Page images
PDF
EPUB

with toys and trifles, baubles and butterflies. We may judge by the matter that feeds their pleasures which of the two is the more pleasant life, to fport in their own fhame; and lie at the brink of mifery, with the ungodly; or to delight ourselves in the love of God, and rejoice in the affured hope of the glory of God, with the true believer. The proper delight of believers is, with angels, to delight in God, and in the glory of God in Chrift: but the delight of finners is, as fwine, in wallowing in the mire of fin; and, as the dog to eat his own vomit, 2 Pet. ii. 22.

8. The pleasures of Wisdom's ways are lafting, yea, and everlasting. It is not a mutable good we rejoice in, but in an immutable good, in the immutable God; in the immutable love of God, in the immutable promife of the covenant, and in the hope of a kingdom that cannot be moved. These pleasures are pleasures for evermore, Pfalm xvi. 11. Indeed, the believer's joy here, in this world, is oft interrupted by the neighbourhood of the flesh, and prevalence of fin, and the hidings of God's face; but yet ftill God keeps their comforts alive, at leaft, in the root, and will make them fpring forth, as we need them, and are fit for them; and their joy no man taketh from them, John xvi. 22. Death cannot kill the joys of the believer; the grave cannot bury them, millions of ages shall not end them: God hath given us everlasting confolation, and good hope through grace, 2 Theff. ii. 16.; but worldly pleasures are but of a fhort duration; they are gone before we will feel that we have had them, and the worldlings are therein fowing the feeds of everlafting forrow; Satan is but fcratching them, as the butcher fhaves the throat of the fwine, before he kills them. He that hath had many days, and months, and years in finful pleasures, hath no relish of it when it is paft; but is as if it had never been, and much worse. The bones and duft of many thousands lie in the churchyard that have tafted many a fweet morfel, and that have had many a merry wanton day; and now what the better are they of it? What have they more than

thofe

thofe that spent their time in forrow? The poor and forrowful are their equals. Their fouls have as little of thefe pleasure as their dult. In heaven these carnal delights are abhorred; and in hell they are turned to everlasting flames, and remembered as fuel for the devouring fire. Alas! how foolifh is it to choose the pleasures of fin that is but for a feafon? Heb. xi. 25. The joy of the wicked is quickly drowned in everlasting forrow, Job xx. 4,-9. xxi. 12, 13. and the momentary forrows of the godly are forgotten in everlasting joy, John xvi. 20. O Sirs, who can value the pleafures of the wicked, that do forefee their end? If folly and ftupidity were any wonder, it were a wonder that ungodly men can be merry, when their consciences tell them that they are not fure if they fhall stay one hour longer out of hell; for, while they are faying, "Soul, take thy reft; eat, drink, and be merry;" they may fuddenly be told from God, Thou fool, this night fhall thy foul be required of thee;" and then to whom appertains thy wealth; and where is thy fport and mirth? As a paper wall cannot ftand before confuming fire; no more can your fading pleafures ftand before the frowns of God, or the face of death; nay, fcarce can they endure or ftand before a ferious forethought of the day of death and judgment, that is approaching: they are beholden to their folly, fecurity and ftupidity for their eafe and pleafure; and their temporal pleafure mars and hinders their everlafting pleafure; but the pleasure of faints is eternal.

[ocr errors]

III. The third thing was, To fpeak of fome of the particular paths of Wifdom, which are peace and pleafure both; for peace and pleafure are fo near a-kin, that peace is like the fire, and pleasure the flame. Peace is the root of pleasure, and pleasure is the fruit of peace. Now, as I faid in the explication, the paths of Wisdom are either fuch as Wifdom walks in towards us, or fuch as Wifdom directs us to walk in. Upon the first general head, I have efpecially touched at thefe ways wherein Wifdom walks towards us; particularly, his pleafant providential adminiftrations, which

we

we with pleasure fubmit to, and acquiefce in; pleasant doctrinal principles which we are, with pleasure, to believe, and cleave unto; pleafant evangelical graces, which we are with pleafure, to receive and exercife; and pleasant fpiritual benefits, and works of God towards us, which we are, with pleasure to entertain, and adore him for.

But now, befide the general ways of Wisdom, there are particular paths, especially fuch as Wifdom directs us to walk in, which will be found to be pleafantnefs and peace both; and those paths are either internal, fuch as concern graces to be exercised; or external, fuch as concern duties to be performed.

ift, There are internal paths of Wifdom that relate to graces to be exercifed: this is what I have already touched at, on the firfl general head, wherein I spoke of evangelical graces; and therefore I fhall not enlarge on this, neither recapitulate what was faid, but only add a few things; particularly these two.

