Twelfthly, No hypocrite in the world loves the Word, §12or delights in the Word, or prizes the Word, as 'tis a holy Word, a spiritual Word, a beautiful Word, a pure Word,1 a clean Word, Psal. 119.140. Thy word is very pure, therefore thy servant loveth it. There are no hearts but men after God's own heart, that can love the Word, and delight in the Word, and embrace the Word for its holiness, purity and spirituality; witness Paul, Rom. 7.12. Wherefore the Law is holy, and the Commandment holy, and just, and good. Well and what then? why saith he, Ver. 22. I delight in the Law of God after the inward man. But is this all? No saith he, Ver. 25. With the mind I my self serve the Law of God. Holy Paul delights ⟨p. 326⟩in the Law as holy, and serves the Law as holy, just, and good. A sincere heart is the only heart that is taken with the Word for its spirituality, purity and heavenly beauty. None can joy in the Word as it is a holy Word, nor none can taste any sweetness in the Word as 'tis a pure Word, but sincere Christians, Psal. 19.8, 9, 10. The statutes of the Lord are right rejoicing the heart. 2The commandments of the Lord is pure enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean (that is, the doctrine of the Word that teacheth the true fear of God) enduring for ever. The judgments of the L•rd are true and righteous altogether; more to be desired are they than gold, yea than much fine gold, sweeter also than honey and the honey comb; or as the Hebrew hath it, Sweeter than the droppings of honey combs. The Word of God, as it is a pure Word, a spiritual Word, a clean Word, a holy Word; so it rejoices a sincere heart, and so it is sweeter than the very droppings of honey combs. The Word, as it is a pure Word, a holy Word, is more sweet to a sincere Christian than those drops which drop immediately and naturally without any force or art, which is counted the purest and sweetest honey. There is no profit, nor pleasure, nor joy to that which the purity of the World yields to a sincere heart, Psal. 119.48. My hands will I lift up to thy commandments which I have loved. Sometimes the lifting up of hands betokens admiration; when men are astonished and ravished they lift up their hands. I will lift up my hands to thy commandments; that is, I will admire the goodness, spiritualness, holiness, righteousness, purity and excellency of thy commandments.
Twelfthly, No hypocrite in the world loves the Word, §12or delights in the Word, or prizes the Word, as 'tis a holy Word, a spiritual Word, a beautiful Word, a pure Word,1 a clean Word, Psal. 119.140. Thy word is very pure, therefore thy servant loveth it. There are no hearts but men after God's own heart, that can love the Word, and delight in the Word, and embrace the Word for its holiness, purity and spirituality; witness Paul, Rom. 7.12. Wherefore the Law is holy, and the Commandement holy, and just, and good. Well and what then? why saith he, Ver. 22. I delight in the Law of God after the inward man. But is this all? No saith he, Ver. 25. With the mind I my self serve the Law of God. Holy Paul delights ⟨p. 326⟩in the Law as holy, and serves the Law as holy, just, and good. A sincere heart is the only heart that is taken with the Word for its spirituality, purity and heavenly beauty. None can joy in the Word as it is a holy Word, nor none can taste any sweetness in the Word as 'tis a pure Word, but sincere Christians, Psal. 19.8, 9, 10. The statutes of the Lord are right rejoycing the heart. 2The commandements of the Lord is pure enlightning the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean (that is, the doctrine of the Word that teacheth the true fear of God) enduring for ever. The judgments of the L•rd are true and righteous altogether; more to be desired are they than gold, yea than much fine gold, sweeter also than honey and the honey comb; or as the Hebrew hath it, Sweeter than the droppings of honey combs. The Word of God, as it is a pure Word, a spiritual Word, a clean Word, a holy Word; so it rejoyces a sincere heart, and so it is sweeter than the very droppings of honey combs. The Word, as it is a pure Word, a holy Word, is more sweet to a sincere Christian than those drops which drop immediately and naturally without any force or art, which is counted the purest and sweetest honey. There is no profit, nor pleasure, nor joy to that which the purity of the World yields to a sincere heart, Psal. 119.48. My hands will I lift up to thy commandements which I have loved. Sometimes the lifting up of hands betokens admiration; when men are astonished and ravished they lift up their hands. I will lift up my hands to thy commandements; that is, I will admire the goodness, spiritualness, holiness, righteousness, purity and excellency of thy commandements.
- 1Luther said he would not live in Paradise if he might without the Word, but with the Word he could live in hell it self.
- 2These several Titles, Law, Statutes, Testimony, Commandments, Judgments, are used promiscuously for the whole Word of God, commonly distinguished into Law and Gospel.These several Titles, Law, Statutes, Testimony, Commandements, Judgments, are used promiscuously for the whole Word of God, commonly distinguished into Law and Gospel.
