One Hundred and Ninety Sermons on Psalm 119

V. The more we are brought to attend upon the Word, and the more influence the Word hath upon us, the nearer the blessing.

Christians, we are not far from the Kingdom of God. There is some blessedness when we begin to look after the directions of the Word, and to wait upon the teachings of God: Prov. 8. 34. Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. Then you are in a hopeful way to true blessedness, when you begin to be careful to attend upon Gods teaching, much more when you have the fruits of it, when you know him so as to love him, so as to have your hearts drawn off from sin and folly: Act. 3. 26. Him hath God sent to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities. The great business of Jesus Christ is to make us blessed in the enjoyment of God: but how is it? only by bare knowledge? no, 'tis by turning every one from his iniquity. So the more this teaching of God prevails upon the heart, the more blessed we are: Psal. 119. 1. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord. Otherwise to have a golden head, and feet of clay, that's monstrous, as in Nebuchadnezzar's Image; to have a naked knowledge of God, and not brought under the power of it. You read of the Heathens when they sacrificed to their gods, they were wont to hang a garland upon the head of the Beasts, and to crown them with Roses, so ⟨p. 73⟩they were led on to sacrifice. Many may have garlands upon their heads, ornaments of knowledge, yet are going on to destruction; therefore that light and teaching which conveyeth blessedness is such as prevaileth upon the heart, and doth effectually turn us to God.