1. Joy; internal joy itself is a grace that believers are Called to exercife; for, The kingdom of God confisteth as in righteousness, fo in peace and joy in the Holy Ghost, Rom. xiv. 17. They receive not the fpirit of fear, but the Spirit of adoption, whereby they cry, ABBA, Father, Rom. viii. 15. O Sirs, how pleasant muft this be, to be enabled with boldnefs, love, and confidence, to tall God, Father, and to fly to him for fuccour and fupply, in every danger and neceffity! They only know the pleasure of this, that enjoy it: "The fruit of the Spirit is joy, love, and peace," Gal.v.22. Now, if joy itfelf be a part of the state of grace, you may fee that it is the moft pleasant path.

2. Internal forrow, fears, cares, and difquietments are forbidden to the children of God, Wifdom's children; and therefore Wildom's ways muft furely be pleasantnefs and peace. God hath commanded us, to caft all our cares upon him; and hath promised to care for us, 1 Pet. v. 7. He hath called us to be careful for nothing, but in every thing, by prayer and fupplication, to make our requefts known unto him, with thankfgiving, Philip. iv. 6. And can there be a more pleasant courfe than

that,

that, which excludes all inordinate cares, and fears, and forrows, as much as health excludes ficknefs! Here it is made unlawful to be miferable and forrowful; no forrow being allowed, but that which tends to our joy; yea, God hath forbidden care, and fear, and difquietment of mind; for his command is, "Care not, fear not," Ifa. xxxv. 4. xlv. 10. What do you fear then? Do you fear reproach? You do it contrary to the will of God, who fays, "Fear not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings," Ifa. li. 7. Do you fear the fury of men? the power and rage of enemies! [See Ifa. li. 12.] Why, it is contrary to your religion fo to do; for God fays, "Fear them not," Ifa. xliii. 5. 13, 14and xliv. 2.8. Do you fear perfecution or death from the hand of cruel violence? Why, it is contrary to the will of God that you do fo: "Fear not them that kill the body, and are not able to kill the foul; but rather fear him, which is able to deftroy both foul and body in hell," Mat. x. 26. 28. O then, what a pleasant, peaceable path must this be, where all that is annoying and grievous is forbidden, and all that is delightful and joyous is commanded! It is here made our work and duty to rejoice in the Lord; yea, always to rejoice, Phil. iv. 3Now, O poor deluded finner, that would be free of care, fear, and forrow, if you will give up yourfelf to Chrift, and chofe Wisdom's ways, you shall be free of all thofe, except fuch as are neceflary to your joy. Pleafure and peace is the very work and employment of the righte ous fee Pfalm xxxii. 1. xcvii. 11. Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous; for praife is comely for the upright. Light is fown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart. And Pfal. xxxii. 11. Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice ye righteous; and fhout for joy all ye that are upright in heart. And cxxxii. 9. 16. Let thy faints fhout for joy: her faints fhall fhout aloud for joy. And v. 11. But let all them that put their trust in thee, rejoice: let them ever fhout for joy, because thou defendeft them: let them alfo that love thy name be joyful in thee. Phil. iii. 11. Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord." You that love no life but a life of mirth and pleasure, here it is to be had; if you will have

་་

God

God to be your God, Chrift your mafter, and Wifdom's ways your choice, then holy mirth, and fpiritual pleasure will be your work, your employment. But again,

2dly, There are external paths of Wifdom that relate to duties to be performed, which are alfo full of pleasure and peace.-I fhall mention fome of thefe.

1. The duty of hearing and reading the word; how pleasant is it to be exercifed herein! This is plain from the experience of all that have been revived, renewed, refreshed by the word. If you who feel no fweetness in it, will not believe them that fay they feel it, at least believe the word of God, and the declarations of his ancient faints, Pfal. cxix. 14, 16, 24, 47, 92, 93, 72, 97,103, 111, 127, 162, 165. "I have rejoiced in the way of thy teftimonies as much as in all riches. I will delight myfelf in thy ftatutes. Thy teftimonies are my delight: and I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved. Unless thy law had been my delight, I fhould have perished in my afflictions. The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and filver. O! how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. How fweet are thy words unto my taste! more than honey to my mouth. Thy teftimonies have I taken for my heritage for ever; for they are the rejoicing of my heart. Therefore I love thy commandments above gold, yea, above fine gold. I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil. Great peace have they that love thy law; and nothing fhall offend them.” It is the work and mark of a bleffed man, that his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night, Pfal. i. 1, 2.

Queft. What is there in the word that affords fuch pleasure?

Anfw. There are many pleasant things therein to feed the delight of the child of God: befides the pleafant doctrines of the word, there are pleafant counfels, invitations, promifes, records, as I noticed above*.

* See all these formerly taken notice of above, p. 298,—————302.

« PreviousContinue »