needy was not this to know me saith the Lord That is true Knowledge that produceth its Effect So Iames 2. 23. By works faith is made perfect Faith hath produced its End So Love is perfected in keeping the Commandments 1 Iohn 2. 5. Whoso keepeth his word in him verily is the love of God perfected as all things are perfect when they attain their End and their consummate estate The Plant is perfect when it riseth up into Stalk and Flower and Seed so these Graces 4. The Person or Christian is judged not onely by what is believed but what is done not by what is approved but what is practised Many profess Faith and Love but if it be not verified in Practice they are not accepted with God 1 Pet. 1. 17. If ye call on the father who without respect of persons judgeth according to every mans work And Rev. 20. 12. I saw the dead small and great stand before God and the books were opened and another book was opened which is the book of life and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books according to their works God will judge Men according to their Works and what they have done in the Flesh whether it be good or evil Iohn 5. 29. They that have done good shall rise to the resurrection of life and they that have done evil to the resurrection of condemnation The Redeemed Sinner shall have his Tryal and Judgment Use 1. Is for the disproof of two sorts Preachers and Professors 1. Preachers if they be strict in Doctrine and loose in Practice do they lift their hands to God's Commandments No they are like the Pharisees who bind heavy burdens upon others and do not touch them with their own little finger Matt. 23. 4. It is not enough to lift up our voice in recommending but we must lift up our hands in practising lest like a Mark-stone they shew others the way to Heaven but walk not in it themselves and contribute nothing of help by their Examples 2. Professors 1. That approve the Word onely There may be an idle naked Approbation Rom. 2. 18. Thou knowest his will and approvest the things that are most excellent being instructed out of the law Video meliora probóque They esteem these things better but their hearts incline them to what is evil and their Reason is a slave to Appetite 2. That commend as well as approve Rom. 2. 20. Who hast a form of knowledge and of the truth in the law but without Action and Practice Have many good words their voice Iacob's but their hands Esau's Psal. 50. 16 17. What hast thou to do to declare my statutes or to take my covenant in thy mouth since thou hatest instruction and castest my words behind thee It pertaineth not to thee to profess Religion since thou dost not practise it to commend the Law which thou observest not or to profess love to what thou dost not obey Use 2. Is to press you to lift up your hands and to obey and do the things which God hath prescribed in his Word Do not rest in the Notional part of Religion That which will approve you to God is not a sharp Wit or a firm Memory or a nimble Tongue but a ready Practice God expecteth to be glorified by his Creatures both in Word and Deed and therefore Heart and Tongue and Hand and all should be imployed I will urge you with but two Reasons 1. How easie it is to deceive our selves with a fond Love a naked Approbation or good Words without bringing things to this real Proof Whether the Truth that we approve esteem and commend have a real dominion over and influence upon our Practice 1 Iohn 2. 4. He that saith I know him and keepeth not his commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him James 1. 22. Be ye doers of the word not hearers onely deceiving your own souls Respect to God and his Word is a true Evidence of a Gracious Heart Now how shall we know this Respect is real but by our constant and uniform Practice 2. That it is not so easie to deceive God He cannot be mocked with a vain shew sor he looketh to the bottom and spring of all things 1 Chron. 28. 9. And thou Solomon my son know thou the God of thy father and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind for the Lord searcheth all hearts and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts He searcheth our Hearts knoweth our inward Disposition whether firm strong or productive of Obedience Now to him you are to approve your selves and he will not be mocked with lying pretences and excuses Gal. 6. 7. Be not deceived God is not mocked The all-seeing God cannot be blinded he knoweth our thoughts afar off and seeth all things in their Causes much more can he judge of Effects Therefore whatsoever Illuminations we pretend unto if we do not live in the Obedience of the Commands of Self-denial Humility Justice Patience Faith and Love he can soon find us out If our Actions do not correspond to our Profession it is a practical Lye which the Lord can easily find out 2 Doct. Whosoever would lift up his hands to God's Commandments and seriously address himself to a course of Obedience must use much Study and Meditation On the one side Non-advertency to Heavenly Doctrine is the bane of many Mat. 13. 19. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom and understandeth it not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 non advertit animum then cometh the wicked one and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart And so Iames 1. 23 24. If any be a hearer of the word and not a doer he is like a man beholding his natural face in a glass for he beholdeth himself and goeth his way and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was God's great complaint of his People is that they will not consider Isa. 1. 3. The ox knoweth his owner and the ass his masters crib but Israel doth not know my people doth not consider So Ier. 8. 6. I hearkned and heard but they spake not aright no man repented him of his wickedness saying What have I done The Heathens have commended such Recollection On the other side the Scripture recommendeth Meditation as one great help to Obedience Lydia's Conversion is described by Attendency Acts 16. 14. The Lord opened her heart that she attended unto the things which were spoken by Paul because that is the first step to it minding chusing prosecuting So the Man that will benefit by the Word of God is he Iames 1. 25. that looketh into the perfect law of liberty and continueth therein that is abideth in the view of these Truths for a glance never converted nor warmed the heart of any Man This man being not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the word this man shall be blessed in his end Now more particularly Why Meditation is
meditating for meditating frequent turning the key maketh the Lock go more easie Good dispositions make way for good dispositions Psal. 27. 14. Psal. 31. 24. Wait on the Lord be of good courage and he shall strengthen thy heart Pluck up your spirits strive to take courage and then God will give you courage To shake us out of laziness God maketh the precept to go before the promise God biddeth us pray though prayer be his own gift Act asyou would expect 7. There is a supply cometh in ere we are aware Cant. 6. 12. Or ever I was aware my soul made me like the chariots of Aminadab in the very work A strange difference of temper is to be observed in David before the Psalm be over 1 Chron. 22. 16. Arise therefore and be doing and the Lord be with thee God will not help that man that hath legs to go and will not 8. We are to rowse up our selves Psal. 64. 7. And there is none that calleth upon thy name that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee When we are willing to get the work over and wrestle not for life and power in praying we do not all we are able The Cock by clapping the wings addeth strength to the crowing We should rowse up our selves We use not the bellows to a dead coal c. 2. The next circumstance is the argument according to thy word what word doth David mean Either the general promises in the books of Moses or Iob which intimate deliverance to the faithful observers of Gods Law or help to the miserable and distressed or some particular promise given to him by Nathan or others Chrysostome saith Quicken me to live according to thy word but it is not a word of command but a word of promise Mark here 1. He doth not say Secundum meritum meum but secundum verbum tuum the hope or that help which we expect from God is founded upon his word there is our security in his promises not in our deservings Promittendo se fecit debitorem c. 2. When there was so little Scripture written yet David could find out a word for his support Alas in our troubles and afflictions no promise occurreth to mind As in outward things many that have less live better than those that have abundance so here now Scripture is so large we are less diligent and therefore though we have so many promises we are apt to faint we have not a word to bear us up 3. This word did not help him till he had lain long under this heavy condition that he seemed dead Many when they have a promise think presently to enjoy the comfort of it No there is waiting and striving first necessary We never relish the comfort of the promises till the creatures have spent their allowance and we have been exercised God will keep his word and yet we must expect to be tryed 4. In this his dead condition faith in Gods word kept him alive When we have lest feeling and there is nothing left us the word will support us Rom. 4. 19 20. And being not weak in faith he considered not his own body now dead when he was about an hundred years old neither yet the deadness of Sarahs womb he staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief but was strong in faith giving glory to God 5. One good way to get comfort is to plead the promise to God in prayer Chirographa tua injiciebat tibi Domine shew him his hand-writing God is tender of his word These arguings in prayer are not to work upon God but our selves USE Well then let us thus deal with God looking to him in the sense of our own weakness praying often to God for quickning as David doth in the Text. God keepeth grace in his own hands and dispenseth it at his pleasure that he may often hear from us and that we may renew our dependance upon him it is pleasing to him when we desire him to renew his work and bring forth the actings of grace in their vigour and lustre And let us acknowledg Divine Grace if there be strong actings of faith and love towards God He is to be owned in his work SERMON XXVII PSALM CXIX 26. I have declared my ways and thou heardest me teach me thy statutes IN this Verse you have three things 1. David's open and free dealing with God I have declared my ways 2. God's gracious dealing with David and thou heardest me 3. A Petition for continuance of the like favour teach me thy statutes 1. For the first I have declared my ways that is distinctly and without hypocrisie laid open the state of my heart and course of my affairs to thee Note Doct. They that would speed with God should learn this point of Christian ingenuity unfeignedly to lay open their whole case to him That is to declare what they are about the nature of their affairs the state of their hearts what of good or evil they find in themselves their conflicts supplies distresses hopes this is declaring our ways the good and evil we are conscious to As a sick Patient will tell the Physician how it is with him so should we deal with God if we would find mercy This declaring his ways may be looked upon 1. As an act of faith and dependence 2. As an act of holy friendship 3. As an act of spiritual contrition and brokenness of heart for this declaring must be explain'd according to the sense of the object of what David means by this expression My ways First His businesses or undertakings I have still made them known to thee committing them to the direction of thy Providence and so it is an act of faith and dependence consulting with God and acquainting him with all our desires This is necessary 1. That we may acknowledg the Soveraignty of his Providence and Dominion over all Events Prov. 16. 9. A mans heart deviseth his way but the Lord directeth his steps Man proposeth but God disposeth and carrieth on the event either further than we intended or else contrary to what we intended 2. We must declare our ways to God that we may take God along with us in all our actions that we may ask his leave counsel blessing Prov. 3. 6. In all thy ways acknowledg him and he shall direct thy paths There 's a twofold direction one of Gods Providence the other of his Counsel The direction of his Providence that 's understood Prov. 16. 9. A mans heart deviseth his way but the Lord directeth his steps But then there 's the direction of his Counsel and the latter is promised here if we acknowledg God and declare our ways to him God will counsel us And David did thus declare his way upon all occasions 2 Sam. 2. 1. David enquired of the Lord saying Shall I go up into any of the cities of Iudah It is a piece of Religious manners to begin every business with God to go to God Lord
