SERMON CLXX.
Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever. — Ver. 152.
In this verse is a further illustration of the last clause of the former. He had said there, ' Thy commandments are ipsissima Veritas ; ' now he amplifieth that saying from God's ordination and appointment, ' Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever.' The prophet ends this octonary and paragraph with some triumph of faith ; and after all his conflicts and requests to God, goeth away with this assurance, that God's word should be in- fallibly accomplished, as being upon his own experience of unchange- able and unerring certainty. Two things you may observe in the words : —
1. The constant and eternal verity of God's testimonies, thou hast founded them for ever.
2. David's attestation to it, I have knoivn of old that it is so. What the word of God is in itself; and then what is the opinion of the believer concerning it.
First, What the scriptures are in themselves.
1. For their nature ; they are God's testimonies, or the significations of his will.
2. For their stability ; they are founded (there is a great emphasis in that word), and that by God, ' Thou hast founded them.'
3. For their duration, and everlasting use ; in that word ' for ever,' of an eternal use and comfort.
Secondly, David's attestation or persuasion of this, ' I have known of old.5
I here observe —
1. His persuasion.
2. The date and standing of his persuasion ; it was ancient, ' I have known of old.'
1. His persuasion, ' I have known.' There is a twofold knowledge —the knowledge of faith, and the knowledge of sense ; both agree with the words.
[1.] The knowledge of faith : ' I know that my Redeemer lives,' that is, I believe it ; what we read concerning thy testimonies. Other translations read, by thy testimonies : ' I have known by thy testi- monies.' The Septuagint, eyvcov m toiv jxaprvpiwv aou, have been persuaded of this by thy Spirit out of the word itself.
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114 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SER. CLXX.
[2.] The knowledge of sense and experience : I myself have known by sundry experiences heretofore, which I shall never forget.
2. The date and ancientness of this persuasion, ' of old.' It was not a late persuasion, or a thing that he was now to learn. He always knew it since he knew anything of God, that God had owned his word as the constant rule of his proceedings with creatures, in that God had so often made good his word to him, not only by present and late, but old and ancient experiences. Well, then, David's 'persuasion of the truth and unchangeableness of the word was not a sudden humour, or a present fit, or a persuasion of a few days1 standing, but he was con- tinned in it by long experience. One or two experiences had been no trial of the truth of the word, they might seem but a good hit ; but his word ever proveth true, not once or twice, but always. What we say ' of old,' the Septuagint reads, tear apya<$, ' from the beginnings,' that is, either —
[1.] From my tender years. Timothy knew the scriptures from a child, 2 Tim. iii. 15 ; so David very young was acquainted with God and his truth.
[2.] Or from the first time that he began to be serious, or to mind the word in good earnest, or to be a student either in God's word or works, by comparing providences and promises, he found, concerning his testimonies, that God had founded them for ever.
[3.] Lastly, ' of old,' may be what I have heard of all foregoing ages, their experience as well as mine : Ps. xxii. 4, 5, ' Our fathers trusted in thee ; they trusted, and thou didst deliver them ; they cried unto thee, and were delivered ; they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.'
The points are three : —
Doct. 1. There is an everlasting stability, and a constant unchange- able truth in God's testimonies.
Doct. 2. This must be known by us, or apprehended by us.
Doct. 3. Experiences of former times should give us encouragement to trust God for what is future.
Doct. 1. There is an everlasting stability and a constant unchange- able truth in God's testimonies.
Proof. Ps. cxi. 8, 'All his commandments are sure ; they stand fast for ever and ever.' The word of God is of perpetual use and comfort, not in one condition, but in all ; in every age of the world you have the effects of it : it shall be made good to us in the world to come : 2 Cor. i. 20, ' For all the promises of God in him are Yea, and in him Amen ;' of one invariable tenor, and of a sure and certain accomplish- ment. They do not say Yea and Nay, but Yea and Amen ; Yea to our hopes, and Amen to our desires.
Reasons. It must needs be so, if we consider —
1. Their author.
2. Their foundation.
3. Their use.