This is, I suppose, the principal Intendment of the Psalmist here; q. d. Tho' I have my Life in my Hand, yet I will do no Indirect Thing, to keep it there. We should never Warp, never Sin, to avoid any peril whatsoever. When we have our Lives in our Hands, we are then Tried, whether we will put forth our Hands ⟨p. 17⟩unto Iniquity to secure what is in them. But having a clear Call to your Service, you should say as the Martyr once, If every Hair of my Head were a man, I would have the Lives of them all sacrificed, rather than desert the cause I am engaged in. You should be above all carnal motions, or passions, or Impressions, that may discourage you in the work which you are to attend with your Lives in your Hands. 'Twas said by that wise man, in Gal. 6.14. I am Crucified unto the World. A crucified man has his Life in his Hands with a witness, when his Hands are Nailed and Hanging on the Tree. You should have no more Carnal Joys and Griefs, no more Carnal Hopes and Fears, then a man whose Life is going out at his Hands Gratify not any Enemy, by a Sinful Compliance, to Escape Danger; for God can Restrain your Adversary. 'Tis said in Proverb 16.7. When a mans ways please the Lord, his Enemies shall be at peace with him. Oftentimes to prevent mischiefs from Enemies our Way does Displease the Lord: but we then take a Wrong Way! God can make Pharaoh afraid of Moses, and Herod afraid of John. The Lord has Hornets to buzz and sting Terrors into those whom we may be too much terrified withal. And Gratify not any Corruption upon such a score; for God will Reward your Fidelity: Said he in Matth. 19.27. Behold, we have Forsaken All; and what shall we have Therefore? Good Sir, All What? Why All a Net, All a Boat, All a small Craft which they had some ⟨p. 18⟩Subsistence on. This was All! yet it follows, Jesus said, Ye that have followed me, shall in the Regeneration, When the Son of Man shall sit on the Throne of his Glory, then also sit upon Twelve Thrones. You cannot Receive the Exposition of it: but—surely then they that will forsake their very Lives rather than do amiss, will not miss a most glorious Recompense.
This is, I suppose, the principal Intendment of the Psalmist here; q. d. Tho' I have my Life in my Hand, yet I will do no Indirect Thing, to keep it there. We should never Warp, never Sin, to avoid any peril whatsoever. When we have our Lives in our Hands, we are then Try'd, whether we will put forth our Hands ⟨p. 17⟩unto Iniquity to secure what is in them. But having a clear Call to your Service, you should say as the Martyr once, If every Hair of my Head were a man, I would have the Lives of them all sacrificed, rather than desert the cause I am engaged in. You should be above all carnal motions, or passions, or Impressions, that may discourage you in the work which you are to attend with your Lives in your Hands. 'Twas said by that wise man, in Gal. 6.14. I am Crucified unto the World. A crucified man has his Life in his Hands with a witness, when his Hands are Nailed and Hanging on the Tree. You should have no more Carnal Joyes and Griefs, no more Carnal Hopes and Fears, then a man whose Life is going out at his Hands Gratify not any Enemy, by a Sinful Compliance, to Escape Danger; for God can Restrain your Adversary. 'Tis said in Proverb 16.7. When a mans ways please the Lord, his Enemies shall be at peace with him. Oftentimes to prevent mischiefs from Enemies our Way does Displease the Lord: but we then take a Wrong Way! God can make Pharoah afraid of Moses, and Herod afraid of Iohn. The Lord has Hornets to buz and sting Terrors into those whom we may be too much terrified withal. And Gratify not any Corruption upon such a score; for God will Reward your Fidelity: Said he in Matth. 19.27. Behold, we have Forsaken All; and what shall we have Therefore? Good Sir, All What? Why All a Net, All a Boat, All a small Craft which they had some ⟨p. 18⟩Subsistence on. This was All! yet it follows, Iesus said, Ye that have followed me, shall in the Regeneration, When the Son of Man shall sit on the Throne of his Glory, then also sit upon Twelve Thrones. You cannot Receive the Exposition of it: but—surely then they that will forsake their very Lives rather than do amiss, will not miss a most glorious Recompence.
