BLESSEDNESS OF THOSE WHO LOVE GOd's LAW.
Ps. cxix. 165. Great peace have they who love thy law; and no- thing shall offend them.
THE force of principle is exceeding great, even where the principle itself is erroneous and vicious, but much more where it is founded upon the unerring word of God. It produces in our conduct, prompti- tude, uniformity, decision : and, whilst it stimulates to action, it supports the mind in case of failure and disappointment. Now of all principles, that of love to God and to his revealed will is the strongest. We see in the saints of every age what wonders it is able to effect --In the words before us, David in- forms us what peace it will bring into the soul, amidst the heaviest trials, and what stability amidst the greatest difficulties. But for the more full elucida- tion of his words, we will consider,
I. The character here described —
** The law of God " generally throughout the Psalms means the whole revealed will of God. It is not to be confined to the moral, or the ceremonial law ; it comprehends the Gospel also : it is ** the law which should go forth out of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem ;" even, as St. Paul calls it, " the law of faith."
To " love" this law is a strong expression, import- ing much more than a mere obedience to it : for we may conceive persons to obey it through fear; whereas those who love it, see an excellency in it, and corr dially approve of it in all its parts. They love it,
1 . As a mirrour of truth —
[In this view it is spoken of by an inspired Apostle*; and it is Justly so represented, because it reflects with perfect fidelity every feature of the human heart. It never flatters, never dis- torts ; but shews, to every one who will look into it, precisely what character he bears in the sight of the heart-searching God. An insincere person does not like it ; he turns away from it : he will not come to it, because it presents to his view his own defor- mities. ' Jam. i, 23 — 25.
429.] BLESSEDNESS IN LOVING GOd's LAW. 445
mities. But the true Christian loves it on this very account. He desires to know the worst of himself. He sees that it will be to no purpose for him to deceive iiis own soul : he is assured, that God will not form his estimate according to the partial views which he himself may take : and therefore he desires to see him- self just as God sees him. True it is, that he never looks into this glass without finding deeper and deeper cause for humiliation
but still he loves it; yea, he loves it on this very account ;
even as David did, when he said, " Thy word is very pure ; therefore thy servant loveth it."]
2, As a revelation of mercy —
[In this view it is particularly delightful to him. The plan of salvation which it unfolds is so grand, so wonderful, so suit- able in all its parts, and so sufficient for all his necessities, that he
can never sufficiently admire it It is his meditation, and
his song, all the day. The Scripture represents the Gospel as *^ a feast of fat things, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined :" and such indeed he finds it to his soul. In comparison of it, and of the knowledge of it, he " counts all things in the universe but dross and dung" ]
3. As a rule of life —
[From the moment of his having found the way of salvation by a crucified Redeemer, the one desire of his soul has been to " live to Him who died for us and rose again." *- What wilt thou have me to do ?" has been his constant inquiry at the throne of grace : and he delights exceedingly in this word as a sure direc- tory under every situation and circumstance of life. From dav ta day he reads it with this particular view, that he may know " how to walk and to please God." He perceives that men are always endeavouring to lower the requisitions of this law : but he strives rather to have his attainments raised to that perfect standard. Not one of all its commandments is regarded by him as grievous. Nothing is grievous, but his own want of conformity to them. Could he have his heart's desire, it would be to " walk in all things as Christ walked," and to " stand perfect and complete in- all the will of God" ]