Sermon 4

Psalm 119:3 They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.

Still the Psalmist continues the description of a blessed man. In the two first verses holiness (which is the way to, and evidence of blessedness) is considered with respect to the subject and the object of it, the life and the heart of man. The life of man, Blessed are the undefiled in the way: The heart of man, They seek him with the whole heart.

Now holiness is considered in the parts of it, negatively and positively. The two parts of holiness are an eschewing of sin, and studying to please God. You have both in this verse, They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.

First, You have the blessed man described negatively, They do no iniquity. Upon hearing the words, presently there occurs a doubt, How then can any man be blessed? For there is not a man that lives and sins not (Ecclesiastes 7:20), and (James 3:2) In many things we offend all. To deny it, is a flat lie against the truth, and against our own experience. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us (1 John 1:8). The expression may be abused on the one side to establish the impeccability and perfection of the saints; on the other side it may be abused by persons of a weak and tender conscience, to the hindering of their comfort and rejoicing in God. When they shall hear this is the character of a blessed man, they do no iniquity, they are very apt to conclude against their own regeneration, because of their daily failings.

To avoid these difficulties, I shall inquire, 1. What it is to do iniquity. 2. Who are the persons among the sons of men that may be said to do no iniquity.

First, What it is to do iniquity. If we make it our trade and practice to continue in willful disobedience. To sin is one thing, but to make sin our work, is another. (1 John 3:9) He that is born of God, does not commit sin; he does not work sin. And (Matthew 7:23) Depart from me you that work iniquity. That's the character of the reprobate, workers of iniquity. So (John 8:34) Whoever commits sin, is the servant of sin. Sin is their constant trade. (Psalm 139:24) See if there be any wicked way in me. None are absolutely freed from sin, but it is not their trade, their way, their work. When a man makes it his study and business to carry on a course of sin, then he is said to do iniquity.

Secondly, Who are those that are said to do no iniquity in God's account, though they fail often through weakness of the flesh, and violence of temptation? Answer,

1. All such as are renewed by grace, and reconciled to God by Christ Jesus; to these God imputes no sin to condemnation, and in his account they do no iniquity. Notable is that, (1 Kings 14:8) it is said of David, He kept my commandments, and followed me with all his heart, and did that only which was right in my eyes. How can that be? We may trace David by his failings, they are upon record everywhere in the word; yet here a veil is drawn upon them; God laid them not to his charge. There is a double reason why their failings are not laid to their charge; partly, because of their general state, they are in Christ, taken into favor through him; and there's no condemnation to them that are in Christ (Romans 8:1), therefore particular errors and escapes do not alter their condition. Which is not to be understood as if a man should not be humbled, and ask God pardon for his infirmities; no, for then they prove iniquities, they will lie upon record against us. It was a gross fancy of the Valentinians, that held they were not defiled with sin, whatever they committed; though base and obscene persons, yet still they were as gold in the dirt. No, no, we are to recover ourselves by repentance, to sue out the favor of God. When David humbled himself, and had repented, then says Nathan (2 Samuel 12:13), The Lord has put away your sin. Partly too, because their bent and habitual inclination is to do otherwise. They set themselves to comply with God's will, to seek and serve the Lord, though they are clogged with many infirmities. A wicked man sins with deliberation and delight, his bent is to do evil, he makes provision for lusts (Romans 13:12), and serves them by a voluntary subjection (Titus 3:3). But those that are renewed by grace, are not debtors to the flesh, they have taken another debt and obligation upon them, which is to serve the Lord (Romans 8:12). Partly too, because their general course and way is to do otherwise. Unumquodque operatur secundum suam formam; everything works according to its form; the constant actions of nature are according to the kind. So the new creature, his constant operations are according to grace. A man is known by his custom, and the course of his endeavors, what is his business. If a man be constantly, easily, frequently carried away to sin, it discovers a habit of soul, and the temper of his heart. Meadows may be overflown, but marshy ground is drowned with the return of every tide. A child of God may be carried away, and act contrary to the bent and inclination of the new nature; but when men are drowned and overcome with the return of every temptation, and carried away, it argues a habit of sin. And partly, because sin never carries it away clearly, but with some dislikes and resistances of the new nature. The children of God make it their business to avoid all sin, by watching, praying, mortifying (Psalm 39:1), I said I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue. And then there is a resistance of the sin: God has planted graces in their hearts; the fear of his majesty, that works a resistance; and therefore there is not a full allowance of what they do. This resistance sometimes is more strong, then the temptation is overcome. How can I do this wickedness, and sin against God? (Genesis 39). Sometimes it is more weak, and then sin carries it, though against the will of a holy man (Romans 7:15, 18). The evil which I hate, that do I. It is the evil which they hate, they protest against it; they are like men which are oppressed by the power of the enemy. And then there's a remorse after the sin, David's heart smote him. It grieves and shames them that they do evil. There's tenderness goes with the new nature; Peter sinned foully, but he went out and wept bitterly.

