the heart of sin so it opens the heart to Christ unbelief bolts the door against him but Faith unlocks it Christ could not do many mighty works in Nazareth because of their unbelief away then with all sinful fears Though we have many misgivings within us yet lament them with bitterness and cry out I believe Lord help my unbelief Mind that blessed promise Mat. 2l 22 Whatsoever you ask believing it shall be given you 7. Lastly get your hearts warmed with the grace of Love though they are cold by nature yet beg a spark of this Heavenly fire from Heaven Love is of a dilating and widening nature it makes room in the heart for Christ read Joh. 14.23 If any man love me he will keep my word and my Father will come to him and we will dwell with him Can we possibly bolt the door and keep out him whom we love no the love of God will constrain us to let him in and entertain him 2 Cor. 5.14 The word there used signifies to streighten or to keep in but that is from other things as from sin and the world that so the soul may be the more free for God Oh then that the measure of our love to Christ might be beyond measure this one rule if practised would do the work for all God never parts from that soul where there is but love to entertain him Vse 6. Lastly its matter of unspeakable comfort to as many as with Lydia have their hearts opened Oh what heavenly peace and security what rivers of spiritual pleasure and joy should overflow our hearts as soon as God hath opened them Hath God opened thy heart know that God hath brought Heaven into thy heart now and the same God will bring thee into Heaven shortly When Lydia's heart was opened how was her joy increased and her affections enlarged we read she sought acquaintance with the Apostles she could no longer be a stranger to them who had been the instruments of her Conversion but besought them earnestly saying If you have judged me faithful to the Lord come into my house and abide there and she constrained us Her heart could not hold her comfort but must now impart some of it to them from whom she had received it If any of us have shared with Lydia in the Grace of the Gospel make a little room more in these narrow hearts of yours to entertain some part of her comforts also Q. You will tell me you would willingly but you doubt whether your heart be opened or no A. For your resolution you may know that your heart is opened by God If you find your love and your affections carried out to God above all things in Ezek. 44.2 where the Prophet describes the New Jerusalem We read the Lord brought him to the East-gate of the Sanctuary and said unto him This gate shall be shut and shall not be opened and no man shall enter in by it because the Lord God of Israel hath entered by it This gate is a figure of the heart which being once opened to God must be opened to nothing else We may know then that our heart is opened to God when 't is shut to all vanities in the world God will have all the heart or none nothing must share with him a heart possessed by God loves nothing but God or for God 2. If our heart be opened to God it will cast out all sin as when the graves were opened at Christs death we read they sent forth their dead the dead bodies arose as soon as the graves were opened so 't will be in a soul that is opened to Christ it will cast out all dead works works of sin and darkness If Christ be in you the body is dead because of sin 3. A heart opened to Christ will send forth all sorts of spiritual Graces duties and performances as 't is with the Earth while it lies bound up and frozen in the Winter it 's barren and brings forth nothing but as soon as the spring warms it with the Sun and opens it it sends forth all sweet herbs and flowers even thus we may know that Christ is within us by the Graces and gracious performances that are without Christ is a living root a root that never ceases but like Aaron's rod is always blooming and blossoming 4. Where the heart is opened to Christ all is opened all the parts and powers of the whole man God is so entertained into one part that he is kept out of none 't is all suitable where God hath opened the heart A taste you may have in these Particulars 1. There 's an open ear to hear the Word of God till God hath taken possession of the heart we are like the deaf Adder that stop our ears to the voice of Gods sweet charmers Isa 29.18 In that day shall the deaf hear the words of this Book and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and darkness 1 The blind and deaf Gentiles shall in the days of the Gospel be both enlightned and enlivened with saving knowledg whensoever God commands men to return from iniquity he openeth their ears to discipline Job 36.10 Gods Word comes with authority and makes its own way to make room for Christ when once he hath taken hold of the heart 2. There 's an open eye