of neither have entred into the heart of man to conceive Therefore the word hath a notable instrumentality that way 3. The Doctrine of the Scripture holds out the remedy and means of cleansing Christs blood which is not only an argument or motive to move us to it So it is urged 1 Pet. 1. 18. Whom having not seen ye love in whom though now ye see him not yet believing ye rejoice with joy unspeakable c. It presseth holiness upon this argument why God hath been at great cost to bring it about therefore we must not content our selves with some smooth morality which might have been whether Christ had been yea or no. Again the word propounds it as a purchase whereby grace is procured for us so it is said 1 Ioh. 1. 7. He hath purchased the spirit to bless us and turn us from our sins And it exciteth faith to apply and improve this remedy and so conveyeth the power of God into the soul Act. 15. 9. Purifying their hearts by faith 2. The manner how the word is applied and made use of If he take heed thereunto according to thy word This implieth a studying of the word and the tendency and importance of it which is necessary if the young man would have benefit by it David calleth the statutes of God the men of his counsel Young men that are taken with other books if they neglect the word of God that book that should do the cure upon the heart and mind they are with all their knowledg miserable Psal. 1. 2. His delight is in the Law of the Lord and in his Law doth he meditate day and night If men would grow wise to Salvation and get any skill in the practice of godliness they must be much in this blessed book of God which is given us for direction 1 Ioh. 2. 14. I have written unto you young men because ye are strong and the word of God abideth in you and ye have overcome the wicked one It is not a slight acquaintance with the word that will make a young man so successful as to defeat the temptations of Satan and be too hard for his own lust it is not a little notional irradiation but to have the word dwell in you and abide in you richly The way to destroy ill weeds is to plant good herbs that are contrary We suck in carnal principles with our milk and therefore we are said to speak lies from the womb A kind of a riddle before we are able to speak we speak lyes namely as we are prone to error and all manner of carnal fancies by the natural temper and frame of our hearts Isa. 58. 2. And therefore from our very tender and Infant-age we should be acquainted with the word of God 2 Tim. 3. 15. And that from a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures It may be children by reading the word get nothing but a little memorative knowledg but yet it is good to plant the field of the memory in time they will soak into the judgment and conscience and thence into the heart and affections 2. It implieth a care and watchfulness over our hearts and ways that our will and actions be conformed to the word This must be the young mans daily prayer and care that there be a conformity between his will and the word that he may be a walking Bible Christs living Epistle copy out the word in his life that the truths of it may appear plainly in his conversation All that I have said issueth it self into three Points 1. That the great Duty of Youth assoon as they come to the full use of reason is to enquire and study how they may cleanse their hearts and ways from sin 2. That the Word of God is the only rule sufficient and effectual to accomplish this work 3. If we would have this efficacy there is required much care and watchfulness that we come to the direction of the Word in every tittle not a loose and unattentive reflection upon the Word careless inconsiderateness but a taking heed thereunto Now why in youth and as soon as we come to the use of reason we should mind the work of cleansing our way 1. Consider how reasonable this is It is fit that God should have our first and our best It is fit he should have our first because he minded us before we were born His love to us is an eternal and an everlasting love and shall we put off God to old age shall we thrust him into a corner Surely God that loved us so early it is but reason he should have our first and also our best for we have all from him Under the Law the first-fruits was Gods to shew the first and best was his portion All the Sacrifices that were offered to him they were in their strength and young Levit. 2. 14. And if thou offer a meat-offering of thy first-fruits unto the Lord thou shalt offer for the meat-offering of thy first-fruits green ears of corn dried by the fire even corn beaten out of full ears God would not stay till ripened God will not be long kept out of his portion Youth it is our best time Mal. 1. 13. when they brought a weak and sickly offering should I accept this of your hand saith the Lord The health strength quickness of spirit and vigour is in youth Shall our health and strength be for the Devils use and shall we put off God with the dregs of time Shall Satan feast upon the flower of our youth and fresh time and God only have the scraps and fragments of the Devils Table When wit is dulled the ears heavy the body weak and affections are spent is this a fit present for God 2. Consider the necessity of it 1. Because of the heat of youth the passions and lusts are very strong 2 Tim. 2. 22. Fly also youthful lusts Men are most incident in that age to pride and self-conceit to strong affections inordinate and excessive love of liberty 1 Tim. 3. 6. Not a Novice lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the Devil A man may make tame fierce creatures Lyons and Tygers and the fury of youth needs to be tempered and bridled by the word It is much for the glory of Grace that this heat and violence is broken when the subject is least of all disposed and prepared 2. Because none are tempted so much as they Children cannot be serviceable to the Devil and old men are spent and have chosen their way but youths who have a sharpness of understanding and the stoutest and most stirring spirits the Devil loveth to make use of such 1 Joh. 2. 13. I write unto you young men because ye have overcome the wicked one They are most assaulted but it is for the honour of grace when they overcome when their fervency and strength is employed not in satisfying lusts but in the service of God and fighting against Satan Therefore
lusts and worldly interests The next reason is because they must be spiritually discerned that is to know them inwardly throughly and with some relish and savour there must be an higher light there must be a cognation and proportion between the object and the faculty Divine things must be seen by a divine light and spiritual things by a spiritual light Sense which is the light of beasts cannot trace the workings or flights of Reason in her contemplations We cannot see a Soul or an Angel by the light of a Candle so fleshly wisdom cannot judg of divine things The object must be not only revealed but we must have an answerable light so that when you have done all you must say How can I understand without an Interpreter Acts 8. 31. And this Interpreter must be the Spirit of God Ejus est interpretari cujus est condere To discern so as to make a right judgment and estimate of things dependeth upon Gods help 4. When this blindness is in part cured yet still we need that God should open our eyes to the very last We know nothing as we ought to know David a regenerate man and well instructed prayeth to have his eyes opened for we need more light every day Luk. 24. 45. Then opened he their understandings that they might understand the Scriptures Christ first opened the Scriptures then he opened their understandings USE 1. To shew us the reason why the word prevaileth so little when it is preached with power and evidence their eyes are not opened Isa. 53. 1. Who hath believed our report and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed No teaching will prevail till we are taught of God USE 2. What need we have to consult with God whenever we make use of the word in Reading Hearing Study In Reading when thou openest the Bible to read say Lord open mine eyes When thou Hearest beg a sight of the Truth and how to apply it for thy comfort Haec audiunt quasi somniantes Luther saith of the most In seeing they see not in hearing they hear not There was a Fountain by Hagar but she could not see it Gen. 21. 19. God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water and she went and filled the bottle with water and gave the Lad to drink So for Study it is dangerous to set upon the study of divine things in the strength of wit and human helps Men go forth in the strength of their own parts or lean upon the judgment of Writers and so are left in darkness and confusion We would sooner come to the decision of a truth if we would go to God and desire him to rend the vail of Prejudices and Interests USE 3. Is to press us to seek after this blessing the opening of the eyes Magnifie the creating-power of God 2 Cor. 4. 6. God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledg of God in the face of Iesus Christ. Make use of Christ Col. 2. 5. In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledg Beg it earnestly of him the Apostle prayeth Eph. 1. 17 18. That the God of our Lord Iesus Christ the Father of glory may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledg of him The eyes of your understanding being enlightned that ye may know what is the hope of his calling c. Yea mourn for it in cases of dubious anxiety Iohn wept when the book of the seven seals was not opened Rev. 5. 4. Mourn over your ignorance refer all to practice Joh. 7. 17. If any man will do his will he shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God or whether I speak of my self Wait for light in the use of means with a simple docile sincere humble mind Psal. 25. 9. The meek will he guide in judgment and the meek will he teach his way Doct. 2. Those whose eyes are opened by God they see wondrous things in his word more than ever they thought Open thou mine eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of thy Law Law is not taken strictly for the Covenant of works nor for the Decalogue as a Rule of life but more generally for the whole word of God which is full of wonders or high and heavenly mysteries In the Decalogue or Moral Law there is wonderful purity when we get a spiritual sense of it Psal. 119. 96. I have seen an end of all perfection but thy commandments are exceeding broad and Psal. 19. 7 8. The law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul the testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple the statutes of the Lord are right rejoycing the heart the commandment of the Lord is pure enlightning the eyes A wonderful Equity Rom. 7. 