One Hundred and Ninety Sermons on Psalm 119

2. Experience is another cause of this desire. A child of God is not satisfied with a slight taste of the word, but he desires more; when he hath felt the comfort of it, he is still longing to receive more from God, James 1. 8. He hath begotten us by the word of truth. What follows? wherefore be swift to hear. A man that hath had experience of the power of the word, taketh all occasions; he knows there is strength, grace, and liberty of heart to be found there: so 2 Pet. 2. 3. As new-born babes, &c. if so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. Certainly a man that hath had any taste of communion with God, will desire a fuller measure, as by tasting of excellent meats, we get an appetite to them. Carnal men they do not know what ⟨p. 124⟩it is to enjoy God in an Ordinance, and therefore do not long for them, they do not taste the sweetness of the word. Psal. 19. 10. The statutes of the Lord are sweeter than the honey or the honey-comb. The children of God find more true pleasure in the Ordinances, in the statutes of God, than in all things in the world, though to carnal men they are but as dry sticks, burdensome exercises; the reason follows, V. 11. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. He commendeth the word from his own experience; he had felt the effects and good use of it in his own heart; he had been warned, and had a great deal of comfort and refreshing by it; therefore it is sweeter than the honey and the honey-comb: So Psal. 63. 1, 2. O God, my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee: what to do? to see thy power, and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary. He that hath had once a sight of God, would not be long out of his company. He compareth his desire of communion with God with hunger and thirst; his desire is greater than the hunger and thirst that men suffer in a dry wilderness where there is no water to give refreshment. He had seen God, and would now see him again. The remembrance of those former pleasures of the Sanctuary, revived his desires: so that besides Nature, there is this Experience.