Well then the point is this:

Doct. 1. They that are and shall be blessed are such as make it their business to avoid all sin.

I may illustrate it by these reasons.

1. Surely they shall be blessed, for they take care to remove the make-bate, the wall of partition between God and them. It is sin which separates (Isaiah 59:2). But your iniquities have separated between you and your God. This was that which cast angels out of heaven; when they had sinned, God could endure their company no longer. This cast Adam out of Paradise. This is that which hinders men from communion with God.

2. These are men fitting and preparing themselves for the enjoyment of their great hopes (Colossians 1:12). Who has made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. 1 John 3:3: He that has this hope purifies himself even as he is pure. Esther when she was chosen to be bride and spouse to that great king, she had her months of purification. The time we spend in the world are the months of our purification; it's a sign they mind their business, they are fitting for eternal happiness. They remember they are shortly to appear before the great God, therefore they would not be uncomely. Joseph washed his garments when he was to go before Pharaoh. They have these hopes that they shall see God as he is, that they shall be like him, and he will appear for their comfort, therefore they are fitting themselves more and more.

3. In them true happiness is begun: there are degrees in blessedness; the angels they never sinned, the glorified saints they have sinned, but sin no more; the saints upon earth — in them sin reigns not; therefore here's their happiness begun; as sin is taken away, so our happiness increases. First God begins with us in a way of justification, ne damnet, he takes away the damning power that is in sin; and in sanctification the work goes on, ne regnet, that sin may not reign; afterward ne sit, that sin may not be; therefore these have begun their happiness, they are hastening toward it apace.

Use 1. For trial and examination, whether we may be reckoned among the blessed men, yes or no? There are some who think that because the children of God are liable to so many failings, and there being so many wiles and circuits in the heart of man, that there can be no judgment made upon the case between the sins of the regenerate and unregenerate. But surely there is a difference between the sinning of the one, and the sinning of the other, and such a difference as may be discerned. 1 John 3:9: Whoever is born of God does not commit sin. Now mark, verse 10: In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the Devil. This is that which distinguishes the children of God from the children of the Devil. Well then, how shall we manage this discovery that we may be able to judge of our own estates?

First, let us consider how far sin may be in a blessed man, in a child of God.

1. They have a corrupt nature, they have sin in them as well as others, it is their misery to the last. Romans 7:24: O wretched man that I am, says the holy Apostle. Sin though it be dejectum, cast down in regard of regency, yet it is not ejectum, cast out in regard of inherency; their corrupt nature sticks by them to the last. One compares it to a wild fig-tree, or to ivy in a wall — cut off the body, the boughs, sprigs, branches, yet still there will be something that will be sprouting up again until the wall be dug down. Such an in-dwelling sin is in us, though we pray, strive, and cut off the excrescences, the buddings out of it here and there, yet till it be plucked asunder by death, it continues with us.

