thrust him out of the City and bringing him to the brow of the hill whereon the City was built they would haue cast him downe headlong but that passing through the midst of them he went his way Verse 28.29.30 7. Stupefaction They were astonished at his doctrine The reason of all these is contained in the words which I haue chosen for my Text For his Word was with power As if the Euangelist should say in more words you may thinke it strange that Preaching should produce such effects but if you consider the cause you may be easily satisfied Seeing so great was the difference betweene his Preaching and others of that time that whereas they moued nothing at all got no fame wan no glory to their Ministery procured neither approbation admiration nor so much as attention to the Word by their Preaching seeing their Preaching was cold without any life as if one told a dreame Hee became famous glorious and most admirable hee spake with authority his Preaching was so liuely and became so effectuall to all in one kinde or other that hee vexed the very soules of wicked men that heard him and astonished all that attended his Ministery For his Word was with power In these words there may be obserued 1. The Connexion 2. The Proposition The Connexion in the Causall For which sheweth it to be the reason which the Euangelist giues of the manifold effects which Christs Preaching produced The Proposition it selfe is affirmatiue in which may be considered 1. The Subiect His Word 2. The Predicate was with power To set vpon the Connexion or the Causall and to consider these words with their relation to the former part of the Chapter this Doctrine will thence arise Doct. Where the word is powerfully Preached it is effectuall in one kinde or other to such as doe heare it or The word powerfully Preached is effectuall to the hearers in one kinde or other This truth needes no other footing then this of our Euangelist He tels vs that the true cause of the spreading of Christs fame and the high esteeme hee procured in the hearts of some hearers as also of the wrath and rage of others was this he Preached with authoritie His word was with power So we may see also when the Lord Iesus had ended that Sermon on the Mount the people were astonished at his Doctrine Mat. 7.28.29 for his word was with power and not as the Scribes This may be seene in the Preaching of all the Prophets and Apostles to instance in a few of them Eliah Iam. 5.17 a man subiect to the like passions as we are what powerfull effects attended his Preaching Witnesse his preuailing so farre to the conuiction of his hearers 1 King 19.40 as that they obeyed his word in the slaughter of all the Prophets of Baal 2 King And Elizeus or Elisha became as it were guide of Kingdomes by the power of this Word Ion. 3. as his History shewes yea Ionas himselfe preuailed with great Niniueh so farre as to bring the King his Nobles and all the City to true repentance That Voyce of a Cryer in the Wildernesse Mat. 3. drew all to his Baptisme yea conuicted Souldiers Luke 3. Publicans and People in great multitudes The Apostle Peter drew three thousand to the Church at one Sermon and fiue thousand at another Acts 1.41 4.3 and at another Sermon of his Acts 5.21.35 the Senate were cut at the heart by the power of his Word And Paul subdued whole Regions to the Faith Acts 13. 14 c. by his powerfull Preaching and conuinced Gainsayers of all sorts to the enraging of some against his person Reason 1 The reason is because otherwise it could not appeare to be as it is a powerfull Word Rom. 1.16 it must lose its denomination and cease to be a word of power 1 Cor. 1.18 whereas it is the power of God to the saluation of the beleeuers and the condemnation of vnbeleeuers Reason 2 Adde this also that it should else returne in vaine and void of the chiefe end for which it was sent Whereas we know that as the raine commeth down and the snow from Heauen and returneth not thither but watereth the earth and maketh it bring forth and bud that it may giue seed to the Sower and bread to the Eater so saith the Lord shall my Word be Isai 55.10.11 that goeth forth out of my mouth it shall not returne vnto mee void but it shall accomplish that which I please and it shall prosper in the thing whereunto I sent it And the holy Apostle Paul tels vs plainely in the person of all holy Ministers 2 Cor. 2.15.16 We are vnto God a sweet sauour in Christ in them that are saued and in them that perish to the one we are the sauour of death vnto death and to the other the sauour of life vnto life Reason 3 Besides these Antichrists ministery produceth powerfull effects therefore Christs Ministery must be farre more powerfu l 2 Thes 2.8.9 and produce more manifest effects where it is exercised Reason 4 Lastly the maine or chiefe practise of preaching is to wrestle and fight-with yea to ouercome all opposition as it is expressed in the mission of Ieremy that powerfull Prophet where God saith to him See Ier. 1.10 I haue set thee ouer the Nations and ouer the Kingdomes to root out and to pull downe and to destroy and throw downe to build and to plant Obiect But some obiecting against this may say True it is that all these may serue to proue that Preaching was powerfull in the dayes of the Prophets Christ and his Apostles but what is that to our dayes We may not looke for such power in Preaching Answere And why not at this day the like power in Preaching Isa 59.1 Is Gods hand shortned or his power weakened Is not Iesus Christ the same yesterday Heb. 13. â— to day and for euer Hath hee