SERMON XIX.

THE JOYS AND CONSOLATIONS OF THE

CHRISTIAN PILGRIM.

66

PSALM CXIX. 54.

Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage."

THE disposition and character of a man, in a spiritual view, may be generally perceived by the subjects which occupy his thoughts, when at leisure for reflection. If, on such occasions, we turn our attention principally to the things of this world, it is an indication that our treasure is upon the earth, and that the love of God is not in us. How different from this state of mind was that of the sacred writer, to whom, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, we are indebted for the psalm before us! The disposition here manifested is that of a soul which seeks for its sources of enjoyment beyond this world, and finds its proper element in heaven. Of such men it is said by an apostle, that their

conversation is in heaven; they are familiar with other matters than those which form the common topics of our discourse, and they turn almost instinctively to other sources of consolation than the world can give. The principle, under which they act, is that of genuine piety; and wherever it is found, this is the language in which it will, on the retrospect of life, address itself to the Searcher of hearts, Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.

In enlarging upon these words for our present instruction, we may notice,

I. THE VIEW WHICH THE PSALMIST ENTERTAINED OF HIS OWN CONDITION UPON

EARTH:

II.

THE USE WHICH HE MADE OF THE

DIVINE STATUTES: and,

III. THE INTRINSIC EXCELLENCE OF THESE SUBJECTS, AND THEIR SUITABLENESS ΤΟ EVERY MAN WHO CONSIDERS THIS AS THE HOUSE OF HIS PILGRIMAGE.

Happy will it be for us, my brethren, if we live in the same spirit, and habitually follow this good example.

I. We are to consider THE VIEW WHICH

THE

PSALMIST

ENTERTAINED OF HIS CON

DITION UPON THE EARTH. He speaks of this world as the house of his pilgrimage.

(1.) The expression is well adapted to indicate in general the condition of human life. No man who considers the state of things around him, and the narrow limits of his mortal existence, can reasonably conclude that this is his home he must feel that the highest interests of the present world are soon to be laid aside, and that all its promises and enjoyments are in a few fleeting years to terminate. These things are so obvious in themselves, that every one readily assents to the truth of them; yet how little do we perceive the effect of this principle in the common conduct of mankind! What can be more obvious than the fact, that most of us live here as if this were to be our abode for ever? We confess that our days are few; we act as if our persuasion were directly the reverse. We admit that, after a very short period, the place which now knows us will know us no more; yet how many assent to this declaration who, nevertheless, trust in their wealth and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; their inward thought is that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations, and they call their lands

THE JOYS AND CONSOLATIONS

after their own names.*

They act upo

th

ciple which their sober reason condem so incurable, upon this subject, is the such men, that their posterity approve ings. With the sight of mortality before and with this plain evidence of the f such conduct, the very persons who ente their places generally pursue the same co and are as unwise and inconsistent as predecessors.

(2.) But the word "pilgrimage,' in Scripture, appears not so much to dene as adopt the general condition of mankind upon ear as the particular state of the people of God. pilgrim, such as the psalmist, is not simply child of mortality, who passes, after a fe years, into the invisible world, but one who feels himself to be a traveller in a strange land, Iand who is urging his way towards his home in heaven. This feeling grows out of a just estimate of human life; and it will be found in all cases to exist, wherever the fear and the love of God have their due influence heart. Hence therefore arises not only that upon the declaration of David, I am a stranger with thee and a sojourner, as all my fathers were ; but also

*Psalm xlix. 11. + Verse 13.

Ps. xxxix. 12.

description of those patriarchs, of whom it ecorded with such honourable mention by Paul, that not having received the promises, having seen them afar off, they were persuaded : them, and embraced them, and confessed that ey were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.*

is is the character of all who, like them, are ading a life of faith; for, adds St. Paul, they at say such things, declare plainly that they eek a country; that they are pursuing their vay to another land, as the object of their desires and the place of their final abode.

And here let us pause for one moment to remark, not merely how rational, but how noble and dignified were the views by which these pilgrims were influenced and directed in their progress! If we could have conversed with the patriarch Noah, for example, or with Abraham, the father of the faithful, what a contrast must have existed in their minds between the house of their pilgrimage and their final habitation! The last of them would tell us, "I have had ample experience of the instability and vanity of human things I have seen great cities, the work of men's hands, overthrown, as in a day, and consumed by the