A Christian on the Mount - Appendix to the Former Discourse - A Christian on Earth Still In Heaven - Part Four

Extract
A Christian on the Mount — Part Four (Appendix to the Former Discourse)
Thomas Watson

A Christian on Earth Still In Heaven

“When I awake I am still with thee” Psalm 139:18. The Scripture is a spiritual paradise: the book of Psalms is placed as the tree of life in the midst of this paradise. The Psalms are not only for delight, but usefulness; they are like the pomegranate tree which is not only for savour, but fruit; or like those trees of the sanctuary, Ezek. 47:12. both for food and medicine. The Psalms are enriched with variety, and suited to every Christian’s estate and condition. They are a spiritual panoply and storehouse; if he find his heart dead, here he may fetch fire; if he be weak in grace, here he may fetch armour; if he be ready to faint, here are cordials lying by. There is no condition you can name but there is a Psalm suited to that condition. 1. In case of sickness. “Thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness,” Psa. 41:3. and sure that bed must needs be soft which God will make; and there is a parallel Psalm to this, “My flesh fails,” Psa. 73:26. my health is declining, “but the Lord is the strength of my heart;” or, as the Septuagint renders it, “He is the God of my heart.”

2. In case of reproach. “I was a reproach among my enemies,” Psa. 31:11. “But I trusted in thee O Lord, I said, thou art my God,” verse 14. “Blessed be the Lord, for he hath shown me his marvellous loving-kindness in a strong city,” verse 21. Here was some sunshine breaking forth out of those black clouds. 3. In case of unkind treatment from friends. “For it was not an enemy, then I could have borne it, but it was thou, mine equal, my guide, and my acquaintance; we took sweet counsel together,” Psa. 55:12, 13. here was the malady; “Cast thy burden upon the Lord,” verse 22, there was the cure. The Chaldee reads it, Cast thy hope; the Septuagint, Cast thy care. God is power, therefore he is…