mans son the son of a Wheeler afterward Bishop of Mentz when he was advanced to the honour of that Bishoprick to suppress that pride which the greatness of his place exposed him to that he caused several Wheels to be hung up about his Chamber with this inscription Memento Willigis unde eras Remember Willigis from whence thou art Oh that we could look back to the rock from whence we were hewnl c. we should find that we are but the sinful slime of rebellious Parents loyns Thus God pricks that swelling tumor of pride in Israel to which she was subject by her advancement and bids her remember that a poor Syrian ready to perish was her father Deut. 26.5 Whatever honours or excellencies we have received by Christ yet the Apostle tells us 't is our duty to remember that by nature we were children of wrath even as others Eph. 2.3 Here 's a holy art to make the elder brother Corruption to serve the younger Grace a serious remembrance of our natural vileness may keep the soul humble in our greatest attainments Vse 3. It informs us of the piercing power of Gods Word however weak and contemptible in the eyes of carnal reason It s sound is heard in the ear but its force is felt in the heart Paul preaches and Felix trembles Peters Sermon prickt the Jews to the heart Act. 2.37 This was the fruit of Christs dealing with his Church Cant. 5.4 as soon as she felt his hand in the hole of the door her very heart was affectioned toward him justly therefore 't is called a sharp two-edged sword c. Heb. 4.12 Elisha had his sword as well as Jehu And God hews his enemies by his Prophets and slays them by the words of their mouth This sword is like Saul's it never returns empty if it doth not destroy our sins it will destroy our souls Vse 4. It cautions us against a mistake When we hear that 't is Gods work to open mans heart we are apt to conclude that God expect nothing from us Take we heed we do not thus abuse the grace of the Gospel God delights to improve his own gifts he hath endowed man with the gift of Reason and saves him as a Reasonable Creature And therefore though all means of Grace have their virtue and efficacy from God and he alone is the principal cause and author of our Salvation Yet God expects when he perswades that we consent when he wooes by his Word that we yield lest striving with our Maker we provoke him to deal with us as he did with the old World when for their contumacy and impenitency he resolved that his Spirit should no longer strive with man Gen. 6.3 Vse 5. The next Use therefore shall be of Counsel or rather Command in the name of the great God of Heaven and Earth that when God by his Word calls to us from Heaven and bids us open that with a holy readiness we open those everlasting doors To provoke you to which duty I shall add these Considerations Arg. 1. So long as our hearts are shut against God we our selves are shut out of all comfortable communion with God God delights in none but where he is entertained mark that Scripture Rev. 3.20 If any man hear my voice and open the door I will come in to him and sup with him I 'le feast that man with my Presence my Grace my Comforts this man only shall know indeed what is that plenty rarity and variety which is in that feast of fat things that I have made in my holy mountain To such I will make known my self I 'le take them into my imbraces feed and feast them with my Promises they shall see my face and know by experience what 't is to have fellowship with the Father and with his Son Now pray consider could you be content to live a few years in the World and to hear only what a blessed thing it is to enjoy the love of God and the light of his Countenance the sweet and soul-ravishing Comforts of his spirit and yet to live and die and go to your graves and never know nor taste any of this spiritual sweetness this must be your case if your hearts be not opened Arg. 2. Consider that God yet offers to open your hearts though we perhaps have stopt our ears thousands of times yet he once more stands at the door and knocks and cries open open And I make my appeal to your own Consciences if there be any life or tenderness in them whether you find not God striving to come in while by the hammer of his Word he knocks and begs you by his Messenger to give your hearts to him Is not God at this instant convincing some that he is a lost perishing creature in himself is he not shewing you the incomparable excellency of Christ and his al-sufficiency to save Sinners Oh how think you to escape if you neglect so great Salvation you have heard of that fearful resolution of God against the impenitent old World when by the preaching of Noah a hundred years together God had perswaded them to repent yet all to no purpose what says God at last My spirit shall not alway strive with man Oh when God strives with us in mercy and we strive with God by impenitency 't is sad Wo to him that thus strives with his maker Well whatsoever was written aforetime was written for our instruction If we will not take example from the old world that is past be sure we shall make example to the new World that is to come Isa 45.9 Arg. 3. Consider to whom 't is we are to open why 't is to Christ Open to me my sister c. an Emphatick word and as Ezekiel's Wheels were full of eyes so is this word full of motives To me that am thy Saviour thy King thy Priest thy Prophet thy Bridegroom thy Beloved thy Brother Ah who would not open to such a one As Laban said to Abrahams servant Come in thou blessed of the Lord why standest thou without Gen. 24.31 so should we say when he comes to our door yea as Lot pressed the two Angels greatly when they seemed strange and overcame them with his importunity that they came in Gen. 19.3 so should we Arg. 4. Consider Gods end in opening of the heart 't is to dwell there God dwelleth not in Temples made with hands but as he hath chosen Heaven for his glorious Presence so he hath chosen the heart for his gracious Presence Isa 57.16 Neither will God come in empty he brings Salvation and all other blessings with him thus Christ told Zacheus Luk. 19.9 This day is salvation come to thy house There 's nothing lost by entertaining this guest where he comes his reward is with him if Obed Edom's house were blessed for entertaining Gods Ark how blessed is that heart that opens and entertains God himself 2. But some may object that Believers have opened already and
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
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
