One Hundred and Ninety Sermons on Psalm 119

STILL the Psalmist continues the description of a blessed man. In the two first Verses Holiness (which is the way to, and evidence of Blessedness) is considered with respect to the Subject and the Object of it, the Life and the Heart of man. The Life of man, Blessed are the undefiled in the way: The Heart of man, They seek him with the whole heart.

Now Holiness is considered in the parts of it, Negatively and Positively. The two parts of Holiness are an eschewing of sin, and studying to please God. You have both in this Verse, They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.

First, You have the blessed man described negatively, They do no iniquity. Upon hearing the words, presently there occurs a doubt, How then can any man be blessed? for there is not a man that liveth and sinneth not, Eccles. 7. 20. and Jam. 3. 2. In many things we offend all. To deny it, is a flat lye against the truth, and against our own experience. If we say we have no sin, we deceive our selves, and the truth is not in us, 1 Joh. 1. 8. The expression may be abused on the one side to establish the impeccability and perfection of the Saints; on the other side it may be abused by persons of a weak and tender conscience, to the hinderance of their comfort and rejoicing in God. When they shall hear this is the character of a blessed man, they do no iniquity, they are very apt to conclude against their own regeneration, because of their daily failings.

First, You have the blessed man described negatively, They do no iniquity. Upon hearing the words, presently there occurs a doubt, How then can any man be blessed? for there is not a man that liveth and sinneth not,