to see the will and mind of God we are all by nature as well blind as deaf in things that are spiritual but God makes the eyes of the blind to see as well as the ears of the deaf to hear Isa 35.5 that is God so far enlightens our understanddings that the mysteries of Salvation are revealed and made clear to us Gods Word comes now with a Commission when it goeth forth it gives light and understanding to the simple Gods redeemed shall never miscarry thorow ignorance They have an unction from the holy one and know all things 1 Job 2.20 1 Whatsoever is necessary to Salvation in lesser errors Believers may be intangled but in Fundamentals they shall never If any man be a doer of Gods will he shall know of the Doctrine whether it be of God Job 7.17 3. There 's an open hand to do the work of God such whose hearts God hath opened are not only hearers of the Word but doers also such a one shews his Faith by his Works you may see what such a one is within by what he is without Like Noah's Ark he is pitcht within and without there 's grace within and grace without he shews by a good conversation his works in meekness and wisdom Jam. 3.13 4. Lastly where God hath opened the heart there is also an open mouth to praise God This is added to compleat the work Isa 35.6 God promises to make the tongue of the dumb to sing Such souls whom God hath visited in mercy are not able to conceal either Gods mercies or their own comforts no they must speak of the loving-kindness of God though it be
into Macedonia and help us Where by the way we may note that Ministers how meanly soever esteemed in the world are those by whom God helps his perishing people This title the Apostle owns a helper of his peoples joy 2 Cor. 1.24 Those that cannot help themselves sometimes can yet help others poor themselves yet make many rich Luther boldly told the Prince of Saxony Scire te velim c. I would have your Highness know you have more need of my Prayers than I have of your Protection Well now it appears indeed that Christ by his death hath pulled down the wall of partition between Jew and Gentile and that God hath put no difference between us and them for what was Macedonia at this time when Paul was called to preach Christ there but a mass and mixture of Ignorance and Atheism as we and other Gentiles were without God without Christ and without hope Eph 2.12 Being come to Macedonia he begun to preach at Philippi ver 12. and his encouragements at first were but mean for his auditory were only a few poor Women ver 13. Gualter on the place excellently notes how God exercises the faith and constancy of his Servants Paulus vocatus per Angelum putaret aliquis omnes ei obviam venturas c. Paul was called by an Angel who would not have thought that the whole Country would have flocked to hear such a Preacher But alas Paul's hopes fail him not one man came to hear the great Apostle only a few poor Women and among these God singles out one and marks her up for mercy v. 16. A certain woman named Lydia c. We have here then the History of Lydia's Conversion and here again we have 1. The Apostle preaching 2. A weak Woman hearing 3. The great God blessing the Sermon Or we hare 1. The person convetted who is several ways described 1. By her Name to confirm the truth of the story Lydia 2. By her Sex a Woman that Sex by which sin entered into the world 3. By her imployment a seller of Purple a trade as one observes serving not so much for necessity as for pride 4. By the place of her abode a stranger one of Thyatira a City of Lydia all these difficulties God breaks thorough humane improbabilities are no prejudice to Omnipotency Though we are by nature like the Prodigal are run into a far Country yet our Heavenly Father can easily bring us home 5. She 's described by her Religion she was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Worshipper of God A Gentile she was yet some dark notions she had of God which she got either by the light of nature or by tradition from her fore-fathers or some familiar acquaintance with the Jews such another as Cornelius was Act. 10. But whatever dark apprehensions she had of God yet she fell far short of a Christian for till the heart be made good ground and purified by Faith 't is impossible it can bear good fruit 2ly We have the means of her Conversion 1. Paul Preaches 2. Lydia heard the Word 3. God makes the Word effectual he opens her heart 'T is this latter part of the verse that I design for the subject of my discourse viz. the means of Lydia's Conversion God opened the heart of Lydia c. The first thing that I shall note is this Doct. 1. That 't is Gods work to open mans heart God may and doth use inferiour means to knock but none can open but himself Gods word in Scripture is called a hammer Jer. 23.29 With this God beats and knocks at the door of our hearts but no heart opens unless