he curseth he takes not away their lives but their graces makes them wither in the inward man and so he comes to death Luk. 19. he that had ten Talents he that had most had more given him To practise a little is the way to get more The Talent is taken from him who did not use it and given to him that had most Talents There are two rewards for him that useth the Talent well First hee shall have more Secondly he shall be ruler over ten Cities he shall have comfort here and hereafter he shall have more comfort and grace See how he dealt with Nathaniel Iohn 1.50 Because he confessed Christ to be the Sonne of God and beleeved because Christ saw him under the Fig-tree which was but a small thing Christ tels him that he shall see greater things than these Ioh. 7.17 If any man will doe his will he shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God that is if yee practise according to your knowledge you shall know more it shall be confirmed to you Let men know and not practice then Rom. 1.21.21 Because when they knew God they glorifie him not as God neyther are thankfull therefore God gives them up to uncleannesse thorow the lusts of their owne hearts to dishonour their owne bodies betweene themselves and to worship Idols as he dealt with the Gentiles So in the 2 Thessa. 2.9 Because they received not the love of the truth because they heard much and did not imbrace it God gave them up to strong delusions to beleeve lyes See it by experience when as men play with their knowledge God gives them up to heresies The Spirit of God will not strive long with them God hath commanded us not to cast Pearles before Swine and will hee himselfe doe it Consider what yee doe in every doctrine of salvation that is preached to you yee eyther relish it or not yee obey it or disobey it yee taste it or disrelish it If yee taste it not it is a savour of death unto death that is it brings death and leads to hell if yee savour it aright it brings to heaven There is no true doctrine but the not obeying of it bringeth something to your damnation When the savour of Christs knowledge is made manifest nor receiving it yee reject it and it brings a curse Heb. 6.7.8 The earth which drinketh in the raine which commeth oft upon it and brings forth hearbes meete for him by whom it is dressed receiveth a blesssing of God but that which bringeth forth thornes and briers is rejected and is nigh unto cursing whose end is to be burned that is the word is as raine it makes hearbs and weeds to grow if hearbs grow God doth prosper it more if it fals upon rockes it withers more and more God doth curse it It is not in the knowledge of divinity as in other sciences in them yee may neglect a yeare or two and get it againe but it is not so in this yee will not be able to returne againe yee are neare a curse yee cannot redeeme it See what followes in the neglecting of the Word in the 2 Chron. 36.15.16 God sent his messengers rising up early c. because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place But they mocked the messengers of God and despised his Word and misused his Prophets untill the wrath of the Lord rose up against his people till there was no remedy Grace may stand with infirmities before they are revealed but being reveiled the light discerneth them If men refuse God indures it not Act. 17.30 The times of that ignorance God regarded not but now take heed the Gospel being reveiled God will beare no longer Before Iohn Baptist came the Axe was not laid to the roote of the tree but as soone as he came it was because then the Gospel was made knowne he revealed the truth When the truth is once revealed if men doe not then receive it God indures it not Heb. 3.13 To day if yee will heare my voyce harden not your hearts God will not stay longer than this day There is a day when it is we cannot prescribe after which God will not offer grace but commonly we see that men being of the age of discretion having the way shewed if they neglect it then they cōmonly perish God hath a secret time The Iewes had their day but because they accounted themselves unworthy of everlasting life Paul did turne from them to the Gentiles Act. 13.46 Saul had his day hee had common gifts and profited not therefore God forsooke him So Israel had their day but when they neglected it God bids Ieremiah not to pray for them Consider what you have heard of the Sacrament that yee may not absent your selves from it in the places wherein you are without weighty affaires which will excuse you before God so for the Sabbath you know it should bee kept because it is holy and if it be holy I would aske you this question whether it bee holy in whole or in part If all of it be holy it is not arbitrary it must be sequestred from common uses The vessels of the Sanctuary are said to be holy because they were not used but about holy things so the Temple is holy because it is a place set apart for Gods service so time is holy when it is bestowed on holy things holy thoughts holy duties consider that it is holy and that every part thereof is holy and then deny if you can that it is not to be sanctified Some men spend their time in idlenesse and gaming most in drunkennesse and disorder and not as they should Yee have heard of mortification yee have heard the doctrine of changing from death to life apply them and take heed how you heare yee that heard it negligently shall grow worse and worse The second meanes to heare profitably is that which is set downe in the 1 Thess. 2.13 that is to receive the Word not as the word of man but as the Word of God This makes the word of Christ effectuall to heare it as the Word of God that is consider whose word it is Consider the ground of it that it proceeds from God who is present God is there and we speake in his stead God spake to the Israelits in Mount Sinay and would have continued for any thing we know yet the people desired that Moyses should speake unto them Wee beseech you in the stead of Christ to be reconciled unto God This is of much moment to heare it as Gods Word morrall truths may build you up in morrall vertues and may be profitable to that purpose but they will not breed spirituall life that the Word onely doth being received as the Word of God Iohn 6.65 when as Christ demanded of the twelve whether they also would goe away Peter made this answer Lord whither shall we goe thou hast the words of eternall life A man is not a