not promised to be with his Seruants in preaching to the end of the World Mat. 28.20 and that with the assistance of all power in Heauen and in Earth Is not the Holy Ghost the power of God Luke 1.35 in Christs Ministers at this day Doth not the Euangelist Iohn record a promise that is lasting Ioh. 14.12 where it is written Whosoeuer beleeueth on Christ Iesus the workes that Christ did shall such a beleeuer doe yea greater workes then those hee did in the dayes of his flesh Is there not as much neede of like power in the preaching of the Word now as there was then yea and more seeing wee haue no miracles to confirme the Word Haue we not Diuels and damned Atheists to oppose and contemne the Word at this day Are there not such of whom it may be said as of Elimas the Sorcerer That they are full of all subtilty Act. 13.10 and all mischiefe children of the Diuell
THE POVVER OF PREACHING OR THE POWERFVLL Effects of the WORD truely Preached and rightly applyed as it was deliuered in one or moe SERMONS By IOHN TRASKE Preacher of Gods Word sometimes at Axmister in Deuon afterwards at the Fleete in London and now at Tillingham in Dengie hundred in ESSEX I said I will not make mention of him nor speake any more in his Name But his word was in my heart as a burning fire shut vp in my bones and I was weary with forbearing and I could not stay For I heard the defaming of many c. Report say they and we will report it all my familiars watched for my halting Ier. 20.9.10 LONDON Printed by T.S. for Nathaniel Butter 1623. To the Beneuolent READER REader I call thee presupposing thou wilt reade And I adde beneuolent to difference a holy Reader from a prophane derider I would be loath to prostitute such Pearls to swine Publike powerfull Preaching is the preualent meanes to prepare men for reading and till that hath made way reading is no more auaileable then to the Eunuch without Philips guide to the true sence Such Readers I call vpon to reade this tractate that they may see the effects of Preaching not onely in the generall separation which it makes between Pagans and Christians but in that it deuides betweene Idolaters and true worshippers and between such as haue the forme and such as haue also the power of godlinesse yea betweene such as haue the power onely in Seeking and such as Walke familiarly with God and againe betweene Walkers in respect of the babish or stronger estate yea of the Father-hood that is Christ Iesus And betweene these againe and themselues betweene the spirit and flesh the seede of God and of man the right and contrary part the new man and the old the inward and outward man the law of the minde and of the members Christ in vs and Adam on vs the regenerate and vnregenerate part yea which is most of all betweene the soule and spirit If in these any light be yeelded let God haue all the praise and I wish thee this benefit that it may discouer thine election and make it sure vnto thee either by prouing thee to be at least a seeker of Gods fauour a labourer for reconciliation with God one I meane in the throbs and throwes of the new birth in that first generall or vniuersall Repentance that makes way to remission and prepares for admission Mar. 1.4 Act. 2.37.38 Act. 26.18 into the inheritance by Faith in Christ Iesus If thou be so wounded thou maist learne hence where to be healed If thou be healed and at liberty it will warme comfort cleanse quicken yea renew thy strength If thou know all this already I shall haue thy assent if more I expect thy best ayde and humbly and as hartily desire thee to perfect so weake beginnings It was at first prepared onely for one Congregation if it become profitable to more it is that I desire And aboue all things let vs now pray that the Gospell so plentifully Preached may haue these powerfull effects in these frozen and benummed times That Repentance may be distinctly Preached and Faith in Christ plainely vnfolded Now is the time to be industrious especially for vs of the Ministery to gather those whom Sathan hath scattered and to comfort sad hearts and confirme weake hands against approaching tryals Oh let vs redouble our paines in Preaching Catechising and especially to put vp feruent praiers with strong cryes and teares to him that is able to cause our peace to flourish Christs Kingdome to spread abroad Antichrists to decay and come to nought to disaduantage Sathan that so Gods people may be established to stand fast fight valiantly and be more then Conquerours in the euill day And for mee the least of all Gods Ministers I desire your Prayers that I may make full proofe of my Ministery in redeeming the time I haue lost by Sathans wiles And so I rest for this time and remaine An vnfeigned well-willer to all that desire sincerity from the heart IOHN TRASKE Powers of the Word Preached Considered either 1 Generally as 1 Spreading 2 Drawing 3 Searching 4 Diuiding 5 Preuailing 2 More particularly and that either 1 Common to Elect and Reprobate as 1 Conuincing 2 Terrifying 3 Humbling 4 Restraining 5 Reforming 6 Astonishing 7 Delighting 2 Peculiar to 1 Reprobate which are 1 Insencible as 1 Hardening 2 Destroying 2 Sencible 1 Binding 2 Tormenting 2 Elect in 1 Conuerting 1 Opening 2 Pricking 3 Bruising 4 Turning 2 Consuming as 1 Healing 2 Loosing 3 Heating 4 Comforting 5 Killing 6 Quickening 7 Renewing The power of Preaching OR THE POWERFVLL Effects of the WORD truely Preached and rightly applyed as it was deliuered in one or moe SERMONS LVKE 4.32 For his word was with power IN this Chapter obserue the preparation to Christs