Sermons on Psalm 119, Sermons · Sermon 168
SERMON CLXVIII.
PSALM CXIX. VER. 150.
They draw nigh that follow after mischief, they are far from thy Law.
HEre in this Verse he giveth an account what was the cause of his frequent and earnest crying unto God; of his Hope, Meditation, begging for Quickening; because he was ready to be destroyed by those who every day went off further and further from Gods Law, they were ready to accomplish their wicked and malicious purpose upon him, and prepared for it, and even now at his heels to do him harm and mischief; they draw nigh, &c.
In the Words we have,
First, An Intimation of approaching danger; they draw nigh that follow after mischief.
Secondly, A Description of those from whom the danger was feared; they are far from thy law.
First, They draw nigh, &c. The enemy is at hand, even at the doors; the Prophet speaketh as if he did hear the sound of his feet, yet they are as far from thy Law, as near to destroy me.
Doctrine. Extream danger may sometimes draw nigh unto and even tread upon the heels of Gods People.
Reasons.
I. From the implacable Malice of their Enemies.
1. They seek the Destruction of the People of God, nothing less will content them; this is implyed in the word [mischief] in the Text: foreign, Psal. 83. 4. Come let us cut them off from being a Nation, that the name of Israel may no more be in remembrance. That's their aim, that not one of that denomination be left. Psal. 137. 7. Rase, rase it, even to the foundation thereof. Nothing will satisfie them but utter Ruin and Extirpation; they that expect milder Terms from the seed of the Serpent, flatter themselves with a vain hope.
2. They follow this end with all industry and diligence; this is implyed in the phrase [that follow after mischief;] They watch all occasions, pursue every advantage to bring their purpose to pass. Some in Scripture are said to follow after Righteousnes▪ Isa. 51. 1. it noteth their constant Trade and Study: It may be rendred Pursuers of Righteousness, as in the text Pursuers of Mischief. They that follow after Righteousness, are such as continue constant in the serious and sedulous practice of Holiness; and they that follow after Mischief, are such as are unwearied in the Prosecution of their Malicious Designs. It implyeth a Metaphor taken from the vehemency of Huntsmen in the pursuit of their Foe or Prey; So Prov. 21. 21. He that followeth after Righteousness and Mercy findeth life. And Heb. 12. 14. foreign, follow peace and holiness; As As…el pursued Abner, 2 Sam. 2. 19. and turned not to the right hand or to the lef… from following after Abner. The Sept. render here foreign, they earnestly seek to undo me.
II. From the Providence of God, who permitteth malicious Enemies to draw nigh to his people, and to have many advantages against his people for Holy and Righteous Ends.
1. That this it the usual Course of Gods Providence, to suffer his people to be reduced to great dangers and extremities, that there is not an hairs breadth between them and ruin. Paul was in the very mouth of the Lion, 2 Tim. 4. 17. before God delivered him; by the Lion he meaneth Nero, a bitter enemy to the Christians, and the Lamb was brought bound to him: the Prey was in the Lions mouth, before God delivered him. 2 Cor. 1. 10. compared with 1 Cor. 15. 32. and both with Acts 14. 19. I gave my self for dead, 'twas a thousand to one he had not been sacrificed to the fury of the multitude: So was David often near taking dangers, which he did or could hardly escape; Psal. 54. the Title, When the Ziphims discovered him to Saul. So Psal. 57. the Title, When he fled from Saul in the Cave; the Army of Saul at the mouth of the Cave, and Saul cometh into it, and yet God blinded him so that he escaped. So the Church, Psal. 124. 1, 2, 3. If it had not been the Lord that was on our side, now may Israel say, if it had not been the Lord who was on our side when men rose up against us, then they had swallowed us up quick when their wrath was kindled against us. They were in the midst of their fears.
