Use. To encourage the people of God, when they miss his help in the spiritual life, to lay open their case to God. The thought of strict justice striketh us dumb, there is no claiming by that covenant ; but the remembrance of this merciful right or judgment should open our mouths in prayer, and loosen our tongues in acquainting God with our case : Lord, I want that life and quickening which thy promises seem to speak of. You may do it with the more confidence for these reasons : —
1. Consider the tenor of this judgment, or the terms thereof, the mildness of the court in which you plead ; it is not a covenant of justice, but of favour ; in it grace taketh the throne, not justice ; the judge is Christ ; the law according to which judgment is given is the gospel ; our plea is grace, not merit ; the persons allowed to plead are penitent sinners ; yea, they are not only, allowed to plead for them- selves, but they have an advocate to plead for them : the very judge is their advocate ! Oh ! let us hold God to this latter covenant, and judgment of grace, mercy, and goodness: Lord, upon these terms we dare come unto thee.
2. Consider the blessing offered in this covenant: Heb. iv. 16, ' Mercy and grace to help.' It offereth mercy for pardon of sins, a blessing which the law knew not ; and grace to help, that is for our purpose. It is a covenant which alloweth you expenses to run the way of God's commandments, gives you straw to make your brick,
9G SERMONS UPON PSALM cxix. [See. CLXVIII.
filleth your hand to pay the master's rent. It is not a hard master, to reap where it soweth not, but will cause you to walk and run whither it sends you.
3. Consider, there is nothing in God contrary to us, or standeth in our way, for it is all removed by this judgment or covenant. If any- thing, it is the justice of God; but that doth not stand in our way, being satisfied by Christ.
[1.] If you take justice, as it implieth his remunerative and vindic- tive justice, we have the merit of Christ to plead: there is a ransom paid by him, to whom the sinner is fled for refuge. So that God may do us good without any blemish or imputation of defect to his right- eousness and justice against sin, Kom. iii. 24, 25 ; 1 John i. 9.
[2.] As righteousness implieth the rectitude of his nature : ' In thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness,' Ps. cxliii. 1. These things, that terrify others, comfort the godly ; the righteousness and truth of God are their support. His veracity is a part of his right- eousness, as it becometh every just man to make good his promises.
SERMON CLXVIII.
They draw nigh that follow after mischief: they are far from thy law. — Ver. 150.
Here in this verse he giveth an account what was the cause of his frequent and earnest crying unto God, of his hope, meditation, begging for quickening ; because he was ready to be destroyed by those who every day went off further and further from God's law ; they were ready to accomplish their wicked and malicious purpose upon him, and prepared for it, and even now at his heels to do him harm and mischief: ' They draw nigh,' &c. In the words we have —
1. An intimation of approaching danger, they draw nigh that follow after mischief
2. A description of those from whom the danger was feared, they are far from thy law.
First, ' They draw nigh,' &c. The enemy is at hand, even at the doors ; the prophet speaketh as if he did hear the sound of his feet, yet they are as far from thy law as near to destroy me.
Doct. Extreme danger may sometimes draw nigh unto, and even tread upon the heels of God's people.
Eeasons.
1. From the implacable malice of their enemies.
[1.] They seek the destruction of the people of God, nothing less will content them; this is implied in the word mischief in the text: to /jit] elvai, Ps. lxxxiii. 4, ' Come let us cut them off from being a nation, that the name of Israel may no more be in remembrance.' That is their aim, that not one of that denomination be left : Ps. cxxxvii. 7, ' Ease, rase it, even to the foundation thereof,' Nothing will satisfy
VER. 150.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 9*7
them but utter ruin and extirpation : they that expect milder terms from the seed of the serpent, flatter themselves with a vain hope.
[2.] They follow this end with all industry and diligence ; this is implied in the phrase that follow after mischief They watch all occasions, pursue every advantage to bring their purpose to pass. Some in scripture are said to follow after righteousness, Isa. li. 1. It noteth their constant trade and study. It may be rendered pur- suers of righteousness, as in the text, pursuers of mischief. They that follow after righteousness are such as continue constant in the serious and sedulous practice of holiness ; and they that follow after mischief are such as are unwearied in the prosecution of their malicious designs. It implieth a metaphor taken from the vehemency of hunts- men in the pursuit of their foe or prey. So Pro v. xxi. 21, ' He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life ; ' and Heb. xii. 14, SicotceTe tijv elptfvrjv, ' Follow peace and holiness ; ' as Asahel pursued Abner, 2 Sam. ii. 19, 'And turned not to the right hand or to the left from following after Abner.' The Septuagint renders here KaraSico- Kovres fie avofita, ' They earnestly seek to undo me.'