Ministery the execution thereof and the confirmation of the truth taught by Myracles done wheresoeuer hee became The preparation was by a fierce and violent temptation with which he was assaulted as it may appeare to such as read the Chapter to the 14 verse the execution of his Ministery may be seene from thence to the 33. and the miracles hee did in the remainder of this Chapter to the end thereof These words of the Euangelist which I haue read doe concerne the execution of his glorious Ministery in which consider 1. The Country where he began to preach Galile his owne Country where hee had least esteeme Verse 14.24 2. Next the places in that Country the two chiefe Townes Nazareth Capernaum vers 16.31 3. Also in those Cities what place he made choise of not priuate houses as Conuenticlers nor the streetes as fanaticall persons are accustomed but the chiefe place of concourse to those excellent ends the Synagogues Verse 16.28 4. Adde hereunto the Time when euen that set time which the Law enioyned on which the people vsually met on the Sabbaoth dayes hee most vsually preached Verse 16.31 5. Besides these wee haue the manner of his Preaching He stood vp for to read and hauing receiued the Booke and read what hee would he closed it deliuered it to the Minister and sate downe and Preached Verse 16.17.20 6. Moreouer the matter of his Sermon was an explication of the Prophecie of Isaiah with an application to the present times Verse 18.21 7. Lastly the effects that followed vpon his Preaching to take them in the same order the Euangelist layes them downe are these and such like 1. Divulgation There went a fame of him throughout all the region round about Verse 14. 2. Glorification He was glorified of all Verse 15. 3. Attention The eyes of all were fastened vpon him Verse 20. 4. Approbation All bare him witnesse that his words were gratious Verse 22. 5. Admiration They all wondered at his so gracious words Verse 22. 6. Indignation There were of the chiefe of them filled with wrath and rose vp and
more neglect it contemne it Nor yet may wee wonder that they are filled with wrath and rage at the Preachers of it seeing they doe plainely see themselues sencibly bound as it were hand and foote and cast out amongst dogges and swine and also continually scorched and vexed by the heate and feruency of such powerfull preaching No wonder then if they cry downe such Preaching and get to themselues heapes of teachers 2 Tim. 4.3.4 that if one pricke another may please You haue seene clearely such are the powers of the word truely taught that it tormenteth bindeth hardneth yea destroyeth and consumeth the very reprobates and there is no other effect to be looked for in any such but these to be trembled at in the naming of them Come wee now to the powers of the word Preached in the very Elect those that are peculiar to them in a speciall manner and let vs take them either as they are manifested in their conuersion or confirmation And first in their conuerting Conuerting power and they are either that opening pricking brusing or that turning power of the word and first of that opening power First 1 Opening the word hath an opening power whereby it doth not onely open the eyes of the Elect as it may of the reprobate Numb 24.16 as Balaams eyes were opened but in a more cleare manner Reuel 3.18 are they made to see the mysteries of godlinesse then any reprobate and to this end their hearts are opened with Lidia Act. 16.14 that they not onely vnderstand but affect what they vnderstand and in this sence it may be called the key of Dauid Reu. 3.7 that openeth and no man shutteth that is that so openeth that it can neuer be shut or closed any more Mat. 13.11 and this is proper to the Elect. 2 Pricking Secondly the word Preached hath a pricking power by which it doth not onely somewhat trouble but throughly wound the very heart of Gods people Act. 1.37 as were those Conuerts to whom Peter Preached they were pricked in their hearts therefore is it in this respect compared euen to sharpe arrowes Psal 45.5 as hath beene shewed it pierceth into the very soules of poore sinners and makes them sencible of their transgression Heb. 4.12 and this is also proper to the Elect. Thirdly 3 Bruising the Word powerfully preached hath the power of bruising yea of breaking to pieces the very Elect as Ieremiah tels vs Ier. 23.29 where hee compares it to an hammer that breaketh rockes So it breaketh their hard and stony hearts and maketh them not onely seeme nothing in their owne eyes but also maketh them the more capable of the new worke of regeneration Ezech. 11.19 as Ezechiel speakes where God saith by him I will take out your stony hearts and giue you hearts of flesh This is that renting of the heart which God requireth Ioel 2.13 and that broken heart that he will not despise Psal 51.17 Lastly the Word preached 1 Turning hath also a turning power by which it changeth mens mindes and also altereth their affections So it was said of Iohn the Baptist that hee should goe before Christ Luke 1.17 in the Spirit and power of Elias to turne the hearts of the Fathers to the Children and the disobedient to the wisdome of the iust Psal 19.7.1 So we reade that it is one property of the Doctrine of God to conuert the soule And this power the holy Apostle Paul speakes of to the Thessalonians where he saith 1 Thes 1.5.9 Our Gospell came not vnto you in word onely but also in power in that it turned them from Idols to serue the liuing and true God And this was the end of his sending Acts 26.18 not onely to open mens