2. Why is this his usual Course.
(1.) To exercise their Trust and Dependance. Graces are seldom exercised to the life, till we are near the point of Death; now rather than God will suffer his people to live by sense, without manifesting Grace, and bringing honour to their Profession and the Truth of his Promises, he will cast them into great dangers. The skill of a Pilot is seen in a storm, so is Faith put to't in great conflicts; as 'tis in Cares, so in Fears; many are reduced to great streights in the Family, no Meal in the Barrel, no Oyl in the Cruise. Ioh. 6. 4, 5, 6. When Iesus then lift up his eyes and saw a great multitude come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread that these may eat? And this he said to prove him, for he himself knew what he would do. A poor Believer is put to't; Children increase, Trading seemeth dead; what shall we do? When danger is danger indeed, then is a Believer tryed and exercised. 2 Cor. 1. 9. But we had the sentence of death in our selves, that we should not trust in our selves, but in God which raiseth the dead. We are much given to self-confidence, while our mountain standeth strong, and we are intrenched within the security of Worldly Advantages and Props; we scarce know what Faith and dependance upon God meaneth; now saith God, I will make you trust in me e're I have done, and to live alone upon my all-sufficiency: you may think your Reputation will bear you out, but I will load you with Censures that you may trust in me; you think Friends shall help you, but Friend and Lover shall be afar off; you think to shelter your selves under common Refuges, but they shall all fail and cease, that I may see whether you trust in me; or that the common Justice and Equity of your Cause shall bear you out, but I will send against you those that are maliciously resolved (contrary to all justice and gratitude) that shall approach and endeavour to mischief you. Who would think that Paul should be in danger of Self-confidence, a man so exercised as he was, so tossed to and fro, so often whipped, scourged, exposed to danger. Alass! we can hardly see with other eyes than Nature hath, or depend upon invisible help; we look at present things, and laugh at danger upon the confidence of outward probabilities: If we can get a carnal pillow and bolster under our heads, we sleep and dream many a Golden dream of ease and safety; now God that is jealous of our Trust, will not let us alone, and therefore will put us upon sharp Tryals. 'Tis not Faith but Sense we live upon before, that's Faith, if we can depend upon God when they draw near that follow after Mischief: Psal. 3. 6. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of the people that set themselves against me round about. A danger at a distance is but imagined, it worketh otherwise when 'tis at hand: Christ himself had other thoughts of approaching danger, than danger at a distance; Ioh. 12. 27. Now is my soul troubled; this Vessel of pure water was shaken, though he discovered no dregs.
(2.) To Quicken to prayer. Ionah that slept in the ship, falls a praying in the Whales Belly: A drowsie Soul is awakened in case of extream danger, Psal. 130. 1. Out of the depths have I cryed unto thee. Now an ordinary prayer will not serve the turn, not to speak a prayer but to cry a prayer; we do but act devotion before, and personate the part of the Supplicant; then we exerciseit: Now rather than Gods Children shall neglect prayer, he exposeth them to great hazards, Matth. 8. 25. Master, carest thou not that we perish? What careless, dead and drowsie prayers did we perform, when all things went on fairly and we are well at Ease. Moses cried when Israel was at a loss, Exod. 14. 15. the Sea before, the Egyptians behind ready to tread upon their heels, Mountains on each side.
3. That the deliverance of his People may be more glorious; partly because there is more of his Power and Care discovered when our streights are great, Israel may now say, we had been swallowed up quick; Psal. 124. Rescues in extremity of Dangers are more glorious; Psal. 118. 13. Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall, but the Lord helped me. So Psal. 27. 2. When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell: In great dangers to be overtaken by his Enemies. God doth some way suffer his People to be brought near Destruction, but he doth always prove their Friend and Helper. Davids Strength and Courage was seen, in that he plucked a Lamb out of the Lions Mouth; 1 Sam. 17. 34, 35. And partly, because these great streights and troubles are a means to open our eyes, and waken our stupid senses. Deliverance is all one to God, whether from great Exigences or in ordinary Cases; but is more endeared by extremity of danger. 'Tis as easie to save an hundred or a thousand, but it maketh a fuller sound: we are more sensible of our weakness to help our selves, to be sure without his Assistance.
Use. Be not offended if God cast you into great dangers; 'tis no Argument of Gods Hatred to destroy you, but of his love to try you: and to prepare you for the greater Comfort, that we may have a more glorious sight of his Salvation. Many after Confidence expressed, have been put to great Tryals: The three Children were delivered, but put into the Fire first, and the furnace made seven times hotter. Pauls Company suffered Shipwrack, before the promise of their safety could be fulfilled. Moses and the Israelites were delivered, yet pursued and shut up, the Egyptians behind, and the Seas before, and steep Mountains on each side; Psal. 118. 18. The Lord hath chastned me sore, but he hath not given me over to death. Things at the worst begin to change; though it come to such a desperate pass as it must be speedy Help or speedy Ruin, such Exigences do mightily conduce to the glory of God, and the bettering of his People. Whatever weakneth our Confidence, the greatness of Danger should not, for in such Cases God is there.
Use, 2. Let us use the more Prayer; 'tis a time to put Promises in suit: 2 Chron. 20. 12. O our God, wilt thou not judge them? For we have no might against this great company that cometh against us, neither know we what to do, but our eyes are unto thee, The fittest season to treat with God about help; for when the Creatures are at a loss, that is the time for God to help; when Danger is near, call upon God for help, acquaint him with it, 'tis time for him to be near also. Verse 151. of this Psalm, Thou art near, O Lord. The less help of mans Mercy, the more hope of Gods help.