it be held in the hand of his own Spirit hence is that complaint of the Prophet Isa 53.1 Lord who hath believed our report and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed No wonder that men believe not the report of the Gospel whilst God doth not put forth or make bare his own arm But for methods sake in prosecuting the Conclusion I shall observe this order 1. I shall shew what 's meant by the heart 2. What 't is to open the heart 3. I shall prove that 't is Gods work to open the heart 4. Shew why God opens the heart 5. Answer an Objection 6. Lastly come to Application 1. Then let us enquire what is meant by the heart and here to pass by the various significations of the Word in Scripture by heart here we are to understand the rational Soul with the faculties and affections which are therein for as the heart is the fountain of Natural life so 't is of Spiritual This is the womb wherein Christ is first formed see Rom. 10.10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness sc Here faith is seated here it s born and breaths its first breath Act. 8.37 Philip to the Eunuch If thou believest with all thine heart thou maist be baptized There is no less in that zealous Prayer of the Apostle for his Ephesians chap. 3.17 where he is upon his knees to the God of Heaven that Christ may dwell in their hearts by faith 3. Let us inquire what 't is to open the heart In short to open the heart is to convert a soul or to turn a sinner from the power of darkness unto God The word in the Original that is here used signifies properly to open a door Now our hearts in Scripture as they are usually called doors so by nature they are all shut and that under three several locks and God in our Conversion opens them all There is one lock or bar of ignorance and this is Gods first work to open our understanding by nature we are very darkness it self Ephes 5.8 Like that poor man born spiritually blind thick cataracts there are upon all our eyes unless God touch them with the hand of his Grace and say Ephphata be opened Now as the first creature that God made in the first Creation was Light Gen. 1. so 't is in the new Creation he commands light to shine out of darkness Oh the gross and rude notions and apprehensions that we have by nature of the most fundamental Truths or the Gospel How hardly are we perswaded that by nature we are in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity tell a poor sinner that he is the servant of sin he 'l reply as the Jews he was never in bondage to any man How hardly were the Disciples themselves perswaded that Christs Kingdom was any other than an earthly Kingdom With what difficulty were they brought to believe that their Lord and Master was risen nor had they at last had not Christ himself opened their understandings that they might understand the Scriptures Luk. 24.45 O rich mercy O Divine work The Preacher tells us 'T is a good thing for the eyes to see the light What a mercy is it then when Christ opens blind eyes to see the wonderful things contained in his Law Ps 119.18 2. The second
to our door and beg entertainment 'T is the Language of the Apostle 2 Cor. 5.20 We pray you in Christs stead that you be reconciled to God 2. The very matter of preaching excels that which was of old for such mysteries are revealed by the Gospel as in other Ages were not known Eph. 3.5 The Law made nothing perfect but the bringing in a better hope did Heb. 4.7 in this respect the Gospel is rather called Salvation than the Law How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation 3. The manner of revealing the Gospel is far more clear and effectual the Types Prophesies and Promises under the Law were dark and obscure now Moses face is unveiled and Salvation by Christ clearly revealed so that a clearer Manifestation can never be expected while the World lasts Those dark and enigmatical Mediums thorow which the Jews looked to see a Saviour are now taken away and we behold as in a glass the glory of God c. 2 Cor. 3.18 19. 4. The Ratification of the Gospel was stronger Their's indeed was Thunder and Lightning Burning and Blackness with other great signs to confirm it's Authority Exod. 16.19 But yet the Gospel was confirmed by more and greater miracles One instance shall be instead of many for never was there any that restored sight to the blind at least by his own Power but only Christ see the Testimony of the blind man cured Joh. 9.32 Since the World began was it not heard that any one opened the eye of one that was born blind Nay Christ cured Souls as well as Bodies this is evident by that gracious pardon which he gave to him that was cured of the Palsy Mat. 9.2 Be of good cheer thy sins be forgiven thee Oh yet that that Christ whom we preach should be a stone of stumbling and a rock of Offence to disobedient and unbelieving ones who yet to them