eyes but to turne them from darkenesse to light from the power of Sathan to God And so you haue the opening pricking bruising and turning power of the Word which appertaine to the conuerting of the Elect and so may be said to be proper to them onely Vse 1 If this be so that such powers of the Word are in the Elect onely then hereby such as are desirous to know their election to be of God may try themselues by these Hath the Word preached opened thine eyes yea thine heart and hast thou felt a pricking power in thy soule for sinne hath thine heart been not onely pricked but bruised yea broken so that thou art come to a selfe-deniall yea to find thy selfe nothing and art thou turned and altogether changed by the power of Preaching Canst thou truly say thou seest and vnderstandest the misery of thy sinfull nature and art grieued at the heart for sinne and doest finde that by sinne thou art euen become of no account and that deseruedly with God and dost thou finde thy heart quite turned by a detestation of thy former euill way and a vehement care of drawing neere to God and being reconciled to his Maiesty by these thou mayest bee able to conclude with comfort that thou art in the true way to eternall life and without doubt ordained to euerlasting happinesse And that thou mayest be yet further assured we will proceede to the power of the Word in confirming such as are thus turned to God Confirming power The same Word that thus conuerteth doth also confirme the conuerted and that by these powerfull effects which follow 1 Healing First the Word as it woundeth so it healeth it hath an healing power Psal 107.20 as the Psalmist witnesseth where we reade of such as are spiritually sicke with the conscience of sinne God sent his Word and healed them And Christ proclaimeth it in this Chapter that his Word hath an healing power where applying the Prophesie of Esayas to himselfe he saith Ver. 18.23 Isa 61.6 He is sent to heale the broken in heart which the Prophet calles binde vp So that the Word powerfully preached is that good Samaritan Luke 10. â— 30. which bindes vp the wounds of that sin-wounded Traueller and the onely Balme of Gilead that healing medicine wherby health is restored to the sicke soule Vse 1 Let Gods people learne hence where to haue recourse for health The Word is onely able to wound and heale here are the leaues of that Tree to be gathered which serue for the healing of the Nations Reu. 12.2 If any be then wounded by the Word let not that driue them from it but rather draw them to it if euer they will haue health here and no where else may they expect it and it may be an argument of the truth of election if the Word haue healed as well as wounded thee or if at least thou seeke health at the Word preached 2 Loosing Secondly the Word hath also the power of losing or setting free such as are turned to God that whereas before they haue liued in thraldome and bondage now are
the daies of Iehoiada the Priest And experience doth teach vs that where the word is most zealously pressed and powerfully vrged such places are farre more free from open impieties then other places where it is not so 5 Reforming Ioh. 6.66 Furthermore the word hath a reforming power in both elect and reprobates As may appeare in those beleeuers that went backe from Christ and especially of Herod that wicked man of whom we read that he feared Iohn the Baptist Mar. 6.20 knowing that he was a iust and an holy man and obserued him and when hee heard hee did many things and heard him gladly 6 Astonishing Adde to these that the word hath an astonishing power by which it stupifies and doth amaze as well the reprobate as the elect as wee see in Simon Magus Act. 13.8 of whom wee reade that hee beleeued and when he was baptized continued with Philip and wondered And we reade also of the Preaching of Christ that the hearers were astonished at his doctrine Mark 2.21 22. for hee taught as one that had power and not as the Scribes Also the word powerfully Preached is delightfull 7 Delighting as well to the wicked as the godly that it is delightfull to the godly is without question it is the very ioy and reioycing of their hearts Ier. 15.16 Psal 19.10 Ezech. 33.32 sweeter to them then hony and the hony-combe but to the very wicked Ezechiel tels vs that such whose hearts doe still goe after their couetousnesse yet his word was as pleasant to them as a louely song of one that hath a pleasant voyce and can play well on an instrument Mar. 6.20 And of Herod wee reade that hee heard Iohn gladly Mat. 13.10.21 Also we see it in that Parable of the stony ground the application whereof is to reprobate hearers that yet receiue the word with ioy Vse By these common powers of the word we may perceiue how farre reprobates may goe in hearing and what effects it worketh euen in the damned as in the saued they may be conuicted terrified humbled in some measure restrained reformed and delighted by the power of the word so that such as can goe no further haue not set one foote in conuersion beyond a very reprobate How manifestly wretched then are all such as neuer yet felt these powers in themselues but that these may also be seene let vs come to the peculiar powers of the word in elect and reprobate And first of the powers of the word Preached in the reprobate hearer and they are either sencible Insencible or insencible The insencible powers of the word Preached in reprobates is 1 Hardning that hardening power of the word whereby their hearts are hardened and their very consciences seared 1 Tim. 4.2 as with an hot