Use, 3. The greater the Danger, the more thankfully should we acknowledge the Deliverance. The Woman of Sarepta, when her Son was restored to Life, 1 Kings from the 17. verse to the end, said, By this I know thou art a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in thy mouth is truth. So Israel may now say, If the Lord had not been on our side, men had swallowed us quick.
Secondly, A Description of those from whom this Danger was feared; they are far from thy law; that is, they do not regard it. This Clause may be added,
1. To Amplifie or Aggravate the Danger. As if he had said, Lord, having opprest them, they Contemn thy Law, and all Restraints of Conscience and Duty. The farther the Enemies of the Godly are from Gods Law, the nearer to do Mischief. So Psal. 54. 3. Oppressors seek after my soul, they have not set God before them. So Psal. 86. 1. Violent men have sought after my foul, they have not set thee before them. They are likely to be Cruel, because Profane: When the Fear of God is layed aside, and all respect to his Word, there is nothing to be expected but the worst of Evils. They mind not thy Law, therefore care not what Mischief they do me.
2. To increase his Confidence of help; For God will not favour a Corrupt Party▪ Psal. 139. 19. Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God. Psal. 94. 10. The throne of wickedness hath no fellowship with thee.
Doctrine. The iniquity of Persecutors, is some matter of Confidence to the Oppressed. As David, from those that drew near to mischief him, conceiveth some incouragement, Because they were far from Gods Law. There are several Considerations.
1. Usually the Servants of God have been most hated and troubled by the worst of Men; so it usually falls out, that the worst and most virulent Enemies of Religion, are those that are infamous for other Crimes. They have the greatest pike, against them because they cannot endure the Righteousness of Gods Image on them. Psal. 38. 20. They are my Adversaries, because I follow the thing that good is. So Ioh. 7. 7. The world cannot hate you, but me it hateth, because I testifie of it, that the works thereof are evil.
2. You may take notice of this wickedness, and represent it so to God. For he is the Judge of the World, and it concerneth him to cut short their power to do mischief, that have such a ready principle to act it; and are likely to have no other restraints, than God layeth upon them by his Providence and the Interest of their Affairs. But of this before, about aggravating the Danger.
3. When we do so, be sure the thing be true. That they are not only injurious to us, but open Enemies to God and Godliness, before we speak thus of those that hate us, or work any Trouble to us in the World. As long as the Cause will admit of a favourable Construction, we should take heed of such Suggestions. I observe this the rather, because man is so partial to himself, that whosoever are Enemies to him, he presently thinketh, they are enemies to Godliness. And therefore when we pass our Judgment on any Person and Cause, it had need be conformed to Truth; for otherwise it argueth great irreverence towards God, to make him Conscious to our Revenges and private Passions. Psal. 139. 21, 22, 23, 24. We had need try our Cause, when Gods quarrel and our interest are joyned; that there be not some dregs of private Spleen and rash Censurings mixed therewith; and that Passion doth not rule us, but Duty, in these Complaints; and that it is not our own Interest, but Gods Quarrel, they being open Enemies to him. And therefore we must be confident, that such as we pray against, are in a wicked condition, and ingaged in an evil Course.
4. When this is clear, there is some Comfort and Confidence in the badness of our Enemies.
1. Because God and we are ingaged in a common Cause, for our Adversaries are against God, as well as against us. Now it is better to be afflicted by them, than to have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, or to cry up a confederacy with them that cry up a confederacy against God. Psal. 139. 22.
2. 'Tis a great satisfaction to us, to be opposed by evil Men, or common Enemies of the power of Godliness. Certainly it would be more grievous to us to be oppressed by them that have a show of Godliness, than the openly profane; Psal. 55. 12, 13. the worst that a professed enemy can do, is more tolerable than the injury of a Friend. It importeth a dishonour, to be opposed by the good, as having an ill Cause in hand, or unworthy to be assisted; but it helpeth to make the Cause more clear, when we see what kind of Persons we have to do withal, such as we cannot but count wicked, because they have no regard to Gods Law. Our Cause would not be so clear, if it were with them that fear God.
3. The more wicked they are, the more ripe for Judgment; especially if they be a corrupt party in the Visible Church. For where we perceive wickedness to Reign, there we may be sure Destruction will follow.
Use. Well then, when ever this falleth out, mind God of it, and be not discouraged. An ill Cause will not always prevail. Only, let us be prepared for Deliverance, as they are ripe for Destruction; Otherwise, none so bad, but good enough to make a Rod to scourge Gods Children. And then have Patience, such are our Enemies as are Gods also; they are far from Obedience to Gods Law.