12. The law is holy and the commandment is holy just and good A marvellous wisdom Deut. 4. 6. Keep therefore and do them for this is your wisdom and understanding in the sight of the Nations which shall hear all these statutes and say Surely this great Nation is a wise and understanding people In the whole word of God the harmony and correspondence between all the parts how the mystery grew from a dark revelation to clearer is admirable In the Gospel every Article of faith is a mystery to be wondered at the Person of Christ 1 Tim. 3. 16. Great is the mystery of godliness God manifested in the flesh justified in the spirit c. A Virgin conceiveth the Word is made flesh the redemption and reconciliation of mankind is the wonderful work of the Lords Grace It is the hidden wisdom of God in a mystery 1 Cor. 2. 7. We speak the wisdom of God in a mystery even the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the world to our glory And 't is called the mystery hidden from ages Eph. 3. 9. The glory of heaven is admirable Eph. 1. 18. The riches of the glory of the Inheritance of the Saints in light That a clod of earth should be made an heir of heaven deserves the highest wonder All these are mysteries So the wonderful effects of the word in convincing sinners 1 Cor. 14. 25. Thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest and so falling down on his face he will worship God and report that God is in you of a truth Heb. 4. 12. The word of God is quick and powerful sharper than a two-edged sword piercing to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit and joynts and marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart It is a searching and discovering word John 4. 29. See a man that hath told me all that ever I did In changing sinners 1 Pet. 2. 9. That ye may shew forth the praises of him that hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light Peter's getting out of prison was nothing to it In comforting Every Grace is a Mystery to depend upon
opinion otherwise he loseth the glory and the benefit of his Religion he is but a Pagan in God's account Ier. 9. 25. he makes his Religion to be call'd in question and therefore he that walks unsuitably he is said to deny the Faith 1 Tim. 5. 8. To be a Christian in doctrine and a Pagan in life is a temptation to Atheism to others when the one destroys the other practice confutes their profession and profession confutes their practice therefore both these must be matched together Thus the way of truth must be the rule and a holy life must be suited 2. As to this holy life a general good intention sufficeth not but there must be accurate walking why for God doth not judg of us by the lump or by a general intention It is not enough to plead at the day of judgment you had a good scope and a good meaning for every action must be brought to judgment whether it be good or evil Eccles. 12. 14. When we reckon with our servants we do not expect an account by heap but by parcels so a general good meaning giving our account by heap will not suffice but we must be strict in all our ways and keep close to the rule in every action in your eating trading worship Eph. 5. 15. See that you walk circumspectly c. see that you do not turn aside from the line and narrow ridg that you are to walk upon 3. Accurate walking will never be unless our Rule be diligently regarded and set before us why 1. So accurate and exact is the Rule in it self that you may easily swerve from it therefore it must always be heeded and kept in your eye Psal. 19. David admired the perfections of the Law for the purity of it and for the dominion of it over conscience what was the issue of that contemplation see v. 12. Who can understand his errors cleanse thou me from secret faults Thus the best man when he compares himself with the Law will be forced to blush and acknowledg more faults than ever he took notice of before When we see the Law reacheth not only to the act but the aim not only to the words but the thoughts and secret motions of the heart Lord then who knows his errors The Law of God sometimes is said to be broad and sometimes narrow a broad Law Psal. 119. 96. Thy commandment is exceeding broad why broad because it reacheth to every motion every human action the words the thoughts the desires are under a Law nay yet more the imperfect and indeliberate motions of the soul are under a Law therefore the commandment is exceeding broad On the other side it is said to be narrow a strait gate and a narrow way Mat. 7. 14. why because it gives no allowance to corrupt nature we have but a straight line to go by So that we need regard our Rule 2. We are so ignorant in many particulars relating to faith and manners that we need often consult with our Rule The children of light have too much darkness in them therefore they are bidden to look to their Rule Eph. 5. 17. Be ye not unwise but understanding what the will of the Lord is Blind consciences will easily carry us wrong and we have some new things still to learn from the word of God for knowledg is but in part therefore our Rule should be ever before us 3. So many and subtil are those temptations which Satan sets on foot to make us transgress this Rule The Devil assaults us two ways by fiery darts and by cunning wiles Eph. 6. 11. he hath not only violent temptations burning lusts or raging despair but he hath ensnaring temptations by his wiles such as most take with a person tempted and he transforms himself into an Angel of light 2 Cor. 11. 14. covers his foul designs with plausible pretences therefore we need have our Rule and the word of God ever before us 4. We are weak and easily over-born and therefore should bear our Rule always in mind God's people their greatest sins have been out of incogitancy they sin oftenest because they are heedless and forgetful and unattentive Therefore as a Carpenter tries his work by his Rule and Square so should a Christian measure his conversation by the rod of the Sanctuary God whose act is his Rule cannot miscarry So the School-men when they set out God's holiness say God's hand is his Rule but we that are creatures are apt to swerve aside therefore need a Rule We should always have our rule before us We are to walk according to rule Gal. 6. and Josh. 1. 7 8. The book of the Law shall not depart from thee c. If we would have our Rule before our eyes we should not so often swerve Christians though you be right in opinion that will not bring you to Heaven but you must have the Rules of this holy profession before you USE O! then let the word of God be ever in sight as your Comforter and Counsellor the more we do so the more shall we walk in the fear of God You are not to walk according to the course of this world but according to Rule and therefore you are not to walk rashly and indeliberately and as you are led and carried on by force of present affections but to walk circumspectly considering what principle you are acted by and what ends and the nature and quality of our actions are always to be considered Remember you are under the eye of the Holy and Jealous God Iosh. 24. 9. and eyed by wicked men who watch for your halting Ier. 20. and eyed by weak Christians who may suffer for your careless and slight walking who look to the lives of men rather than their principles You are the lights of the world Matt. 5. 14. and light draws eyes after it you are as a city upon a hill You that pretend to be in the right way the way of truth will you walk carelesly and inordinately You are compassed about with snares there 's a snare in your refreshments Psal. 69. your estates may become a snare 1 Tim. 6. 9. your duties may become a snare Be not a novice lest you come into the condemnation of the devil 1 Tim. 3. Therefore take heed to your Rule be exact and watchful over your hearts and ways SERMON XXXIII PSAL. CXIX 31. I have stuck unto thy testimonies O Lord put me not to shame IN the former Verse David speaks of his choice I have chosen the way of truth then of the accurateness of his prosecution Thy judgments have I laid before me Now he comes to his constant perseverance therein I have stuck unto thy testimonies These two Verses follow one another in a very perfect order and coherence We must begin with a right choice there we must lay the foundation I have chosen the way of truth and then persevere There is a constancy in good and an obstinacy in evil The Devils sin
we are to go to God for his teaching because the means are not successful unless he joyn his influence especially to give us this practical knowledg teaching in order to keeping the way of God's statutes I say though we have the Word and many Pastors and Teachers better gifted than in the Old Testament Eph. 4. 11. yet God must be our Teacher still if we mean to profit for Paul may plant and Apollos may water but God giveth the encrease 1 Cor. 3. 6. To seek knowledg in the means with the neglect of God will never succeed well with you as we Ministers must not rest upon our work but pray much for success bene orasse est bene studuisse Luther so you hearers must not restin the fruit of our studies but still beg God to teach you every Truth But all this will be more evidently made out in the following Points 2. Doct. Divine Teaching is necessary for all those that would walk in the way of Gods Statutes 1. We have lost our way to true happiness Adam lost it and all mankind in him ever since we have been wandring up and down Psal. 14. 3. They are all gone aside i. e. gone out of the way of holiness as it leadeth to true happiness Eccles. 7. 29. God hath made man upright but they have sought out many inventions wander in a maze Man at first that had perfect Wisdom to discern the way to true Happiness and ability to pursue it now is full of crooked counsels being darkened with ignorance in his mind and abominable errors and mistakes and seconded with lusts and passions 2. We can never find it of our selves till God reveal it to us He hath shewed thee O. man what is good Micah 6. 8. It is well for man that he hath God for his Teacher who hath given him a stated Rule by which good and evil may be determined 1. Because there are many things which nature would never reveal to him as the whole Doctrine of Redemption by Christ the book of the creatures discovereth the mercy of God but giveth not the least hint of the way how that mercy should come unto us speaketh nothing of God incarnate two natures in Christs person the two Covenants the way of salvation by Christs Death c. these could never be known by natural Reason for all these things proceed from the meer motion of Gods Will without any other cause moving there unto than his own love and compassion John 3. 16. God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have-everlasting life And how could any man divine what God purposed in his heart unless he himself revealed it 2. Because those things that nature teaches it teacheth but darkly and with little satisfaction without the help of Scriptures as that there is one God the first cause of all Omnipotent Wise Righteous Good and that it is reasonable he should be served that reasonable creatures have immortal souls and so dye not as the beasts that there is no true Happiness in these things wherein men ordinarily seek it that since Vertue and Vice receive not suitable recompenses here there must be punishment and reward after this life that men live justly do as they would be done to be sober and temperate that Reason be not inslaved to sensual appetite all which nature revealeth but darkly so that the wisest men that have lived according to this light in one thing or other have been found fools Rom. 1. 