One Hundred and Ninety Sermons on Psalm 119

But now you must know, there is a twofold keeping of Gods Testimonies, Legal and Evangelical. Legal keeping is in a way of perfect and absolute obedience, without the least failing; so none of us can be blessed. Moses will accuse us; there will be failings in the best. But now Evangelical keeping, that is, a filial and sincere obedience, is accepted, and the imperfections Christ pardoneth. If Gods pardon help us not, we are for ever miserable. The Apostles had many failings, sometimes they manifested a weak faith, sometimes hardness of heart; sometimes passionateness when they met with disrespect, Luke 9. yet Christ returns this general acknowledgement of them when he was pleading with his Father, Holy Father, they have kept thy word. When the heart is sincere, God will pass by our failings, James 5. 11. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, I, and of his impatience too, his cursing the day of his birth; but the Spirit of God puts a finger upon the scar, and takes notice of what is good. So long as we bewail sin, seek remission of sin, strive after perfection, endeavour to keep close and be tender of a command, though a naughty heart will carry us aside sometimes, we keep the testimony of the Lord in a Gospel-sense. Bewailing sin, that owns the Law; seeking pardon, that owns the Gospel; striving after perfection, that argueth sincerity and uprightness. Well then, here is the discriminating note, if we would know whether we come within the compass of David's blessed man, if we have a dear and tender esteem of Gods testimonies, when we would fain have them imprest upon our hearts, and expressed in our lives and conversations, They keep his testimonies.

But now you must know, there is a twofold keeping of Gods Testimonies, Legal and Evangelical. Legal keeping is in a way of perfect and absolute obedience, without the least failing; so none of us can be blessed. Moses will accuse us; there will be failings in the best. But now Evangelical keeping, that is, a filial and sincere obedience, is accepted, and the imperfections Christ pardoneth. If Gods pardon help us not, we are for ever miserable. The Apostles had many failings, sometimes they manifested a weak faith, sometimes hardness of heart; sometimes passionateness when they met with disrespect, Luke 9. yet Christ returns this general acknowledgment of them when he was pleading with his Father, Holy Father, they have kept thy word. When the heart is sincere, God will pass by our failings,