(3.) It gives the soid a hope and expectation of " the glory that shall be revealed," and secretly stirs it up and enlivens it unto asup- portment in sufferings, trials, and temptations. This is the " hoi)e which maketh not ashamed," Rom. v. 5, and that because it will never expose the soul unto disappointment. Wherever there is the root of
Ver. 4.] WAITING NECESSARY TO PEACE, 553
assurance, there will be this fruit of hope. The proper object of it is things absent, invisible, eternal, — the promised reward, in all the no- tions, respects, and concernments of it. This hope goes out unto, in distresses, temptations, failings, and under a sense of the guilt and power of sin. Hence ariseth a spring of secret relief in the soul, something that calms the heart and quiets the spirit in the midst of many a storm. Now, as, wherever assurance is, there will be this hope ; so wherever this secret relieving hope is, it grows on no other root but a living persuasion of a personal interest in the things hoped for,
(4.) As it will do many other things, so, that I. may give one com- prehensive instance, it will carry them out, in whom it is, to die for Christ, Death, unto men who saw not one step beyond it, was es- teemed of all things most terrible. The way and means of its ap- proach add unto its terror. But this is nothing in comparison of what it is unto them who look through it as a passage into ensuing eternity. For a man, then, to choose death rather than life, in the most terrible manner of its approach, expecting an eternity to ensue, it argues a comfortable persuasion of a good state and condition after death. Now, I am persuaded that there are hundreds who, upon gospel, saving accounts, would embrace a stake for the testimony of Jesus, who yet know not at all that they have the assurance we speak of; and yet nothing else would enable them thereunto. But these things being beside the main of my intendment, I shall pur- sue them no farther; only, the rule is of use: — Let the soul be sure to be well acquainted with the nature of that which it seeks after, and confesseth a sense of the want of.
Rule III,
Continuance in waiting necessary unto peace and consolation.
Whatever your condition he, and your apprehension of it, yet continue waiting for a better issue, and give not over through weari- ness or impatience. This rule contains the sum of the great ex- ample given us in this psalm. Forgiveness in God being discovered, though no sense of a particular interest therein as yet obtained, that which the soul applies itself unto is diligent, careful, constant, pei'se- vering waiting; which is variously expressed in the fifth and sixth verses. The Holy Ghost tells us that " light is sown for the right- eous, and gladness for the upright in heart," Ps, xcvii, 11. Light
554 AN EXPOSITION UPON PSALM cxxx. [Ver.4.
and gladness are the things now inquired after. Deliverance from darkness, misapprehensions of God, hard and misgiving thoughts of his own condition, is that which a soul in its depths reacheth towards. Now, saith the Holy Ghost, "These things are sown for the right- eous." Doth the husbandman, after he casts his seed into the earth, immediately the next day, the next week, expect that it will be harvest? doth he think to reap so soon as he hath sown? or doth he immediately say, "I have laboured in vain, here is no return; I will pull up the hedge of this field and lay it waste?" or, "I see a little grass in the blade, but no corn; I will give it to the beasts to devour it?" No; "his God," as the prophet speaks, "doth instruct him to discre- tion, and doth teach him," — namely, w^hat he must do, and how he must look for things in their season. And shall not we be instructed by him? "Behold, the husbandman," saith James, "waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain," James v. 7. And is light sown for them that are in darkness, and shall they stifle the seed under the clods, or spoil the tender blade that is springing up, or refuse to wait for the watering of the Spirit, that may bring it forth to perfection? Waiting is the only way to establishment and as- surance; we cannot speed by our haste; yea, nothing puts the end so far away as making too much haste and speed in our journey. The ground hereof is, that a sense of a special mterest in forgiveness and accejitance is given in to the soul by a mere act of sovereignty. It is not, it will not be, obtained by or upon any rational conclusions or deductions that we can make. All that we can do is but to apply ourselves to the removal of hinderances, for the peace and rest sought for come from mere prerogative : "When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he liideth his face, who then can behold him?" Job xxxiv. 29. Now, what is the way to receive that which comes from mere sovereignty and prerogative? Doth not the nature of the thing require humble waiting ? If, then, either impatience cast the soul into frowardness, or weariness make it slothful (which are the two ways whereby waiting is ruined), let not such a one expect any comfortable issue of his contending for deliverance out of his depths. And let not any think to make out their difficulties any other way: their own reasonings will not bring them to any establishing conclu- sion; for they may lay down propositions, and have no considerable objections to lie against either of them, and yet be far enough from that sweet consolation, joy, and assurance which is the product of the conclusion, when God is not pleased to give it in. Yea, a man may sometimes gather up consolation to himself upon such terms, but it will not abide. So did David, Ps. xxx. 6, 7. He thus argues with himself: "He whose mountain is made strong, to whom God is