Sermons on Psalm 119, Sermons · Sermon 120
SERMON CXX. On the Fifth of NOVEMBER.
PSAL. CXIX. VER. 110.
The wicked have laid a snare for me: yet I erred not from thy precepts.
HEre is the second Assault made upon David's Integrity, the secret snares laid for him. The Enemies of God's People do not always go to work in the way of open Persecution, and directly for Righteousness sake, but then they lay snares; what they cannot do by open force, they seek to do by fraud. Many that have stood out with courage against the shock of violence, have been taken in a snare, as the Prophet that resisted the King, was enticed by the blandishments of the old Prophet, 1 Kings 13. Persecution is a more gross way, and liable to Exception, and therefore they must go secretly to work. Sometimes this life is a continued temptation, and a Christian that walketh in the world, walketh in the midst of snares set for him, by his Enemies bodily and spiritual. The Devil is the great Snare-layer, and wicked men learn it of him; The wicked have laid a snare for me, &c. In the words observe,
1. David's Temptation, A snare laid for him.
2. The Persons who manag'd the Temptation, The wicked.
3. The Success and Issue, Tet I erred not from thy precepts.
Doct. The Godly have often Snares laid for them, not only by Satan, but by wicked men.
Now Snares are to entice, or endanger, or of a mixt nature.
1. Snares to entice them from their Duty. Thus the blandishments of the whorish Woman are call'd a snare. Prov. 7. 23. As the Bird hasteth unto the snare, and knoweth not that 'tis for his life. Of this nature are crafty Insinuations, Baits of Preferment, Profit, Pleasure, or any carnal advantage to pervert our Judgments, and draw us off from our Duty.
2. Snares to endanger their safety, clog'd with some spightful condition to entrap others, or when there is a Plot-laid to endanger others, as Ieremy complaineth, Jer. 18. 22. They have digged a Pit to take me, they have hid snares for my feet. Secretly conspir'd and practis'd his destruction. And David, Psal. 140. 5. The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the ways side, and set gins for my feet. Selah. Hunters and Fowlers did never go more cunningly to work to catch the Prey, than those proud men had laid their design to bring his life under their power. And in Psal. 35. 7. For without cause they have hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul. And Psal. 57. 6. They have prepared a net for my steps, my soul is bowed down, they have digged a pit for me, into the midst whereof they are fall'n themselves. Selah. Now of this sort are St. Bartholomew's Mattens, and the Plot and Contrivance to out the Protestants in France, when they were invited to a Wedding, that they might destroy them; and of this nature was the Gunpowder Treason, there was a snare laid. When Orestes had plotted Clytemnestra's Death, Euripides expresseth it, foreign, She fitly cometh into the snare.
3. Of a mixt nature, both to entice by endangering, and endanger by enticing.
1. As when they put them upon such conditions as may tempt them to Folly and Sin; some think the Text verifi'd in David, at that time when he said, 1 Sam, 26. 19. They have driven me out from abiding in the inheritance of the Lord, saying, Go serve other gods. Meaning, they excited Saul to pursue him, and persecute him, and forc'd him to flee into an Idolatrous Countrey, and so a snare laid to endanger his stedfastness in the true faith. 'Tis a great Temptation, Necessitas cogit ad turpia, Necessity is but an evil Counsellor, and this joined with the other Temptation of bad company. Psal. 120. 5. Wo is me that I sojourn in Mesech, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar.
2. When they Enact a Law or Statute, whereby to force them to sin or trouble; as they had a Plot against Daniel, either to make him neglect his God, or render him obnoxious to Authority, Dan. 6. 7, 8. When they burden them with such Laws and Statutes, as the godly cannot obey without sin, or refuse without danger; they have their ends either to draw them to sin, or suffer.
Now Snares are laid by the wicked,
1. Because usually they excel in Policy, Craftiness, and worldly Wit, are superior to God's children therein; their whole hearts run that way, and their principle is intire and unbroken, and therefore our Lord Christ telleth us, Luke 16. 8. For the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light. They applaud themselves in their Artifices, Idolize their Wit, Habak. 1. 16. Sacrifice to their net, and burn incense to their drag; therefore use it to the Saints destruction.
2. Because they are acted by Satan, who will ever be doing against the Church, though to little purpose. Luke 22. 3. The Devil enter'd into Iudas, when he plotted against Christ. They learn their Wiles from Satan, and conceive mischief by copulation with the great Incubus of Hell.