which believe is the only Foundation that rock of Ages the wisdom of God and the Power of God! how many have their faces tanned and sullied only under the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness who was given as to enlighten every one that comes into the World Secondly let us all learn our duty which we shall comprize in these two things 1. To prize the Word preached and acknowledg it to be that Manna upon which God intends to keep us while with Israel we are in the wilderness till we come to that Celestial Canaan We read in Eph. 4.11 12 13 c. He when he ascended gave some to be Apostles some Prophets some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers c. For the repairing of the Saints for the Work of the Ministry till we all meet in a perfect man c. Two circumstances are here especially considerable 1. When Christ gave us this divine gift of preaching the Gospel 'T was when he ascended to Heaven as Kings when they are crowned give rich gifts to their favourites So did Christ when he was crowned in Heaven he gave this rich invaluable gift to the Sons of men 2. Let us consider why he gave it 't was for the repairing of the Saints The Gospel was never intended to save all but the Saints only As many as were ordained to eternal life believed Now even the Saints have their Spiritual ruines and decays their minds are clouded with darkness their Wills are crooked and their Affections unsatisfied These are the ruines which God repairs by the Gospel when he renews us by Grace and restores his own Image in us submit we then to the ordinance of the great God of Heaven Though God create man at first without the help of Angels yet he doth not recreate or renew his Image in us without the Ministry of men Act. 26.18 we read Paul was sent by preaching to open blind eyes that they might turn from darkness unto light and from the Power of Satan unto God 2. Improve the preaching of the Gospel and know that as the body cannot live without Bread no more can the Soul without the Word obey it in all things as well it's precepts as it's promises 't was given to be a directory to our lives a light to our minds life to our Souls Oh buy the truth and never sell it study to be cast into a Gospel-mould Oh that the Word preached to you might be a Word implanted in you that we could say of you all as Paul of his Romans So we preach and so you believe This would fill our hearts with comfort and make us confess as he of his Thessalonians Though we preach the Gospel in much affliction yet with much joy O give us a share in his glorying that we may say Thanks be to God that you were once the Servants of sin but you have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine that was delivered to you But we come to the next Conclusion Doct. 2. That a serious firm and fixt applying our hearts and minds to the Word preached is required by God of all that hear it or shorter thus 'T is the attention of the heart to the Word of God that is only saving This is that duty which is so often prest and inculcated in the Scripture Deut. 6.6 And these words which I command thee this day shall be in thy heart and again Deut. 32.46 Set your hearts to all the Words which I testifie against you set your hearts that is saith A Lap. mentem apponite et attendite apply your heart and hear c. bodily Service is but the body of our Service 't is the Service of the Soul that is the Soul of our Service This was Lydia's attention which hath made her name smell like a sweet perfume in Scripture a rare compound which consists of these several ingredients 1 This saving attention to the Word implies a serious consideration of the things spoken 2 Tim. 2.7 Consider what I say c. 'T is a rule litterae Principum ter legendae Kings letters ought to be read threetimes-over Gods Messages must not be slighted for his Word is no vain Word as many did by the Angels Messages 'T is said having heard the Messages she pondered all these things in her heart c. So should we Gods Word must not be born and dy the same hour no it must be a living and an abiding Word God spake once but the Psalmist heard it twice Psal 67.11 Physick can never work nor meat nourish unless it abides somtime in the body nor can the Word which is both meat and medicine to our Souls 2. The next thing required to this saving attention is a right understanding of the Word these two Christ joins together Mat. 15.10 hear and understand 'T is the mind and meaning of God that we must chiefly attend Christs own disciples oftimes took offence at his Words when upon better information they found them to be Words of truth and life This was the sad effect of that precious doctrine Joh.
