I answer in general, among other Scriptures read over Psal. 119. with understanding. Consider therein what David expresseth of himself, as unto his constant Delight in, and continual Thoughts of the Law of God, which was the only means of Divine Revelation at that season. Try your selves by that Pattern; Examine your selves whether you can truly speak the same words with him; at least if not in the same Degree of Zeal, yet with the same sincerity of Grace. You will say, that was David. It is not for us, it is not our Duty to be like unto him, at least not to be equal with him. But as far as I know, we must be like him, if ever we intend to come to the place where he is. It will ruin our Souls, if when we read in the Scripture, how the Saints of God express their Experience in Faith, Love, Delight in God and constant Meditations on him, we grant that it was so with them, that they were Good and Holy men, but it is not necessary that it should be so with us. These things are not written in the Scripture to show what they were, but what we ought to be. All things concerning them were written for Admonition; 1 Cor. 10.11. And if we have not the same Delight in God as they had, the same Spiritual mindedness in Thoughts and Meditations of Heavenly things, we can have no Evidence that we please God as they did, or shall go to that place whither they are gone. Profession ⟨p. 51⟩of the Life of God passeth with many at a very low and easy Rate. Their Thoughts are for the most part vain and earthly, their Communication unsavoury, and sometimes corrupt, their lives at best uneven and uncertain, as unto the Rule of Obedience; yet all is well, all is Life and Peace. The Holy men of old, who obtained this Testimony, that they Pleased God, did not so walk before him. They meditated continually in the Law; thought of God in the night seasons; spake of his Ways, his Works, his Praise; their whole Delight was in him, and in all things they followed hard after him. It is the Example of David in particular that I have proposed. And it is a Promise of the Grace to be administered by the Gospel, that he who is feeble shall be as David, Zech. 12.8. And if we are not so in his being Spiritually minded, it is to be feared we are not Partakers of the Promise. But that we may the better judge of our selves therein, I shall add some few Rules unto this Direction by Example.
I answer in general, among other Scriptures read over Psal. 119. with understanding. Consider therein what David expresseth of himself, as unto his constant Delight in, and continual Thoughts of the Law of God, which was the only means of Divine Revelation at that season. Try your selves by that Pattern; Examine your selves whether you can truly speak the same words with him; at least if not in the same Degree of Zeal, yet with the same sincerity of Grace. You will say, that was David. It is not for us, it is not our Duty to be like unto him, at least not to be equal with him. But as far as I know, we must be like him, if ever we intend to come to the place where he is. It will ruine our Souls, if when we read in the Scripture, how the Saints of God express their Experience in Faith, Love, Delight in God and constant Meditations on him, we grant that it was so with them, that they were Good and Holy men, but it is not necessary that it should be so with us. These things are not written in the Scripture to shew what they were, but what we ought to be. All things concerning them were written for Admonition; 1 Cor. 10.11. And if we have not the same Delight in God as they had, the same Spiritual mindedness in Thoughts and Meditations of Heavenly things, we can have no Evidence that we please God as they did, or shall go to that place whither they are gone. Profession ⟨p. 51⟩of the Life of God passeth with many at a very low and easie Rate. Their Thoughts are for the most part vain and earthly, their Communication unsavoury, and sometimes corrupt, their lives at best uneven and uncertain, as unto the Rule of Obedience; yet all is well, all is Life and Peace. The Holy men of old, who obtained this Testimany, that they Pleased God, did not so walk before him. They meditated continually in the Law; thought of God in the night seasons; spake of his Ways, his Works, his Praise; their whole Delight was in him, and in all things they followed hard after him. It is the Example of David in particular that I have proposed. And it is a Promise of the Grace to be administred by the Gospel, that he who is feeble shall be as David, Zech. 12.8. And if we are not so in his being Spiritually minded, it is to be feared we are not Partakers of the Promise. But that we may the better judge of our selves therein, I shall add some few Rules unto this Direction by Example.
