Happy State of a Soul set right towards Man Happy State of a Soul set right towards itself This neglect contrary to the law of God proved to be Sinful, by Experience contrary to their Vow and Covenant contrary to right Practice and Feeling CHAP. V. Meaning and Application of the Text. The Object, to be THIS Psalm, by the contents of it, seems to sup- pose an afflicted state of good men, by the op- pression of such as were wicked, -the prosperity of these wicked ones in their oppressive course, -an aptness in the oppressed to impatience under the evils they suffered, -a disposition to behold, with a lingering and envious eye, the good things which their oppressors enjoyed, and B serviceable to the fortifying of the righteous against the sin and trouble, which such a state of things might occasion to them. The verse cited has a more direct aspect on this last-mentioned thing, in the case of upright men suffering under the oppression of violent and prosperous wickedness, namely, that they might hereupon be apt to covet and envy the worldly delight of their enemies, to be desirous of their dainties, and grudge they should be theirs, who, they knew, deserved worse things,while they themselves felt the pressure of worse, which at their hands they deserved not. What is here offered to the consideration of the sufferers, tends aptly to allay their discontent, to check and repress their inordinate desire towards inferior things, or to divert and turn it another way: as if it had been said, "You have no such cause to look with displeasure or immoderate desire upon their delicacies; you may have better: better belong to you, and invite you. The Lord himself is your portion. It becomes both your state and spirit to apply yourselves to a holy delight in him; to let your souls loose, and set them at liberty to satiate themselves with those undefiled and satisfying pleasures, to which you have a right, and in which you will find the loss and want of their meaner enjoyments abundantly made up to you. You have your natural desires and cravings, as well as other men; and those may be too apt to exceed their just bounds and measures. But if you take this course, they will soon become sober and |