2. They have their daily failings and infirmities: Ecclesiastes 7:20: There is not a just man upon earth that does good, and sins not. Those that for their general state are just and righteous men, yet certain sins they cannot get rid of, and are unavoidable; as sins of ignorance, incogitancy, sudden surreption, indeliberate incursions, which we shall never be freed from as long as we are in this imperfect state. So also imperfections of duty, for we cannot serve God with that high degree of reverence, delight, and perfection which he requires. There are unavoidable infirmities which are pardoned of course.

3. They may be guilty of some sins which by watchfulness might be prevented, as vain thoughts, idle, passionate speeches, and many carnal actions. It is possible that these may be prevented by the ordinary assistances of grace, and if we will keep a strict guard over our own hearts. But in this case God's children may be overtaken, and overborne; overtaken by the suddenness, or overborne by the violence of temptation: overtaken (Galatians 6:1): If a man be overtaken in a fault, restore such a one, etc. And overborne (James 1:14): Every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

4. They may now and then fall foully; as Noah by excess of drink; Lot's incest; David's adultery; Peter's denial. Failings and infirmities are not determined either by the smallness or by the greatness of the act, but by other concomitant circumstances. Not by the smallness of the act. There is as much treason in coining pence, as shillings and pounds. Allowed affections to small sins is deadly and damnable: He that is unfaithful in little, will be unfaithful in much. Christians, where temptations are weak, and impotent, and of slight concernment and importance, they may be sooner confuted, and obedience is the more easy; so that our rebellion to God by small sins may be greater. A man may have great affections to small sins, so it may prove an iniquity, a damnable sin.

On the other side, great sins may be infirmities; as Lot's incest, David's adultery, when they are not done with full consent of soul, when their hearts are not wholly carried away with them. Iniquities are determined by their manner. Jude verse 15: Their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed — when with full consent of will, and it is their course that argues a habitual hatred and contempt of God.

5. A child of God may have some particular evils, which may be called predominant sins, (not with respect to grace, that's impossible that a man should be renewed and have such sins that sin should carry the mastery over grace;) but they may be said to have a predominancy in comparison of other sins; he may have some particular inclination to some evil above others. David had his iniquity (Psalm 18:23). Look as the saints have particular graces, Abraham was eminent for faith, Timothy for sobriety, Moses for meekness, etc. so they have their particular corruptions which are more suitable to their temper and course of life. Peter seems to be inclined to tergiversation, and to shrinking in a time of trouble. We find him often tripping in that kind; in the denial of his Master; again (Galatians 2:12), it is said he dissembled and complied with the Jews, therefore Paul withstood him to his face, for he was to be blamed. It is evident by experience, there are particular corruptions to which the children of God are more inclinable: this appears by the great power and sway they bear in commanding other evils to be committed by their falling into them out of inward propensity when outward temptations are few or weak, or none at all; and when resistance is made, yet they are more pestered and haunted with them than with other temptations, which is a constant matter of exercise and humiliation to them.

Secondly, wherein does grace now discover itself, where's the difference?

1. In that they cannot fall into those iniquities wherein there is an absolute contrariety to grace; as hatred of God, total apostasy, so they cannot sin the sin to death (1 John 5:16).

2. In that they do not sin with the whole heart: (Psalm 119:176) I have gone astray like a lost sheep, seek your servant for I do not forget your commandments: there was somewhat of God in the heart, when he was conscious to himself of strayings and wanderings: and David says elsewhere, I have not departed wickedly from your precepts. When they sin, it is with the dislike and reluctance of the new nature; it is rather a rape than a consent. Bernard says, a child of God suffers sin rather than acts it, and his heart's protest is against it.

3. It is not their course; not constant, easy, and frequent. Relapses into gross sins argue an habitual aversion from God, for a habit is determined by the constancy and uniformity of acts; therefore it is but now and then under some great temptation. There is sin, and there is a way of sin (Psalm 139:24), Search me and see if there be any way of wickedness in me, as Chrysostom glosses.

