SERMON XVI. PSALM cxix, 18. Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. THE prayers of a man are a good index of his religious character. As a man prayeth, so is he; such is the moral state of his heart. He spontaneously prays for what he desires and loves. If he asks for wisdom, it is evidence that he is a lover of wisdom. This most excellent psalm is a wonderful strain of devotion. The Greek Fathers consider it "an abridgment of David's life, in which he expresses all the states through which he had passed, the trials, persecutions, succours, and encouragements, he had received." The Latin Fathers perceive in it, "all the morality of the gospel, and rules of conduct for every situation in life." Cassiodorus asserts "that it contains the sentiments of the prophets, apostles, martyrs, and saints, of every age." The text is a prayer, expressing an humble heart, a love of truth, a sense of dependence. "Open thou mine eyes, that I may discover wondrous things out of thy law." Law, in this place, means the word of God, or the whole volume of revelation. DOCTRINE. In ascertaining the truths of revelation, we ought to pray for divine assistance. The plainest truths, which are universally believed, require the authority of revelation, to command our faith. 66 Through faith in the divine oracles, we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God." How much more do we need divine illumination, to believe the doctrine of the apostacy, of a Redeemer, of an atonement, of a new birth, of a resurrection to immortal life? But I proceed to show how reasonable is the petition of the text, or to enforce the duty of praying for divine assistance in ascertaining the truths of the Bible. I. In the scriptures are wonderful truths; therefore, should we repeat the prayer of the text. If things wonderful were not in the word of God, such a prayer would be useless; but they are more than can be reckoned up in order. In revelation, we see the glorious system of the universe rising from nothing, the sea and dry land separated, the sun ruling the day, the moon the night. We see man, the offspring of God, holding the sceptre of this world. "Here we behold how infant time began, "How the dust moved, and quickened into man, "And find salvation in the paths of grace." We hear the law announced in the bowers of Eden. "In the day thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die." In rebellion against his Maker, we see man put forth his hand and eat. We see him driven from his paradise of joy; briars and thorns start up before him; he is compelled to glean his subsistence by the sweat of his brow, disease, and death, and a thousand woes, following in the train. From Jehovah we hear a voice, "The seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent's head." In the fulness of time he appears, made of a woman. He makes propitiation for sin, is a sacrifice for a lost world; the author of eternal life to all who believe. His spirit he pours out, and blesses the labours of his ministers; myriads of sons and daughters are born for glory; those who were dead in trespasses and sins become kings and priests of God; Heaven receives an accession of inhabitants from our dying world. These, and many more, are wonderful things of revelation. They deserve our regard, our most profound inquiry; they are subjects, which angels examine with deep attention. Here is a field, which may give ample scope to the most extensive science, to the most powerful intellects. Contemplating such a prospect, we may well pray, " Open thou our eyes, that we may discover wonderful things in thy law." Enlighten us, that we may understand these glorious themes. II. The prayer of the text is our duty, because it is immensely important for us to understand the things of the law. If the subjects of revelation were uninteresting, or of trivial consequence, to neglect such an application to heaven, might be more excusable. But the truths of revelation are more important than any worldly good, fame, wealth, or power. They are the only charter of our immortal hopes,-the only lights to guide us to heavenly bliss. But unless they are understood, they are useless, as though they were in their original tongues. What is the compass to the man, who understands not the pointing of the needle. What is a guide-board to a traveller, who cannot read the words and figures inscribed. If the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who will prepare himself for battle? Bibles, sabbaths, sermons, sacraments, are all useless, unless they are understood. If then God has made prayer one means of illumination, we ought to for divine assistance to understand the sacred pray oracles. The truths of revelation involve all that is important, all that is glorious, or terrible to man. The best hopes of this life; consolation or agony in a dying hour; immortal blessedness or eternal misery in the world to come, are all suspended on our understanding the truths of the gospel. Shall we not then pray, that we may understand their wondrous glories? They preserve us from idolatry, guilt, and death;-they make us wise unto salvation. III. The natural indifference or sluggishness of the human mind is a reason, why we should pray for divine assistance in our religious inquiries. A celebrated writer has pronounced sloth to be the constitutional sin of human nature. Men love to idle away life in sensual indulgence. Necessity excites them to labour, or to meditation. They need some powerful agent, to excite, to awaken, to animate and engage, their spirits. They love to slumber; they |