listeth compare Iohn 3.8 the Spirit breatheth where it listeth with Iohn 6.44 No man can come unto mee unlesse the Father draw him draw him that is not as a sheepe is lead with a bough for Christ doth not say no man will come but no man can come except the Father draw him compell him as it were by force not perswade him by intreaties that is unlesse he changeth and taketh away his wolvish will But it will be objected that God drawes every man I answer that the context concludes against this For Christ doth bring this in to shew the reason why many did not receive his Doctrine and he concludes with this that men therefore doe not receive it because God doth not draw them None can come unto me except my Father draw them I will answer one objection more and so conclude If wee are dead to what end is the law given why are wee commanded to doe thus and thus if we be dead To this I answer that the Law is given to this end to shew us our weaknesse and to leade us unto Christ it is not given us to keepe exactly for that is impossible it was impossible to keepe it through the weaknesse of the flesh Rom. 8.3 the Law was therefore given that wee might know our weaknesse not that we should keepe it but that Christs righteousnesse might be fulfilled in us by faith Gal. 3.24 the Law is our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ that we might be Iustified through faith That is the end of the Law But it will be objected that in as much as we are commanded to doe things impossible mans nature is destroyed for man is a free creature Secondly the command implies an absurdity and impossibility to bid a man doe that which he cannot doe to bid a man that is in a deepe Well bound hand and foote to come out himselfe is foolish yee may blame him for falling in it is absurd to bid him come out To this I answer that there is a difference betweene the externall binding and the bonds wherewith a man is fettered by sinne There is an externall impediment which a man cannot remove when hee is fettered in the Well but there is no externall impediment when as men are bound in the chaines of sin When wee command you to doe thus and thus all the businesse is with the will we rather say men will not then they cannot come There is liberty when as a man hath eligibile or non eligibile when hee hath a thing in his owne choyse when there is no impediment when hee may argue both wayes If a man out of the perversnesse of his nature doth it not it is not compulsory but free a beasts action is free because he cannot reason on both sides but man when he considers arguments on both sides when he can say doe not doe such a thing but doe such a thing when he can conceive arguments on both sides he is free there is no such externall impediment in him as to bid one in darknesse to doe a thing of the light or one bound hand and foote in a pit to come out since the chiefe impediment here is in the depraved wils of men which God doth rectify and change by his grace Spirit through the use of meanes If then every man out of Christ bee in an estate of death let every man examine himselfe and consider whether he be a dead man or no this is the great quere or question in this mutability and incertainety of things Let us make the life to come sure our life is uncertaine here but have wee this spirituall life are wee living men then we are happy but are we dead then he that is not partaker of the first resurrection shall not be partaker of the second It is too late to begin to live when we are dying certainly naturall death is a time of spending not of getting or inquiring after life If yee deferre this search while yee are in health when yee lye on your deaths bed when you shall see heaven and hell immediately presented unto you this question will hold you solicitous and then you shall see that this spirituall life is the life indeed The time of this naturall life is not long the Candle burnes not long if it burne out yet it is oftner blowne out than burnt out men oftner fall downe than come downe from the tree of life this Tabernacle is often throwne downe before it fals downe therefore in this short life make your selves sure of eternall life Now there are two things which hinder this search and inquiry after spirituall life The first is a false opinion men thinke themselves in the waies of life being in the waies of death they thinke there is a greater latitude in the Gospell than there is The second is men are not at leysure there are millions of businesses in their heads so that they cannot hearken to the whisperings of conscience they have no spare time to be wise unto salvation It will be our wisedome therefore to consider our end Deut. 32.29 To helpe you therefore in this Quere whether you are dead or alive Consider first if ever you have beene dead Secondly if ye have beene dead whether yee are made alive First I say consider whether yee have bin dead or no I meane whether sinne hath bin made alive in you that you might dye Rom. 7.9 10. I was alive without the Law once but when the Commandement came sinne revived and I dyed that is the Commandement awakens my sinnes and they being alive I dyed sinne when it affrights not a mans conscience then hee is dead when it wounds the conscience then he is alive The Law being brought to the soule by the Spirit yee see the rectitude of the Commandement and your owne obliquity and crookednesse sinne is alive and yee dye Peter preaching to the Iewes Act. 2. recites to them their sinnes in crucifying the Lord of glory which sinne was made alive and pricked them at their hearts Sinne was dead in David till Nathan and the Law came unto him afterward hee lived and was humbled Luke 5. Peter seeing Christs divinity by the draught of Fishes cries out Depart from mee Lord for I am a sinfull man hee had sinnes in him before but they were dead then they were made alive Paul he had sinnes that were dead in him but when the outward light which was but a tipe of his light within did shine about him then hee dies and his sinnes were made alive So Iosephs brethren had sins but they were not made alive till they were put in prison then their sinne in selling their brother Ioseph lived and they dyed Hath sinne ever bin alive in you by the commandement to slay you that is hath it bred such an apprehension in you as of death not a sigh or two for a day that is no slaying of you but yee must apprehend