3. Their own hatred and malice against the People of God. Malice is a laying snares, Anger vents its self in a storm of words, or in some sudden violent Action, but hatred lurketh in the soul, and puts them that harbor it upon Plots and Contrivances of revenge. The Historian observeth of Tiberius, In malitiam statim invectus est, &c. When Absalom hated Amnon, because he forced his sister, he plotteth how to take away his life, 2 Sam. 13. 22.
Now whence cometh this malice against the Children of God? Either by envy at their Interests, or hatred at their Holiness.
1. Envy at their Interests, their Esteem and Respect in the World, when they come to be of any regard among men. Esther 5. 9. Haman plotteth against Mordecai, because he sate in the King's gate. Psal. 112. 9, 10. His horn shall be exalted with honour; the wicked shall see it, and he grieved, and gnash with their teeth. When the Gospel was like to get credit, Acts 17. 5. the envious Iews raised an uproar. Pride is loth to stoop, to see opposites in glory and power, whets their malice, and they contrive how to root them out. Every man would have himself and his own Faction admir'd and magnifi'd. The Pharisees conspir'd to take Christ, Iohn 12. 19. All the world is gone after him. When Religion prevaileth, and groweth in credit and fashion, it is deeply resented by naughty men.
2. Hatred at their Holiness. Men cannot endure to be outstript in Religion, and therefore hate what they will not imitate: Hatred is quick-sighted in Revenge, full of Plots and Contrivances, and tickleth the soul with a delight in them; but especially Religious Hatred, when a man hateth another for his Godliness; when Religion instead of a Party becomes a Judge, that which should restrain our Passions, feeds them; no Hatred so great, as that against the power of Godliness. Cain when he saw Abel so punctual in God's service, he plotteth to draw him into the Field, 1 Iohn 3. 12. and beginneth a Discourse with him about Providence and Judgment to come, and Rewards and Punishments, and while Abel maintained God's part, Cain fell upon him, and slew him.
To apply this: As these Snares tend to our temporal destruction, so there is a double use to be made of them.
1. To trust God with our safety in the midst of so many snares. What shall we do? Whatever remedy we have against violence, no man by his own foresight can find out all the snares that are laid for him, therefore commit your safety spiritual and temporal to the Lord, go to him and say, Psal. 141. 9. Keep me from the snare they have laid for me, and the grins of the workers of iniquity. Constant dependance upon God is necessary, for there can be no snare hidden from him who watcheth over us and our safety by night and by day. There is a double Argu…ent why we should trust God with our safety, because of his wisdom, and because of his watchful providence. Because of his wisdom. Alas! we are foolish and simple, and often betray our selves into an evil condition, but God is wise for them that are foolish. Psal. 37. 12, 13. The wicked plotteth against the just, and guasheth upon him with his teeth: the Lord shall laugh at him, for he seeth that his day is coming. There is a wise God acting for a foolish People; I tell you the wisdom of God for us, is much greater than the wisdom of God in us; where Enemies deal proudly, God is above them; where they deal craftily, God is beyond them: The wisdom of God for us, is greater than the wisdom of any against us. And also because of his watchful Providence, he hath a waking love and care of us night and day. Psal. 121. 4. Behold he that keepeth Israel, shall neither slumber nor sleep. He will be so far from sleeping, that he will not so much as slumber; when we know nothing, his Providence finds out the secret contrivances that are against us. I tell you God is our Father, he will maintain us, and take care for us, when we live by Faith, and not by shifts, in a good, plain, down-right course of honesty. Gen. 17. 1. I am God all sufficient: walk before me, and be thou perfect. That is, they should go on, doing their duty, and refer the care of their safety to God: Oh then cast your selves upon the Lord, he will either direct your way to eschew these snares, or pluck your feet out of them, if you be taken therein. Psal. 25. 13. Mine eyes are ever towards the Lord; he shall pluck my feet out of the snare. Look to him for direction and counsel.
2. Bless God for your safety and preservation, 'tis a mercy to have a Being in the midst of so many dangers and snares as way-lay us everywhere; especially should we bless God when we have escap'd some notable Trap and Pit that was digged for us. Psal. 124. 7. Our soul is escaped like a bird out of the snare of the fowler: the snare is broken, and we are escaped. This is a passage we may use to God this day; there are two grounds usually of thanksgiving for this deliverance.
1. That their Devices came to nought. Job 15. 35. They conceive mischief, and bring forth vanity. It discovereth the wisdom, power, goodness, and watchfulness of God, that this dark and hellish machination that they thought so wisely laid, that all Devils in Hell could not discover it, yet the God of Heaven brought it to light. Prov. 21. 30. There is no wisdom nor understanding, nor counsel against the Lord.
