A Brief Explication of the Last Fifty Psalms, Psalm 119 · Part ח
CHETH.
Vers. 57. Thou art my portion, O LORD, I have said, that I would keep thy words.
58. I intreated thy favour with my whole heart, be mercifull unto me according to thy Word.
59. I thought on my wayes: and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.
60. I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy Commandments.
61. The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy Law.
62. At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee, because of thy righteous judgements.
63. I am a companion of all them that fear thee: and of them that keep thy precepts.
64. The earth, O LORD, is full of thy mercy; teach me thy statutes.
In this section he laboureth to confirme his faith, and to comfort himselfe in the certainty of his regeneration, by eight properties of a sound believer, or eight marks of a new creature. The first whereof is, his choosing of God for his portion. Whence learn, 1. Such as God hath chosen and effectually called, they get grace to make God their choice, their delight, and their portion: and such as have chosen God for their portion, have an evidence of their regeneration and election also; for here David maketh this a mark of his regeneration: Thou art my portion, O Lord. 2. It is another mark of regeneration, after believing in God, and choosing of him for our portion, to resolve to bring out the fruits of faith in new obedience, as David did; I have said that I will keep thy words. 3. As it is usuall for Gods children, now and then because of sinne falling out, to be exercised with the sense of Gods displeasure: so it is a mark of a new creature, not to lie stupid and senslesse under this exercise, but to deal with God earnestly, for restoring the sense of reconciliation, and giving new experience of his mercy, as the Psalmist did; I intreated thy favour with my whole heart: and this is the third evidence of a new creature. 4. The penitent believer hath the Word of grace, and Covenant of God, for his assurance to be heard when he seeketh mercy: Be mercifull to me according to thy Word. 5. The searching in what condition we are in, and examination of our wayes according to the Word, and renewing of repentance, with an endeavour of amendment, is a fourth mark of a new creature: I thought on my wayes, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies. 6. When we do see our sin, we are naturally slow to amend our doings, but the sooner we turne us to the way of Gods obedience, we speed the better, and the more speedy the reforming of our life be, the more sound mark is it of a new creature: I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments. 7. Enduring of persecution, and spoiling of our goods, for adhering to Gods Word, without forsaking of our cause, is a fifth mark of a new creature: The bands of the wicked have robbed me, but I have not forgotten thy law. 8 As it is the lot of Gods children who resolve to be godly to suffer persecution, and to be forced either to lose their temporal goods▪ or else to lose a good cause, and a good conscience: so it is the wisdome of the godly, to remember what the Lords Word requireth of us, and speaketh unto us, and this shall comfort our conscience more, then the losse of things temporal can trouble our mindes: The bands of the wicked robbed me, but I have not forgotten thy Law. 9. A sixth mark of a new creature, is to be so farre from fretting under hard exercise, as to thank God in secret chearfully for his gracious Word, and for all the passages of his providence, where none seeth us, and where there is no hazard of ostentation: At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee, because of thy righteous judgements. 10. A seventh mark of a renewed creature, is, to associate our selves, and keep communion with such as are truly gracious, and do fear God indeed, as we are able to discerne them: I am a companion of all them that fear thee. 11. The fear of God is evidenced by believing and obeying the doctrine and direction of the Scripture, and no other wayes: I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts. 12. The eighth mark of a new creature, is not to rest in any measure of renovation, but earnestly to deal with God for the encrease of saving knowledge, and fruitfull obedience of it: for, Teach me thy statutes, is the prayer of the man of God, in whom all the former marks are found. 13. As the whole creatures are witnesses of Gods bounty to man, and partakers of that bounty themselves: so are they pawnes of Gods pleasure to bestow upon his servants greater gifts then these, even the encrease of sanctification, in further illumination of minde and reformation of life: for this the Psalmist useth for an argument, to be more and more sanctified; The whole earth is full of thy bounty, O Lord, teach me thy statutes.