LYDIA'S Heart Opened OR DIVINE MERCY Magnified in the Conversion of a Sinner BY THE GOSPEL Being the sum of several SERMONS Preached lately by James Strong M. A. and Minister of the Gospel Nullum est peccatum quod si non fecerim tu fecisti si abstinuerim tu jussisti quod tibi crediderim gratiam tu infundisti August Lib. Soliloquiorum Cap. 15. Jesus the Author and finisher of our faith Heb. 12.2 That no flesh should glory in his presence But let him that glorieth glory in the Lord 1 Cor. 1. ult LONDON Printed by A. M. for Edward Brewster at the Crane in Pauls-Church-Yard 1675. To the Religious Mrs. Mary Speke of Whitelackington the Author wisheth a confluence of Spiritual blessings in our dear Lord Jesus MADAM THese few notes following were preacht but with an ordinary intention but thorow Divine mercy both with your self and others found more than ordinary reception so oftimes I have observed when there is least of mans strength there is most of Gods Many have been too wise and too mighty to do Gods work but never any too foolish or too weak that have been imployed by him The Word is that spiritual sword wherewith God wounds the hearts of his enemies but as Scanderbeg's Sword could do nothing without Scanderbeg's Arm no more can this sword unless it be weilded by the arm of Omnipotency The reason why men do not believe our report is because the arm of the Lord is not revealed Isa 53.1 Sure I have reason to hope that that day when we discoursed of Gods opening Lydia's there were many other hearts opened also My Notes which were desired by your self and several others I could not so easily do by transcribing them as by publishing them And though Truth need no Apology yet I must tell the world that this had been as like to have slept in darkness as many other Exercises have had not the more than ordinary success wherewith God attended it in preaching provoked me to this service Ministers are by Christ called spiritual Fishers a busie imployment full of toyl and danger sith the place of fishing is not a shallow stream but a raging and tumultuous sea in which after we have tired our selves and spent our strength nothing so breaks our hearts as this that we labour all night and catch nothing But Oh if at last we cast out the Net and inclose a multitude 't is no wonder we are not able to bear our own joy being astonished as Peter Luk. 5.9 Madam excuse my boldness in prefixing your Name to this small Manual And indeed I had not had confidence but that I presume you have with that other Mary sate too long at Christs feet to be ashamed of Christs Truth What inward comforts soever God hath given you by your constant and diligent attendance on his Worship give God the glory a dram of that sweetness that flows from the upper springs will allay the bitterness of those Mara-like waters wherewith God drenches his dearest Servants For our part whom God hath intrusted with the Mysteries of the Gospel though we are on every side opprest yet 't is mercy we are not supprest under all other hardships we have yet cause to bless God who hath not taken the Word of Truth utterly out of our mouth He never well understood what the calling of a Minister was that thinks strange of any suffering in the service of Christ It would well become a Ministers mouth what Pompey once replied to the Mariners who disswaded him from sailing in a storm when he was imployed for bringing provision to Rome under a strait Siege 'T is necessary that Rome be relieved but 't is not necessary that we should live Sure 't is necessary that Christs sheep be fed but 't is not necessary that we should live The subject of these few Papers is of incomparable weight The more I know my own heart and its deceits the more jealous I am of others Oh what a wily enemy do we carry in our own bosoms How many treacherous reaches hath it to ruin our Immortal souls Simon Magus seemed zealously to desire the Spirit and would have bought it at a great price but this poysoned his Religion that his heart was not right in the sight of God Ah what faint and frigid services do we bring before God while we serve him with our mouths and honour him with our lips but remove our heart far from him 'T is true till the heart be renewed God will have none of it but when once 't is renewed it makes every thing else to be accepted 'T is the same to all other services that Benjamin was to his Brethren and there is no seeing Gods face without it Oh how sad were it if at last we should spoil all our services and sufferings by doing good duties with bad hearts For preventing which danger we have cause to bless God for the labours of many egregious servants of his who have left the Church a rich treasury of instructions into which if by casting my mite I may in any measure serve the Lord Jesus and his People 't is more than sufficient recompence to him who subscribes himself Yours in the service of the Gospel J. S. Act. 16.14 And a certain woman named Lydia a seller of Purple of the City of Thyatira which worshipped God heard