of Spiritual ravishment to every Soul that has given Christ Jesus entertainment Wise Solomon admired both Gods mercy and his Peoples happiness at once upon this very reason 2 Chron. 6.18 Is it true indeed that God will dwell with man on earth what infinite Majesty fall in love with misery God dwell with man heaven and earth meet in one Person ye righteous let it not deject you that your excellency is not conspicuous in the Worlds eye The Churches beauty is within and herein she is like her beloved Christ himself to outward appearance was but a root out of a dry ground no form or comeliness was in him therefore he was despised and rejected of men Your life is a hidden life like in this to the Ark that without was covered with skins sullied and weather-beaten with storms and tempests but within was stored with gold and rich rarities God seeth not as man seeth there 's a time at hand when God will turn your in-side out and though now you ly among the pots yet shall ye be covered with silver-Wings and your feathers like gold Vse 4. Lastly Be exorted to the Apostles Prayer to add your own practise This is the one thing necessary with what holy zeal and diligence should we do this work and drive this great design how restless should we be in this pursuit to get Christ to dwell in us Q. But how A. I shall only Answer this query and conclude And here several things must be done both for the getting Christ into the heart and the keeping of him there 1. The heart must be prepared for ChristW Mal. 2.1 The Prophet speaking of John Baptist saith that he should prepare the way for him And Isa speaking of the same Messenger adds Every mountain shall he brought low and every vally be filled up and every crooked thing shall be made plain Isa 43.4 All this must be done as a preparation for Christ As where Princes are expected the highways are cleered and all passages are facilitated that they may pass both with ease and honour so we must prepare for Christ Jesus 1. Mountains must be brought low that is the lofty heart must be abased and every high thought must stoop and be made subject to the scepter of Christ we must be vile in our own eyes learn to abhor out selves with Job loath our own sins and our own righteousness also and count it dung and loss to win Christ Christ designs his own Glory in condescending to dwell with sinful men and Christ's Glory and the creature's cannot be set up together 2 Vallies must be filled some hearts are too low for Christ they mind earthly things and therefore are unfit for the receiving of so glorious a guest Lift up therefore your heads O ye gates and then the King of Glory shall come in Psal 24. as the Church is described in Rev. 12. with the moon under her feet and then she is cloathed with the Sun and hath a Crown of twelve Stars on her head so must every member of the Church trample upon all earthly and sublunary vanities and set our hearts on heaven where our true Treasure is It were a disparagement to divine blessings should they be bestowed on them that prize nothing but earthly trifles such pearls do not use to be cast before swine 3. Crooked things must be made straight we must have no crooked aimes nor close designs in the Service of God The sons of Jacob must be all like their Father plain-hearted men our studies strength time and state must be all dedicated to the Lord Such as turn aside to crooked ways the Lord threatens to lead them out with the workers of iniquity Psal 125.5 4. Lastly rough ways must be made plain the oyle of Grace must supple the rough and rugged temper of our Spirits 'T is said of Nabal he was so churlish a man could not speak to him such hearts are not fit for Christ Christ by Grace sweetens the Temper of out Souls takes off that fierceness and austerity that is in them by nature The Lion and the Lamb ly down together and there 's nothing shall destroy or hurt in all his holy mountain If we would have Christ dwell in our hearts we must keep our hearts pure for a nasty lodging is lothsome to him With what care do we keep our Temples cleansing them continually that there be no filth found in them These Spiritual Temples must never be sullied with sin nor defiled with iniquity This is the condition upon which Christ promises to dwell in us 2 Cor. 6.17 Touch no unclean thing and then I will dwell in you 3. Take heed of grieving the Spirit of God by resisting it's motions or crossing the sweet and saving operations thereof There 's a sad Scripture in Mat. 12.44 When the unclean Spirit is cast out and returneth c. He brings with him seven other Spirits worse than himself and they enter in and dwell there Oh deal courteously with Christ offend your own Souls rather than offend him study we must to comply with his commands and carry our selves so exactly that in nothing we grieve his Spirit nor make him weary of his habitation 4. Lastly sith Christ dwells in the heart by Faith labour to prize this precious Grace for the procuring of which these several rules should 1. Acquaint your selves with your own hearts and you will find such a stock of infidelity in them as may for ever confound us Though God who is faithfulness it self hath infinitely stoopt to lost man and for his security hath ratified the Covenant by his Word his Oath and Seals yet alas there is in us all by nature a heart of unbelief Heb. 3.12 So that upon experience we shall find we are no more able by nature to believe the Gospel than to obey the Law Alas we fear no more than we feel and believe no more than we see when we come to seize on Christ and take hold of the promise Oh with what a faint and trembling hand do we receive them 2. Labour to see the rare excellency and efficacy of Faith what is it but a Christians life while he is below without it we cannot move one foot heaven ward whatsoever is not of Faith is sin This is that which brings in Christ into the Soul it makes us one with Christ now and the union that is made by Faith between Christ and the Soul now shall never be dissolved till we enjoy him in glory For the end of our Faith is the Salvation of our souls 1 Pet. 1.9 3. Bind your selves to a constant and conscionable attendance to the Word and Ordinances of God For Faith comes by hearing Rom. 10.17 As death first entered by this door so doth life hear and your Soul shall live this is that Manna on which we must live till we come to Canaan As Gideons Fleece was wet when the ground about it was dry so God usually waters the Souls