thinkes and beleeves that the wayes of sinne are evill and that they are evill to him When God doth convince us that such a thing is evill and that it is evill to us then wee live and not before A man having a businesse to doe if all bee done but one thing this one thing crosseth all the rest but that being done our businesse is brought to passe so in this life a man having many offers of grace which doe not fully perswade him this is not enough if Gods helpe bee absent but when once hee speakes he doth fully convince and perswade us and makes us to continew As Sathan hahaving leave never gives over vexing man so the Spirit keepes us in good things where there is this life there the Spirit dwels But after what manner is this effectuall perswasion done I answer when as God gives an eare and speakes a voyce for it to heare he that hath an eare to heare saith Christ let him heare Wee then heare when as there is a disposition wrought within us when as we preach there are many that have hard hearts and nothing for to soften them therefore the words falls from them as raine from a stone but if there be a man that God will chuse he fits his heart and so hee is perswaded This is called the opening of the understanding Luke 24.45 hee opened their understanding that they might understand the Scriptures when wee speake to men we sow as it were upon fallow ground which will beare no Corne unlesse God plow it Those that saw the miracles of the Loaves esteemed them not because their hearts were hardned Ephe. 4.18 They are alienated from the life of God thorow the ignorance that is in them because of the blindnesse of their hearts that is they are not sensible of sinne and death the word or the threatnings when God takes away this hardnesse they are fit to harken then comes light the beginning of life which is the informing of the understanding to judge righteous judgement Those who have the life of Christ if hee speakes it quickens them It is the inward voyce that quickens seeke therefore to God earnestly that Christ would speake to your hearts yee heare and are not quickned because he speakes not And thus much for this second point that all in Christ are in a state of life We come now to the third point that may bee noted out of these words and it is this That the voyce of the Sonne of God is the onely meanes to translate men from death to life Men before are dead Christ by his voyce makes them living men This voyce is the onely meanes there is no voyce but this that is able for to do it that 's the scope of this Text. This proposition may bee resolved into two parts First nothing else is able Secondly this is able for to doe it As it is said of faith that it justifies and nothing else but it can justify so may it be said of this voyce that nothing else can translate men from death to life and this can doe it To translate from death to life is nothing else but effectually to perswade and change the heart now nothing else can thus perswade and alter the heart but this voyce of the Sonne of God God himselfe frames the heart it is as a curious framed locke none can picke it but hee that knowes the turning of it God onely fits the perswasions and turnings mens perswasions are as one that will unlocke a locke with a wrong key God onely can perswade Iapheth to dwell in the Tents of Shem I cannot doe it Esay 57.19 I create the fruite of the lippes that is I make them to bring comfort I create the fruite of the lippes for peace by my power That this is so you may see by divers reasons First that it is so see it by this we speaking to y e quickest often times they beleeve not but the others do the same sometimes beleeve sometimes not If man were the sole cause the word would have the same effect at all times Secondly this is life and God onely gives life it is as the breathing of life into a clod of earth It requires an almighty power to worke this in those that beleeve Eph. 1.19.20 The same power that raised up Christ from the dead raysed us up it is an almighty action to give this life Thirdly if it were not proper to Christ and his voyce to translate men from death to life hee should lose his chiefest soveraignty hee quickens whom hee will he hath compassion on whom hee will have compassion If men could translate men from death to life then it would not be proper to God to doe it Lastly as nothing else can doe it so the voyce of the Sonne of God is able for to doe it At the first creation all was made by the voyce of God hee saith Let there be light and there was light let him say to any man follow mee and he doth it Matth. 9.9 hee saith to the Publican sitting at the receipt of Custome follow me and hee left all and rose up and followed him Christ speaking to his eare and heart made him to follow him his speech was like the speech of Elias to Elisha hee followed him and could not chuse but doe it Christ speaking wee cannot but follow him But what is this voyce of the Sonne of God that translateth men from death to life I answer it is nothing else but an inward worke of the Spirit by which hee perswades men effectually to turne from darknesse to light and from the power of Sathan to God It must be understood of the effectuall working of the Spirit because who ever doth heare it lives this voyce reneweth and changeth men translating them from death to life Now this effectuall speaking consists in two things First in propounding the object the truth to the heart Secondly in the perswasion of the truth First the Gospel must be laid open to the heart all things necessary to salvation must be manifested to it then there must be light in the heart to apprehend these reasons which are propounded The Scripture propounds things by authority Then the holy Ghost doth kindle light to apprehend them which another doth not Marke how Moyses beginning his booke saith that in the beginning it was thus and thus God did he doth not perswade them by arguments to beleeve it so Iohn begins his Gospel without perswasions In the beginning was the word c. so the Apostles commission was Goe and preach that Christ is Come he that beleeved shall be saved he that beleeves not shall be damned The word of it selfe is sufficient authority when the Gospel it selfe is thus propounded then the holy Ghost kindles light And therefore this life begins when as the Gospel is propounded and light kindled then this life is wrought Now there