22. professing themselves wise they became fools but all these things are clearly revealed in Scripture which discovers the nature and way of worshipping the true God what that reward and punishment after this life is and the right way of obtaining the one and eschewing the other with weighty arguments to inforce these things 3. That we may have assurance that the worship which we give to God is pleasing to him there must be a revelation of his will otherwise when we have tired our selves in an endless Maze of Superstitions he might turn us off with who hath required these things at your hands Isa. 1. 12. Therefore for our security and assurance it concerneth us to have a stated Rule under Gods own hand and God must be both author and object of worship 3. Besides the external Revelation there must be an inward teaching They shall all be taught of God Joh. 6. 45. not all the Prophets that wrote Scripture but all that come to Christ for salvation and this is prophesied of that time when the Canon and Rule of Faith should be most compleat then there will be still a need that they should be taught of God before their hearts be drawn into Christ. As the Book of the Scriptures is necessary to expound the Book of the Creatures so and much more is the light of the Spirit to expound the Book of the Scriptures Others teach the Ear but God openeth the Heart The Rule is one thing and the Guide is another The means were never intended to take off our dependance upon God but to engage it rather that we may look up for his blessing 1 Cor. 3. 6. I have planted Apollo watered but God gave the increase 2 Cor. 4. 6. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God that commanded light to shine out of darkness hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledg of the glory of God in the face of Iesus Christ. Though the Gospel hath enough in it to evidence it self to the Consciences of men yet God must make use of his creating power before this light can break in upon our hearts with any efficacy and influence The Law is light Prov. 6. 23. Yet not comprehended by darkness Joh. 1. 5. The light shineth in darkness and the darkness comprehended it not Which rests in the hearts of all men that remain in their natural condition It is not enough to see any object to have the light of the Sun unless we have the light of the eye the Scripture is our External light as the Sun is to the world the understanding is our Internal light Now this eye is become blind in all natural men and in the best it is most imperfect therefore the eyes of the understanding must be opened by the spirit of wisdom and revelation Ephes. 1. 17 18. Though Truths be plainly revealed by the Spirit of God in Scripture yet there must be a removal of that natural darkness and blindness that is upon our understandings Outward light doth not make the object conspicuous without a faculty of seeing in the eye a blind man cannot see at noon-day nor the sharpest fight at midnight the work of the Spirit is to take off the scales from our eyes that we may see clearly what the Scripture speaketh clearly Now Scripture is perfected that is the great work to strengthen the faculty 4. This inward teaching must be renewed and continued from day to
2. Providences these do more awaken us God's daily Benefits should bring him to our Remembrance Acts 14. 17. Nevertheless he left not himself without Witness in that he did good and gave us rain from Heaven and fruitfull Seasons filling our hearts with food and gladness Deut. 8. 18. But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God for he it is that giveth thee power to get Wealth especially the sanctified Remembrance of God's dealing with his People is the way to keep the heart in the Faith Love and Fear of God and the forgetting his Works is the cause of all Defection and falling off to carnal Courses and Confidences Psal. 78. 11. They forgat his Works and Wonders that he shewed them Psal. 106. 21. They forgat God their Saviour which had done great things in Egypt Judges 8. 34. And the Children of Israel remembred not the Lord their God who had delivered them out of the hands of their Enemies on every side It is a base Ingratitude not to remember prize and esteem God for all this 3. Ordinances Ministry was instituted to put you in Remembrance and give you still new and fresh Occasions to think of God 2 Pet. 1. 12. I will not be negligent to put you always in Remembrance our business is not always to inform you of what you know not but to inculcate and revive known Truths there being much Forgetfulness Stupidness and Senselesness upon our Spirits 2 Pet. 3. 1. That I may stir up your minds by way of Remembrance The Impressions of God on our Minds are soon defaced we need to quicken and awaken your Affections and Resolutions to choose and cleave to God 1 Tim. 4. 6. If thou put the Brethren in remembrance of these things thou shalt be a good Minister of Iesus Christ. So Sacraments are instituted to bring God to Remembrance 1 Cor. 11. 24. This doe in Remembrance of me that we may remember his Love and our covenanted Duty The Sabbath was instituted for a Remembrance and Memorial of his creating redeeming Goodness 4. The great office and work of the Spirit is to bring to Remembrance Iohn 14. 26. He shall bring all things to your Remembrance We are apt to forget God and Instructions and Rebukes in their Season the Holy Ghost is our Monitor 3. God will not forget them that remember him he will remember them at every turn Mal. 3. 16. Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another and the Lord harkned and heard it and a book of Remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord and thought upon his Name if he do not openly reward you with temporal Deliverances yet he taketh notice of every thought and every word you speak for him and taketh pleasure in you It is upon Record if you have not the comfort of it now you shall have it in a little time because they thought of him they spake of him and owned him in an evil time and therefore God is represented as hearing and booking and the books shall one day be opened and then you shall have your publick reward 2. Doctr. God is best Remembred when his Name is studied 1. When is his Name studied In the general when we look upon him as he hath manifed himself in his Word and Works More particularly God is discovered sometimes by the Name of his Essence sometimes by his Attributes 1. By the Name of his Essence When Moses was very inquisitive to know his Name and God can best tell his own Name let us see what answer was made him Exod. 3. 12 13. When they shall say unto me What is his Name and God said I Am that I Am. God was sending Moses upon a strange Message he was giving him Commission to go and speak to a King to dismiss and let go six hundred thousand of his Subjects to lead them to a place which God should shew now Moses thought for such a Message he had need have good Authority therefore desireth a significant Name I Am that I Am the form of the words sheweth it was a wonderfull incomprehensible Name Ask not my Name for it is Wonderfull Judg. 13. 18. This is enough to satisfie sober Inquiry though not wanton Curiosity enough for Faith to work upon the great I Am hath sent me It sheweth his unsearchableness It is our manner of speech when we would cover any thing and not answer distinctly we say It is what it is I have said what I have said Finite understandings cannot comprehend him that is Infinite no more than you can empty the Sea with a Cockle-shell 2. He is the great and onely Being in comparison of which all else is nothing Isa. 40. 19. All Nations before him are nothing they are counted less than nothing and vanity You have not a true and full Notion of God if you conceive him onely as the most eminent of all Beings no Being must appear as Being in his sight and in comparison of him As long as you onely conceive God to be the best you still attribute something to the Creature for all Comparatives include the Positive The Creature is nothing in comparison with God all the Glory Perfection and Excellency of the whole World do not amount to the value of an unite in regard of God's Attributes join never so many of them together they cannot make up one number they are nothing in his regard and less than nothing All created Beings must utterly vanish out of sight when we think of God As the Sun doth not annihilate the Stars and make them nothing yet it annihilates their Appearance to our sight some are of the first magnitude some of the second some of the third but in the Day-time all are alike all are darkned by the Sun's glory so it is here there are degrees of Perfection and Excellency if we compare one Creature with another but let once the glorious brightness of God shine upon the Soul and in that light all their differences are unobserved Angels Men Worms they are all nothing less than nothing to be set up against God this magnificent Title I Am darkneth all as if nothing else were God did not tell Moses that he was the best the highest and the most glorious but I Am and there is none else besides me nothing that hath its Being of it self nothing that can be properly called their own thus the incomprehensible Self-existence of God puts Man into his Original nothing none but God can say I Am because all things else are but borrowed drops of this Self-sufficient Fountain other things are near to nothing God most properly is who never was nothing never shall be nothing who may always in all difference of Time say I Am and nothing else but God can say so The Heaven and Earth for six thousand years ago could not say We are Adam could once have said I am as to his existence in the compounded nature of Man but now he cannot say
raise our Bodies after eaten out by Worms and turned into dust Matters of Faith being chiefly or mainly future and to come and difficult to be performed therefore an express belief of God's Power is necessary To convert such an obstinate and to sanctifie such a sinful creature and to raise the dead are no slight things 2. The Emblem of this immutable constancy 't is setled in the Heavens it is not measured by the sloating estate of things here upon Earth but by the perfection of the Heavens which are free from all changes and chances 1. They are fit Emblems of the stability of the Word for they continue to be what his Word once made them to be There is no justling among the Stars but all obey God's Word and Law Psal. 148. 4 5 6. Praise him ye heavens of heavens and waters that be above the heavens Let them praise the Name of the Lord for he commanded and they were created He hath also established them for ever and ever he hath made a decree which shall not pass So that when a Believer looketh up to Heaven there he seeth the Book of the Creatures opened wherein he beholdeth God's constancy and certainty written in indelible characters God's powerful voice did first separate the waters from the waters and those celestial Bodies move in that order wherein God hath set them Now is not this an help to us when we open the Book of Scriptures and compare the one with the other how the stated course of Nature and the stated course of Grace agree with his Power For as long as you trust God's Word you can never fail for both Heaven and Earth are sustained by it Heb. 1. 3. He upholdeth all things by the word of his power All is easie to God for he preserveth the Heavens in that estate wherein they are governed and can preserve his people in the most difficult cases 2. God's Constancy and Truth doth appear in the Heavens also there is a witness there of his Eternal Truth for when he had once said Let there be Heavens c. they presently were and ever since have kept one constant tenour and course yea Heaven shall sooner fail than God's Word fail he will not retract what he hath once said and therefore his Word is more firm and stable than the Frame of Heaven and Earth Mat. 5. 