4. When they fall they do not rest in sin: Shall they fall, and shall they not arise? (Jeremiah 8:4). They may fall into the dirt, but they do not lie and wallow there like swine in the mire. A fountain may be muddied, but it works itself clean again. The needle that has been touched with the lodestone may be jogged and discomposed, but it never leaves till it turns towards the pole again. God's children have their failings, but they sue out their pardon, run to their Advocate (1 John 3:1), humble themselves before God.

5. Their falls are sanctified. When they have smarted under sin, they grow more watchful and more circumspect. A child of God may have the worse in praelio in the battle, but not in bello in the war. Sometimes the carnal part may get the victory, and they may fall foul, but see the issue (Psalm 51:6), In the hidden part you shall make me to know wisdom. David had sinned against the Lord, but I have learned wisdom never to trust a wicked heart more, but to look to myself better.

6. Grace discovers itself by the constant endeavors which they make against sin. What's the constant course a Christian takes? They groan under the relics of sin, it is their burden that they have such an evil nature (Romans 7:24). They fly to God's grace in Christ for daily pardon (1 John 1:9). They are ever washing their garments in the Lamb's blood (Revelation 7), and every day are cleansing themselves from the filthiness and defilement they contract by sin (John 13:10). He that is washed, needs not save to wash his feet. An allusion to a man that has been a journey, in those countries where they went barefoot, when he came home he must wash his feet. So a man that is reconciled to God, though he has been in the bath, in the fountain which God has opened for uncleanness, yet every day he must be washing his feet, cleansing himself by the blood of Christ more and more, because he contracts new defilement. Then by using all endeavors against it (Colossians 3:5), as prayer, striving, watching, cutting off the provisions of the flesh, improving the death of Christ. They do not voluntarily and without opposition live under sin, and the slavish tyranny of it. Their bent and habitual inclination is to do otherwise; therefore they are said to do no iniquity; whereas those that are reckless and careless of their souls, sin, and never lay it to heart; they are the workers of iniquity.

Use 2. If this be the character of a blessed man, to make it our business to avoid sin; then here's caution to God's people: 1. To beware of all sin. 2. To be very cautious against gross sins, committed against the light of conscience. 3. To beware of continuance in sin.

First, to beware of all sin. The more you have the mark of a blessed man (1 John 2:1), these things I write to you, that you sin not. Though you have a pardon and cleansing by the blood of Christ, though you have an Advocate, yet sin not. Now the motives to set on this caution, are taken from God, from ourselves, from the nature of sin.

1. From God. Sin not; why? because it is an offence to God. Consider how contrary sin is to all the persons in the Trinity. To God the Father as a Lawgiver, being a contempt of his authority. (1 John 3:4) Sin is a transgression of the law, that is, an act of disloyalty and rebellion against the Crown of Heaven. Open sin does as it were proclaim rebellion and war against God; and privy sin is conspiracy against him. All creatures have a law (Psalm 148:6): you have set to them a decree, beyond which they cannot pass. And they are less exorbitant in their motions than we are. It is a greater violation to the law of nature for man to sin, than for the sea to break its bounds. The creatures have not sense and reason, yet they do not pass beyond the law which God has set them. This should prevail with the new creature especially, whose hearts God has suited to the law; so that they offer a violence to their own conscience. Take heed of entering into the lists with God, of despising his authority. Every sin that is committed slights the law which forbids it (2 Samuel 12:9): "Why do you despise his commandments?" God stands much upon his law, one tittle shall not pass away; and you despise it, go about to make it void, when you give way to sin. In fact, it is an abuse of his love (1 John 3:1): "Behold what manner of love the Father has showed us" — you are children and sons of God, and will you slight his love? Your sins are like Absalom's treason against his father. The Rechabites are commended for keeping their father's command (Jeremiah 35): "Set pots before them," etc. — no, our father has forbidden us to drink wine. Their fathers were dead, but ours is living; will you that are sons, renounce God, and side with the devil's party, and commit sin? You, to whom the Father has showed such love, that you should be called his children? Then it is a wrong to Jesus Christ, to his merit, to his example. To his merit: Christ came to take away sin; and will you bind those cords the faster which Christ came to loosen? Then you go about to defeat the purpose of his death, and put your Redeemer to shame. You seek to make void the great end for which Christ came, which was to dissolve sin. And besides, you disparage the worth of the price he paid down; you make the blood of Christ a cheap thing, when you despise grace and holiness; you make nothing of that which cost him so dear; you lessen the greatness of his sufferings. And it is a wrong to his pattern. You should be pure as Christ is pure (1 John 1:3, verse 5), be righteous as he is righteous. You should discover what a holy person Christ was, by a conformity to him in your conversation. Now will you dishonor him? What a strange Christ will you hold forth to the world, when his name is upon you — will you give way to sin and folly? And it is a wrong to God the Spirit, a grief to him. His great and first work was to wash us from sin (Titus 3:5). You forget that such a work was past upon your hearts, and that you have been purged from your old sins, when you return to them again (2 Peter 1:9). And his constant residence in the heart is to check the lusts of the flesh, to prevent the actings of sin. "If you through the Spirit mortify the deeds of the body, you shall live" (Romans 8:13); therefore you go about to make void his personal operation. Thus it is a wrong to God.