are three degrees of working this light by the Spirit First there is a stirring up of men to attend to the voyce of Christ many there are that heare yet attend not Act. 16.14 The holy Ghost opened the heart of Lydia to attend unto Pauls preaching We sow on fallow ground till the Spirit opens the heart to attend to the things that are spoken The second worke of the Spirit is to convince and perswade effectually and fully Ioh. 16.8 The Spirit shall convince the world of sinne that it it shall convince and perswade thorowly none can doe this but the Spirit It doth also farther perswade men that it is good for them to bee convinced and this is when the knowledge is full when as all the corners of the heart are answered and the minde resolves to practice Hypocrites and civill men are perswaded yet not fully therefore they never practise if that one objection of the heart bee unanswered yee never came to practise The last worke of the Spirit is to keepe this voyce on the heart that it vanish not Iames 1.21 The ingrafted word is that which is made able to save our soules and none else Men may attend for a flash but the Spirit must ingraft the Word into the heart which as a sprig ingrafted growes bigger and bigger and hath fruit from the sap other men having truthes not fastned on them they grow weaker and weaker To understand fully what this voyce of the Sonne of God is yee must know that there is a double voyce First an outward voyce of the word which all heare Secondly an inward voyce of the Spirit This I collect out of Esay 6.9 Goe to that people and tell them heare yee indeed but not understand see yee indeed but not perceive that is they shall have an outward hearing an outward knowledge but not an inward There is a common knowledge which all these have who live in the Church and there is a knowledge that is onely proper to the Saints which saves them The differences twixt these two knowledges that of hypocrites of them in sixth of the Hebrewes twixt common knowledge and effectuall knowledge that is wrought in the hearts of the elect are these First common knowledge is confused and generall this is distinct inward and particular that is the voyce of the Sonne of God speaking in the Ministry to all may breed a knowledge of truths in men yet they apply them not to their hearts and the turnings of them Heb. 4.11 The Word is sharper than a two edged Sword discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart piercing even to the deviding asunder the soule and spirit and of joynts and marrow that is that word of God that is lively indeed that voyce of God that is effectuall to salvation it is sharpe it strikes not in generall but enters the inward parts A staffe cannot enter the flesh it may bruise it but the voyce of Christ enters like a two edged Sword discerneth twixt morrall vertues and supernaturall things wrought by the Spirit it distinguisheth exactly twixt the rectitude and obliquity of mens hearts this is proper onely to the saving knowledge of the Word As nothing is hid from God but it is naked to his sight so it is to his word See if the word be distinct to you else you know nothing A man never knowes any thing till he knowes the Elements parts and grounds of it the voyce of the Sonne of God onely makes you know things thus particularly So in other things yee know not till you know particulars Aristotle saith a man is not a Physition that knowes things in generall in the grosse but hee that knowes them in particular This is not to be a Physition to know that such dry meates are good for a moyst stomacke unlesse he also know dry meates and the Symptomes of a moyst stomacke so it is in the knowledge of the Word To know what regeneration is is not enough except yee know the parts the kinds and signes of it To know that none are translated from death to life that love not the brethren is not enough except yee know the brethren and love them To know that hee that is in Christ hath crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts of it is nothing except yee know that yee your selves have crucified it This particular knowledge is it that makes manifest to a man the secrets of his owne heart 1 Cor. 14.25 that is the voyce of the Sonne of God discerneth the secrets of the heart to know things particularly that are in it The sheepe distinguish the voyce of the sheapheard from the voyce of a stranger when men come to heare they heare the voyce and distinguish not the sound because they want this particular knowledge Secondly this hearing of the voyce of the Sonne of God workes a quicke sence in the hearts of those that heare it that the outward voyce doth not and this followes the former Let knowledge be particular it workes quicke sence Heb. 4.11 it is called lively in operation now life consists in quicknesse and motion the voyce of Christ speaking effectually breeds quicknesse Sola individua agunt et sentiunt A knife in generall cuts nothing the particular knife cuts To know in generall you are sinners have corrupt natures offend in many things workes nothing it is the reflection on the particular lives that workes this makes men tremble Act. 2. Peter having told the Iewes that they had crucified Christ that pricked them at the heart As of sinnes so is it of comforts particular comforts worke If one can say I am thus and thus then comfort followes so particular threatnings make men sensible When God said to Adam Hast thou not eaten of the tree whereof I said thou shouldest not eate this made him feare The word doth breed a quicke sence they who have not this true voyce sounding to them Esay 6.9 in hearing they doe not heare and seeing they doe not see their hearts are fat their eares heavy and their eyes shut Rom. 11.8 God hath given them the spirit of slumber that is when as men heare this voyce in a common manner they are as a man in a slumber it stirres them not their hearts are fat that is they are sencelesse for fat is without sence The property of them that heare in an ineffectuall manner is this they have a spirit of slumber they are as one hearing a tale when as his mind is other where If the things propounded were naturall they would heare them well enough but they are spirituall therefore they are dull of hearing them Thirdly which followeth the second those that heare the voyce of the Sonne of God have experimentall knowledge the other is but speculative 1. Cor. 2.6.9 Wee preach wisedome to those that are perfect such wisedome as eye hath not seene eare hath not heard neither hath it entred into the heart of man but God reveileth it to