us whose heart the Lord opened that she attended to the things which Paul spake AS in the Evangelists we have 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Christi the Records of the Acts of Christ while he was conversant on the Earth so in this Book we have 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Apostolorum the Acts of the Apostles In which History we have a lively representation of the state of the Church while she was young and in her Gradle her increase and growth what was the Doctrine of the Apostles with what holy boldness they preached Christ in the midst of a thousand troubles and torments here we may read what was the fruit of the Gospel and how it got growth in the world in despight of all opposition as also what is the difference between true Doctrine and false with what malice and subtilty false Apostles oppose the true what rest and breathings God gave his Church and never was wanting for her protection and preservation This History by the consent of all bears date from the Ascension of Christ unto the first year of Paul's coming to Rome which was the space of twenty-three years in which we have a clear proof of the exact performance of all the Promises Christ made his Apostles as of sending them his Spirit induing them with power from on high the calling of the Gentiles c. But not to carry you back further than is needful we read ver 9. of this Chapter that Paul by the Ministry of an Angel is called to Macedonia A Vision appeared to Paul in the night there stood a man of Macedonia and prayed him saying Come
bar or bolt that by nature is upon our hearts is stubbornness this sticks to our wills man by nature is a way ward and a self-will'd creature our wills are imbondaged to sin and though we have a will to destory our selves yet we have none to save our selves Corrupt minds know no other law but their own lusts and of these they cry out as Israel of their Idols Strangers have we loved and strangers will we follow Jer. 2.25 When Christ comes and knocks at our hearts corruption presently rises to oppose him we will not have this man to reign over us Luk. 19.14 But God comes with his key and opens this door also he makes us of an unwilling to be a willing people Psal 110.3 This God doth not by violence and compulsion but in a sweet and a gracious way he perswades Japheth to dwell in the Tents of Shem Gen. 9.27 God reasons us out of our rebellion making use of that excellent gift of reason wherewith he hath adorned his creature And thus debates the case with him What reason have you to forsake me who am a fountain of living water for broken cisterns that will hold no water Why will you die O house of Israel When all was well between God and you was it not better with you than now Turn you turn you therefore from your evil ways Thus God treats man as a reasonable creature and takes the hint of his own gifts wherewith he bath endowed his creature 3. There 's one lock or bolt more which God opens and that is the Affections Man by mature cannot delight in God nor love him but when God woes in earnest he wins our hearts and engages all our affections to himself so that we love nothing but God or for God for when once the Will is won all is won For the Will among other perfections of the Soul hath the dominion over all the other faculties and affections when therefore it hath fixt the desires or some good that is proportionable to the wideness of the heart it useth its liberty for the choosing of such means as are most proper for the attaining of that good and imploys all the inseriour faculties for the execution of these means In short as soon as the Soul becomes ravisht with the apprehension of that infinite goodness that is in God it 's earnestly drawn out to desire union with him and participation of his glory So that now God is the adequate object of all our love joy and desire and that this is no other but Gods work see Deut. 30.6 The Lord thy God will circumcise thy heart and the heart of thy seed to love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul c. But this is more directly our next work 3. The third thing proposed is to prove that 't is Gods work to open mans heart He that made the heart can only open it men may knock but there 's none can open and enter but God alone We read in the Acts when the Exorcists undertook to cast out unclean spirits the Devils answered Jesus we know and Paul we know but who are ye Act. 19.15 'T is so here longer than God owns his messengers and stands by them Sin and Satan tell us God he knows and Jesus he knows but who are you A lively abridgment of Gods dealing with his people in this case we have in Cant. 5. where Christ comes wooes his Church and lays her open ver 2. but see what silly and sinful excuses she makes to put off Christ ver 3. I have put off my coat how shall I put it on But