2. Bather than fail, he would take it from his sleep. Other busi-
VER. 147.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 75
ness must give way to the great work and interest, especially the most inconsiderable interests of recreation. We are bidden to redeem time, Eph. v. 16, rescue it from meat, sleep, company, and recreation. Surely this is an equitable proposal, let God have as much time every day as thou spendest unprofitably. Do but observe the spending of thy time, and be ashamed that God should have such a little share.
Use. Now you see David's instance, let this persuade you to this assiduity and diligence, to be ardent and instant in prayer, taking hold of all opportunities to pursue after God, without whom you can- not live : Ps. lxix. 32, ' Your hearts shall live, that seek God.' We cannot preserve any vitality without this. To press this —
1. Eetire often from company to be alone with God. Public duties are of little profit with us because we neglect private. God com- plaineth of his people, Jer. ii. 32, ' That they have forgotten him days without number.' How many days have gone over your heads, and God never heard from you ! You should no more forget him every day than a bride would forget her ornaments on the wedding-day.
2. Let me lay this before you ; you should be betimes with God, that you may not encroach upon your other occasions ; yea, that you may sanctify your other occasions, and be the fitter for it all the day after. Let not the soft enemy of sleep steal away your golden hours, and the flower and choicest part of time. A Christian that makes conscience of his time should not inure himself to a sluggish course, and turn in his bed like a door upon the hinges, if your constitution will bear it, otherwise we lay no blame upon you. The scriptures have many dissuasives from immoderate sleep, Prov. v. 9, xiii. 4, xxvi. 14, vi. 6. To be sure a Christian is to make conscience of time, and how he spendeth it ; and we may sin and surfeit in sleeping as well as in eating and drinking ; and therefore we must watch against the en- croachments of ease and sloth, lest a sluggish humour grow natural to us, and a morbid custom that cannot be shaken off.
3. It presseth you to fervency, though in private. As much fer- vency, sense, and zeal as you would express before men, so much should we express when alone. The name of God must be sanctified in all that draw near to him, in private as well as in public, otherwise he is scorned rather than honoured ; that it may appear you were sincere in prayer, and have not mean and low thoughts of God, other- wise you bring a suspicion upon all your public duties. There may be sometimes more assistance in public, more order and method for edification, but not more ardour and zeal. Pray with fervency, as to an all-seeing spirit. Though the Lord delayeth, yet he intendeth the enlargement of our desires : Lam. iii. 49, 50, ' Mine eye trickleth down and ceaseth not, without any intermission ; till the Lord looks down from heaven and beholds.' If you are soon discouraged you will get nothing.
4. Be sure that God hath his share. If business take up more time than prayer, because of the urgency of bodily necessities, yet ordinarily a man should not spend more time in any pastime and recreations than in religious exercises. It is most equal we should first seek the kingdom of God, and the righteousness thereof, Mat, vi. 33. The most needful duty should have most time bestowed upon it.
76 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. CLXV.
It i.s an ill character to be ' lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God,' 2 Tim. iv. 3. It is reasonable to give an equal time to God and religion as to sports and delights. Most men have no other thing to do than to eat, drink, and sleep ; if they should compare their re- ligion and their recreations, they would soon see what a large share of time one hath above the other.
Secondly, We come to the reason and encouragement of his dili- gence, / hoped in thy word ; that is, because I have thy word for it, I do not doubt but in time I shall reap the fruit of my prayers.
Doct, A lively hope, grounded upon the word of God, will put us upon this vigilancy and diligence in prayer.
The reasons are taken — (1.) From the word of God, which is the ground of hope : Ps. cxxx. 5, ' I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.' And (2.) From the nature of hope, which is the fountain of prayer.
First, From the word of God, which serveth for two uses — invita- tion and assurance.
1. For invitation, to give us leave to come to the throne of grace. David did not come unbidden or uninvited into God's presence ; he had his word for it ; the promises of the gospel give us liberty, other- wise we should not assume the boldness to appear before him : Ps. 1. 15. The word is our warrant, it is as it were the holding out of the golden sceptre : 2 Sam. vii. 27, ' Therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee.'