VeR. 164.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 195
straight and certain way to glory, but the word of God ? This is the hook of books, the food and comfort of our souls : Ps. lvi. 10, ' In God I will praise his word, in the Lord I will praise his word/ The best hold that faith can have of God is by his word. Let us own his word, and then, whatever his dispensations be, we have cause to praise him ; here is a sure hope to fix upon, and a sure rule to walk by. It cannot be told in a breath what benefit we have by it : here is matter of glorying, and firm confidence ; we need not fear men or devils as long as we have such a firm bulwark to secure us : here we have God's will made known, to give us notice of a blessed estate, and God's promise to give us an interest in it.
2. It noteth the dispensation of his providence, fulfilling his promises unto the faithful, and executing his threatenings on the wicked. He is the same in his works that he is in his word. His judgments are declared in his holy word, and executed in his righteous providence ; and therefore it is said of them that have not his word, Ps. cxlvii. 20, ' As for his judgments, they have not known them; praise ye the Lord.' Where they have not his word, the Lord's dealing with men injustice and mercy, and the course which he observeth in ruling the world, is not understood ; it lieth much in the dark, so that his providence is complicated with his word ; and as it is the sentence of his word exe- cuted, is matter of praise. Well, then, we must praise God for his righteous government of the world, according to his word ; whether it concern the church in general, or us in particular : Pie v. xvi. 7, ' True and righteous are thy judgments.' But because particular providences come nearest home, and do most affect us, I shall instance in them : —
[1.] Let me show you how we should praise God for his favours, and fulfilling of promises to us, and hearing our prayers, and remem- bering us for good in our low estate. Joshua leaveth this note when dying, Josh, xxiii. 14, 'I am going the way of all the earth; and ye know in all your hearts and all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord hath spoken to you ; all are come to pass, not one thing hath failed thereof.' Trust God, and try him, and you will return the same account with this, which was the result of all his experience. And Solomon taketh notice of God's fulfilling promises, 1 Kings viii. 20, 24, ' And the Lord hath per- formed his word that he spake ; who hath kept with thy servant David my father that thou prornisedst him ; thou spakest also with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled it with thine hand/ There is none of any acquaintance with God but find much of this. Now they should therefore praise the Lord, and love him ; so David, Ps. cxvi. 1, ' I will love the Lord, who hath heard the voice of my supplication.' When we have 'put promises in suit, and challenged God upon his word, he hath stood to it, justified our confidence; every fresh experi- ence in this kind should excite new love and praise-
[2.] In time of affliction, when divine dispensations go cross to our affections, and it may be to our prayers, yet even then should we praise the Lord. Job when the Lord had taken away, he blesseth the name of the Lord, Job i. 21. The Lord is worthy of praise and honour when he giveth and when he taketh away, when he emptieth and when he
19G SERMONS UPON rSALM cxix. [Ser. CLXXVIII.
filleth us with blessings. A child of God is of a strange temper ; he can fear him for his mercies, Hosea iii. 5, and praise him for his judg- ments, as in the text. It argneth a great measure of grace to give thanks to God at all times and for all things : 1 Thes. v. 17, 18, ' Re- joice ever more ; pray without ceasing ; in everything give thanks/ Simply we cannot give thanks for afflictions as afflictions, as we cannot pray for them, nor joy in them, but as they are a means of good to us. A thankful frame of heart bringeth meat out of the eater, encourage- ment out of the saddest providences, and taketh occasion to lift up itself in the praises of God even from those things which are matter of greatest discouragement and heartless dejection to others. It seeth the hand of God working for good to him. And then, on the other side, an un- thankful, repining, murmuring spirit soureth all our comforts, is ever querulous, whether crossed or pleased ; it entertaineth crosses with anger, and blessings with disdain. It is hard to be in any condition on this side hell wherein we have not cause to praise God ; even in great calamities, either for their fruit and issue, as our souls are bettered and humbled by them: Ps. cxix. 65, ' Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, according to thy word/ Wherein ? In giving him faith, and sensible and seasonable correction, ver. 67 ; and presently, ' Thou art good, and doest good,' ver. 68. Or else for their mitigation, as to deem them not insupportable, 1 Cor. x. 13 ; that we are not consumed, Lam. iii. 22 ; that not to the full merit of our sins : Ezra ix. 13, 'Thou hast punished us less than we have deserved ; ' that comforts come along with them ; that our afflictions do not exceed the measure of our comforts, 2 Cor. i. 5 ; that we have a good God still, who knoweth how to turn all to our advantage. Let us be persuaded he is well affected to us in Christ, and we will take anything kindly at his hand. All this is spoken that poor murmuring souls may not set out from so blessed a work ; yea, when other arguments fail, we may see the wis- dom, justice, and faithfulness of God in his sharpest corrections : Ps. cxix. 75, ' I know that thy judgments are right, and in faithfulness thou hast afflicted me.' It is a great honour to God to speak good of his name when his hand is smart upon us.