With the Word of the Lord, who endured awhile on earth, even as he the Psalmist endured.  Who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession, and endured the cross, despising the shame, because He cared neither for riches, nor for pleasure, for power, nor for glory; but simply for His Father’s will, and His Father’s law, that He might do to the uttermost the will of His Father who sent Him, and keep to the uttermost that Law of which His Father says to Him for ever—­“Thou art my Son, to-day have I begotten Thee.”

Into His presence may we all come at last!  But we shall never come thither, unless we keep our honour bright, our courage unbroken, and ourselves unspotted from the world.  For so only will be fulfilled in us the sixth Beatitude—­Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.  Unto which may God of His free mercy bring us all.  Amen.

SERMON XIV.  THE WORD OF GOD.

PSALM CXIX. 89-96.

O Lord, Thy word endureth for ever in heaven.  Thy truth also remaineth from one generation to another:  Thou hast laid the foundation of the earth, and it abideth.  They continue this day according to Thine ordinance:  for all things serve Thee.  If my delight had not been in Thy law, I should have perished in my trouble.  I will never forget Thy commandments:  for with them Thou hast quickened me.  I am Thine, oh save me:  for I have sought Thy commandments.  The ungodly laid wait for me to destroy me:  but I will consider Thy testimonies.  I see that all things come to an end:  but Thy commandment is exceeding broad.

This text is of infinite importance, to you, and me, and all mankind.  For if the text is not true; if there is not a Word of God, who endures and is settled for ever in heaven:  then this world is a miserable and a mad place; and the best thing, it seems to me, that we poor ignorant human beings can do, is to eat and drink, for to morrow we die.

But that is not the best thing we can do; but the very worst thing.  The best thing that we can do, and the only thing worth doing is, to be good, and do good, at all risks and all costs, trusting to the Word of God, who endures for ever in heaven.

But who is this Word of God?  I say who, not what.  We often call the Bible the Word of God:  and so it is in one sense, because it tells us, from beginning to end, about this other Word of God.  It is, so to speak, God’s word or message about this Word.  But it is plain that the Psalmist is not speaking here of the Bible; for he says—­

“Thy Word endureth for ever in Heaven:”  and the Bible is not in heaven, but on earth.

But in the Bible, usually, this Word of the Lord means not only the message which God sends, but Him by whom God sends it.  The Word of God, Word of the Lord, is spoken of again and again, not as a thing, but as a person, a living rational being, who comes to men, and speaks to them, and teaches them; sometimes, seemingly, by actual word of mouth; sometimes again, by putting thoughts into their minds, and words into their mouths.