1. Deliverance after a doubtful conflict. No man goeth to war but carrieth his life in his hands, and the event is very uncertain. Now when it is unexpectedly determined on our side, there is great rejoicing.
2. The joy of victory, especially to be victorious in a battle.
3. There is booty and spoil, whereby men are enriched, and so profit as well as pleasure.
4. The joy of honour and triumph over fallen enemies.
5. Peace and ease from toil. All these make the joy of victorious men in a battle to be a great joy.
Secondly, It was a fit similitude for David to use, who was a great warrior, and so a man not unacquainted with the joy of victory. A gracious heart spiritual]' seth every occasion that falleth out in their ordinary callings : here is great joy, but this is nothing to the know- ledge of God's will.
Thirdly, Every Christian is a warrior against Satan, the world, and the flesh ; so it is a fit similitude for them. Victory over sin and Satan is above all the conquests in the world ; this is a part of the good news the word bringeth to us, Col. ii. 14, 15 ; John xvi. 33.
Now observe, in the former verse David had expressed his reverence to the word, now his delight.
First, Our trembling at the word doth not hinder our delight in it ; none more cheery than the aweful soul : Acts ix. 31, ' They walked in the fear of God and comfort of the Holy Ghost ; ' and Ps. cxii. 1, ' Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.' Those who are most observant of God's will, and careful to follow it, have the greatest contentment in their souls.
Secondly, Joy should be mingled with reverence, lest it degenerate into slavery and a scrupulous fear.
Doct. That God's people do greatly rejoice in his word.
1. It is not an ordinary delight which is here set forth, but such as is high and intense, such joy as the richest and most gainful victory
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ITS SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [Ser. CLXXV1.
can raise in any worldly man. It is incredible, and cannot be expressed, v much joy and comfort the word of God yieldeth to good men ; : herefore so many similitudes used: 'More than in all riches/ Ps. cxix. 14 ; ' Sweeter than honey and the honeycomb,' vcr. 103 ; ' I love it above gold, and above fine gold,' ver. 127. A joy greater than the joy of worldly men.
2. It is not a light flash, or a fantastical impression, but a solid consolation, such as is affliction-proof and death-proof, when the strength of this joy cometh to be tried and assaulted by deep afflictions. Therefore the heirs of promise are said to have strong consolation, Heb. vi. 18. So ver. 50 of this psalm, 'This is my comfort in mine affliction, thy word hath quickened me.'
3. This joy, which is the mark of a sound believer, is delighting to know, believe, and obey God's word. For it is in the way of his testimonies, Ps. cxix. 14. It is in his commandments they delight greatly. Study and contemplation breedeth a pleasure, but nothing like practice. The pleasures and delights of the mind do certainly exceed those of the body, for the more noble the faculty is, the more capable of delight. A man in study hath a truer pleasure than the greatest epicure in the most exquisite enjoyments of sense. Now moral delights exceed those which are the mere result of contemplation, as they give us a more intimate feeling of the worth of things. Again those delights which are supernatural, and come from the Spirit, as the pleasures of faith and obedience do, exceed those of the natural mind as much as those do bodily pleasures, as being exercised about nobler objects, which are the sense of the favour of God, and recon- ciliation with him, and the hopes of eternal life ; and as coming from a higher cause, the Spirit of God. Therefore, upon the whole, there is no true delight and contentment but what proceedeth from a careful performance of God's commands, strictly abstaining from what may displease him, and cheerfully practising all that he requireth of us. Truly the present gratefulness of such an employment, and the suc- ceeding comforts of such practices, are a continual feast ; all other pleasures to this are nothing worth. The obedience of faith to a believer is more than any worldly advantage. It is a sweet thing to be exercised in the word of God, in reading and hearing it with serious meditation, but much more to be brought under the power and practice of it.
Reason 1. The godly find glad tidings in the word, suitable to their soul's necessities, and therefore rejoice in it. For the object of delight is bonum conveniens et svfficiens ; here is enough to content them, and it is very suitable. There is pardon of sins, and that is ground of joy : Mat. ix. 2, ' Be of good cheer, thy sins be forgiven thee ; ' there we hear of a Saviour : 1 Tim. i. 15, ' This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners.' When the gospel was preached at Samaria, Acts viii. 8, ' There was great joy in that city.' Zaccheus received Christ joyfully, for he brought salvation to his house, Luke xix. 6. There is the true way of mortifying sin and sanctifying the heart : Ps. xix. 8, ' The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the soul ; the com- mandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.' There we are