Iron that whereas they had at first hearing some sence they become by often conuiction altogether sencelesse Of this power Isa 6.9.10 God speaketh to Isaiah whose mission seemeth to be chiefly to that end as it appeareth where we reade it written that God saith vnto him goe tell this people heare yee indeed but vnderstand not and see yee indeed but perceiue not Make the heart of this people fat and make their eares heauy and shut their eyes This the holy Apostle Paul applyeth to the vnbeleeuing Iewes where he saith Well spake the holy Ghost Act. 28.25 26.27 by Esayas the Prophet vnto our Fathers saying Goe vnto this people and say hearing you shall heare and shall not vnderstand and seeing you shall see and shall not perceiue For the heart of this people is waxed grosse Eph. 4.19 And the same Paul tels vs of some that are past feeling 2 Destroying Another power of the word which is also insencible may be that destroying power whereby the wicked are not onely more and more hardened but haue all the faculties of the soule peruerted and by degrees destroyed 2 Cor. 2.16 And that the word hath such a destroying power appeareth where it is called the sauour of death vnto death Ier. 1.10 And Ieremies mission gaue him power to destroy and throw downe as well as to build and plant And the Apostle Paul tels the Corinthians 2 Cor. 10.8 13.10 or the elect at Corinth that hee vsed his power toward them to edification and not to destruction so that the word Preached hath a destroying power The sencible powers of the word Sencible in the very reprobate are either that tormenting power or else that binding power And that such a scorching or tormenting 1 Scorching or cutting power of the word is sencibly apprehended by reprobates we may perceiue in Ahab who in that respect 1 King 18.17 21.20 22.8 called Eliah the troubler of Israel and hated Micaiah another powerfull Preacher for that hee vexed or tormented him neuer Preaching good vnto him but euill And in Foelix who was so vexed by Pauls reasoning Act. 24.25 that hee sent him away And the Iewes who being conuicted Act. 7.54.57 were cut at the heart by the Preaching of Steuen and gnashed vpon him with their teeth and stopping their eares ranne vpon him as they did on his Master as hath beene shewed out of this Chapter Verse 28.29 And therefore it is compared to fire which scorcheth men with great heate and causeth them to discouer themselues by blasphemies Reu. 16.8.9 2 Binding Another sencible power of the Word is that binding power by which wicked reprobates doe see themselues bound hand and foote Mat. 22.13 and cast out of the Church and Gods protection that is doe perceiue that they are seuered from the godly and shut out of the inheritance of the Saints in light and doe also perceiue that they haue no power any more to moue a foote towards that way or an hand to that excellent worke And this is done by the power of the holy spirit in Ioh. 20.23 the word Preached Vse By this we learne not to thinke it strange though some hearers waxe worse worse become more hard-hearted and lesse sencible either of mercies or iudgements euen where the word is powerfully Preached 2 Thes 2.8 yea become not onely benummed that they euen fall asleepe ordinarily at the Preaching of the same but also to such as vnderstand become apparantly more ignorant and sottish more peruerse and peeuish yea are euen consumed as it were to nothing by the Preaching thereof that whereas they haue seemed to be pleased with a Sermon and haue done some things gladly and sorborne other things which the word forbids yea beene much humbled with a kinde of trembling and astonishment at the conuiction of their consciences now they are not stirred at all nor delighted nor yet at all doe admire it but count it as a common thing and by how much the more powerfull it is by so much lesse doe they regard it yea by so much
they partakers of the glorious liberty of the sonnes of God Luke 13.12.16 yea neuer did Christs word more manifestly free that daughter of Abraham whom Satan had bound eighteene yeeres that shee could not lift vp her selfe from that diuellish bond then such as are Gods are free and set at liberty by the word preached to runne the wayes of Gods Commandements Isa 61.1 Wee may see it in that Prophesie of Esayas which our Sauiour applyeth to this end Verse 18. in this Chapter where we reade that he is sent to preach deliuerance to the captiues and to set at liberty such as are bruised yea to preach the yeere of Iubilee Verse 19. or the acceptable yeere of the Lord. So is this power promised to all faithfull Preachers in these words Mat. 16.19 18.18 Whatsoeuer you loose on earth shal be loosed in heauen And whosoeuers sinnes you remit Ioh. 20.23 they are remitted Th s our Lord also at another time affirmed where hee saith If you continue in my Word then are you my Disciples indeed Ioh 8.31.32 and you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free Vse By this all may be able further to bee confirmed in the truth of their election if they hauing beene by Nature sinnes vassals Ioh. 8.33.34 and in bondage thereunto led captiue by the Diuell at his owne will and by the vertue and powerfull efficacy of the Word are now losed and set at liberty not onely to stand vpright but to walke and to run the wayes of Gods Commandements Try thy selfe then 2 Cor. 3.17 art thou such a free man Where the Spirit is there is this liberty saith the Apostle Paul Art thou then set at liberty by what publike Sermon or Sermons or by what priuate application of the promises