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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A88578	A Christians duty and safety in evill times Delivered in severall sermons, upon four texts of scripture, viz. Christ's prayer the saints support, on Iohn 17 15[.] A divine ballance to weigh all doctrines by, on 1 Thes.5. 21[.] A Christians great enquiry, on Acts 16.30, 31[.] A description of true blessedness, on Luke 11. 28[.] By that faithfull messenger of Jesus Christ, Mr Christopher Love, late minister of Laurence-jury, London. Whereunto is annexed The saints rest, or Their happy sleep in death. As it was delivered in a sermon at Aldermanbury, London. Aug. 24. 1651. By Edmund Calalmy. B. D.	Love, Christopher, 1618-1651.; Calamy, Edumnd, 1600-1666. Saints rest.	1653 (1653)	Wing L3147; Thomason E1434_3-4; ESTC R209589	82,542	242

A CHRISTIANS Duty and Safety IN Evill Times Delivered in severall Sermons upon four Texts of Scripture viz. Christ's Prayer the Saints support on Iohn 17 15 A Divine Ballance to weigh all Doctrines by on 1 Thes 5.21 A Christians great Enquiry on Acts 16.30 31 A Description of True Blessedness on Luke 11.28 By that faithfull Messenger of Jesus Christ Mr CHRISTOPHER LOVE Late Minister of Laurence-jury London Whereunto is annexed The Saints Rest or Their Happy Sleep in Death As it was delivered in a Sermon at Aldermanbury London Aug. 24. 1651. By EDMUND CALAMY B. D. LONDON Printed for E. Brewster and George Sawbridge at the sign of the Bible on Ludgate-hill near Fleet-bridge 1653 TO The Christian READER ALthough God had blessed Mr Love with great abilities yet such was his humility that he judged few or none of his Sermons worthy publique view as hee often sayd to his friends after he had received the Sentence of death yet it is admireable to consider what good entertainment all those pieces have found which have hitherto been published As by this providence God putteth much honour upon the name and memory of this good man so upon this account his deare widdow and friends are prevailed with by importunity to yeeld unto the printing of more Sermons though they bee neither so full nor exact as doubtlesse they would have been if they had come abroad from the Authors own Pen. The matter is wholsome seasonable and profitable much savoring of his gracious spirit who preached them and manifesting unto the world the workings both of his heart and life being zealously devoted unto the service of Christ and Christians soules hereby this faithfull Minister of Christ Jesus though dead yet still speaketh And although he hath finished his Testimony upon earth yet hee is still by his workes serviceable in the land of the living Endeavor in good earnest to make a spirituall improvement of these and such like Helps put by divine providence into thy hand and let the Lord be magnified in thy conversation for all that soul-advantage which thou mayst receive Labour to bee well rooted in the Truths of the Gospell bear up couragiously against the evill of these declining times and because multitudes do shamefully disgrace their Profession by their carnall selfe-seeking and apostacy therefore doe thou the rather hold forth the power of godlinesse in waies of selfe-deniall and faith unto the honour of Christ In him we are Thy Friends and Servants SIMEON ASHE EDM CALAMY JER WHITAKER The Contents of the following Sermons Text. Iohn 17.15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the World But that thou shouldest keep them from the evil The context opened page 1 Four things Observable in the Prayer of Christ Page 2. 1. The time when he made this Frayer pag. 2 Observation It is warantable and commendable for Ministers to pray after their preaching page 2 Observation Christians should then have most holy and ardent affections in their breasts when they are even leaving of this World page 4 Christs practise should be our pattern p. 5 2. The Gesture he used pag. 6. 3. The Manner of his praying pag. 7. 1 He aimed at Gods glory page 7 2 He prayed to God his Father ibid 3 He prayed for his Disciples page 8 4. The matter for what he prayed pag 9. The words of the Text explained page 10. Two Reasons why Christ would not pray that his Disciples might be taken out of the World page 12 1. Doctrin It is not warrantable for any to wish for death because of persecutions or afflictions which they sear or feele pag. 13. Three Reasons of the point 1. Because our lives are great blessings pag. 14. 2. It is more commendable to pray for a sanctified use of Affliction then for deliverance from it p. 15. 3. There is much honour to be gained by a patient bearing of affliction p. 15. Use for Reprehension of such as wish for the day of their death page 16 2 Doctrin In some cases it is lawfull for a man to wish for death p. 19. 1. When he desires it not because of sufferings but because of sin pag. 19. 2 That he may thereby have a more full enjoyment of Christ p. 20 3 Doctrin It is not the desire of Iesus Christ that any of his servants should die so long as he hath any work for them to doe in this Wortd p. 21. Three Uses 1 For Counsel that you would desire to live no longer then that you may serve God and do good to others page 22 2 For Reproofe of those who are hastening to the grave and yet have not begun the work for which God sent them into the World page 26 3 For Comfort when you have finished your work then you shall goe to receive your wages page 31 4 Doctrin No man dies but God doth take him away page 33. Were our lives in owr own hands we should live to long were they in our enemies hands we should die to soon p. 34 5 Doctrin It may be a great comfort to the people of God that they have the prayer of Iesus Christ to keep them from evill whilst they live in the World page 35 Two questions resolved for the clearing of this Doctrine page 36.37 The efficasy of Christ's Prayer continues for ever page 38 Six practical Inferences 1 Christs Prayer should not exclude our prayers p. 40. 