2. By an argument drawn from ourselves, it is very unsuitable to you. We profess ourselves to be regenerate and born of God (1 John 3:9): "He that is born of God, cannot sin." It is not only contrary to your duty, but to your nature, as you are a new creature. It were monstrous for the egg of one creature to bring forth a brood of another kind, for a crow or a kite to come from the egg of a hen: it is as unnatural a production for a new creature to sin. Therefore you that are born of God, it is very uncomely and unsuitable. Do not dishonor your high birth.

3. Consider the nature of sin; if you give way to it, it will encroach further. Sins steal into the throne insensibly; and being habituated in us by long custom, we cannot easily shake off the yoke, or redeem ourselves from their tyranny. They go on from little to little, and get strength by multiplied acts. Therefore we should be very careful to avoid all sin.

The second part of the caution is, Beware of gross sins committed against light and conscience. When we are tempted to sin, say with Joseph (Genesis 39:9): "How can I do this wickedness, and sin against God?" The more of deliberation and will there is in any action, the sin is the fouler. Consider, foul sins are a blot that will stick long by us. See (1 Kings 15:5): it is said, "David walked in all the ways of the Lord, and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite." Why, there were many other things wherein David failed; you read of his diffidence and distrust in God: "I shall one day perish by the hand of Saul." We read of his dissimulation, and feigning himself mad in the company of the Philistines. We read of his injustice to Mephibosheth, his fond affection to Absalom, his indulgence to Amnon. We read of his numbering the people, which cost the lives of thousands all on a sudden. All these are great failings, but these are not taken notice of: but the matter of Uriah left a scar and blot that was not easily washed off.

Thirdly, Beware of continuance in sin. How may we continue in sin? In what sense? Three things I shall take notice of in sin: culpa, reatus, macula — there's the fault, the guilt, the blot. And then we continue in sin, when the fault, the guilt, or blot is continued upon us.

1. The fault is continued when the acts of it are repeated, when we fall into the same sin again and again. Relapses are very dangerous, as a bone often broken in the same place. You are in danger of this, before the breach be well made up between God and you; as Lot doubling his incest — to venture once and again is very dangerous.

2. The guilt does continue upon a man till serious and solemn repentance, till we sue out our pardon in the name of Christ. Though a man should forbear the act, never commit it more; yet unless he retracts it by a serious remorse, and humbles himself before God, and sues out his pardon in a repenting way, the guilt continues. If we confess (he speaks to believers) then sin is forgiven, not otherwise.

