delay. Your standing out were more justifiable in the account of reason if you could get better terms. Partly as it engageth to seriousness whilst it carrieth the mind off from the vanities of the world into the midst of the world to come. I am not to mind what will content me for the present, but what will profit me for ever: holiness will abide when other things fade. My ways are to be scanned by an eternal rule. Some distinctions will not outlive time, as rich and poor, high and low ; but the distinction of holy or unholy, sanctified or unsanctified, these abide : 1 Peter i. 24, ' All flesh is grass, and the glory of man as the flower of grass ; the grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away, but the word of the Lord endureth for ever.' Nothing stirreth us up more to provide for a better life than to consider the uncertainty of the world's glory, and the everlasting- ness of God's approbation according to the rule of his word. When all things are dissolved, we are to be tried by a rule that will never fail. Our pomp, and honour, and credit, and all things that we hunt after in the world, are soon blasted, but the gospel tells us of things that are everlasting — everlasting torments and everlasting bliss ; and therefore our thoughts should be more about them : Isa. lv. 2, ' Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread ? and your labour for that which satisfieth not ? ' and John vi. 27, ' Labour not for the meat that perisheth, but for that meat which endureth to everlasting life/ And partly as it engageth to constancy in obedience ; for it must last as long as our rule lasteth. You are eternally bound to love God, and fear him and obey him. We must not only begin well, or serve him now and then in a good mood, but so love God as to love him for ever, so cleave to him as never to depart from him. For his law is an eternal obligation ; you must never cease your work till you receive your wages, and that is when you enter into eternity. Yea, much of our work is wages, loving, praising God ; all duties that do not imply weakness are a part of our happiness. Thus it hath a greater influence upon our obedience than we were at first aware of.
3. Because it conduceth much to our comfort. The apostle telleth us that the comfort of believers is built upon two immutable grounds, therefore it is so strong, Heb. vi. 18. Now this everlasting righteous- ness of God's testimonies is a comfort to us —
[1.] In all the changes of men's affections towards us. Sometimes they smile and sometimes they frown, but the promises ever remain the same. There is Yea and Nay with men, but not with the promises ; they are all Yea and Amen in Christ, 2 Cor. i. 20. Times alter and change, but the tenor of the covenant is always the same.
[2.J It comforts us in the changes of God's dispensations to us.
VER. 144.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 29
God may change his dispensations, yet his purposes of grace stand firm, and are carried on unalterably, by various and contrary means. We must interpret providence by the covenant, not the covenant by providence. We know the meaning of his works best by going into his sanctuary. The world misconstrueth his work and dealing to his children many times. If it be rightly interpreted, you will find God's righteousness is an everlasting righteousness. Sometimes God's pro- vidence is dark, but always just : Ps. xcvii. 2, ' Clouds and darkness are round about him ; righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne ; ' Hab. i. 12, ' Art not thou from everlasting, 0 Lord my God ? ' That was the prophet's support in those sad times, when a treacherous people were exalted, when he was embrangled and lost about God's dispensations ; this was his comfort and support, God's eternal immutability in the covenant. He is always the same, loveth his people as much as ever, as faithful and mindful of his covenant as ever ; only a veil of sense covereth our eyes that we cannot see it.