2 Christ is praying for us before the Devil is tempting of us p. 42. 3 The remembrance of Christs prayer should check sinfull Motions in us page 43. 4 Christ prayer must not lessen our care page 44 5 There is a pronesse in our nature to be defiled with the evil of the times p. 45. 6 Every man by nature is unable to keep himselfe p. 45 Five Directions how to accomplish the ●rayer of Christ 1 Avoyd all disputing with the Devil page 47 2 Avoyd all occasions unto sin p. 48 3 Consider the Al-seeing eye of God page 49. 4 Chuse suffering rather then sin p. 50 5 Flee to Christ for refuge p. 51 Text 1 Thes 5.21 Prove all things Hold fast that which is good The context opened p. 53 VVhat is meant by prophesying p. 54 Doctrine From the Conrext viz. Those that have attained unto the highest perfection of grace and knowledge that it is possible for men in this life to attain unto are not to despise or neglect the Ordinances of Iesus Christ page 57 1 Reason Our Sanctification is not perfect in this life page 59 2 Reason Sin lyes hidden in the secret corners of the heart page 60 The words of the Text explained VVe must hold fast the truths of the Gospel in judgment that we run not into error page 63 In practise that wee run not into sinne page 64 Doctrine It is the duty of all hearers of the Word to try and prove all Doctrines which they hear page 65 Four Cautions about trying of Doctrines 1 People must not

for many to speak at once It is observeable to whom the Apostle gave this injunction not to the wicked of the world but to the Thessalonians who were not weak Christians Babes in Christ as the Philippians were but strong Christians grown Christians who had attained to a great measure of saith patience and holiness as 1 Thes 1 Thes 1.7 1.7 Ye were examples to all that beleive in Macedonia and in Achaia They were Christians of the upper form famous for faith and godliness examplary to neighbor Churches yet the Apostle bids them not to de spise Prophesying not to despise the Preaching of the Word of God There are in our daies many vain and ignorant people who out of a phantastical conceit of their perfection in knowledg and high achievements of grace think themselves to bee above all Ordinances above Prayer hearing the Word or receiving the Sacrament they live altogether in excel●●s you shall never see them below the third heaven their common discourse is of unexpressible ravishing communion with the Lord Jesus Christ and hereupon they contemn all the Ordinances of the Gospel as beggerly Rudiments as Childrens food But let such consider That if any Church or people in the world might have pleaded that they were above Ordinances the Thessalonians might have done it who were every way gracious even beyond comparison yet the Apostle presseth upon them the necessity of attending upon a Gospel Ministry Observa Hence observe That men that have attained unto the highest perfection of grace and knowledge that it is possible for men in this life to attain unto are not to despise or neglect the Ordinances of Iesus Christ Not only doth a Child need daily food but the strongest man in the world will faint and die without it I have wondred to think how the Devil could ever get this deceit into the hearts of men to make them to think that they are above Ordinances when as the Scripture speaks so expresly against this opinion 1 Cor. 14. 1 Cor. 14.22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign not ●o them that beleive but to them that beleive not but Prophesying serveth not for them that beleive not but for them which beleive Here you see the Apostle clearly asserts it that beleivers nay strong beleivers are not to despise Prophesying And David a great Prophet a man after God's own heart rich in guifts and grace yet longs after God's presence in the Tabernacle Psal 84.2 It was his earnest desire his cheifest comfort yea he accounted it the greatest happinesse that he could attain unto in this world to be near where the Ark of God was the place of his residence amongst men in those daies to behold the face of God in his Sanctuary to enjoy the publique Ordinances of God And saith the Apostle Heb. 5.14 Strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age even those who by reason of use have their sences exercised to discerne both good and evil Those who are of full age i.e. in comparison of those hee before compared to babes By reason of use i.e. by hearing reading and meditateing on the Word of God Have their sences i.e. their understanding judgment and memory To discern both good and evil i.e. to choose that which is good and refuse that which is evil Now the Apostle expresly saith Ephe. 4.11 12. 