us by his Spirit that is the cheefest in knowledge have not seene with their eyes or heard with their eares but those that heare the voyce of the Sonne of God have an experimental knowledge which others have not This experimentall saving knowledge hath triall 1 Ioh. 2.13 I write unto you fathers because you have knowne him that was from the beginning expound this with the 33. of Ezekiell 33. When this commeth to passe then shall yee know that a Prophet hath beene amongst you that is when I shall doe this they shall know experimentally that there was a Prophet amongst them 1 Ioh. 5.49 wee know that we are of God that is wee know it experimentally they can say of this as it is said in the 1 of Ioh. 1.1 That which we have heard that which we have seene with our eyes that which wee have looked upon and our hands have handled of the words of life declare we unto you David takes it as peculiar to himselfe Psal. 9.10 They that know thy name will trust in thee for thou Lord hast not forsaken them that seeke thee that is they that experimentally know thee will trust in thee for thou never faylest them that trust thee they know it by experience 1 Pet. 2.3 Desire the sincere milke of the word that you may grow thereby if yee have tasted that the Lord is gracious We find in the Saints a longing after God they desire him which others doe not thus did David moreover they have assurance of salvation which others have not and this assurance comes from hence optima demonstratio est a sensibus the best demonstration is from sence as he that feeles the fire hot knowes it best tasting breeds longing assurance from experience breeds certainty Fourthly effectuall knowledge that is bred by the voyce of the Sonne of God makes men approve and justifie the wayes of God makes them to relish them this followes the other when men have tryed them they approve them Ioh. 6.63 The Spirit quickens the word profiteth nothing the words then that I speake they are Spirit and life Christ having spoken that his body was meate indeed many were offended at it then hee said The Spirit doth quicken that is yee accept not my words because yee have not the Spirit yee have but flesh that is a common knowledge my words are spirituall and you are carnall therefore they doe not relish you These words are otherwise interpreted by some that is these materials profit nothing without the Spirit but the other is undoubtedly the meaning for so it is through the Scripture the Spirit profits that is saving knowledge wrought by the Spirit men not having it doe not approve it It cannot be otherwise where the voyce of Christ doth sound effectually there they justifie this Wisedome is justified of her children Luk. 7.35 Rom. 10.15 How beautifull are the feete of them that preach the Gospel of peace that is they see such beauty in the wayes of God that they are beautifull to them they are vile to others The Scripture often toucheth this that when as there is but a common knowledge men relish not the word Rom. 8. they tast not the word the spirituall part of the word crossing them is bitter to them 2 Cor. 2.15 The word is compared to a sweet savour to many it is not so to some it is the savour of death to death it is a savour diffused through the house they abhorre it and being guilty of death it leades them to death In others it is the savour of life that is they smell a sweetnesse in it it brings them to life to heaven the word being powerfully taught there comes a savour some smell sweetnesse in it others otherwise Luk. 2.35 When Christ shall come the hearts of many shall be opened to approve or disapprove him therefore he is the fall and rising of many so when he came some said he was a good man others that he was a divell some said that the Apostles were good some that they were bad See how yee approve the word in its selfe and as it is expressed in mens lives Fiftly if it bee a right knowledge it breeds holy affections the other doth not this followes the other If men justifie the Word then they affect it It s a generall rule that all full perswasions draw on affections let it bee but a perswasion in habit it stirres as the habit is 1 Thes. 1.6 My word was to you not in word but in power because it did worke in you joy in the holy Ghost Ier. 23.29 comparing the word of true and false Prophets together My word is as fire saith God and as the hammer that breaketh the stone it is the powerfull word of it stirres your affections Luke the last Christ speaking to the Disciples that went with him to Emmaus their hearts burned within them they were full of holy affections Consider if yee have those holy affections Holy affections in the Scripture are ascribed to this knowledge every where where men heare they know aright Psal. 112.1 Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord that delighteth greatly in his commandements Psal. 1.2 Blessed are they that delight in the Law of the Lord See whether there be holy affections in you Felix did tremble at the Word so the second ground received the Word with joy but not with holy joy But how shall we distinguish them I answer that if your joy bee holy joy afflictions will not put it out if your joy bee carnall joy persecution puts it out but joy in the holy Ghost is not put out by the contrary Sixtly that knowledge which is lively brings forth action it is powerfull in mens actions it is active and mighty in operation Heb. 4. It workes in mens hearts and lives mightily to overcome all contraries Esa. 6.10 Make the heart of this people fat make their eares heavy and shut their eyes least they see with their eyes and heare with their eares and understand with their hearts and convert and bee healed that is Let them have such a common knowledge as civill men and hypocrites have and no more least seeing aright they understand with their hearts and be converted and they bee healed Seeing with their eyes is meant seeing with this knowledge which if they see with their hearts will bee wrought on their hearts being wrought on they are converted then they are healed This followes on the other Let the affections be stirred they are the immediate principles of action what one affâ—cts hee doth these are tyed all on one string flashy affections flashy actions Ioh. 6.45 They shall all bee taught of God every man therefore that hath heard and learned of the Father commeth to mee that is every one that heareth this true voyce of the Sonne of God comes to mee that is they breed actions whereby they come to me See if your knowledge bee operative Iam. 1.22 distinguishing of hearers he saith
