Doct. That a gracious heart will take all occasions to set itself a-work on holy things, and sometimes in the night.
David did frequently rouse up himself in the night to solace his soul with thoughts of God ; this was a frequent and cheerful exercise and employment to him.
1. I shall prove this argueth a gracious frame of spirit.
2. Show you some reasons why we should meditate sometimes in the night.
1. It argueth a gracious frame of heart to take all occasions to set our minds a-work on holv things ; for there are three things in it:—
[1.] Plenty of divine knowledge ; the heart is well stocked, and can entertain itself without help from abroad : Ps. xvi. 7, ' I will bless the Lord who hath given me counsel ; my reins also instruct me in the night season.' He had laid up a great deal of truth in his reins or inward parts, and when sleep fled from his eyes, out it came. So Prov. vi. 21, ' Bind them continually upon thy heart, and tie them about thy neck ; ' to be always ready and present with us. It is an excellent thing to have a good treasure in our hearts : Mat. xii. 35, ' A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good things.' Mauy a man's heart is stuffed with vanity, and then he is
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82 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SER. CLXVI.
vain in his thoughts, and vain in his discourses, and vain in his actions ; yea, 'the word of God doth not dwell in him richly,' Col. iii. 16; then your thoughts are very scant and barren ; as he that hath more brass farthings in his pocket than gold or silver, will more easily pull them out at every turn. Our leanness of soul and difficulty to meditate cometh from the want of a stock of knowledge.
[2.] It argueth spiritual delight and strong love : Ps. i. 2, ' But his delight is in the law of God, and in that law doth he meditate day and night.' Did we find such comfort as David did, we would break our sleep for that end. He that delights in the word is much conversant in it, for ubi amor ibi animus. All the time his necessities can spare, he will spend it in these private and spiritual exercises. Many men's time hangs upon their hands ; they do not know how to spend the sum- mer day nor the winter night ; but one that hath a strong affection to holy things, he rather wants time, such is his solace and delight in God. He beginneth his heaven upon .earth, and all the time he can get he is spending this way. But if we find no such comfort and repose of soul in meditation, no wonder that we are so averse from it. Our thoughts follow our affections, delight will set the mind a-work ; when others are sleeping securely, he mindeth his salvation.
[3.] It argueth sincerity : Ps. xvii 3, ' Thou hast proved mine heart ; thou hast visited me in the night ; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing.' In the night when darkness concealeth me from the eyes of men, then I exercise myself in spiritual thoughts. Many put on reli- gion as a disguise in the day ; in public actions they personate a zeal, and act a devout part ; but that is to be sincere when God hath a great share in our closest privacies and retirement.
2. Sometimes take the night as a special occasion : Ps. lxiii. 6, ' When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches ; ' Ps. lxxvii. 6, ' I call to remembrance my song in the night.' There is a double help for meditation in the night —
[1.] Solitude, then we are alone, and therefore fittest to meditate, when nobody disturbs us.
[2.] The silence of the night is also a help, when nothing is heard or seen to distract attention.
Use. What use shall we make of this ? We cannot lay a burden upon your consciences, and by way of absolute necessity exact these nocturnal meditations from you ; only in the general —
1. As much as our strength and natural necessities will rwrnit, we should be meditating night and day. It may be a shame to us that many tradesmen are up afore day to follow their callings, and that they should excel us. The Christians had their morning hymns to Christ in the times of persecution.
2. We may press you to the affection, though not to the season ; to be stored with good matter, and to have a strong delight in this work, and sincerity to make conscience of private duties.
3. If we wake in the night and our rest is broken off, then to exer- cise ourselves in holy thoughts. Many times it falleth out that we cannot sleep ; now we should spend the time in meditation and prayer, not in vain thoughts, or entertaining ourselves with carnal musings, or perplexing and anxious thoughts about the troubles that we are under.
VEK. 149.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 83
4. If David waked in the night, how much are they to blame that snort and sleep in the day, even in the time of worship, when others are entertaining communion with God. Surely if they had earnest affections this could not always be. The example of Eutychus should deter these ; Acts xx. 9, ' And there sat in the window a young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep ; and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead ; ' Mat. xxvi. 40, ' What ! could not ye watch with me one hour ? '