One Hundred and Ninety Sermons on Psalm 119

1. Because their light is increased: By Communion with God they see more of his holiness. The more a man is exercised in obedience, the clearer is his light and understanding, both to God, and the will of God: Mat. 5. 8. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. All sight of God it is (as Nazianzen speaks) according to the proportion of our purity; and therefore the more Communion we have with God, the more sight into the nature of God, and the will of God, and the more they are held under the awe of God. In moral Disciplines the further we wade in them, the more we see of our defects. Those that went to Athens, first they counted themselves [Greek or Hebrew], wise men; afterward only [Greek or Hebrew], lovers of wisdom; then they were only men that could talk a little; afterward they found themselves nothing. So a Christian in Communion with God, the longer he converseth with God, the more he doth see of his perfection and holiness; Surely I am more brutish than any man, was the expression of wise Agur, Prov. 30. 2. This holy man of God, saith Chrysostom, speaks it not only humbly, but truly as he thinks. Sure they did not complement with God; these holy men in the serious actings of their souls, they speak as they think; why? because they have a high sense of Gods holiness, therefore a deeper sense of their own vileness; they think there are hardly any so bad as themselves. Now they are convinced that the holy God will not be put off with any slight matter; and they are become sensible of that precept, Mat. 5. ult. Be perfect as your father which is in heaven is perfect.

1. Because their light is increased: By Communion with God they see more of his holiness. The more a man is exercised in obedience, the clearer is his light and understanding, both to God, and the will of God: Mat. 5. 8. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. All sight of God it is (as Nazianzen speaks) according to the proportion of our purity; and therefore the more Communion we have with God, the more sight into the nature of God, and the will of God, and the more they are held under the awe of God. In moral Disciplines the further we wade in them, the more we see of our defects. Those that went to Athens, first they counted themselves , wise men; afterward only , lovers of wisdom; then they were only men that could talk a little; afterward they found themselves nothing. So a Christian in Communion with God, the longer he converseth with God, the more he doth see of his perfection and holiness; Surely I am more brutish than any man, was the expression of wise Agur,