Be not hearers but doers if yee finde not this change Christ hath not spoken to you But in the Saints are many defects in their actions ergo actions follow not hearing and knowledge To this I answer that as their actions are weake and faint so their knowledge is weake Heb. 12.5 they often forget and must bee put in mind 2 Pet. 1.13 they must be stirred up by putting them in remembrance of those things which they have forgotten Secondly this faile is from some doubt within from some shaking when as you see a defect in actions or affections it is because you want this convincing knowledge The way to stirre up affection and action is the Word which increaseth this operative knowledge If it be so that the voyce of the Sonne of God is the onely meanes to translate men from death to life let us examine our selves whether wee have heard the voyce of the Sonne of God or no If we have not then let us know our cases and be humbled they that have not heard it are dead Consider it is your distinct knowledge not a knowledge in grosse or generall that inlivens you Know ye the passages and working of regeneration and repentance find yee the Word as fire and as a hammer the Word is in its nature and will be found so of them that receive it aright Have yee an experimentall knowledge approve yee Gods Image his waies in the Word or in the lives of the Saints doe yee justifie wisedome are your hearts opened At the hearing of the Word doe yee like it At Christs comming many hearts were opened because then his Word came and it opened many mens hearts shewed them what they were How doe yee affect the Word and Image of God in the lives of the Saints how doe yee finde holy affections in them blessednesse goeth alwayes with them Affections are alwayes a signe of this have yee received the Word with them have yee sorrowed for your sinnes doe you delight in God this will beget holy affections which will last afflictions put them not out holy joy is not damped with afflictions carnall joy is What are your lives and actions If yee seeing others holy ye cannot doe as they doe this voyce hath not spoken to you All that heare Christs voyce will come and be doing Iam. 1.22 if doing be joyned with hearing if yee are doers as well as hearers this voyce hath spoken to you if your practise bee not joyned yee are deceived If yee finde upon examination that yee have not done it remember that Christs sheepe heare his voyce yee may therefore feare yee be lost sheepe if yee heare it not Hee that hath an eare heares the Gospel If it be hidden it is hidden to those that perish where men live in ignorance and heare not God regards not it so much that 's not the time of triall have ye the Word as wheate with chaffe it trieth not but the Word comming with authority and not as the Scribes when Christs voyce sounds in the Word see how yee are affected if yee heare not ye are dead Cant. 2. Christs comming is compared to a Spring time wherein the flowers appeare on the earth and the birds begin to sing and the trees put out their greene fruite that is when Christ makes himselfe knowne it is Spring time doe you spring when the Word comes when the messages of salvation are made knowne unto you if not yee are dead Our end in speaking this is not to trouble you but to bring you to salvation I will therefore shew you what keepes men off from hearing Christs voyce that knowing the impediments yee may remove them The impediments are seven The first is selfe-wisedome this is a great impediment from hearing the voyce of the Sonne of God selfe-conceitednesse hinders men much because it breeds a despising of the wayes of God 1 Cor. 2.4 The naturall man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishnesse with him therefore 1 Cor. 3.18 if any man seeme to be wise in the world let him become a foole that he may be wise that is let him lay aside that wisedome which begetteth pride in our hearts Michals disposition is in every one of us more or lesse shee despised David so men chalke out a way to themselves in which they will goe they will seeke their owne wayes and will not be subiect to the Law of God Rom. 8.7 The carnall mind is enmity with God for it is not subject to the Law of God neyther indeed can it be 2 Cor. 10.5 speaking of imaginations saith that men with them build up themselves against God and will not alter their courses The greatest opposition is in mens minds take a man that hath a true opinion it is easy to remove his lusts but false iudgements are as bulwarkes against Gods wisedome Men will doe thus and thus because they thinke their state is good The Scribes and Pharisees came not to Christ Luk. 15.1 but Publicans and sinners came so it is with men now doe wee lay open their sinnes unto them yet they will not be perswaded men will bee righteous of themselves and will not bee perswaded that Christ must bee made unto them righteousnesse and redemption and wisedome This opinion of our selves is a great impediment this contemnes the way of God and fashions out our owne wayes this contenting of our selves with our present estate makes men erre therefore Psal. 119.21 Cursed are the proud that are alwayes erring from thy Law Selâ—e conceite makes men erre The second impediment is custome men have beene used to such wayes and will not alter them Ioh 4.12 the woman of Samaria was much held off with this argument Christ comming to teach her the doctrine of salvation Art thou greater said shee than our father Iacob that gave us this Well This opinion that our fathers have gone this way and it is transmitted to us hinders men much men cannot indure newnesse Lot is taxed for this by the Sodomites Gen. 19.9 This fellow came in to sojorne here and will he now be a Iudge so Act. 17. Paul preaching at Athens the Athenians asked What new doctrine is this that thou preachest men being accustomed to a way it winns their opinion men having once judged are loth to iudge againe custome winns their affection Change is troublesome men having gone long in a course they will still plod on in the same tract Custome of our fathers or country or place where wee are our owne custome makes us loath to forsake it Thirdly Similitude is a great hinderance Exod. 7.22 Pharaohs heart was hardned because the Magicians did the same miracles that Moyses and Aaron did So similitude hinders men from imbracing the wayes of Christ and God Men seeing Papists austerity like our mortification their sufferings like true martyrdome they are perswaded of their wayes as we are of ours so for civility when as