18. Till heaven and earth pass not one jot or tittle shall pass from the law till all be fulfilled Mat. 24. 30. Heaven and earth shall pass away but my words shall not pass away So that God's Word is more stable than Heaven and Earth 3. The profit of this Meditation 1. That we may set the sureness of this Word against the diffidence and distrustfulness of our own hearts Luk. 24. 25. Slow of heart to believe Though God hath so firmly bound himself to the Creature by his own Word yet the Promise to us seemeth doubtful and uncertain especially when men are clouded with Troubles and Temptations for we look only to present sense and would not be put on any tryal Now it is comfortable to remember that the order and course of Nature is not so setled as the Grace of the Covenant is Let it have its course resolved and patient obedience will at length end in eternal happiness and therefore we should build surely upon a firm foundation that we may not stagger through unbelief but give glory to God Rom. 4. 20. 2. To comfort us when our hopes are delayed in due time the promise cannot want the effect Heb. 6. 12. There will be day and night summer and winter in their season therefore as in the night we wait for day and in the winter for summer so must we wait for our eternal consolation 3. To support us against the various changes in the state of worldly things Many things fall out in this world that breed trouble in us therefore if we should only look to the present state of things our hearts would float up and down but we must look to the immutable constancy of God's Word that 's a sure Rock for the anchor of hope to take hold on There is a sure Rule to walk by sure Promises to build upon if we would be everlastingly happy There are the sure mercies of David Isa. 55 3. The changes of this world perplex our Faith therefore we should not look to the instability of things below wherein there are continual vicissitudes but to the sure Covenant 4. Not only when our hopes are delayed and obscured by the changes and chances of this world but contradicted by contrary appearances God seemeth to cast us off to have no pleasure in us Now to bear up our Faith in the hardest condition that we may say Iob 13. 15. Though he slay me yet will I trust in him and believe in hope against hope we should remember the setledness and constancy of his Word The Promises stand firm in Heaven when they seem to fail on Earth God may cover himself with frowns and his dispensations may seem contrary to his intention as Ioseph spake roughly to his Brethren when he meant to discover himself to them or as Christ dealt with the woman of Canaan Mat. 15. But when there seemeth to be such a contradiction between the word and works of God when his voice is sweet like Iacob's and his hand rough like Esau's we must remember that the smart Rod is consistent with Covenant love Psal. 89. 32. And we must not interpret the Promise of God by his providential dealing with us but rather his dealing by his promises his promise being as the light part of the Cloud and his dealing as the dark part of it God is fulfilling promises by hard dispensations and sharp afflictions belong to his faithfulness Psal. 119. 75. Many times that is best for us not what we think best but what God thinks best The buffetings of Satan and oppositions of the world may be most wholsom to us though not most pleasing to the flesh 5. To wean us from the fading vanities of the world Isa. 40. 8. and 1 Pet. 1. 24. There is nothing firm and lasting in this world till we lift up our eyes to Heaven and seek an happiness in the promises 1 Iohn 2. 17. Our happiness lieth not in the present life but in the everlasting enjoyment of God In the Covenant all is setled and sure but in the world all is unstable and uncertain God's Covenant provideth for us eternal joy and bliss USE 1. To shew what contrary and different Conclusions the Carnal and Spiritual will draw from the same principles The Scoffers said 2 Pet. 3. 4. Where is the promise of his coming for since the fathers fell asleep all things continue as they were from the beginning â—…f the Creation Because the whole Frame of Nature had kept one constant tenour and course they plead for the Eternity of the World and the Falshood of the Promises Now David reasoneth
upon us to all Eternity but that we have relief from the Word of God 2 Cor. 5. 19. God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself not imputing their trespasses There is more glory in these few words and more of God discover'd in them than there is in all the World O! what a deal of comfort and what a foundation for the rejoicing of our Faith is there laid in this Reconciliation in and by Christ Jesus our Lord. That short sentence discovers more of God's intentions and good will to Man than all the bounty of his Providence in and by all the creatures put together Here was a secret which could never enter into Man's heart nor do we find a syllable of it written in any Heathen Book as to the way of it how it shall be brought about A truth so incredible to flesh and blood that the Prophet when he speaketh of this wonder asketh Who hath believed our report Isa. 53. 1. Who hath believ'd that he should bear our sorrows and be wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities and that the chastisements of our peace should be upon him and by his stripes we should be healed Here 's the great secret God hath revealed to you in his Word this must needs be a secret in nature for this was a work which meerly proceeded from the free motion of God's Will and therefore being not opus naturae divinae but opus liberi consilii that work which God did not do by any necessity of nature but by the free motion of his own will will never be found out unless God will discover it himself For how could any man divine what God purposed in his heart before he brought it to purpose until he himself had revealed it therefore 't is a good Word because it reveals Reconciliation by Christ. 2. There is something more to draw our hearts to the Word that is eternal salvation We grope and feel about for an immortal good nature will give us some presages of a state after this world some kind of guesses and we are groping and feeling about for an eternal good Acts 17. 27. Man which hath a soul that will not perish must have some happiness that will last as long as his soul shall last he would fain be eternally happy Now it is the Word of God only reveals both the thing and the way to God the thing itself that there is such a state and what it is 2 Tim. 1. 10. Christ hath brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel It lay in darkness before hidden under some guesses and representations to the old People of God but now it 's brought to light in the Gospel Heathens in their dark notions did stumble upon the immortality of the Soul which they did rather dream of than understand distinctly But now all is open and clear and God hath manifested to you that there is a rest for the Children of God and a happiness after this life And also God hath revealed the way how to seek it and how to attain and get this eternal happiness therefore the holy Scriptures are said to be able to make wise to sabvation 2 Tim. 3. 15. it doth direct you in this way that 's wisdom indeed to be wise to salvation To be able to turn and wind in the world to be wise only in the present generation as the children of this world are it is folly rather than wisdom as when children can set forth their Toys we do not look upon it as any piece of wisdom but folly Wisdom lies in fixing a right end in a choice of fit means and in a dexterous prosecution of those means for the attainment of this end Now the holy Scriptures make you wise to salvation that is to fix upon a right end for they discover that there is a happiness that we may fix upon and they direct us in the way and then by mighty and potent methods of reasoning they quicken and awaken us to look after this business that we may dexterously pursue it as the great care that lies upon us therefore the children of God delight in the Word because this makes them wise to salvation here they have a perfect blessedness and a powerful way of argumentation and the soul is quickned to look after these great and everlasting hopes 3 The Doctrines of the Word are profound truths Thy testimonies are wonderful therefore doth my soul keep them Psal. 119. 129. They are remote from vulgar and ordinary knowledge The Word of God is not only called a doctrine according to godliness 1 Tim. 6. 3. but a mystery of godliness 1 Tim. 3. 16. Since the Fall there is a curiosity of knowledge a desire whereby man not only seeks what is true and good but what is rare and profound we have no need to run to other Books True depth and true profoundness is to be found in the Word of God there are wonders in God's Law if we had eyes to see them Psal. 119. 18. Open thou mine eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law Things indeed so profound and so mysterious that the Angels desire to pry into them 1 Pet. 1. 12. Those spirits that live in the blessed Vision and constant fruition of God yet they did find a depth of wisdom in salvation by Christ such a ravishing mystery that they curiously are taken up in the study of it and they delight in the view of those things which are commended to us for our study Ephes. 3. 10. To the intent that now unto the principalities in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God God's Word is a Glass wherein those glorious creatures do as in a mirror behold his wisdom and are in some sort better'd by it The state of Angels is a happy state but it 's finite capable of being improv'd and better'd and that by the Doctrine of the holy Scriptures Well then such are the depths and various excellencies of the Word of God that the Saints know not how more pleasantly and contentedly to spend their thoughts and time than in the search and view of those truths where such notable mysteries are revealed about the Nature of God Creation Providence the Story of Man's Fall Redemption by Christ the way to true happiness and the like both the Grounds of Faith and Rules of Practice are all such as are above the pitch of humane understanding Natural reason cannot find them out and now they are revealed by God the mind doth not fully apprehend them Thirdly The use of Scripture the ends for which God hath appointed it and the uses for which it was given 1 To increase the knowledge of God Now the Saints would know more of God and better their Notions of him as Moses his great request to God is Tell me thy Name when he learned that Shew me thy Glory he would fain know more of God So the Saints