to thy soule when or since what time hast thou perceiued the striking off of thy chaines the opening of the prison doore and yron gate of thy sinnes that thou mightest be admitted to the fellowship of the Saints The Word powerfully preached doth heale as well as wound and loose the Elect as binde the reprobate And so much also for the power of loosing which is also proper to Gods chosen people Thirdly 3 Heating the word powerfully Preached doth warme yea heate the cold hearts of poore humbled sinners and in this sence it is compared to fire as Dauid speakes of it Psal 39.3 where hee saith His heart was hot within him and while hee was musing how to be silent in the presence of the wicked the fire burned Ier. â—0 9 And Ieremy resoluing also vpon silence tels vs that this word was in his heart as a burning fire shut vp in his bones insomuch that he was weary with forbearing and could not stay And the Disciples that had Christs company in their way to Emaus say of his conference Did not our hearts burne within vs while he talked with vs by the way Luke 24.32 and this is that which the spirit findeth absent in that Church of Laodicea Reuel 3.15.19 Where it wisheth that they were either hot or cold and commands them to be zealous that is to be hot and feruent Vse By this also may wee be further confirmed in the truth of our Election if the word hath warmed or doth heate vs Eph. 2.1 We are cold all by nature as being dead in sinnes and trespasses and so benummed with cold and euen frozen in the dirt of wickednesse if this word haue thawed vs and so also warmed our hearts and doth still heate vs that we can feelingly say we are heated yea our hearts burne within vs in prayer holy conference and in the Preaching of the word and that the heate of it is so great that it euen wasteth vs in the loue of God zeale for his glory and the loue of Gods Church and of all men yea so great is this heate that the many waters of discouragements Cant. 8.6.7 nor flouds of opposition yea our owne rash resolutions cannot quench it but it flasheth out now and then and will not be extinguished this is a notable confirmation of the excellency of our estate and that wee are vndoubtedly Gods Elect and chosen ones seeing this is a power peculiar and properly belonging vnto them Fourthly 4 Comforting the word powerfully Preached hath a comforting power in Gods Elect. It is their comforter in all their troubles this is that which wipeth all teares from their eyes and by which they are dandled vpon the knees of Gods loue Isai 66.11.12 Psal 19.8 So wee reade that the Statutes of the Lord are right reioycing the heart yea this word to Ieremy Ier. 15.16 Psal 119.14 â—0 was his onely ioy It was Dauids comfort in affliction yea hee reioyced as much in Gods word as in all manner of riches It was sweeter to his mouth then hony and the hony-combe Vse This comfort of the word may be also a notable meanes of confirmation to such as are turned to God Let mee say vnto such what is it that delights you Is it the free promises of the Gospell doth the word not onely ioy you in the hearing and in time of prosperitie but also cheare you in suffering and in the greatest trouble and aduersity Is it the word which as a Mother doth dandle thee as a childe on the knees of sound comfort and wipe away all teares from thine eyes be assured that thou art also one of Gods Elect a redeemed one If his powerfull word that hath made thee truely sorrowfull doth also restore sound comforts vnto thee Besides these the powerfull word doth also discouer its power in Gods Elect by killing them 5 Killing yea striking them vnder the fifth rib of their sinnes The word will strike the man of sinne through the forehead as Dauid smote Goliah with a stone from his sling yea it will make sinne fall groueling to the earth and cut off the very head of it It will cut it at the heart and naile it to the very Crosse of Christ Gal. 5.24 as it is written They that are Christs haue crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts Col. 3.3.4 It mortifies such as are Gods Elect in that manner that they can say They are dead Gal. 2.19.20 and I liue no more They that were dead in sinne are dead to sinne by the power of this word where it is effectually Preached to the Elect. Vse Try wee our selues also by this doe we finde the word so powerfully preuailing that it hath slaine vs and crucified our flesh with the affections and lusts 1 Ioh. 3.8 hath it destroyed the strong holds of sinne and all the workes of the Diuell in vs hath it bound the strong man and cast him out and doth it daily and euery time wee heare Luke 11. mortifie the deedes of the flesh our earthly members Col. 3.4 by this we may
also conclude that it is profitable to vs and that we are Gods Elect by this power which is peculiar to Gods people 6 Quickning Adde to these that quickning power of the word Preached whereby it doth reuiue and put not onely heate Ioh. 5.24.25 but life into such as heare it Of this speaketh the Lord of life where he saith Isai 55.3 The dead shall heare the voyce of the Sonne of God and such as heare shall liue And the Prophet Esayas Heare and your soules shall liue And how were the Ephesians quickened Eph. 2.1 1.13 who before were dead in trespasses and sinnes but by the Preaching of the Gospell this powerfull word Vse How farre off then are such from any assurance of their election to be of God who know not what belongs to this life They are sencible of the life of the body but this life it is to them a strange thing this word The iust shall