men see it so like religion as a sparke is like the fire they imbrace it All deceit is from similitude false wares having the same dye that true hath deceive the buiers so falling starres are like other starres When wee see some men that professe religion to be false hearted we thinke all are so wherefore Phil. 1.10 The Apostles prayes that they might abound in all knowledge and judgement to discerne of things that differ this proximity makes us deceived Fourthly false experiments hinder us much some experiments of the workes of God that should draw us nearer to him if wee make false use of them make us farther from him As if God afflict and restore againe or keepe us from affliction our hearts are hardened Exod. 8.15 when as the Froggs were removed Pharoah his heart was hardned rest made him harden his heart so many times it makes men slight the word and afflictions which God layes on them We may see this in Souldiers and Mariners none more ready to contemne dangers than they because they have often escaped they delude the workes of God that should draw them to salvation Rootes will make the weeds grow againe not being taken heed of The long suffering of God should draw us to repentance but it doth not so 2 Pet. 3.3 In the last time shall come mockers walking after their owne lusts and saying where is the promise of his comming for all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation that is men shall feele nothing apprehend nothing judgements being beleeved they second the Word being eluded they hinder us and it The fift impediment is ignorance men know not the wayes of God therefore they doe not imbrace them Ioh. 4.10 If thou hadst knowne the gift of God and who it is that speaketh to thee thou wouldest have asked of him There is enough in religion to make men love it if they knew it there is vertue in it there is beauty and profit in it Esa. 57. There is a peace in it all the wayes of it are wayes of pleasantnesse there is honour in it old age is honourable with righteousnesse But mens hearts are full of darkenesse they see not neyther doe they understand it 2 Pet. 2.12 They speake evill of the things they know not It s true they know the things 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they know them not experimentally and really and that deceives them 1 Cor. 8.2 If any man thinke hee knoweth any thing he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know One may know all things and yet know nothing as he should Ignorance deceives many it makes them to measure religion by a false rule and common opinion Acts 24.14 it is called heresy when yee iudge of it by externall shewes all basenesse is outwardly in religion it is like a costly thing covered with straw Christ was hid under a Carpenters Sonne preaching under the name of foolishnesse so our ignorance in attributing things to false causes keepes us off If the Gospel be hid it is hidden to those that perish there is a double ignorance privative and positive that is it by which the God of this world blinds men breeding a false perswasion of good and a good perswasion of evill The sixt impediment is in-consideration men doe not consider the things they might know if men would deduce one thing from another and doe that they know they might be brought to God Deut. 29.2.3 yee have seene saith Moyses all that the Lord did before your eyes in the Land of Egypt upon Pharoah and his servants yee have seene those great signes and miracles which he did yet the Lord hath not given you an heart to perceive and eyes to see and eares to heare untill this day that is yee have not profited because yee have not considered We thinke if that we had lived then wee had beleeved yet we see how few of them did beleeve we beleeve the Scriptures yet what inconsequency is there in mens lives because wee doe not consider things Consideration helpes to perfect mens actions it is a circular line one part helpes the other If we looke backe and examine our actions it helpes want of it hinders What is repentance but consideration Ier. 8.6 No man repented him of his wickednesse saying what have I done want of this keepes men from salvation 2 Chron. 6.37 If they bethinke themselves in the Land whither they are carried away and turne and pray unto me in their captivity saying We have sinned we have done amisse and dealt wickedly then I will heare So Ier. 8.6 God harkned whether any would say What have I done men goe on and consider not Hosea 4.11 Whoredome and new wine steale away their hearts that is it makes them not to consider Mark 6.52 They considered not the loaves therefore their hearts were hardned they were fearefull in the ship because they considered not the miracle of the loaves The seventh impediment is a certaine stifnesse and obfirmation of minde whereby a man is setled to continue in such a course that is pleasant to him and all that crosse him in it are enemies to him Rom. 8. the flesh is not subject to the Spirit it crosseth it one reckons not a man his enemy unlesse hee crosse him It must be so every creature as long as it hath a being opposeth that which is contrary to it so every man that delights himselfe in such or such a lust will not be circumcised cleansed and washed from it he will not have Christ reigne over him he will have his elbow roome Those men that are not translated from death to life they count the wayes of God eyther vanity or folly and will not submit unto them nor yet heare Christ voyce Now the meanes the helpes and wayes to breake through these impediments and to receive the Word with profit are these First to heare profitably that the voyce of the Sonne of God be not a common voyce but peculiar take that rule which is set downe Luk. 8.18 Take heed how you heare Christ gave that admonition to his hearers and I give it to you looke to your selves take heed how yee come to heare the Word doe it diligently the reason of this is added in the same verse for unto him that hath shall be given from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he seemed to have that is if yee heare and get a little knowledge yee shall have more he that yeeldeth some fruits shall bring forth more hee that doth some things shall doe more God will blesse you But from him that hath not shall bee taken even that which he seemed to have that is your hearts shall be hardned and that common knowledge which you have shall be taken away Ioh. 15.2 Every branch that beareth not fruite God cuts downe God lookes into a Congregation to see who doth make conscience of hearing those that doe he purgeth but those that profit not
