Imatges de pàgina
PDF
EPUB

Nothing further therefore than some brief hints shall be attempted; by all which I desire and hope, that God may have the glory of his wisdom, power, goodness and faithfulness, in what he has done for us; in raising from small beginnings such enlargements as at this day; in appearing for us in our mounts of difficulty; in supplying us so bountifully all along from the rich treasures of his goodness; and in bestowing so many valuable and munificent favors upon us, as we and our fathers have experienced in so long a course.

And more especially for his renewed mercies in the last year; upon which account, to celebrate God's praises, we are in a more particular manner, called together this day.

I would also have this special view in the whole, to inform and instruct our children, the generation of our hopes; and to raise in their minds, suitable dispositions of piety, and resolutions of godliness, to honor the God of their fathers, and to cleave to him with full purpose of heart, who did such great things for our forefathers, and therein also, for us and them; that with souls full of love and zeal and gratitude, they may say and resolve, he is our God, and we will praise him; he was our fathers' God, and we will exalt him: This God shall be our God for ever and ever; we will set our hope in him, and not forget his works, but keep his commandments.

The foundation of our discourse in the several verses, now read, is so large and copious that the time will little more than allow me to divide the text into its several obvious branches; to collect the plain and evident doctrines therein contained, and to draw the natural and necessary uses to be made therefrom; which I shall attempt (by divine help) in as familiar and concise a method, as I And therefore in the words we may observe,

can:

I. A general and pathetical call given to the people of God, to hearken to his law, his will and his word. And,

II. The reasons given to urge the people's duty upon them, in attending to the instructions, that were to be given to them in God's name.

We are to observe,

I. A general and pathetical call given to the people of God, to hearken to his law, his will and his word. "Give ear, O my people, to my law, incline your ears to the words of my mouth." This Psalm, of which our text is a part, is historical, it is a narrative of the great mercies which God had bestowed upon Israel; the great sins with which they had provoked him, and the

* Mr. Henry.

*

many tokens of divine displeasure which they had been under therefor.

In the foregoing Psalm, the holy prophet had been relating God's wonders of old, for his own encouragement in a difficult time. In this he resumes the subject for the edification of the church, and enlargeth much upon it; showing not only how good God had been to them, which was an earnest of further finishing mercy; but how basely they had carried themselves to God, which justified him in correcting them, as he did at this time, and forbad all their complaints.

Our text is a preface to this piece of church history, commanding the attention of the then present age, and recommending it to the study of the generations to come.

And in the front of this preface, the holy Psalmist demands attention to what he was about to deliver. The people of God are called upon to hearken to God's law, his will and word: "Give ear, O my people, to my law." Some make these the Psalmist's words: David as a king, or Asaph in his name, as his secretary of state, or scribe to the sweet singer of Israel, here calls upon the people as his people, committed to his charge," to give ear to his law:" He calls his instructions his law or edict. Such was their commanding force in themselves; every good truth received in the light and love of it, will have the power of a law upon the conscience.

From this example of the royal Psalmist we may note, that those that are in civil authority, would do well, as far as is consistent with that liberty in which Christ hath made us free, to interpose their power for the edification of the people of God. the Psalmist being a prophet speaks as God's mouth, and so calls them his people, and demands subjection to what was said, as to a law. "Let him that hath an ear, thus hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."

Hence we may observe this note of doctrine, viz.

That the ministers of Christ ought in his name to call upon the people of God, committed to their charge, to hearken to his law, his will and his word.

God's law is his will, revealed in his word; to this God's people ought to hearken; that is, to submit to the power and authority of it, and to yield a cheerful obedience to it. And to this exercise of godliness, the ministers of Christ ought to quicken and stir up the people of God under their care and watch: To this we are directed by the example in our text; for what was written aforetime was written for our instruction and admonition : The writings of the Old and New Testament were given by inspiration of God, and that for our learning: "For they are profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and instruction in righteous

v. 10. "

ness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto every good work." And agreeably says the apostle, James Take, my brethren, the prophets who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example: " And this we should do, not only in their sufferings, and in their patience, but also in their holy living, their exemplary conversation, and imitable services to the people of God, in the fulfilment of their commission. We should be followers of them, wherein they have been examples of the things which are virtuous and praiseworthy and of good report; of holiness of life, of purity of doctrine, zeal for God, and faithfulness in fulfilling the ministry committed to them, and in discharge of their office as watchmen upon the wall.

And as the minister's duty is herein declared with respect to those under his watch; viz. To admonish and quicken them to receive the instructions of wisdom, and to hearken diligently to the words of God's mouth; so is the people's duty also herein, very plainly and fully intimated to them, namely their subjection and obedience. If we are in Christ's name to call upon God's people to hearken to the words of his mouth, the obligation is as strong on you to attend, "to give earnest heed to those things that are spoken, lest at any time you let them slip ;" and to submit to the force and power of that authority, who enjoins our observation of his will, for he is our God, our maker, our preserver, our lawgiver, and our judge; he has an undoubted propriety in us, and an indisputable right to dispose of us, and his will ought to be our rule.