liue by faith is a Mystery of Mysteries a darke and obscure riddle and therefore it may much confirme and adde to the comfort of Gods people when they can truely say that they now liue it is by the faith of the Sonne of God who loued them and gaue himselfe for them Art thou now quickned since when hast thou felt this reuiuing Thou wert once dead If thou beest now aliue thou maist be bolde to conclude that thou art ordained to life seeing thou hast the beginnings of it already and so much also for the power of quickening 7 Renewing Last of all the Word hath a renewing power It doth not onely heale loose reuiue heate and comfort the soules of the Elect but they are renewed by it their health freedome life heate and comforts are increased daily more and more they goe on from strength to strength Psal â—4 7 and are daily renewed in the image of their mindes they renew their strength Isa 40.31 as the Eagles they are daily edified 2 Cor. 13.10 and built vp in their most holy faith And this is done by their purging Iude verse 20 through the washing of water by the Word and by the wholsome cloathing 1 Pet. â— â— and feeding the word affoords What shall I more say the time would faile me to speak of all the powers of the word Vse If the Word hath this renewing power by this also may Gods people try and examine themselues doth the Word preached renew thy strength is it by that thou encreasest in holinesse and righteousnesse dost thou finde a growth and going on yea an ability to runne without wearinesse and to walke without fainting This may be to thy soule an euident signe that thou art ordained to eternall life Applica ∣ tion You see that the Word powerfully preached is effectuall in one kinde or other to such as beare it and you haue also heard the powerfull effects of the same of both kindes in the Elect and reprobate Know then for conclusion that if we that are Preachers perceiue not the manifest effects of the powerfull Word in your conuersion and confirmation you are in danger to feele its power to your destruction and condemnation It will be either the sauour of life or of death to all that heare it Labour then to let it haue its effect in the sauing of your soules suffer the words of exhortation though they pricke and wound and kill and worke sorrow in your soules yet they will heale and reuiue and glad the hearts of all that submit thereunto yea this is that meanes which God hath left as the chiefe meanes for the sauing of such as are ordained to life the word shall be powerfull to conuert and establish and build them all vp in their most holy Faith yea to present them blamelesse before the presence of Gods glory with exceeding ioy Beware then of contending against it It is hard kicking against the prickes dangerous stumbling at this stone fearefull falling on this rocke Men may rage at and persecute such powerfull Preachers Reu. 11 5â— but the word in their mouthes is like fire Ier. 5.14 to consume all that dare touch them for hurt Now therefore contemne it not lest your hearts be hardened and your consciences seared by the power thereof lest you be more more tormented by it and at length bound hand and foot and deliuered ouer to Satan yea cast into vtter darkenesse there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth I desire to vse that power I haue receiued to your conuersion and edification and not to destruction Let the Word then pricke you that it may promote you let it launce you that it may loose you let it kill you that it may quicken you let it bruise you that it may binde you vp let it terrifie you that it may turne you from all impiety let it worke sencibly vpon you for your sauing that it worke not insencibly for your damning Which GOD grant and for which I will bow my knees vnto that most powerfull God that hee will grant you according to the riches of his grace the power of turning from darknesse to light and from the power of Satan to himselfe that you may receiue the forgiuenesse of sinnes and inheritance amongst them that are sanctified by faith in Christ Iesus and that all such as are already translated from death to life and from the power of darknesse into the Kingdome of Christ Iesus may be daily built vp and be more and more renewed in the image of their mindes and become more conformable to Christ their glory and that euen for Iesus Christs sake Amen Let vs now returne thankes to our God and pray for a blessing vpon what we haue heard c. FINIS
deuiding asunder of the soule Heb. 4.12 and the spirit and the ioynts and the marrow See this also where the Lord saith in this regard I am not come to send peace but a sword Mat. 10.34 35. I am come to deuide betweene the Father and the Sonne the Daughter and the Mother the Daughter in law and the Mother in law As it is expressed in so many words by another Euangelist thus Suppose yee that I am come to send peace on the earth I tell you nay but rather deuision Luke 12.35 for from henceforth there shall be fiue in one house deuided three against two and two against three The Father shall be deuided against the Sonne and the Sonne against the Father the Mother against the Daughter and the Daughter against the Mother the Mother in law against her Daughter in law and the Daughter in law against her Mother in law Yea this word deuides between cleane and vncleane holy and prophane such as sweare and such as feare an oath betweene righteousnesse and vnrighteousnesse light and darkenesse true worship and Idolatry betweene Christ and Antichrist So that the word hath a deuiding power To