3. There's the macula, the blot, by which the Schoolmen understand an inclination to sin again; the evil influence of the sin continues until we use serious endeavors to mortify the root of it. When we have been foiled by any lust, that lust must be more mortified. For instance, Jonah repented for forsaking his call, when he was cast into the whale's belly; but the sin broke out again, because he did not mortify the root; what was that? His pride. So that it is not enough to bewail the sin, but we must lance the sore, and discover the root and core of it, before all will be well. A man may repent of the eruption of sin, the former act, but the inclination to sin again is not taken off. (Judges 16:2) Samson loves a woman of Gaza, and she had betrayed him; but by carrying away the gates of the city, he saves his life; possibly upon that experience he might repent of his folly and inordinate love to that woman, indeed but the root remains; therefore he falls in love with another woman, with Delilah. Therefore if you would do what is your duty, you must look to the fault, that that be not renewed; the guilt, that that be not continued by omission of repentance; and that the blot also do not remain upon you, by not searching to the root of the distemper, the cause of that sin by which we have been foiled. So much for the first part of the text, They do no iniquity.

The second note is, They walk in his ways. This is the positive part, not only avoiding of sin, but practice of holiness, is implied. Observe,

Doctrine 2. It is not enough only to avoid evil, but we must do good.

They do no iniquity; then they walk in his ways. Why?

1. The law of God is positive as well as negative. In every command there are precepts and prohibitions, that we might own God, as well as renounce the Devil; and maintain communion with him, as well as avoid our own misery. (Amos 5:15) Hate the evil, and love the good. (Romans 12:9) Abhor that which is evil, cleave to that which is good.

2. The mercies of God are positive as well as privative. Our obedience should correspond with God's mercies. Now God does not only deliver us from hell, but he has called us to glory. (John 3:16) the end of Christ's coming is, that we should not perish (there's the privative part) but come to everlasting life (there's the positive). In the covenant God has undertaken to be a sun and a shield (Psalm 84:11), not only a sun, which is the fountain of life, and vegetation, and blessing; but a shield to defend us from danger in the world; therefore our obedience should be positive as well as privative.

Use. It reproves those that rest in negatives. As it was said of the emperor, he was rather not vicious than virtuous. Many men, all their religion runs upon nots. (Luke 18:11) I am not as this publican. That ground is naught, though it brings not forth briars and thorns, if it yields not good increase. Not only the unruly servant is cast into hell that beat his fellow-servant that ate, and drank with the drunken; but the idle servant that wrapped up his talent in a napkin. Meroz is cursed, not for opposing and fighting, but for not helping (Judges 5:23). Dives did not take away food from Lazarus, but he did not give him of his crumbs. Many will say, I set up no other Gods; yes, but do you love, reverence, and obey the true God? In the second commandment, I abhor idols; but do you delight in ordinances? I do not swear and rend the name of God by cursed oaths; yes, but do you glorify God, and honor him? I do not profane the Sabbath; but do you sanctify it? You do not plow and dance; but you are idle, you toy away the Sabbath. You do not wrong your parents; but do you reverence them? You do not murder; but do you do good to your neighbor? You are no adulterer; but do you study temperance and a holy sobriety in all things? You are no slanderer; but are you tender of your neighbor's honor and credit, as of your own? Usually men cut off half their bill, as the unjust steward when he owed a hundred, bade him set down fifty. We do not think of sins of omission. If we are not drunkards, adulterers, and profane persons, we do not think what it is to omit respects to God, and want of reverence to his holy majesty; to delight in him and his ways.

In the next place, take notice of the notion by which the precepts of God are expressed, here they are called ways, that walk in his ways; how is that? Not as he has given us an example, to be holy as he is holy, just as he is just; but his ways are his precepts. Why are they his ways? Because they are appointed by God, and prescribed by him. Which shows the evil of defection and going astray from him. It is a despising of God's wisdom and authority. The great and wise God has found out a way for the creature to walk in, that he may attain true happiness; and we must still be running out into by-paths; indeed, it is a despising of his goodness: He has showed you, O man, what is good; how to walk step by step. Then they are God's ways, as they lead to the enjoyment of him. From there we may learn, that many that wish to be where he is, shall never come there, because they do not walk in the way that leads to him. A man can never come to a place, that will not go in the way that will bring him there: So they will never come to the enjoyment of God in a blessed estate, that will not take the Lord's way to blessedness, that follow not the course God has prescribed to them in his word.