But how is this used as an argument, Blessed art thou, O Lord: therefore teach me thy statutes? Either thus: God that is blessed hath enough for himself, surely there is enough in him for us too, Gen. 17. 1. I am God all-sufficient, walk before me, and be thou perfect. I say, if God finds satisfaction enough in himself, our souls surely will find satisfaction in him. That which will fill a Pottle, or greater Measure, will fill a Pint or a lesser Measure. That which will satisfy a Prince, and be enough for him in that estate, will satisfy a Beggar, and supply his wants. God hath an infinite fullness of knowledge, comfort, and holiness, therefore surely enough to satisfy us, as empty as we are. Therefore we should desire to receive of this fullness in Gods way. Or again thus: If God be blessed, we had need to enquire after his statutes, for these teach us the way how we may be blessed in Gods blessedness; how we may be conformed to the nature of God, and live the life of God, and then surely we shall be happy enough. (1.) How we may be conformed to the nature of God: 2 Pet. 1. 4. That we may be partakers of the Divine nature, according to our measure, that ours may be such as his is. The promises, or the word, have an influence that way. If we see a man hath a rich Trade, and secret ways of gain, every one would be acquainted with the mysteries and art of his getting, and desirous to know it. God is eternally blessed, therefore we should study to be like him. (2.) That we may live the life of God. Surely if we could learn to live such a life as God doth, we should be happy. However our prejudices darken it, yet the life of God cannot be a gloomy life. Now ignorance of Gods statutes is a great hinderance to the life of God. Eph. 4. 18. Being alienated or estranged from the life of God, through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart. Well then, the consideration of this, that God is blessed, will certainly make us prize his statutes, prize his word, for by that we are conformed to the nature of God, and to the life of God; we are engaged in the same design wherein God himself is engaged: God loves himself, and acts for himself, and pursueth his own glory. Now when the word of God breaks in upon the heart, we pursue the same design with God.
But how is this used as an argument, Blessed art thou, O Lord: therefore teach me thy statutes? Either thus: God that is blessed hath enough for himself, surely there is enough in him for us too, Gen. 17. 1. I am God alsufficient, walk before me, and be thou perfect. I say, if God finds satisfaction enough in himself, our souls surely will find satisfaction in him. That which will fill a Pottle, or greater Measure, will fill a Pint or a lesser Measure. That which will satisfie a Prince, and be enough for him in that estate, will satisfie a Beggar, and supply his wants. God hath an infinite fulness of knowledg, comfort, and holiness, therefore surely enough to satisfie us, as empty as we are. Therefore we should desire to receive of this fulness in Gods way. Or again thus: If God be blessed, we had need to enquire after his statutes, for these teach us the way how we may be blessed in Gods blessedness; how we may be conformed to the nature of God, and live the life of God, and then surely we shall be happy enough. (1.) How we may be conformed to the nature of God: 2 Pet. 1. 4. That we may be partakers of the Divine nature, according to our measure, that ours may be such as his is. The promises, or the word, have an influence that way. If we see a man hath a rich Trade, and secret ways of gain, every one would be acquainted with the mysteries and art of his getting, and desirous to know it. God is eternally blessed, therefore we should study to be like him. (2.) That we may live the life of God. Surely if we could learn to live such a life as God doth, we should be happy. However our prejudices darken it, yet the life of God cannot be a gloomy life. Now ignorance of Gods statutes is a great hinderance to the life of God. Eph. 4. 18. Being alienated or estranged from the life of God, through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart. Well then, the consideration of this, that God is blessed, will certainly make us prize his statutes, prize his word, for by that we are conformed to the nature of God, and to the life of God; we are engaged in the same design wherein God himself is engaged: God loves himself, and acts for himself, and pursueth his own glory. Now when the word of God breaks in upon the heart, we pursue the same design with God.