Herod enquired after the place where Jesus was born not to adore him but to kill him Mat. 2. 8. Our great Rule is Iohn 17. 17. Sanctifie them by thy truth thy Word is truth When you come to study the Scriptures to be the better for them and not to cavil then you are in the way to find profit from them 4. Some come to the Word leavened with some carnal affections and so their hearts are blinded by their lusts and passion 2 Cor. 4. 3 4. If our Gospel be hid it is hid to them that are lost In whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not There is evidence enough in the truth but their hearts are wedded to their sins and so cannot see it they are ambitious and seek after honour and worldly greatness and the whole bent and scope of the Scripture being against their design they can never have a perfect understanding of it their hearts are full of Avarice Earthly-mindedness and some other beloved sin that they cherish which doth defile all that they touch even the very Word of God Hagg. 2. 13. A man that was unclean by a dead body whatsoever he touched was also unclean even holy things And Tit. 1. 15. To the impure all things are impure And so by the just judgment of God are blinded and hardned in their own prejudices for the light they have hindreth them from discerning the truth 5. Some content themselves with some superficial apprehensions and do not dig deep in the Mines of knowledge and therefore no wonder they mistake in many things Prov. 2. 4 5. If thou seekest her as silver and searchest for her as for hid treasures Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God No excellent things are to be had without pain and industry and search certainly the knowledge of God's Word must cost us great pains 6. Where men are right in the main and give diligence to know God's mind there will be mistakes in lesser things All have not parts alike and gifts and graces alike and therefore there is some variety of opinions and interpretations of Scripture among the godly wise Every man is not so happy to be so well studied nor hath not that ability to understand nor so furnished with acquired helps of Arts and Tongues nor such a degree of the Spirit There is a difference in age growth and experience among good men some are Babes and some grown in years in Christianity Phil. 3. 15. Grace is bewrayed in knowledge as well as in holiness Object 2. If there be such a Light in the Scriptures what need is there of the Spirit Answ. I answer The Scriptures are the means of Light the Spirit is the Author of Light both together enlighten the eyes Psal. 19. 8. These two must be taken in conjunction not in exclusion To pretend to the Spirit and neglect the Scriptures makes way for Error and fond conceits Isa. 8. 20. To the law and to the testimony if they speak not according to this Word it is because there is no light in them Light is not contrary to Light so to study the Scriptures and neglect the Spirit who searcheth out the deep things of God 1 Cor. 2. 11. leaveth us in darkness about God's mind The object to be known is fixt in the Scriptures but the faculty that knoweth must be enlightned by the Spirit There is a literal understanding of the Scriptures and a spiritual understanding 1 Cor. 2. 14. Now as to the spiritual understanding of them there needs the Spirit for the natural man cannot understand the things of the Spirit so that here is a fair correspondence between the Word and the Spirit Object 3. If the Scriptures be so plain what need the Ministry I answer Answ. 1. It is God's institution and we must submit to it though we could see no reason for it That it is God's institution it is plain for he hath set some in the Church not only Apostles and Prophets but Pastors and Teachers to apply Scriptures to us And 1 Cor. 1. 21. It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe If there were no reason but this because it is God's institution we should submit to it 2. The use of the Ministry is to explain and vindicate truth Men darken counsel with words and render plain things obscure by their litigations and unprofitable debates Now they are set for the defence of the truth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Phil. 1. 7. And the Ministry must be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tit. 1. 9. Able to convince the gainsayers good at holding and drawing it is the humane help for weak understandings The Eunuch was reading and could not tell what to make of it then God sent him an Interpreter Acts 8. Now God's help should not be despised when he will employ men to salve doubts to guide us in our way to Heaven we should thankfully accept of it rather than quarrel at the institution 3. They are of use to apply Generals to particular Cases and to teach us how to deduce genuine Inferences from those truths laid down in the Scriptures Mal. 2. 7. In this sense it is said The Priests lips should preserve knowledge and they should seek the Law at his mouth for he is the messenger of the Lord of Hosts God hath appointed this office to some to solve the doubts that do arise about particular Exigences and Cases and to make out the mind of God to his People otherwise they need go no farther than the Tables and Books of Moses to seek the Law but God hath appointed some in the Church that are skill'd in consequences and deductions to raise matter therefrom so that it is a Minister's work to open and explain Scripture 4. There is a use of the Ministry to keep Doctrines still afoot in the Church and to keep us in remembrance Ministers are the Lord's remembrancers it is a great part of their office to mind People of their duty The Word is a Light but it must be set in the Candlestick of the Church they are to hold out the Light for our direction and guidance 5. There is a peculiar blessing and efficacy to a Christian from their calling Mat. 28. 20. Lo I am with you to the end of the world Object 4. It is said 2 Pet. 3. 16. That there are some things hard to be understood therefore how should it be a clear Rule to us Thereupon many take occasion to tax the Scriptures of obscurity and cry out that nothing is certain in Religion and so hinder and discourage men from the study of the Word Answ. 1. I answer The Apostle saith there are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 some things hard to be understood but doth not say there are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 things that cannot be understood not there are things impossible to be understood but there 's some difficulty in
he that builds upon the Sand when the winds blow and beat upon the House down it falls Earthen Vessels when they come to be scowred the varnish and paint wears off Or by some scandalous fall for that which is lame will soon be turned out of the way Heb. 12. 13. This deceitfulness 1. Is contrary to God who is a God of truth Psal. 31. 5. the Authour of truth Ephes. 4. 24. Created after God in righteousness and true holiness and a lover of truth Psal. 51. 3. Thou desirest truth in the inward parts So that it is a great affront to God when men deal falsly Ier. 5. 3. O Lord are not thine eyes upon the truth Is not that the thing thou lookest after in all the works of men This is all in all with God 2. It is contrary to Justice Charity and common ingenuity it destroys the Commerce between man and man Ephes. 4. 25. Put away lying speak every man truth with his Neighbour for ye are members one of another It is unnatural and monstrous by lying and deceit to circumvent one another it is as for one part of the Body to destroy another It is a sin not only unseemly for a Christian but it tends to the overthrow of all humane Society fidelity and mutual trust being the ground of all commerce Now God will pour out his Judgments upon them Use. Let this teach us to carry it sincerely both to God and men for craft will not always succeed The more real worth in any the more openly and fairly they carry it But for Motives 1. You will never else have true solid comfort until you are real without dissembling before God and men 2 Cor. 1. 12. For our rejoycing is this the testimony of our Conscience that in simplicity and godly sincerity not with guile and fleshly wisdom we have had our conversation in the world Truth breeds joy and comfort of heart when a man is sincere and acts according to his Conscience 2. You will never hold out without it your Mask will fall off Iames 1. 8. The double minded man is unstable in all his ways wavering unconstant up and down off and on with God A Hypocrite is compared to a Rush that grows in the mire Iob 8. 12. pluck it up it soon withers they are like Reeds shaken with every wind And you can have no approbation and acceptation with God God likes those that are sincere Behold an Israelite indeed in whom there is no guile Who are those who have pardon of sin sealed up to their Souls O blessed is that man that can say his sins are forgiven him Who is that man In whose spirit there is no guile that is without dissimulation fraudulency and guile this man enjoys acceptance with God pardon of sin justification before God And the contrary will certainly bring down an heavy Judgment SERMON CXXX PSAL. CXIX VER 119. Thou puttest away all the wicked of the Earth like dross therefore I love thy testimonies IN these words we have 1. Gods dispensation 2. The effect it had upon David's heart In the first branch we have 1. The Character by which they are described All the wicked of the earth 2. The esteem God hath of them they are dross 3. A suitable Providence dealt out to them intimated thou puttest them away like dross Note I. That the wicked are men of the earth There are common reasons why we are all men of the earth Our original is earth made of the dust of the ground Gen. 2. 7. they are but a little Earth or red Clay fashioned into the form of a man an handful of inlivened dust Our abode and service is here Iohn 17. 4. I have glorified thee upon Earth and at our end and dissolution we are turned into Earth again Eccl. 12. 7. Then shall the dust return to the Earth as it was Psal. 146. 4. his breath goeth forth he returneth to his Earth Princes as well as others must look to be dissolved into dust again But in an especial respect are wicked men said to be of the Earth and that in contradistinction to the people of God Rev. 13. 10. Gods witnesses tormented the dwellers upon earth that is those that are out of the true Church in Antichrists Kingdome so Revel 13. 8. And all that dwell upon the Earth shall worship him whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb. As on the contrary they that dwell in the Church are said to be in Heaven Revel 13. 6. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God to blaspheme his name and his tabernacle and them that dwell in heaven So Rev. 18. 20. Rejoyce over her thou heaven and ye holy Apostles But why are they thus characterized Because here they flourish Ier. 17. 13. Their names shall be written in earth grow great and of good reckoning and account here Iudas had the Bag they prosper in the world Psal. 73. 12. Behold these are the ungodly who prosper in the world Here they are respected 1 Iohn 4. 5. They are of the world and speak of the world and the world heareth them Here their hearts and minds are Matth. 6. 19 20. It is their natural frame to be worldly they only savour the things of the world preferment honour greatness 't is their unum magnum here is their pleasure and here is their portion their hopes and their happiness A Child of God looketh for another inheritance immortal and undefiled Use 1. Is to wean us from present things which the wicked enjoy more than the righteous and which certainly are but poor things in comparison of our happiness Set your affections on things above not on things in the earth Col. 3. 2. affect them not as your happiness and last end Psal. 17. 14. Their portion is in this life affect them not in competition with heavenly things but in subordination Matth. 6. 33. affect them not inordinately but so as to part with them when God will Iob 1. 21. Naked came I out of my mothers womb and naked shall I return thither the Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away blessed be the name of the Lord affect them not so as to use unlawful means to get them Prov. 28. 8. He that by Usury and unjust gain encreaseth his substance he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor affect them not so as to put your selves upon the temptation of getting or keeping them by unjust means 1 Tim. 6. 9. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish and hurtful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition Prov. 28. 20. He that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent affect them not so as to be backward to good works But whoso hath this worlds goods and seeth his Brother have need and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him how dwelleth the love of God in him 1 Iohn 3. 17. 1 Sam. 25.