Christ had a purpose to enter and therefore we read ver 4. He put in his hand by the hole of the door and then her heart was affectioned toward him What is this hand or finger of Christ but the efficacy of his Spirit whereby he puts back the boult or unlocks the door of her heart before she could come and entertain him Christ first bores and digs thorough the heart and makes a passage for himself to enter and then comes in and takes possession The arguments for proof follow of which the first is this Res 1. Our hearts by nature are all possest by Satan and strongly fortified against God and Christ whence Christ thus frames his argument That the strong man armed keeps the house till a stronger than he comes and bind him Mat. 12.29 Satan hath the possession and will not leave his hold until he be over-powered so much that Scripture imports Col. 1.13 Who hath delivered us from the powers of darkness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hath delivered us by force so strong are his chains that nothing can break them but the hand of Omnipotency but Oh here is the happiness of Christ's redeemed that stronger is he that is in them than he that is in the world Thanks be to God who hath made us conquerors thorough our Lord Jesus Christ I Joh. 4.4 Res 2. If God come into the heart he enters the right way he doth not climb up the walls nor creep in at the windows such an entrance is not for the honour of the King of Saints and therefore he bids us open the everlasting doors c. Psal 24. as when a King enters a City the gates are set wide open or thrown off their hinges to congratulate the Kings coming and ta shew their joyful entertaining of their lawful Soveraign such an entrance is Christs God makes no forcible entry doth not break the house or enter against his peoples will no he sweetly subdues us as he that opens with a key now none but God hath a key to open those doors Rev. 3.7 The Angel to the Church of Philadelphia c. Thus saith he that hath the key of David which openeth and no man shutteth 'T is wonderful to see the strongest hold and most impregnable castle that from outward force is free and invincible yet 't is but the turning of a key that presently opens it and gives entrance without blood or blows so 't is here God oyls the lock and turns the key and the Soul opens Res 3. All heart-work in order to Salvation if it be effectual is ascribed to God Take a few Instances 1. God searches the heart Jer. 17.10 I the Lord search the heart and try the reins he only knows it that made it even he whose eyes are like a flame of fire that pierce to the bottom of hell The wiles and wickedness the depths and deceits of this member are so many that the Prophet cried out Who can know them Jer. 17.9 Who none but an Omniscient God before whose eyes all things are naked and bare 2. God opens our hearts to our selves so much as we know of them savingly Deut. 8.2 God minds Israel of the tedious and tiresom travel of theirs thorow the Wilderness forty years which was to humble them and prove them to know what was in their
before Kings They must bear a part with Zachary though once dumb yet as soon as his tongue was loosed cried out Blessed be the Lord God of Israel who hath visited and redeemed his people Luk. 1.68 And so much of the Author of Lydia's Conversion or that great work of God in opening Lydia's heart next let us consider the means whereby'twas wrought she attended to the things which Paul spake What this attention of Lydia was is worth inquiry 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The word here translated attention signifies properly to give heed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 scil animum to apply the heart or mind to a thing In the New Testament the word is used in a double relation 1st To things hurtful 2ly To things usefal 1. To things hurtful in Mat. 7.15 Beware of false Prophets 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. The same word that is used here that is take heed that you avoid them lest you are insnared by them 2. The word is used in relation to things useful as in Act. 8.6 The people gave heed to the things that Philip spake 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. the same word that is used here so Lydia attended or gave heed or applied her heart to the things spoken by Paul This heedful hearing is opposed to all manner of slighting opposing or turning away our ears from hearing the Word such hearers we read of Acts 13.45 The Jews filled with envy spake against the things spoken by Paul contradicting and railing on them And such were those bidden guests that were invited to the Wedding that made light of it Mat. 22.4 5. Well then there was both an attention of the ear and an intention of the mind and heart in this hearing of Lydia And this being the sense it offers us these three