Sermons on Psalm 119, Sermons · Sermon 176
SERMON CLXXVI.
PSALM CXIX. VER. 1…2.
I Rejoice at Thy Word, as one that findeth great Spoil.
IN the Text,
First, An Assertion, or Declaration of his delight in the Word, I Rejoice at Thy Word.
Secondly, An Illustration of it by a Similitude, taken from those who have gotten some notable Prey and Booty, as one that findeth great Spoil.
First, The Similitude is very expressive, taken from the joy which a Conquerour in Battel, doth find in the Spoil of his defeated Enemies. The same similitude is used, Isaiah 9. 3. They joy before thee according to the joy in Harvest: as men rejoice when they divide the Spoil. He speaketh there of the highest joy in a time of Peace, joy of the harvest is the greatest joy. In a time of Warr, victory obtained after an hazardous Fight, and rich spoil and booty gotten; to heighten that joy, several circumstances concur.
1. Deliverance after a doubtful conflict: No man goeth to War but carryeth his life in his hands, and the event is very uncertain; now when 'tis unexpectedly determined on our side, there is great rejoycing.
2. The joy of victory, especially to be victorious in a Battel.
3. There is Booty and Spoil, whereby men are enriched, and so profit as well as pleasure.
4. The joy of Honour and Triumph over faln Enemies.
5. Peace and Ease from toil. All these make the joy of victorious men in a Battel to be a great joy.
Secondly, 'Twas a fit similitude for David to use, who was a great Warrior; and so a man not unacquainted with the joy of victory. A gracious heart spiritualizeth every occasion that falleth out in their ordinary callings, here is great joy, but this is nothing to the knowledge of Gods will.
Thirdly, Every Christian is a Warriour against Sathan, the World, and the Flesh, so 'tis a fit similitude for them; victory over sin and satan is above all the Conquests in the World, this is a part of the good news the Word bringeth to us, Col. 2. 14, 15. Iohn 16. 33.
Now observe, In the former verse David had expressed his Reverence to the Word, now his Delight.
First, Our trembling at the Word, doth not hinder our delight in it; none more cheary then the awful soul, Acts 9. 31, They walked in the Fear of God and comfort of the Holy Ghost. And Psal, 112. 1. Blessed is the man that Feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in his Commandements. Those who are most observant of Gods will, and careful to follow it, have the greatest contentment in their souls.
Secondly, Joy should be mingled with Reverence, lest it degenerate into slavery and a scrupulous Fear.
Doctrine, That Gods People do greatly Rejoice in his Word.
1. 'Tis not an ordinary delight which is here set forth, but such as is high and intense, such joy as the richest and most gainful victory can raise in any worldly man. 'Tis incredible and cannot be expressed, how much joy and comfort the Word of God yieldeth to good men: Therefore so many similitudes used. More then in all Riches, Psal. 119. 14. ver. 103. Sweeter than Honey and the Honey Comb. I love it above Gold, and above fine Gold. 127. ver. A joy greater than the joy of worldly men.
2dly. 'Tis not a light flash, or a phantastical impression, but a solid consolation, such as is affliction proof, and death proof; when the strength of this joy cometh to be tryed and assaulted by deep afflictions. Therefore the heirs of promise are said to have strong consolation, Heb. 6. 18. So verse 50. of this Psalm, This is my Comfort in mine affliction, thy Word hath quickned me.
3dly. This joy which is the mark of a sound believer, is delighting to know, believe and obey Gods Word. For 'tis in the way of his Testimonies, Psalm 119. 14. 'Tis in his Commandements they delight greatly. Study and Contemplation breedeth a pleasure, but nothing like practice. The pleasures and delights of the mind do certainly exceed those of the Body; for the more noble the faculty is, the more capable of delight. A man in study hath a truer pleasure, than the greatest Epicure in the most exquisite enjoyments of sense: Now moral delights exceed those which are the meér result of Contemplation, as they give us a more intimate feeling of the worth of things. Again those delights which are supernatural, and come from the Spirit, as the pleasures of Faith and Obedience do, exceed those of the natural mind, as much as those do bodily pleasures; as being exercised about nobler Objects, which are the sence of the Favour of God, and Reconciliation with him, and the hopes of Eternal Life: And as coming from an higher cause, the Spirit of God. Therefore upon the whole, there is no true delight and contentment, but what proceedeth from a careful performance of Gods Commands; strictly abstaining from what may displease him, and chearfully practising all that he requireth of us. Truly the present gratefulness of such an employment, and the succeeding comforts of such practices, are a continual Feast; all other Pleasures to this are nothing worth. The Obedience of Faith to a Believer, is more than any worldly advantage. 'Tis a sweet thing to be exercised in the Word of God, in Reading and Hearing it with serious Meditation, but much more to be brought under the Power and Practice of it.
Reasons.