life Ephes. 5. 14. Awake thou that sleepest and arise from the dead and Christ shall give thee light that light was the life of men so is this spiritual life it not only discovereth the object but helpeth the faculty filleth the soul with life and strength Fourthly It is lux exhilarans a comforting refreshing cheering light Eccl. 11. 7. Light is sweet and it is a comfortable thing to behold the Sun It is so in two respects First It presents us with excellent grounds of comfort not only against afflictions but against distress of Conscience which is the greatest trouble that can befal the Creature such as the sense of Gods love in Christ so it rejoyceth the soul Psal. 19. 8. The Statutes of the Lord are right rejoying the heart the Commandments of the Lord are pure enlightening the eyes It doth us good to the heart Others tickle the senses but are not affliction-proof stead us not when God rebuketh us for sin The light of Gods Countenance is displayed in the Word Psal. 4. 6 7. There be many that say Who will shew us any good Lord lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us Thou hast put gladness in my heart more than in the time that their Corn and Wine encreased Secondly Because it is a soul-satisfying light as light easeth of trouble and restlesness of mind which we always lye under till we find a safe way of salvation which we never do till we give up our selves to the conduct of the Word Ier. 6. 16. Stand ye in the ways and see and ask for the old paths where is the good way and walk therein and ye shall find rest to your souls There we find enough to satisfie Conscience though it may be not to satisfie curiosity which is libido intellectûs thirst of a sober man and thirst of a Drunkard the one satisfied the other mortified Use 1. Information 1. That without the Word men lye in darkness whatever learning they have if they want the Gospel As the Ephesians before it came to them though given to curious Arts the Apostle telleth them they were sometimes darkness Ephes. 5. 8. The wisest Heathens could only grope and feel about for happiness If they neglect the light though it be among them 't is not excusable Iohn 1. 5. And the light shineth in darkness but the darkness comprehendeth it not But if they refuse the light and this carelesness groweth obstinate their condition is the worse Iohn 3. 19. This is the condemnation that light is come and men love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil 2. If we get not understanding of the mysteries of salvation we may blame our selves 2 Cor. 4. 3 4. But if our Gospel be hid it is hid to them that are lost in whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ who is the image of God should shine unto them If thou miss the way to Heaven accuse thine own blindness thou canst not accuse the Gospel plead its darkness The true cause of their non-proficiency is unbelief they believe not the superadded cause is spiritual blindness Use 2. Is exhortation to look after this light without which we shall be in the dark as to comfort Isai. 50. 10. Who is among you that feareth the Lord that obeyeth the voice of his servant that walketh in darkness and seeth no light either under actual horrours or doubtfulness and uncertainty Every wicked man is troubled as the leaves of the Trees of the Wood are shaken with the Wind. Now who would live in such a condition to be at the mercy of the Tempter You are in the dark as to Duty our own reason the counsels and examples of others will mislead us and we shall be unsteady carried away with every deceit of sin at least unsatisfied whether in Gods way or no 1 Iohn 2. 11. He that hateth his brother is in darkness and walketh in darkness and knoweth not whither he goeth because that darkness hath blinded his eyes Oh study the Word But who have this light 1. He that heartily desireth knowledge Prov. 2. 3. If thou cryest after Wisdom and liftest up thy voice for understanding he that diligently labours for it Psal. 1. 2. His delight is in the Law of the Lord and in his Law doth he meditate day and night That propoundeth a right end to be Christs Disciple to do Gods will Iohn 7. 17. If any man will do his will he shall know of the Doctrine whether it be of God or whether I speak of my self That humbleth himself for his ignorance Iohn got open the Book with weeping Rev. 5. 5. And one of the Elders said unto me Weep not behold the Lion of the Tribe of Iudah the root of David hath prevailed to open the Book Those Bereans were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Actâ—… 17. 11. They received the word with all readiness of mind 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Iames 3. 17. Easie to be entreated The opposite on the one side is slowness of heart Luke 24. 25. O fools and slow of heart to believe all that the Prophets have spoken Or obstinacy on the other a sluggish easiness when light of belief to believe any thing without searching into the reason of it or given up to a foolish credulity Ephes. 4. 14. That ye be not as Children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of Doctrine and cunning craftiness whereby they lye in wait to deceive like a Reed shaken with every Wind. But he that is indued with this light is one that doth not depend on his own wit but submits his reason to God Prov. 3. 5 6. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not to thine own understanding in all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths Well then this earnest desire in the next Verse I opened my mouth and panted I longed for thy Commandments This painful Seeker will find out this Treasure this humble trusting Soul will have it Doctr. III. That the Scriptures are written so that plain and private men may get this light and spiritual understanding by them Psal. 19. 7. The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul the testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple 1. From the Author God who is the fountain of light and surely he was able and-willing conveniently to express his mind to his Creatures Cannot God speak plainly Deus mentis linguae vocis artifex as Lactantius calleth him He that is so wise so loving of mankind our supreme Judg and King would he hide this light under a bushel would he conceal his mind and leave thee in the dark Mic. 6. 8. He hath shewed thee O man what is good and what doth the Lord thy God require of thee but to do justice to love mercy and to walk humbly with thy God 2. For whom
the Scriptures were written not for Ministers or professed Students God speaketh to all sorts of men in the Scripture and therefore would have all understand them He wrote the Scripture that it might be read of all young and old Deut. 30. 11 12. This Commandment which I command thee this day is not hidden from thee neither is it far off It is not in heaven that thou shouldest say Who shall go up for us to heaven and bring it to us that we may hear it and do it c. Rich and poor the King was to read in it all the days of his life Deut. 17. 18 19. It shall be that when he sitteth upon the Throne of his Kingdom he shall write him a Copy in a Book out of that which is before the Priests the Levites and it shall be with him and he shall read therein all the days of his life Every good man is to meditate in it Psal. 1. 2. His delight is in the Law of the Lord and in his Law doth he meditate day and night Deut. 6. 6 7. These words which I command thee this day shall be in thy heart and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy Children and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house and when thou walkest by the way and when thou liest down and when thou risest up The Apostles wrote Epistles to the whole Church spake to old men youth little Children 1 Iohn 2. 13. I write unto you Fathers because ye have known him that is from the beginning I write unto you young men because ye have overcome the wicked one I write unto you little Children because ye have known the Father To Kings Judges Men Women Husbands Wives Fathers Children Masters Servants was it written for their use nor must it be taken out of their hands nor is it above their reach 3. The end why it was written to be a sure and infallible direction to guide us to eternal life and make us wise unto salvation 2 Tim. 3. 15. And that from a Child thou hast known the holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Iesus Not only so but it is our food and means of growth 1 Pet. 2. 2. As new born Babes desire the sincere milk of the Word that ye may grow thereby Every life hath food convenient for it It is our weapon in temptation Ephes. 6. 17. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God To be read by all in this spiritual warfare they are all engaged in It is Gods testament therefore should be viewed by his Children the Epistle of the Creator to his Creatures therefore to be read by them to whom it is sent Gods Letter must not be intercepted upon all these reasons There is enough to make wise the simple in Scriptures But is there nothing difficult in Scriptures Answ. Yes to subdue the pride of mans wit to quicken us to wait and depend upon him for knowledge to prevent contempt to exercise our industry and diligence and to fasten truths on our minds There is some difficulty but not such difficulty as that the people neither can nor ought to read them with profit which is the dispute between us and Papists There is no difficulty but what is conquerable by that Grace that God ordinarily dispenseth and the means of explaining or applying not a whole loaf but a dimensum his share for it distributes to every man his portion Use 1. For the confutation of them that forbid the simple the use of the word The Papists say Gods Word is dark and hard to be understood therefore they lock it up from the people in an unknown tongue as if none could profit by it but the learned sort Yea many among us are ready to say What should simple men do with Scripture and think all the confusions and troubles of the world come from giving people this liberty Answ. Though in the word there are mysteries to exercise the greatest Wits yet there are plain truths to edifie the simple This Text is a notable proof against them It is good to have a Text against every errour of theirs They are injurious to God as if he had revealed his mind so darkly or his word that it were so doubtful and harmful that there were danger in reading it injurious to the Scriptures while they tax them with obscurity injurious to the people of God while they despise those whom the Lord inviteth with their Pharisaical pride Iohn 7. 49. But this people who know not the Law are cursed hinder them of their comfort The simple have souls to save therefore have need to see with their own eyes to consider Gods Charter They pretend they do it in mercy to the people lest by their mistakes they should ruine themselves and introduce confusion into the world They should as well say All must be starved and deny meat and drink because some surfeit But certainly they do it for their own interest they have false Wares to vend and to keep the people from discovering the errours they impose upon them they would conceal the Scriptures from them Ignorance is a friend to the Devils Kingdom The blind go as they are led They are afraid of the Scriptures as a Thief of a Candle or the light which would discover his villany and hinder his design Iohn 3. 20. Use 2. Of encouragement to poor Christians that have a sense of weakness Before Plato's School was written Let none but the learned come in hither but Christ inviteth the simple that none might be discouraged he speaketh to all sorts Prov. 8. 4 5. Unto you O men I call and my voice is to the sons of men O ye simple understand wisdom and ye fools be of an understanding heart That which is spoken to all is thought to be spoken for none Christ speaketh to men under their several distinctions noble base young or old rich or poor If any earthly profit be offered to any that will take it who will exempt themselves None are so modest But in spiritual things persons are more stupid Let none be discouraged by weakness of parts all are invited to learn and here they may be taught of any capacity Oh! but how many will say I am so weak of understanding that I shall make no work of such deep mysteries as are contained in the Scriptures Answ. 1. Many times this objection cometh from a sluggish heart to ease themselves of the trouble of a duty as meditation or prayer they pretend weakness they would have a rule that would make knowledge 2. If it be serious God is able to interpret his own Book unto thee He must indeed open the door or we cannot get into the knowledge of truths there If you had better parts you would be but groping about the door He that hath not the right Key is as far from entring the