living man but by conjunction betwixt God and the soule God is to the soule as the soule is to the body he puts life into it and is conjoyned to it by his word when it is thus received The Word comming as from God wee doe that which is commanded us because God will have us doe it and then wee doe it simply and sincerely so that God accepts it Wee receive it as the word of God it breeds life within us when we receive it with faith with full Assurance then it comes from God then it comes in power and in the holy Ghost and makes us become followers of Christ 1 Thess. 1.5 when we receive the Word of God it workes effectually in us 1 Thess. 2.13 when we receive it as from God with full assurance it begetteth life in us To live is to have sence and motion to be acting the receiving of the word with full assurance makes us active the beleeving of it sets men on worke 2 Chron. 25.5.6 10. When as Amasiah beleeved that God would not be with him unlesse hee sent away the Israelites then he sent them away and not before Caleb and Iosuah did beleeve therefore they followed God constantly Abraham offered up his sonne Isaack because he beleeved God that he could give him another sonne or raise him out of ashes againe Let a man be perswaded that such a thing will hurt him or that such a thing will doe him good he doth the one and leaves the other Receive therefore the Word with full assurance consider what is delivered if it be the Word or no consider that it which yee heare is eyther the Word or not the Word it belongs to me or not Men take things overly and are not rooted and grounded in faith and that makes them heare unprofitably See then if your particular actions agree with the Word so yee shall be rooted in faith this makes the Word a Word of life The third rule and meanes to heare with profit is that which is set downe of the fourth ground in the parable of the seed in the eight of Luke the 15. verse that is to receive the Word with honest and good hearts having heard the Word to keepe it and to bring forth fruite with patience Heare the Word with honest hearts this is done when as a man is resolved to practise whatsoever God will reveale when he hath no reservations or exceptions to himselfe when hee is resolved to practise what he heares with an humble heart being humbled wee will doe this and not before The fourth ground was humbled men will not heare this because they are proud now pride is an evill disposition in the creature whereby it exalts its selfe above its measure There is this fault in men they will picke and chuse in the wayes of God The last ground will onely part with all for Christ. Act. 9. When as Paul was humbled hee then cried out Lord what wilt thou have me to doe I will doe or suffer any thing for thee and he was as good as his word So Act. 2.32 the Iewes being humbled cried out Men and brethren what shall wee doe wee will doe any thing to bee saved So Act. 16.30 The jaylor being humbled demanded of Paul what he should doe to be saved when as a man is thus disposed God will teach him Psal. 25. God teacheth the humble his wayes man himselfe will doe so if he see one willing to learne he will teach him The secrets of the Lord are revealed to those that feare fearâ— him to those that stand in awe of him and dare doe nothing against him hee reveales his peculiar truths in a peculiar manner to men those things that are effectuall to their salvation bring therefore humble hearts ready to obey But you will say we doe obey and practise what we doe heare I answer that yee may be deceived as they in the fift of Deut. they said they would obey but God saw that there was another heart in them than what they said therefore God said O that there were such an heart in them that they would feare me and keepe my commandements alwayes that it might goe well with them and their children for ever So Iohanan and the other Captaines Ier. 42.20 desires Ieremia to goe to God to know his will and they would doe whatsoever he should say whether it were good or evill But Ieremiah tels them that they did but dissemble in their hearts he knew they would not do it Looke to this in the acts and the effects what have you done when the Word crosseth you in your aymes estates names friends if you have disobeyed it then Eze. 14.4 the word is made a stumbling blocke and your iniquities before your face and the Lord will answer you according to the multitude of your Idols God will answer such men according to their comming as they come with false hearts they shall be dealt withall accordingly Come then with hearts resolved to practise whatsoever is spoken and desire God to make it effectuall to savation The fourth meanes to heare the Word and the voyce of Christ profitably is to lay up what you heare let it abide with you and continew with you This rule is prescribed by Christ himselfe Ioh. 15.7 If yee abide in me and my words abide in you yee shall aske what yee will and it shall be done unto you When yee attend to the Word if yee are affected with it but for the time it is nothing except it continue with you it will not profit you you must doe as Mary did shee layed up all the sayings that shee heard of Christ and pondered them in her heart Luke 2.51 The Disciples often questioned of Christ which proves that they pondered his words in their hearts So the nobles of Berea they searched the Scripture so Iacob he noted the saying of Ioseph and laid it up yee doe not heare thus if you doe but lend your eares for the time if yee worke it not upon your affections yee profit not The reason why there is so much preaching and so little profit is for want of this There are two kinds of ill hearers the first are such as heare as Swine and trample all they heare under feete the second such as heare as Dogs snarling at the doctrine if yee offend in eyther of these yee heare amisse Of all the foure grounds that was worst which received not the Word When men heare the Word there is more than a naturall forgetfulnesse in them the Divell helpes it Iam. 1.23.29 He that heares the Word and recals it not or practiseth it not is like one that beholdeth his face in a glasse for hee beholdeth himselfe and goeth away and straight way forgetteth what manner of man he was yee must recall it before yee can practise it else yee will be like to those that behold their face in a glasse and wipe not away their spots Be not therefore