3. It is contrary to that obedience to God which we do profess. There is a practical lie as well as a virtual lie, when our practices do not correspond with our profession ; there is a lie acted, as well as a lie told. So Ephraim is said to compass God about with lies, Hosea xi. 12. To say we have fellowship with God, and walk in darkness, is a lie, 1 John i. 6, a lie that tendeth to the disgrace of religion, in opprobrium Christi: 1 John ii. 4, 'He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.' So he that speaketh much of the Spirit, and walketh after the flesh.
Reason 1. God is a God of truth. God cannot, nor will not lie, and his people must be like him.
Reason 2. His word is the word of truth, his law requireth truth ; and all falsehoods and deceits are contrary to that justice and charity which it establisheth. His gospel is a gospel of truth : Eph. i. 13, ' After ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation/
Reason 3. He requireth and worketh truth in the reins and inward parts : Ps. Ii. 7, ' Behold thou desirest truth in the inward parts.'
Use. Oh ! then, hate and abhor lying. You cannot be accepted of God else : Jer. v. 3, ' 0 Lord, are not thine eyes upon the truth ? ' You cannot have grace in your own hearts : 2 Cor. i. 12, ' This is our rejoicing, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, we have had our con-
VeE. 164.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. L89
versations in the world ;' nor long continue undiscovered before men : Prov. xxvi. 26, ' His wickedness shall be showed before the congre- gation.' Let us not lie to God in our promises we make to him : Ps. Ixxviii. 34-36, ' When he slew them, then they sought him ; and they returned and inquired early after God; and they remembered that God was their rock, and the Most High their redeemer : nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues.' In your worship, do not compass him about with lies, com- plain of burdens which you feel not, express desires which you have not. In your profession, do not make it a veil and cover for your lusts. A wicked or carnal design is inconsistent with uprightness of heart. As to men, abhor all false and deceitful practices and speeches. When the apostle biddeth us abhor that which is evil, he first saith, Let love be without dissimulation, Bom. xii. 9. You are not to live by interest, but by conscience. Therefore abhor all hypocrisy, falsehood, treachery, which are unworthy any ingenuous man, much more a Christian.
SERMON CLXXVIII.
Seven times a day do I praise thee, because of thy righteous judgments. —
Ver. 164.
In these words the man of God giveth further proof of his love and delight in the word, by praising God for that benefit. His praise is illustrated —
1. By the frequent repetition of that duty, seven times a day do I praise thee.
2. The subject-matter, because of thy righteous judgments, i.e., God's dispensations agreeing with his word.
First, The frequency of the duty, ' seven times a day ;' that is, very often ; numerus definitus pro indejinito, a number certain put for an uncertain. Seven is often used for many, as Lev. xxvi. 18, ' I will punish you seven times more for your sins ;' that is, not exactly seven, but many and divers times : Prov. xxiv. 16, 'A just man falleth seven times a day, and riseth up again : Prov. xxvi. 25, ' There are seven abominations in his heart;' 1 Sam. ii. 5, 'She that is barren hath borne seven, and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.' So here, I give thanks to thee as often as I meditate of them. Some of the Jewish rabbis stick in the very literal number, seven — twice in the morning, before the reading of the law, and once after it, and at noon, and so in the evening as in the morning ; so Rabbi Solomon. Indeed elsewhere, Ps. lv. 17, ' Evening and morning and at noon will I praise the Lord ; ' but whether with such scrupulous observation of hours is not certain.
Secondly, The subject-matter, 'Thy righteous judgments,' whereby is meant —
1. God's most righteous laws and precepts, called the ordinances of judgment and justice, Isa. lviii. We caunot sufficiently bless God for the benefit of his word.
190 sermons upon rsALM cxix. [Ser. CLXXVIII.
2. The dispensations of his providence suiting therewith, whether they concern us or others. The word is fulfilled in the punishment of the wicked, and in giving the promised reward to the righteous. All God's dealings are righteous judgments, and matter of praise is still offered to us from the comforts and blessings of his providence. There is no question of that ; the smallest of his mercies should not be overlooked, though notable mercies should be continually remem- bered, Ps. lxviii. 19. Not only daily benefits, but great deliverances are a standing ground of thanksgiving : Ps. lxvi. 2, ' Sing forth the honour of his name, make his praise glorious, show forth his salvation from day to day ,' especially now the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ ami the great salvation is more clearly revealed, we should never think of it, nor read it, nor hear of it, without some considerable act of joy and thankfulness. Again, so for the dispensations of God to others, in protecting his people, in punishing his enemies. It is a great confirmation of faith to see promises and threatenings fulfilled on others, how punctually God niaketh good his word to all that trust in him, Ps. xviii. 30 ; on all those that reject it and despise it : 'As we have heard, so have we seen,' Ps. xlviii. 8. They that believe the word of God, and do mark what is foretold in the word, shall find the event and work of providence suitable to the prediction.