VEE. 171.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 251
And the sanctifying work of the Holy Ghost, by which we are wrought and prepared for everlasting life.
(2d.) So necessary and useful to know the way of salvation, the disease and remedy of our souls, our danger and the cure, our work and our wages, the business of life and our end, what is to be believed and practised, what we are to enjoy and do ; these are the things which concern us, all other knowledge is but curious and speculative, and hath more of pleasure than of profit. To know our own affairs, our greatest and most necessary affairs, these are the things we should busy ourselves about. '£^09 XPe'iCi> ' One thing is necessary,' Luke x. 42. Other things we may well spare. Now what is necessary but to know our misery that we may prevent it ; our remedy, that we may look after it in time ; our work and business, that we may perform it ; our end, that we intend it, and be encouraged by it ; what course we must take that we may be everlastingly happy ? Well, then, if God will show us what is good, Micah vi. 8, and teach us what is good, that we may know whither we are a-going, and which way we must go ; if he will give us counsel in our reins, to choose him for our portion, Ps. xvi. 5, we ought to bless his name. So the 11th verse, ' Thou wilt show me the path of life.' Though ignorant of other things, we are highly obliged for this discovery. It is the work of God to give us counsel, and should be matter of perpetual thanksgiving to us.
(3.) The use for which this knowledge serveth.
(1st.) To entertain communion with God for the present, for by knowing him, we come to enjoy him : Ps. xvii. 15, ' As for me I will behold thy face in righteousness ; I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness ; ' that is more than to have a portion in this world. And 1 John i. 3, ' That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us ; and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and his Son Jesus Christ.' By com- munion or fellowship is not meant a society of equals, but the dutiful yet cheerful attendance of an inferior on his superior, the creature on his creator ; but yet so as that there is a holy intimacy and familiarity in it, because we both love and are beloved of God. In every ordin- ance they draw nearer to God than others do ; for 1 John i. 7, ' If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another.' All our duties are the converse of a sanctified creature with a holy God, and a humble creature dealing with the blessed God for a supply of all their wants. They pour out their souls to him, and he openeth his ear and bosom unto them ; he teacheth them his way, and they walk in his paths, Isa. ii. 3. They walk in the fear of his name and the comforts of his Spirit, Acts ix. 31. They seek his glory as their great end, and live in the sense of his dearest love.
(2d.) To enjoy him for ever : ' This is life eternal, that they may know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent,' John xvii. 3. Alas ! what is the knowing how to get riches and plea- sures, and the vain glory of the world to this ? Surely you that are taught of God, your business is above other men's. While they drive on no greater trade than providing for the flesh, or feathering a nest that will quickly be pulled down, they are providing for everlasting glory and happiness. They aim at nothing beyond this life ; all
252 sermons uroN psalm cxix. [Ser. CLXXXIV.
their cares are confined within the narrow bounds of time and the compass of this world ; but these look higher, and begin a life which shall be perfected in heaven ; they are laying up treasure in heaven.
(4.) The manner of knowing things, when taught of God. They see things with greater clearness, certainty, efficacy, and power.
(1st.) With greater clearness. Others know words, but they know things, and therefore know as they ought to know them. They know the grace of God in truth, Col. i. 6. They have the spiritual dis- cerning, and that is a quite different thing from a literal discerning, 1 Cor. ii. 14. He hath an experimental and sweeter knowledge than learned men that are ungodly. He hath tasted that the Lord is gracious, the sweetness of his love, and the riches of his grace in Christ. The theory of divine knowledge, though never so exact, giveth us not this. They have more of the words and notions, but less of the thing itself, they have the sign, the other the thing signified; they break the shell, and the other eats the kernel ; they dress the meat, but the others feed upon and digest it ; dig in the mines of knowledge as negroes, but others have the gold. A rotten post may support a living tree.