Hence then by way of application.

1. We see the necessary and incumbent duty both of ministers and people. Ministers are to call upon those under their care and charge, "to give ear to God's law, and to incline their ears to the words of his mouth;" to know and to do that which is right, and that which the Lord their God requires of them. And the people are not at their liberty whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear: There is absolute duty lying upon them to receive instruction, and to hearken to the counsels of God. Hence,

2. Those ministers are chargeable with unfaithfulness who neglect thus to address their people; and those under their care who refuse to hearken when thus addressed, are guilty of a shameful disregard of God, his will and law. Ministers are to do more than entertain their people with speculations, and preach to them the doctrinal articles of faith; there is the rule of duty, the precepts of holiness, which they are to urge and press with all seriousness and cogency, and they cannot be faithful without so doing; they are to reprove, rebuke, and exhort with all long-suffering, and doctrine. And if their people refuse to hear and obey the word of God thus delivered to them in his name, and according to his

direction, they disregard God himself, his authority, and will; for they that receive Christ's messengers, receive him, and they that receive their messages which are agreeable to the analogy of faith, and the doctrines of godliness, receive his; and they that reject them, reject him; they despise not men, but God; and if they reject Christ, and receive not his words, they have one that will judge them, the word that he hath spoken, the same shall judge them in the last day.

Wherefore,

3. Let us now, in God's name and fear, apply ourselves to that which the Lord our God requires of us, in our respective characters. And now, may the glorious Head of the church abundantly furnish me with his word, from time to time, agreeable to your more special circumstances, a word of instruction, reproof, exhortation, and counsel; and having God's word, may I be enabled to speak his word in the demonstration of the Spirit and with power, agreeable to the lively oracles, with seriousness, gravity, and solemnity; and with special and pertinent application to the state and condition of your souls, seeking your good, your spiritual profit and advantage, your edification and salvation, and not any vain glory or applause of men; you also being my helpers, by your fervent addresses to God for me, that I may obtain grace to be faithful, and find mercy of the Lord to be successful. Thus to serve you and yours (by the help of God) is my earnest desire, in what may be attempted in the following articles of discourse, upon this occasion, that God's name may be glorified, and our souls nourished by the sincere milk of the word.

Wherefore to proceed-let me observe,

II. The reasons given by the holy prophet in our text, to urge the people's duty upon them, in attending to the instructions and admonitions he was about to deliver to them in God's name.

And these were three, viz.

1. That the things to be discoursed of were weighty. 2. That they were things of an ancient date. And,

3. That they were things in which posterity were concerned. All which render them worthy of regard and attention.

1. The first reason given in our text, by the inspired messenger of God, to urge the people's duty upon them, in attending to the instructions and admonitions which he was about to give them in God's name, is, that the things to be discoursed of were weighty, and therefore deserve consideration. I will open my mouth in a parable, in that which is sublime and uncommon, but very excel

Mr. Henry.

*

lent, and well worthy your attention: I will utter dark sayings, which challenge your most serious regards. These are called dark sayings, not because they are hard to be understood, but because they are greatly to be admired, and carefully to be looked into. This is said to be fulfilled in the parables which our Saviour put forth, Matt. xiii. 35. which were (as this) representations of the state of the kingdom of God among men. The passages of this subsequent narrative, which the Psalmist would utter with all freedom and plainness, are styled parables* and dark sayings, not from their unintelligibleness, but by reason of their gravity and weight, and being of great moment for the people's instruction and advantage; and because the things contained in them, concerning God's transcendent goodness to an unworthy people; and their unparalleled ingratitude for, and abuse of, such eminent favors, and their stupid ignorance and insensibleness, under such excellent and constant teachings of God's word and works, are indeed prodigious and hard to be believed.

Hence we may observe this note of doctrine, viz.

That God's word and providences, the ordinances, commandments, and laws of his kingdom, both of nature and grace, are things of infinite moment and concern to us.

Herein is contained the whole of man, respecting his present useful being, and his future comfort and happiness. God's word contains all things necessary for him to know, believe, and practice, in order to his fruition of the best good, which will never end, after a period is put to his short abode in this world. God's providences are discoveries of his wisdom and power, and of his kindness and favor in upholding all things, and in their universal government, wherein he many times shows himself strong, on the behalf of them that fear him; and sometimes for their instruction and admonition; and to vindicate the honor of his own holiness and justice, he displays his indignation in the executions of his wrath upon bold and incorrigible sinners.

And in all this, wherein the ordinances, commandments, and laws, of the kingdom of nature and grace are exhibited and displayed to us, there are things of infinite moment and concern to us; things great and weighty and worthy of our consideration and utmost diligent attention: For what can concern us more, than to know God and ourselves, our duty and our happiness. More particularly,

1. God's word and providences are weighty things, and will appear to be of infinite moment and concern to us, if we consider their glorious author, the eternal God. He rules in the kingdom of providence and grace: He utters his voice, and lo! a mighty

* Mr. Pool.

« AnteriorContinua »