these may be added the preuailing power of the word 5 Preuailing in that it beareth downe all opposition It will roote out and throw downe destroy and consume it will build and plant It will cast out foule spirits and conuict Coniurers and make them bring forth their Bookes of curious arts and burne them euen to the value of many thousand pieces of siluer Act. 19.19.20 So mightily will it grow and preuaile where it is truely taught Vse 1 By these then before we goe further euen by these generall powers or effects of the word may Ministers examine the truth of their Ministery euen at this day Doth the word in thy mouth spreade it selfe into all the borders of the congregation doth it enforce people at least to talke of thee by the walles doth it draw them to Church and gaine attention from them Dost thou perceiue that it searcheth their hearts and layeth open their secret practises or doth it set them at ods and make a separation between the godly and vngodly the righteous and the wicked the religious and prophane and doth it preuaile mightily in the restraining of the rebellious and reforming the disorderly Dost thou finde all these or any of these then maist thou conclude with comfort that Gods power doth attend thy preaching and such people as see these effects may say that God is present in such Preachers of a truth Vse 2 By this such are iustly reprehended as doe stumble at these and such like of all other Preaching they like that worst which spreads it selfe abroad drawes people after it gaines attention searcheth out the very secret thoughts of the heart and makes a separation where it comes preuailing mightily in the conuicting of some the conuerting of others the comforting of the godly the discouery of the hypocrite and prophane person They cry downe such Preachers and set themselues against such Preaching with all their power but this will appeare more plainely when we come to the particular powers of the Word Vse 3 Let this then stirre vp all Gods people to thankfulnesse where such a powerfull Ministery is enioyed Doe you perceiue that your Ministers same is spread farre and neere doe the people of his Parish come to him and flocke to his Ministery Doe you find that his word comes home and entreth into your bosomes diueth into your hearts and consciences discouereth all your secret practises and preuaileth more and more in these things breake forth into the praises of God and returne due thankes to his Maiesty for his great mercy in affording such a Ministery as hath so powerfull effects Such a Ministery is vndoubtedly of God For Christs Word is with power To come more particularly to shew the powers of the Word we may consider it as it is common both to the Elect and reprobate and as it may be peculiar to either of them The common powers which worke both in the Elect and reprobate are these 1 Conuincing First a conuincing power when men are not onely made to see a difference betweene truth and errour but also conuicted in their consciences that truth is truth and error is error This power in preaching hath footing on a direct promise to all such as preach by the holy Spirit Ioh. 16.8 They shall conuince the World of sinne of righteousnesse and of iudgement Acts 18.28 So Apollos a man mighty in the holy Scriptures did powerfully preuaile to the conuiction of the gaine-saying Iewes and that publikely shewing them that Iesus was Christ So it is written 1 Cor. 14.24 That if all Prophesie that is speake the Word plainely with power If an vnlearned man or an vnbeleeuer be present he is conuinced by such powerfull preaching Secondly powerfull preaching 2 Terrifying hath a terrifying power As when Herod heard onely of the birth of Christ he was terrified Mat. 2.1.2 and all Hierusalem with him Acts 24.25 And wicked Foelix hearing a powerfull Preacher onely reason in his presence of righteousnesse temperance and iudgement to come he trembled And to such hath God respect Isai 66.1 especially as tremble at his Word so that the word powerfully preached workes trembling in both Elect and reprobate Hab. 3.16 For so Habacuck saith I heard and my belly trembled my lippes quiuered at the voyce and yet hee was an holy Prophet and Moses himselfe at the promulgation of the Law Heb. 11.21 was constrained to say I exceedingly feare and quake 3 Humbling Thirdly the Word powerfully preached hath an humbling power both in elect and reprobate as wee perceiue in that place before alleaged for the conuicting power that such vnlearned and vnbeleeuing as heare such preaching fall downe on their faces and worship God and acknowledge that God is present in such Preachers of a truth And such power was in Christs preaching in dayes of his flesh Mat. 8.29 Mat. 1.24 that it humbled many euen Diuels and wicked persons as well as others that they came running and kneeling downe Mar. 10.17.18 yea falling downe and confessing that he was the Sonne of God and a good man 1 King 21.24 Ahab also humbled himselfe for a little season And Cain was humbled by the power of this word though Ahab too little Gen. 4.14 and Caine ouer-much Fourthly 4 Restrayning the word powerfully Preached hath a restrayning power It keepes the reprobate as the elect from breaking out into foule enormities doth restrayne them from grosse sinnes as in the presence of Moses Exo. 32.1.2.3 the people were restrayned from Idolatrie which in his absence they committed with an high hand And wee reade of a King of Iudah euen Ioash 2 Chro. 24.2 whole heart was not right yet did hee that which was right in Gods fight all