[3.] Because our outward condition doth work a great change in us. A Christian should, and in some measure doth, carry an equal mind in all conditions, and keep the same pace whether he goeth up-hill or down-hill, and have his heart fixed in God whatever falleth out : Ps. cxii. 7, ' He shall not be afraid of evil tidings, his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord/ But, alas ! we are much discomposed often- times, especially at the first onset, by our outward estate ; when under great afflictions, it puts a damp upon our spirits, and we cannot serve God so cheerfully : Lev. x. 19, ' And Aaron said unto Moses, Behold, this day have they offered their sin-offering and their burnt-offering before the Lord, and such things have befallen me ; and if I had eaten the sin-offering to-day, should it have been accepted in the sight of the
88 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SER. CLXVII.
Lord.' So Hezekiah, it is said of him 2 Chron. xxxii. 25, when Hezekiah was sick unto death, and he prayed unto the Lord, and he gave him a sign, that Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him, for his heart was lifted up. We are too apt to be dejected and cast down with worldly troubles, or exalted and puffed up with worldly comforts, and both bring on deadness upon the heart, both worldly sorrow and carnal complacency. It is not requi- site that a child of God should be without all sense of his condition, and it cannot be supposed that this sense should always be kept within bounds, and under the coercion and government of grace, considering our weakness ; and therefore a Christian receiveth some taint from the changes he passes through, as the water doth from the soil through which it runneth. He is sometimes in credit, sometimes in disgrace ; sometimes rich, sometimes poor ; sometimes sick and in pain, at other times in health and firm constitution of body. Now, though it argueth small strength to faint in ordinary afflictions, Prov. xxiv. 10, and a light spirit to be puffed up like a bubble with every slight blast, yet when troubles are heavy and pressing, God's best servants have been ready to die and faint, and in a full estate it is hard to keep down carnal rejoicing. By both, the freedom of following God's service cheerfully may often be interrupted.
[4.] Because we sin away our life and strength, and by our careless walking contract deadness and hardness of heart. The mind, like the eye, is soon offended and out of temper : we forfeit the quickening influences of his Spirit, upon which the activity of grace dependeth. To correct our sinful rashness, and to teach us more watchfulness and caution, God withdraweth, Phil. ii. 12, 13. Be the sin a sin of com- mission, especially if grievous and heinous ; as David found a shrewd abatement of life and vigour after his foul sin, Ps. Ii. 11, 12 ; or a sin of omission, when we neglect God or serve him slightly. If we give way to deadness, Isa. lxiv. 6, rest in the work wrought, and are more willing to get a duty over than to perform it with any life and vigour, God suspends his quickening. If you do not mind the work, why should God quicken you in it ?
3. The third reason is taken from the nature of God's dispensations. They do often and earnestly ask quickening, because God giveth out by degrees, and would keep us in constant dependence : ' In him we live, move ' (ki,vov/jl€0o) , ' and have our being,' Acts xvii. 28, both as crea- tures and new creatures. There is a constant concurrence of his motions and influences by their beings and operations. God will endear his grace to us by bringing us daily under new debt ; and therefore he doth not give us all our stock and portion in our hands, lest we neglect him, as the prodigal did his father. By multiplied and renewed acts of grace he doth more commend his love to us ; every day he must quicken us, and in every duty. If so much rain fell in a day as would suffice the earth for seven years, the commerce between the air and the earth would cease ; or if a man could eat so much at one meal as to go in the strength of it all his life, there would be no ground to pray for daily bread ; therefore God doth dispense his assist- ances so as you must still wait upon him and be calling to him. He keepeth grace in his own hand that he may often hear from us.
VEE. 149.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 89
Doct. 2. The main argument which God's children have to plead in prayer is his own favour and loving-kindness. I shall show —
1. That this is a modest, humble, and pious argument.
2. This is a comfortable and encouraging argument.