Those three words set out the quintessence of parts. Wisdom, noteth a quick apprehension; Understanding, a wise foresight grounded upon Experience; Counsel, a designation of some rare Artifice. Isa. 8. 9, 10. Associate your selves O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; and all ye of far countries, gird your selves, and ye shall be broken in pieces. Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us.
2. The mischief return'd back upon themselves. Psal. 7. 15. He made a pit, and digged it, and is faln into the ditch which he made. Higgaion Selah. Their instruments, 'tis a high Note that we may observe it. An Iron heated red hot, burneth their fingers that hold it; they are taken in their own Pit, poison'd in their own Cup, holden in cords of their own vanity, so that in the issue it appeareth they laid a snare for themselves, rather than for us.
USE II. As they are Inticements to Sin, so we may make many uses of it.
1. You oug…t to ask God's counsel, for you walk in the midst of snares▪ that he would guide you, and lead you. Psal. 27. 11. Teach me thy way, O Lord, lead me in a plain path, because of min▪ enemies. Those that watch for our halting are many, their craft is great, therefore go to the wise God for counsel, ask of him what your way and course shall be, for he seeth that which you see not.
2. Get spiritual wisdom and understanding. An ignorant, credulous heart is soon seduc'd, but a man of understanding that seeth his danger, is not easily drawn and allur'd into it. Prov. 1. 17. In vain is the snare laid in the sight of any bird. The vain, credulous, simple young man is soon enti…'d by the lewd woman in the 7th of the Proverbs.
3. Keep the High-way of Duty, and walk by a sure Rule, and then you are safe. David saith here, I erred not from thy precepts. In a time of snares, often consult with your Rule, 'tis Satan's aim to put us out of our way. As when the Fisherman would get the Fishes into the Net, he seeketh to rouze them out of their place. Take a man out of God's way, and he becometh a ready Prey to Satan. In doubtful cases there is no man chuseth the worst, but first he breaketh some known Rule, and clear moral Precept; therefore be punctual, and keep close to God's directions in clear and known cases, and you are safe.
4. There needs a mortifi'd heart to worldly Interests, our temporal Interest is to be shaken off. Men of carnal affections seeketh out the snare. Job 18. 8. He is cast into a net by his own …eet, and he walketh upon a snare. If we will find the sin and disposition of heart, God will find the occasion; and a man that hath a Commodity to put off, (Faith and a good Conscience) will soon find a Chapman to truck with him. Iudas was thinking of betraying Christ, and the High Priests were plotting how to do it just at the same time; worldliness layeth us open to the snare. 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. But he that is dead to worldly interests remaineth firm, whatever bait be proposed.
2. We come to the Persons that manag'd the Temptation, the wicked; The wicked have laid a snare for me.
Doct. It is the property of a wicked heart to plot, and lay snares for the mischief and ruine of others, especially God's People. David saith here, The wicked have laid snares for me.
1. 'Tis a deliberate, voluntary Sin; and the more will and advisedness in any sin, the greater it is. Laying of snares is not a thing done in passion, but in cool blood; there is art and cunning in it, and the heart dwelleth long upon it. The Will sets the Wit awork, to weave the Net, and frame the Devise, Involuntarium minuit de ratione peccati. When a thing is involuntary it lesseneth sin, a man may be overtaken with a fault, Gal. 6. 1. But when he studieth it, 'tis much the worse. God's children are surpriz'd through unweariness, and made to stumble in a Fit of Temptation; but when mens wits are bended to project and plot sin, 'tis not an infirmity, but an iniquity. Prov. 6. 14. Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually, he soweth discord. 'Tis the description of a naughty heart; so the Prophet, Micah 2. 1. Wo to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds: when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hands. Their wickedness is premeditated, then wo to them.
2. 'Tis a sign that Evil is connatural to them, when they are plotting; as Poison is to a Spider, they are always working it, never out of their way by night and by day, their hearts run upon it. Prov. 4. 16. Whenever they are abroad, they sleep not unless they have done mischief, and their sleep is taken away unless they cause some to fall. Then when others cannot rest, they examine themselves. Psal. 4. 4. Commune with your hearts upon your beds. When our reins should instruct us, and suggest wholsom thoughts to us, Psal. 16. 7. Or when we should direct our Prayer to God in the morning, Psal. 5. 3. then they employ their thoughts and musings on Evil; the Apostle maketh it to be their disposition that are given up by God to a reprobate sense, to be inventers of evil things, Rom. 1. 30.
