Ver. 1G5.J SERB10NS UPON PSALM CXIX. 209
xlviii. 22 ; Ps. lvii. 20, 21. It is not allowed to wicked men, nor vouchsafed to them. It is true they may have a peace, but it is either in sin or from sin ; they do not mind the condition of their souls, a blind presumption that merely cometh from God's forbearance, or worldly happiness in prosperity. Carnal men seem to be in as great quietness as the children of God ; as the deep sea in a calm, which seemeth to be as quiet as other waters, until a storm and tempest doth arise, then troubled, and cannot rest.
Use 2. To persuade us to love the law of God by this argument, because we shall have great peace ; for the promise is made to this love.
But you will say, How must we show love to the law of God, that we may obtain this effect ?
I answer — Practise the duties it calleth for in order to peace.
1. Accept the articles of peace, that are proclaimed between God and mankind in and through Christ. Eph. ii. 17, there is peace preached, not only to them that are afar off, but to them that are nigh ; there is not only a price paid, but an offer made. Embrace it, lay hold upon it by faith ; God is in good earnest with you, 2 Cor. v. 20. Oh ! love this good word ; it is the gladdest tidings that ever sounded in the ears of lost sinners. Now is your time, agree with your adversary while he is in the way, before you be cast into prison, Luke xii. 58. If you lose this opportunity, and do not embrace the offered friendship, God will be exceeding angry: Heb. ii. 3, ' How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation ? ' 2 Chron. xxx. 8, ' Therefore give the hand to the Lord.'
2. Perform the duty of thankfulness which God requires, Mat. xi. 29. Peace is the fruit of sanctification, as well as justification; it is not to be found elsewhere, Isa. xxxii. 17.
3. Be much in communion with God and trading with heaven : ' Acquaint thyself with God,' Job xxii. 21.
4. Be tender of your peace, when it is once settled, of doing anything that may cause war between God and the soul, Ps. lviii. 8. Take heed of venturing your peace for the vanities of the world, those sinful and foolish courses which will lay you open to God's wrath and displeasure : Ps. xxxvii. 11, ' The meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.'
SERMON CLXXX.
Great 'peace have they that love thy law, and nothing shall offend them. — VePv. 165.
I now come to the effect, ' Nothing shall offend them.' The Septuagint, ovk earcv avTois GK&vhaXov, there is no scandal in them. The apostle John applieth the same phrase or form of speech to him that loveth his brother, ovk eaTiv iv avrS) aKtivSakov, there is no occasion of stumbling in him. The meaning is, they shall not be in danger of vol. ix. . " o
210 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SER. CLXXX.
those snares and temptations which the world is full of, and which frequently bring other men to sin and ruin ; or nothing shall wound or hurt them, or cause them to fall in their journey to heaven.
Doct. That the love of God's law is a great means to carry a believer straight on his way to heaven, whatever temptations he hath to the contrary.
Here I shall inquire —
1. What scandals and offences are.
2. How a believer is preserved.
First, What scandals and offences are? I answer — Scandals literally signifieth temptations, or inducements to sin, any stumbling- block or hindrance laid in a man's way, by which the passenger is detained or diverted, or at which, if he be not careful, he is apt to stumble or fall. Spiritually it signifieth anything that may discourage or divert us from our duty to God, or may occasion us to fall, to the great loss or ruin of our souls.
Now, concerning these scandals or offences, I shall give you these distinctions. With respect to the subject, there are three sorts of scandals: — (1.) Taken, but not given; (2.) Given, but not taken; (3.) Both given and taken.
1. There is offence taken where none is given. Thus Christ himself, in his person, sufferings, doctrine, may be an offence to the carnal and unbelieving world. In his person, as he is said to be, 1 Peter ii. 8, ' A stone of stumbling and a rock of offence to them that stumbled at the word, being disobedient, whereunto they were also appointed.' He that is to the believer a corner-stone elect and precious, is to the obstinate prejudiced unbeliever, with allusion to those that travel by land, a stone of stumbling, to those that 'travel by sea, a rock of offence ; his slender appearance was an offence to them. As to his sufferings, it is said, 1 Cor. i. 23, that ' Christ crucified is to the Jews a stumbling-block, and to the Greeks foolish- ness.' They had not a Messiah to their mind, though such an one as the scriptures had before described. His doctrine : Mat. xv. 12, ' His disciples said to him, Knowest thou not that the pharisees were offended when they heard this saying ? ' Again, John vi. 61, when they murmured at his saying, Except ye eat my flesh, 'Doth this offend you ? ' Flesh and blood are apt to stumble in God's plainest ways : at the doctrine of God, which is strict and spiritual ; the worship of God, that is simple and without pomp ; the dispensations of God, in chastising and afflicting his people ; they are all an offence to carnal and worldly men, and so through their sin prove an impedi- ment to the success of the gospel. But this offence is causeless, and without any just ground ; and without special grace, when it prevaileth with men, will prove their eternal ruin and destruction. God never intended to satisfy men's lusts and humours ; truth must be taught, whoever be displeased ; therefore all our care must be to avoid this kind of offence : Mat, xii. 6, ' Blessed is he that is not offended in me,' that doth not stumble at Christ because of the cross, nor the holiness of his doctrine, nor the simplicity of his worship, nor the despicableness of his followers, nor the troubles that attend his service.