profit with us because we neglect private God complaineth of his People Ier. 2. 32. That they have forgotten him dayes without number How many daies have gone over your heads and God never heard from you You should no more forget him every day then a Bride would forget her Ornaments on the wedding day 2. Let me lay this before you You should be betimes with God that you may not incroach upon your other occasions Yea that you may sanctifie your other occasions and be the fitter for it all the day after Let not the soft Enemy of sleep steal away your golden hours and the flower and choicest part of time A Christian that makes Conscience of his time should not inure himself to a sluggish Course and turn in his Bed like a door upon the hinges if your Constitution will bear it otherwise we lay no blame upon you the Scriptures have many disswasives from immoderate sleep Prov. 5. 9. chap. 13. 4. chap. 26. 14. chap. 6. 6. To be sure a Christian is to make Conscience of Time and how he spendeth it and we may sin and surfeit in sleeping as well as in eating and drinking and therefore we must watch against the incroachments of ease and sloath least a sluggish humour grow natural to us and a morbid custom that cannot be shaken off 3. It presseth you to Fervency though in Private As much Fervency Sense and Zeal as you would express before men so much should we express when alone The Name of God must be sanctified in all that draw near to him in Private as well as in Publick oherwise he is scorned rather than honoured that it may appear you were sincere in Prayer and have not mean and low thoughts of God otherwise you bring a suspition upon all your Publick Duties There may be sometimes more Assistance in Publick more Order and Method for Edification but not more Ardour and Zeal Pray with Fervency as to an All-seeing Spirit Though the Lord delayeth yet he intendeth the inlargement of our Desires Lam. 3. 49 50. Mine eye trickleth down and ceaseth not without any intermission till the Lord looks down from heaven and beholds If you are soon discouraged you 'll get nothing 4. Be sure that God hath his share If business take up more time than Prayer because of the urgency of bodily necessities yet ordinarily a man should not spend more time in any Pastime and Recreations than in Religious Exercises 'T is most equal we should first seek the Kingdom of God and the Righteousness thereof Matth. 6. 33. The most needful Duty should have most time bestowed upon it 't is an ill Character to be lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God 2 Tim. 4. 3. 'T is reasonable to give an equal time to God and Religion as to Sports and Delights Most men have no other thing to do then to eat drink and sleep if they should compare their Religion and their Recreations they would soon see what a large share of time one hath above the other Secondly We come to the Reason and Incouragement of his Diligence I hoped in thy Word that is because I have thy Word for it I do not doubt but in time I shall reap the fruit of my Prayers Doctrine A lively hope grounded upon the Word of God will put us upon this Vigilancy and Diligence in Prayer The Reasons are taken 1. From the Word of God which is the ground of Hope Psal. 130. 5. I wait for the Lord my Soul doth wait and in his word do I hope And 2. From the nature of Hope which is the Fountain of Prayer I. From the Word of God which serveth for two uses Invitation and Assurance 1. For Invitation to give us leave to come to the Throne of Grace David did not come unbidden or uninvited into Gods Presence he had his Word for it the promises of the Gospel give us liberty otherwise we should not assume the boldness to appear before him Psal. 50. 15. The Word is our Warrant 't is as it were the holding out of the golden Scepter 2 Sam. 7. 27. Therefore hath thy Servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee 2. For Assurance and firm Confidence before the thing promised be obtained God pawneth his Word with us which we must hold till the performance come Now they that can thus hold it and believe the promise will be often in Prayer that the Word may be both established to them 2 Sam. 7. 25. and fulfilled Psal. 116. 10. I have believed and therefore have I spoken II. From the nature of Hope which implyeth two things both which have an influence upon Prayer Earnest Expectation and patient tarrying the Lords Leisure 1. Earnest Expectation Phil. 1. 20. According to my earnest expectation and my hope This exciteth the soul by all means to pursue after the thing hoped for When Daniel understood by books that the time was come then was he vehement and earnest Dan. 9. 2 3. Elijah when he saw a Cloud but as big as a mans hand he saith 1 Kings 18. 43. Go bid Ahab prepare his chariot get thee down that the rain stop thee not What we look for we will pray for 2. Patient tarrying we read of the patience of hope 1 Thes. 1. 3. and so though they seem long delayed yet hope in the Promise will make us wait and abide the performance of them because they are assured they shall find the fruit of them at last Use. You see how we pray the occasion of Prayer is necessity our necessities lead us to the promise that inviteth us and giveth us Assurance and yields matter for Faith and Hope that puts us upon looking and waiting these two make us pray When we can joyn patientiam spei cum ardore desiderii the earnestness of expectation that keepeth us from sloth or negligence in the use of the means or excites us to call upon God and patience that keeps us from fainting or discouragement hence cometh that earnest diligence and constant unceasing importunity so as to give God no rest The belief of Gods promises do not make us neglect means but to be more diligent in the use of them SERMON CLXVI PSALM CXIX VER 148. Mine eyes prevent the night watches that I might meditate in thy Word WE hear before of Davids diligence in Prayer now in Meditation His Prayer was incouraged by his Hope his Hope was fed by the Word and the Word improved by Meditation for he saith I hope in thy word and then mine eyes prevent the night watches c. In the Words we have First An account of his Vigilancy and Diligence Mine eyes prevented the night watches Secondly The Duty wherein he was exercised that I might meditate in thy Word The first branch needeth a little illustration what is meant by night watches and what by preventing these night watches I. What is meant by night watches Drusius telleth us that the night among the
that is as it groweth more Holy and Heavenly From our first Renovation we should be dying to this World and settle our Affections on a better much more when God beginneth to call us home then draw home as fast as you can For Means to this Desire and Longing there is necessary First A sound Belief of this blessed Estate or a certain Considence of the Truth of it 2 Corinth 5. 1 2. For we know that if our earthly house of this Tabernacle were dissolved we have a building of God an house not made with hands eternal in the Heavens for in this we groan earnestly desiring to be cloathed upon with our house which is from heaven Not a bare Conjecture but a certain knowledge Surely Heaven is Amiable and the object of our desires if we be perswaded of the Truth of it we will long after it Secondly A serious preparation for it 2 Corinth 5. 3. If so be that being cloathed we shall not be found naked They have made up their Accounts between God and their Souls sued out their Pardon stand with their Loins girt and Lamps burning then they Long and Wait when God will draw aside the Vail of Flesh and shew them his Glory A Seafaring man desireth his Port especially if Laden with Rich Commodities where there hath been diligent preparing there will be serious waiting and desirous Expectation While we make provision for our fleshly Appetites and Wills we dream of dwelling here we take it for granted they have no thought of removing to another place who make no provision before their coming thither When a Tenant hath warning to be turned out of his old house he will be providing of another and be preparing and making it ready before he enter upon it We now come to the second Clause thy Law is my delight Doctrine II. That we should not only Long for Salvation but delight in the way which leadeth to it Here I shall speak to two things First That we must take the way that leadeth to it Secondly That we must delight in the way First That we must take the way that leadeth to it I. Partly because of the nature of Gods Covenant which is conditional there is in it Ratio dati et accepti something required and something promised Isa. 56. 4. For this saith the Lord unto the Eunuchs that keep my Sabbaths and choose the things that please me and take hold of my Covenant Heb. 10. 22. Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of Faith having our hearts sprinkled from an evil Conscience and our bodies washed with pure water Exod. 24. 4. And Moses wrote all the Words of the Lord and rose up early in the Morning and builded an Altar under the hill and twelve pillars according to the twelve tribes of Israel And he took the Book of the Covenant and read it in the audience of the People and they said all that the Lord hath said we will do and be obedient Surely in the Covenant of Grace God requireth conditions 't is not made up all of promises now a condition is this when one promiseth any good or threatneth any ill not simply but upon Covenant if the thing required be performed or the thing forbidden be committed the performance of the thing required is the condition of the promise the doing a thing forbidden the condition of the threatning 1 Sam. 11. 1 2. And all the men of Iabesh said unto Nahash make a Covenant with us and we will serve thee And Nahash the Ammonite answered them on this condition I will make a Covenant with you that I may thrust out all your right Eyes and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel And Luke 14. 32. While the other is yet a great way off he sendeth an Embassage and desireth conditions of Peace Now these conditions are twofold making Covenant and keeping Covenant 1. The conditions as to making the Covenant arise from the Law of Grace or the lex remedians Faith and Repentance Faith performed or omitted Iohn 3. 36. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting Life and he that believeth not the Son shall not see Life but the Wrath of God abideth on him So Repentance performed Ezek. 18. 30. Repent yee and turn from your transgressions so iniquity shall not be your ruin omitted Luk. 13. 5. except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish 2. Then conditions of keeping Covenant which is conformity to the Law of God or new obedience performed Psal. 84. 11. No good thing will he withold from them that walk uprightly omitted Heb. 12. 14. Without Holiness no man shall see the Lord. Wel then upon the whole we thus judge that 't is not enough to desire Gods Salvation but we must also delight in his Law that is to say we must repent and believe and so begin our acquaintance with God in Christ and we must also walk in the ways of Gods Precepts if we mean at length to be saved and to enjoy the vision of the blessed God that which is propounded conditionally we must not presume off absolutely and so make reckoning to go to Heaven as in some Whirl-wind or as Passengers at Sea are brought into the Harbour sleeping or to be crowned without striving II. From the nature of this longing and desire which must be Regular and according to the Tenour of the Covenant of Holiness as well as happiness and it must be strong so asto over-master contrary difficulties Lusts and Desires Let us instance in Balaam he said Numb 23. 10. Let me die the death of the Righteous and let my latter end be like his He saw that the State of a righteous man at the end of it is a blessed Estate and this he longed for but there was a double defect in his desire it was not Regular Balaam desired to be saved but he did not delight in Gods Law He would be at the journeys end but was loath to take the way there was a complacency and welpleasedness in the end but a refusing of the means Again This Desire was but a flash a suddain motion occasioned by contemplation of the Blessedness of Gods People but no operative transforming Desire a Desire which the love of the wages of unrighteousness prevailed over all men will long for Salvation but all men will not take a right course to obtain it and so 't is a wish rather than a desire if we long for Salvation but have not an Heart to use the means appointed thereunto where there is a true longing there will be an using the means and an using the means with delight they that will not submit to these Conditions or snuff at these Conditions as troublesome they do not long for his Salvation nor delight in his Law Secondly That we must delight in the way that leadeth to Glory but this Argument being handled in other verses of this Psalm 't is omitted here SERM. CLXXXIX PSALM CXIX VER 175. Let