3. They that plot Evil, they are of the Devil's Trade, whose work it is to hurt and mischief those who are broken loose from him; 'tis his business to lay snares. 2 Tim. 2. 26. And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. When Iudas plotteth against Christ, the Devil entereth into him. So Acts 13. 10. 'tis said to Elymas the Sorcerer, O thou full of all subtilty and mischief, the child of the devil. They are like the Devil in their hatred of God and the Truth, and the Persecution of the Church, and like him for subtilty and politick contrivance, bloody designs and inventions, are the venom and poyson of the old Serpent sinked into mens hearts, there are both cruelty and lying. John 8. 44. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do: he was a murtherer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lye, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
4. 'Tis a sin contrary to the love of God and man, against double light and double obligations from both the Tables, Grace and Nature condemneth it, 'tis against God; for if we did love him, we would love his image; the Saints that are so near and dear to him, they are his jewels, Mal. 3. 17. they cost him dear, he gave an infinite price for them, the blood of Christ; they are the Apple of his Eye, to strike at them is to strike at God himself. And 'tis against man, if Reasons of Grace do not restrain such, yet Reasons of Nature should; to plot mischief against one that is of the same nature with us, natural light will teach us, we should do as we would be done by. Oh what a cruel creature is man to man, when God lets him alone to the sway of his own heart, and natural fierceness.
5. The contrary to the gentleness and simplicity of the Christian Religion; Christian Religion is a simple and harmless thing. Phil. 2. 15. That ye be holy and harmless, the sons of God without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation. 2 Cor. 1. 12. This is our rejoicing, that in simplicity and godly sincerity we have had our conversations in the world.
'Tis a sign men have drunk in a false Religion, when their spirits are efferated, and grow Monsters in wickedness; Men addicted to false worship, are subtle and cruel; subtle, for where there is real worth, there is no dissimulation, they carry things open and fair, they have a God and Conscience to bear them out, and this is worth all the world; and if things do not suit to their minds, they can tarry God's leisure, without base and creeping acts, and underhand designs and machinations; but a false Religion that hath not a God to depend upon, breadeth fears, and fear and pusillanimity puts men upon Plots, and bloody designs, as Herod, when afraid, seeketh craftily to murther Christ, Mat. 2. And as a false Religion is crafty, so 'tis mischievous and cruel. Jude 11. These walked in the way of …ain. For a false Religion cannot subsist without the Plots of Blood and Tyranny, and Cruelty. When Iudaism begun to fall, the Iews bound themselves under an Oath, That they would neither eat nor drink, till they had killed Paul. False worships put men upon a blind zeal, that breaketh out in Tragical Effects.
Tantum Religio potuit suadere malorum.
So much of Truth, so much of Meekness, Openness and Plainness, as the other is of Spight and Malice.
Use. Oh then let the Children of God abhor this hateful disposition, take heed of those kind of sins that have subtlety and malice in them, these are the Devil's sins, the cursed old Serpent, that hath been a Murtherer from the beginning; take heed of plotting mischief, and secretly designing the ruine of others. I would have you Christians, that are of the true Religion, carry it meekly towards others, beware of deliberate sins; 'tis possible in some great temptation the Children of God may fall into these of sins, as David plotted Uriah's death; but that sin was laid to his charge, more than all the sins that ever he committed. These sins are accompanied with some notable affliction and judgment, as on David's sad house, they leave an indelible stain and blemish, and cost us dear. 1 Kings 15. 5. David did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded him all his dayes, save in the matter of Uriah.
How many failings have we left upon Record? His distrust, I shall one day perish by the hand of Saul. His dissimulation, with his rash Vow to destroy Nabal; his injustice in the matter of Ziba and Mephibosheth; indulgence to Absolom, numbering the People, wherein he shew'd his carnal confidence: All these are passed over in silence, as his infirmities, save only in the matter of Uriah. And they will cost dear, there is always some eminent trouble and affliction that accompany such sins. When David had sin'd in the matter of Uriah, what troubles were there in his house, his daughter ravish'd, Amnon slain in his drunkenness, Absolom driveth him from his Palace Royal, and then, poor man, his Subjects deserted him, he forced to go weeping up and down, and shift for his life, all Israel came to Absolom, his Wives defiled by his own Son. Thus you see what is the fruit of deliberate sins.
These sins cost us a great deal of bitter sorrow, sighs and tears to recover our peace, and God's love and favour. Again, how bitterly did David remember his sin, and beg that God would restore to him the joy of his salvation, Psal. 51. therefore take heed of deliberate sins, when we have time enough to have serious and sufficient consideration of the evil, and yet do it; when a man knoweth a thing to be evil, and yet resolveth to go forward with it. Sin is not done suddenly, in heat of blood, but at leisure; not limited to a minute, or an hour, or any short space of time, and yet to do it, this grieves the Spirit, and will cost us dear.