EXPOSITORY LECTURES

ON

PSALM XXXIX.

LECTURE I.

Ver. 1. I said I will take heed to my ways, that I fin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.

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ERTAINLY it is an high dignity that is conferred upon man, that he may as freely and frequently as he will, converfe with Him that made him, the great King of Heaven and earth. It is indeed a wonder that God fhould honour poor creatures fo much; but it is no lefs ftrange that men having fo great privileges, the moft part of them do use them fo little. Seldom do we come to him in times of eafe. And when we are fpurred to it by afflictions and pains, commonly we try all other means rather than this, that is the alone true and unfailing comfort. But fuch as have learned this way of laying their pained head and heart in his bofom, they are truly happy, though in the world's language they be never fo miferable.

This is the recourfe of this holy man in the time of his affliction, whatever it was, prayer and tears, bemoaning himself before his God and Father, and that the more fervently, in that he finds his speaking to men fo unprofitable; and therefore he refrains from it.

The

The Pfalm confifts of two parts; his filence to men, and his speech to God; and both of them are fet with fuch fweet notes of mufic, though they be fad, that they deserve well to be committed to the Chief Mufician.

I faid, I will take beed to my ways.] It was to himfelf that he said it; and it is impoffible for any other to prove a good or a wife man, without much of this kind of fpeech to himfelf. It is one of the most excellent and diftinguifhing faculties of a reafonable creature, much beyond vocal fpeech, for in that fome birds may imitate us; but neither bird nor beast have any thing of this kind of language, of reflecting or difcourfing with itfelf. It is a wonderful brutality in the greatest part of men, who are fo little converfant in this kind of fpeech, being framed and difpofed for it, and which is not only of itself excellent, but of continual ufe and advantage; but it is a common evil among men, to go abroad, and out of themselves, which is a madness and a true diftraction. It is true a man hath need of a well fet mind, when he speaks to himself; for otherwife he may be worse company to himself than if he were with others; but he ought to endeavour to have a better with him, to call in God to his heart to dwell with him. If thus we did, we should find how fweet this were to fpeak to ourfelves, by now and then intermixing our fpeech with difcourfes unto God. For want of this, the moft part not only lofe their time in vanity, in their converfe abroad with others, but do carry in heaps of that vanity to the stock which is in their own hearts, and do converfe with that in fecret, which is the greatest and the deepest folly in the world.

Other folitary employments, as reading the difputes and controverfies that are among men, are things not unuseful, yet all turns to wafle, if we read not our own heart, and ftudy that: This is the ftudy of every holy man, and between this and the confideration

confideration of God, he fpends his hours and endeavours. Some have recommended the reading of men more than books: But what is in the one, or both of them, or all the world befide, without this? a man fhall find himself out of his proper business, if he acquaint not himself with this, to fpeak much with God and with himself, concerning the ordering of his own ways.

It is true, it is neceffary for fome men, in fome particular charges and ftations, to regard the ways of others; and befides, fomething alfo there may be of a wife obferving others, to improve the good and `evil we fee in them, to our own advantage, and bettering our own ways, looking on them to make the repercuffion the ftronger on ourselves: but except it be out of charity and wisdom, it flows either from uncharitable malice, or else a curious and vain spirit, to look much and narrowly into the ways of others, and to know the manner of living of perfons about us, and fo to know every thing but ourfelves; like travellers, that are well feen in foreign and remote parts, but strangers in the affairs of their own country at home. The check that Chrift gave to Peter is due to fuch, What is that to thee? follow thou me, John xxi. 22. "Look thou to thine own feet, that

they be fet in the right way." It is a ftrange thing that men fhould lay out their diligence abroad to their lofs, when their pains might be beftowed to their advantage nearer at hand, at home within themselves.

This that the Pfalmift speaks here of, taking heed to his ways, as it imports his prefent diligence, so alfo it hath in it a reflection on his ways past, and these two do mutually affift one another; for he shall never regulate his ways before him, that has not wifely confidered his ways paft; for there is wildom gathered from the obfervation of what is gone to the choosing where to walk in time to come, to see where he is weakeft, and lies expofed to the greatest

hazard,