Ans. 1. It is a truth that our whole time must be given to God, for a Christian is a dedicated thing, a living sacrifice, Kom. xii. 1. Now the beast offered in sacrifice with all the appurtenances was God's ; a Christian, by the consent of his own vows, is not master of anything. After a vow of all, we must not keep back part, as did Ananias and Sapphira. A Christian hath given his whole self, time, and strength to God.
2. Though our whole time be given to God, yet for several uses and purposes. God's service is not of one sort, and he is served in our callings as well as in our worship. Man in paradise was to dress the garden, Gen. ii. 15, as well as to contemplate God. Common actions may become sacred by their end and use : Isa. xxiii. 18, ' And her merchandise and her hire shall be holiness to the Lord.'
3. These several duties must not interfere and clash one with another, for God's commands are not contrary, but subordinate. We must not so attend upon religion as to neglect the service of our gene- ration, as instruments of God's providence ; nor suffer the lean kine to devour the fat, the world to encroach upon religion.
4. The particular seasons for each duty are not determined and set down in scripture.
[1.] Partly because God trusteth love, and Avill see whether we have a mind to cavil and wrangle and dispute away duties, rather than prac- tise them.
[2.] And partly because he would leave something to the conduct of his Spirit, and the choice of spiritual wisdom : Ps. cxii. 5, ' A good man will guide his affairs with discretion.'
[3.] And partly because men's occasions and conditions are different, and he would not have his law to be a snare.
[4.] And partly because there are so many occasions to praise God, that if we do not want a heart, we will be much and frequent in this duty.
5. Though there be no express rules, there is enough to prevent care- lessness and looseness. God calleth to us in very large and comprehen- sive terms, 'alwaj's/ 'continually,' ' and in everything.' The example of the saints who night and day were praising God : ' Paul and Silas at midnight sang praises to God/ Acts xvi. 29. So Ps. cxix. 62, ' At midnight will I rise to give thanks to thee, because of thy righteous judgments.' And in the text, ' Seven times a day.' Besides, there are daily solemn services, personal and domestic, to be performed, Mat. vi. 11 ; ' Watching daily at my gates,' Pro v. viii. 34. Morning and evening they were to offer a lamb, Num. xxviii. 4.
6. There are general hints and limits enough to become1 love : Ps. lxxi. 14, ' But I will hope continually, and will praise thee yet more and more.' Enough to keep the heart in good plight, and maintain faith and hope in God, and keep up a spiritual intercourse of com- munion with God by daily offering up prayers and praises to him.
1 So in original. — Ed.
VER. 165.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CX1X. 199
Quest. 2. Whether it be convenient to state and fix a time ?
David had his set times, so had Daniel ; and surely, all occasions, opportunities, and abilities considered, it may be a help to us, and make the spiritual life more orderly, to have set, stated, fixed times for the performance of this duty.
Thirdly, To suit God's word and works together, laws and judg- ments : Eom. i. 18, ' God hath revealed his wrath against all ungod- liness and unrighteousness ;' Heb. ii.2, ' Every transgression and every disobedience received a just recompense of reward.' Deliverances and promises fetch all out of the covenant : Ps. cxxviii. 5, ' The Lord shall bless thee out of Zion ; ' that relateth to the covenant made to the church ; this checketh atheism, sweeteneth our duties, allayeth our fears, and resolveth our doubts, and helpeth us in the delightful ex- ercise of praising God.
SEBMON CLXXIX.
Great peace have they thai love thy law, and nothing shall offend them. — Ver. 165.
All that live in this world find this life a warfare, Job vii. 1 ; much more must the godly expect difficulties and conflicts: Ps. xxxiv. 19, 'Many are the troubles of the righteous.' To the eye of flesh, no condition seemeth worse and more obnoxious to misery than the con- dition of those that serve God ; yet in reality none are in a better estate ; whatever happeneth, they are at peace, built on the corner- stone which God hath laid in Zion, and therefore in all the commo- tions and troubles of the world they are safe. This is that which David here observeth.
In the former verse he had told us that it was his custom to praise God seven times a day for his righteous judgments, and now he showeth the reason, namely, from the ordinary course and tenor of these judgments, or dispensation of his providence, which was to give peace to them that keep his law, ' Great peace,' &c.
In these words you have —
1. A privilege, great peace have they.