Last of all, from the connection of this text with the former words, observe,
Doct. [Fifth,] That the course of the children of God is a course contrary to the stream of the world. ' They withdraw away from thee, and shall perish,' saith the prophet, but ' it is good for me to draw near ;' as if he had said, Let others take what course they will, it matters not much, I will look to myself, ' it is good for me to draw near to God ;' and the reason is,
Beason 1. Because they are guided by the Sjnrit of God, which is contrary to the world, and the Spirit teacheth them to see, not after the opinions of the world that is their best friend, but God is my best friend, that will never forsake me. ' Many walk that are enemies to the cross of Christ, but our conversation is in heaven,' Philip, iii. 18. And then a Christian hath experience of the ways of God, and by it he is every day settled in them ; by it he sees what the world works in others, and how God is opposite to them, and thereby he is made more zealous ; as in winter time the body is more hot within than in summer. And those that are well grounded grow more strong by opposition ; and however they may sometimes stagger, yet their motion is constant.
Use. If we will know our estates, examine after what rule we lead our life, and what principles we follow. If outward weights of the love of the world, self-love, or the like do move us, as clocks that go no longer than the weights hang on them, this shews that we are but actors of the Hfe of a Christian, and that we are not naturally moved, that our nature is not changed, and that we are not made ' partakers of the divine nature,' 2 Peter i. 4 ; for then our motion would come from above : ' My life and flesh niay fail, but thou, Lord, wilt never fail,' Ps. xl. 12. Therefore it is good for me to draw near to thee ; which words proceeding from an experimental trial of David, of the goodness and happiness of this near- ness to God, afford us this consideration,
THE saint's happiness. 69
Doct. [Sixth,] That God's Spirit enableth his children hy experience to justify wisdom. He suifers his children to meet with oppositions, that they may see they stand by an almighty power above their own, and above the power of their enemies. Nihil tarn certum est, quam quod post diihium certum est, and therefore those^that have felt the bitterness of their sins know how bitter it is ; and those that have been overcome in temptations know their nature is weak, and those that have felt the unconstancy of the world, and the vanity of it, know it is a bitter thing to be far from God, and therefore they resolve, Hosea ii. 7, ' I will go to my first husband ; for then it was better with me than now ;' and as the prodigal, ' There is meat enough in my father's house, why then do I perish here with hunger' ? Luke xv, 17; and therefore, if we will ever think to stand out resolutely in our courses against trials, we must labour for experience, and diligently observe God's dealings. It is experience that breedeth patience and hope. Experience of a truth seals a truth with a prohatum est. And without it, the best and strongest judgments will in time of trial be ready to be jostled out of the maintenance thereof, and great professors will be ashamed of their good courses.
But to come to the particulars. ' It is good ; ' that is, it puts in us a blessed quality and disposition. It makes a man to be like God himself; and, secondly, ' it is good,' that is, it is comfortable ; for it is the happiness of the creature to be near the Creator ; it is beneficial and helpful.
' To draw near.' How can a man but be near to God, seeing he filleth heaven and earth : ' Whither shall I go from thy presence ? ' Ps. cxxxix. 7. He is present always in power and providence in all places, but graciously present with some by his Spirit, supporting, comforting, strengthening the heart of a good man. As the soul is said to be tota in toto, in several parts by several faculties, so God, present he is to all, but in a diverse manner. Now we are said to be near to God in divers degi-ees : first, when our understanding is enlightened ; intellectus est veritatis sponsa ; and so the young man speaking discreetly in things concerning God, is said not to be far from the kingdom of God, Mark xii. 34. Secondly, in minding ; when God is present to our minds, so as the soul is said to be present to that which it mindeth ; contrarily it is said of the wicked, that ' God is not in all their thoughts,' Ps. x. 4. Thirdly, when the ivill iipo)i the discovery of the understanding comes to choose the better part, and is draun from that choice to cleave to him, as it was said of Jonathan's heart, ' it was knit to David,' 1 Sam. xviii. 1. Fourthly, when our whole affections are carried to God, loving him as the chief good. Love is the first-born affection. That breeds desire of communion with God. Thence comes joy in him, so as the soul pants after God, ' as the hart after the water springs,' Ps. xlii. 1. Fifthly, and especially, when the soul is touched ivith the Spirit of God work- ing faith, stirring up dependence, confidence, and trust on God. Hence ariseth sweet communion. The soul is never at rest till it rests on him. Then it is afraid to break with him or to displease him. But it groweth zealous and resolute, and hot in love, stifi' in good cases ; resolute against his enemies. And yet this is not all, for God will have also the outward man, so as the whole man must present itself before God in word, in sacraments ; speak of him and to him with reverence, and yet with strength of affection mounting up in prayer, as in a fiery chariot ; hear him speak to us ; consulting with his oracles ; fetching comforts against distresses, direc- tions against maladies. Sixtldy, and especially, we draw near to him when we