1. The Godly find glad tydings in the Word, suitable to their souls necessities, and therefore rejoyce in it. For the object of delight is, bonum conveniens & sufficiens, here is enough to content them, and it is very suitable: There is pardon of sins, and that is ground of Joy, Matth. 9. 2. Be of good chear, thy sins be forgiven thee; there we hear of a Saviour, 1 Tim. 1. 15. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Iesus Christ came into the world to save Sinners. When the Gospel was Preached at Samaria, Acts 8. 8. There was great joy in that City. Zacheus received Christ joyfully, for he brought Salvation to his House, Luke 19. 6. There i… the true way of mortifying sin, and sanctifying the Heart, Psal. 19. 8. The Statutes of the Lord are right, rejoycing the soul; the Commandement of the Lord is pure, inlightning the Eyes. There we are told of the joys of the World to come, 1 Cor. 2. 9. Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entred into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. We should exult for joy, to hear of those things. Thus you see the Word of God affordeth such comforts, such matter of rejoycing, as cannot be parallel'd. A poor man when he findeth a treasure, receiveth it with a joyful Heart. Oh! What inestimable treasure do we find in the Word of God! the way of Eternal Salvation is there made manifest.
2. The Saints have felt benefit by it; They have been renewed and sanctified by it, therefore they prize it, Iames 1. 18, 19. Of his own will begat he us, with the Word of Truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his Creatures. Therefore be swift to hear. There they have found powerful heavenly Truths, by which their souls are made new, they have tasted Gods Love in the Doctrines and promises thereof, and against a tast there is no disputing, 1 Pet. 2. 2, 3. Experimented sweetness is beyond all arguments, they have been revived and comforted by it in their Troubles, (as at the 93d. verse of this Psalm more largely) I will never forget thy Word, for by them thou hast quickned me. God hath done their souls good by it. 'Tis the charter of their hopes, verse 111 of this Psalm. What ever Calamities they meet with in the World, there they see ground of Peace, and composedness in their soul.
3dly. They love God, and they hear more of him in the Word, than they can elsewhere. The soul that loveth God, heareth and seeth his Blessed name in every leaf; they find the effects of his Goodness in Creation, some fruits and pledges of his love in daily Providence, but there they find his great eternal and wonderful love in Christ, there they know Gods will, and 'tis their desire to be subject to it, and therefore value it, not onelyonly as the Charter of their hopes, but as the Rule of their Duty.
Use I. To condemn them,
First, That find no sweetness in the Word of God, they do not mind the business of Salvation, and then no wonder, if they have a slight and mean esteem of the Word.
Two reasons of this Contempt.
(1.) Their Scope is not fixed. All means are regarded with respect to the end, now if they do not make the Everlasting injoyment of God their end, the Scriptures are of little use to them, a trouble rather than a comfort, because they disturb them in pursuing their lusts; but a man that would injoy God, get to his Holy Hill, is apprehensive of the benefit.
(2.) They are not affected with their wants, and therefore esteem not the Word: For the great benefit of the Word, is to teach us a remedy for sin and misery; now they that mind not the misery and danger in which they stand, go on carelesly and despise the Word of God, Prov. 22. 3. A prudent man forseeth the Evil, and hideth himself, but the simple passe on, and are punished. They little think of the evil which is near them, and so slight the Counsel of God.
Secondly, Those that will not believe them that find sweetness in it, as if all were phantastical and imaginary. Are the wisest and most serious part of mankind deceived? And hath the carnal fool only the wit to discern the mistake? Surely in all reason it should be otherwise: These tell us of those delights and transports of soul in meditating on the Promises, in purifying their Hearts by the Precepts; and though a stranger intermedleth not with their Joyes, yet surely these find them. All that is spiritual and supernatural is suspected by those who are drowned in matters of sense, Iohn 12. 29. A voice from Heaven, is Thunder; the motions of the Spirit, fumes of Wine, Acts 3. 13. Joy in the Holy Ghost, but a fancy, &c.
Thirdly, Them that count it an Alphabetary knowledge fit for beginners; David was no Novice, yet he rejoyced in the Word as one that found great spoil; the more conversant he was in these Holy Writings, the more he delighted in them. No, 'Tis not only Childrens meat, there is not only Milk there, but strong Meat also, Heb. 5. 14. 'Tis our Rule to walk by, till our blessedness be perfected. The continual storehouse of our comforts, Rom. 15. 4. 'Tis the continual means of growing into Communion with God in Christ.
Use. II. To exhort us to delight in the Word of God. 'Tis the work and mark of a Blessed man, Psal. 1. 2. But his delight is in the Law of the Lord, and in his Law doth he Meditate day and night. As far as the necessities of the present life will bear it, they are still getting more Knowledge of true Blessedness, and the way that leadeth to the Injoyment of it. This is their business and pleasing Study. His work is to form his heart to a sincere, uniform, impartial obedience, and as he doth increase in Godliness by the help of the Word, his soul is more satisfyed, all the joyes of the World to this are nothing to him. Are your Hearts thus set to know the Lord and his revealed Will, and the way of Life?