Conclusions D. 1. That the preaching of the Word is the ordinary means of converting souls D. 2. That a serious firm and fixt applying our hearts and minds to the Word of God is required by God of them that hear it D. 3. That such an attention can never be given to the Word preached but by a special work of Grace Lydia might have heard Paul preach but she had never heard them if God had not first opened her heart D. 1. That the preaching of the Word is the ordinary means of converting Souls 'T is true the power of God is unlimited and not bound to means God could have taught the Eunuch without Philip he could have converted Paul without Ananias instructed Cornelius without Peter and have opened Lydia's heart without Paul But the Ministry of the Word is that means which the wisdom of God hath chosen and sanctified for this great work This is the sum of the Apostles Climax Rom. 10.14 How shall they call on him on whom they have not believed and how shall they believe on him of whom they have not heard and how shall they hear without a Preacher And at last determines the Question with this conclusion That faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God To prevent any curious questions why 't is this The Apostle resolved all into the good pleasure of God 1 Cor. 1.21 For seeing the world by wisdom knew not God it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that do believe Q. But some may wonder how so weak a means should work so great effects A. All is from the Spirit of Christ for 't is the office of Christ not only to open the will of his Father and to reveal the mysteries of Salvation which he doth by his Prophetical Office but also to be present when the Word is preached and by his Spirit to teach the heart inwardly what it is taught outwardly by the Word And now also he exercises his Kingly Office in making his enemies become his subjects here he lays us at his feet whilest his Word like a sword pierces our hearts making us throw down our arms those weapons of sin wherewith we have opposed him here Christ gets a glorious and yet an easie conquest for against his power there is none stands Assoon as they hear they shall obey Psal 18.44 Now that the efficacy of the Word depends on the operation of the Spirit is evident from Act. 2. before those Converts were pricked at the heart c. we read that the Spirit fell on them like a mighty rushing wind v. 2. cease then to wonder when we see such mighty effects wrought by the Gospel sith 't is not we that speak but the Spirit of our Father which speaketh in us Mat. 10.20 Vse 1. Wo then to all opposers and contemners of Preaching and Preachers Alas who are those that are now accounted the troublers of Israel but such as are guilty of Elijah's crime that indeed are zealous for the Lord God of host c. who deny themselves to oppose that torrent of sin and corruption that like another deluge is like to over-run the Nation and for this they must be fed with Michajah's hard Commons even with bread and water of affliction Another generation of prophane and profligate Professors swarm every where in the World who nauseate this Heavenly Manna and contemn sound Doctrine because 't is common Ah we live in a Gospel-glutted-Age wherein wickedness and wantonness are the best requital wherewith we requite the Lord for his choicest Mercies Thus with Jeshurun we are grown fat and kick Oh that a people so choicely taught and instructed from Heaven should at last scorn the counsels of their Heavenly Father That our Religion should be lost in Atheism and that the preaching of Christ crucified should become a reproach among us There is one Scripture that I would fasten on your thoughts to prevent this sin in some which deserves to be repented in others so Heb. 2.2 3. If the Word spoken by Angels was stedfast and every Transgression deserved a just recompence of reward how shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation Our guilt and ingratitude increaseth with our injoymeats view the comparison in a few particulars 1. We have a more excellent Ministry than they under the Law Angels were Ministers of the Law but Christ of the Gospel now the threatnings of Angels if despised were severely punished and shall not the threatnings of the Son of God For that God who in former Ages spake unto us by his Prophets hath in these last times spoken to us by his own Son Heb. 1.2 Well let us hear Christ arguing himself from this very Topick The Queen of the South shall rise in judgment against the men of this generation for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon and behold a greater than Solomon is here And again the men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment c. Mat. 12.41 42. Oh what will be our case who set not so high a price on Christ as that Queen did on Solomon when Christ and his Gospel come home