[2.] The particular nature of this experience ; it is peace, which doth guard heart and mind, Phil. iv. 7, that they are not disturbed or distracted by anything that befalleth them, but enjoy a calm in their souls, whatever storms overtake or befall them in the way of their duty : Eph. vi. 15, ' Having our feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.' This is the gospel-shoe ; there is no going to heaven without it ; and this is peace, that is, peace with God. When all is quiet within, and the quarrel is taken up between God and us, we can the better bear the frowns of the world. And he calleth it the gospel of peace, because it mainly dependeth on the terms of grace revealed to us in the gospel. The law discovereth the enmity and the breach, but the gospel discovereth how peace may be had. He calleth it also the preparation, eroLfiaala, because this peace breedeth a firm and ready resolution to go through all difficulties, crosses, and hardships : Acts xxi. 13, ' I am ready not only to be bound, but to die at Jerusa- lem.' Well, then, this is the fruit of peace and friendship between God and sinners. It breedeth a resolution to hold on our way to
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heaven, notwithstanding crosses and continual hardships, and allayeth the bitterness of all worldly trouble.
3. There is God's providence and care over them, who is concerned in the protection of all that love his law, and take care to love and please him. On the one side, God sometimes threateneth the wicked, that he will lay stumbling-blocks before them, Jer. vi. 21, that is, bring those things npon them that shall be a means of ruin to them. On the other side, Jer. xxxi. 9, that he will lead the penitent believer in a straight way, that they shall not stumble. We must not omit God's concurrence, for it is his promise that nothing shall offend them. His people are very near and dear to him. Our Lord telleth us in his dis- course against offending them, that ' their angels do always behold the face of his Father which is in heaven,' Mat. xviii. 10 ; that is, though the angels be appointed to be their guardians on earth, yet they have their continual returns and recourse to God's glorious presence, to make requests or complaints in their behalf, or to receive commands concerning them ; for as God seeth fit they are employed in service for the benefit of those little ones. I remember Solomon saith, Prov. xii. 21, ' There shall no evil happen to the just, but the wicked shall be filled with mischief.' We can easily understand that the wicked shall be overwhelmed with God's judgments ; but how shall no evil happen to the righteous, since their troubles are many ? The meaning of the place is, as Augustine well glosseth, non ut non eveniant, sed ut non noceant — they do not stumble at afflictions, nor are they deserted by God, as others are. God moderateth the evil, 1 Cor. x. 13, or removeth it, Ps. cxxv. 3, or turneth it to good, Kom. viii. 28. Now, by this gracious dealing of God, it cometh to pass that nothing doth offend them. Those that depend on the favour of men, and the uncertainties of a worldly condition, how many troubles are they exposed unto t Therefore we should look to our confidence, whether it be faith or security, whether we rest upon a carnal pillow, or the corner-stone which God hath laid in Sion.
Use. It concerneth us all to look to this, whether we love the law so as to have gotten peace of conscience and assurance of God's pro- tection, because of the multitude of scandals, and the trials and exer- cises we are put upon by God's correcting hand ; the prosperity of the wicked ; the disgrace that is cast on the stricter ways of God ; the world being so full of snares and temptations, that bring men to sin and ruin. Omnia timeo, saith Bernard, ct quce placeant, et quce tristentur — I am afraid of everything, of those things that please us, and those that make us sad. What shall a poor Christian do that he may not miscarry ?
1. Be sure that your resolutions for God and the world to come be thoroughly fixed and settled ; for you will be distracted with every- thing if you be not at a point, and have not chosen the better part, and fully fixed your purpose. The apostle telleth us, Jame s i. 8, ' The double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.' A wavering and inconstant Christian will not know which way to turn himself, being disquieted upon all occasions.
2. They never rightly begin with God that do not sit down and count what it may cost them to be holy Christians : Luke xiv. 26, ' If
VER. 165.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 217
any man come to me, and hate not his father and mother, and wife and children, and brethren and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.' If you have not a preparation of mind to suffer anything rather than part with Christ, you are not fit for his turn ; like a man that sets on building, and hath not a stock to hold out ; or designeth a war, and is not provideth with all necessaries to go through with it. You must expect temptations and troubles, be- cause they serve to try whether you will hold your integrity ; and if God be not sufficient enough to be your portion, never serve him. Never pretend to religion if you do not resolve to renounce all that is precious to you in the world rather than forsake it.