13. Ephes 4.11 12 13. That people are to abide under the Word preached until they come to heaven He gave some Apostles and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teathers for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ untill we all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledg of the son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ The use of the Ministery is perpetual it is to continue so long as the Sun and Moon endure untill all the Elect of God are brought in until we come to be perfect men which shall be in the World to come We must live under the means of grace until we come to glory And the Reasons hereof are these 1. Reason Our sanctification is not perfect 1. Because our sanctification in this life is not perfect the Scripture last quoated doth intimate thus much There is the old man and the new man flesh and spirit in the best Saints although sin hath received its deadly wound and shall never reign as a King in the soul yet it may tyrannize in us and we shall never be perfectly freed from the rebellion thereof untill we come to Heaven 2 Reason Sinne lies hidden in the secret corners of the heart The heart is exceeding deceitfull deceitfull above all things Jer. 17.9 The heart of man is the greatst cheater in the world there is not such a deceiver it is so wickedly wicked so unsearchably wicked beyond all expression who can know it Wickednesse lies hidden in the secret corners thereof There is no man no not the most knowing and the most innocent knoweth how often be offendeth Psal 19.12 Therefore Solomon saith Prov. 28.26 He that trusteth in his owne bea rt is a fool Now the preaching of the Word is an effectuall meanes for the unbowelling of corruption and discovering of the secret turnings and windings of the heart Heb. 4.12 The Word of God is quick and powerfull and sharper than any two-edged Sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of Soul and Spirit and of the joynts and marrow and is a discerner of the intents and thoughts of the heart This I thought good to name to shew you in my passage to the Text that whilst you live in this World you are to wait upon the Ministery of the Word and not to despise Prophesying Now after the Apostles injunction my Text comes fitly in for many will despise the Ministers Doctrine before they trie it therefore the Apostle when he said Despise not prophesying subjoines Prove all things Trie trie and if there bee any error in what you heare then despise it Despise not Preaching only this is your work Trie all things and hold fast that which is good The words of the Text explained In the first place I shall give you the meaning of the words prove the word in the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is a word borrowed from Gold-smiths who when they would trie their mettall whether it bee currant or not bring it to the Touchstone so the word signifies to trie or to know by experience and thus you are to trie by the Touchstone of the Word all Doctrines you heare that is the Standard to trie them by Try or prove all things by all things here is meant all Doctrines preached all Prophesyings or Preachings you heare It is observable that when the Apostle Paul spake these words the Evangelists were not written nor commended to the publique care of the Church of God It is thought that this Epistle

was written thirtie years or more before the Evangelists Now in that the Apostle doth command them to trie the Doctrins preached he therein referres them to the Scriptures of the Old Testament It followes Hold fast that which is good There is a twofold holding fast 1 An holding fast in judgment the Truths of the Gospel that you doe not run into error 2 An holding fast in practice the power of the Gospel that ye doe not run into sin 1. 1 Hold fast in judgment that ye run not into error Hold fast in judgment the truths of the Gospell that yee doe not run into Error This is laid down 2 Pet. 3.17 Therefore beloved seeing ye know these things beware lest yee also being led away with the error of the wicked fall from your own stedfastnesse that is in judgment there must bee a foreknowledg of the truths of the Gospell before ye can attain unto stedfastnesse in grace and besides knowledg there is required vigilance and carefulness if wee would hold fast the truths of the Gospell Thus you are to retain in judgment the Doctrines of the Gospell that ye run not into erronious Principles It is childish Eph. 4.4 faith Saint Paul Ephes 4.14 to be tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of Doctrine to be over credulous easie of beliefe fickle and wavering as children are 2. 2 Hold fast in practice that yee run not into sin It implies an holding fast in practice that ye run not into sinne that yee hold on your course of holinesse setled and unaltered and this is laid down Phil 2.15.16 That you may bee blamelesse and harmlesse the sonnes of God without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse Nation among whom yee shine as lights in the World holding forth the Word of Life that is in a blamelesse holy and humble conversation A man then holds fast when hee frames his life according to the direction of the Word of God for knowledge is emptie and vain and profiteth not if it bee not reduced unto practice and practice in our Christian course is difficult up the hill it requires heed and watchfulnesse therefore we must be solicitously carefull to hold out in our practice that which we are convinced in our judgment is the Truth and Will of God revealed in his Word So that the sence of the words is this Trie all the Doctrins of that Minister under which you live by the Word of God whether they be true or false sound or corrupt and what ye finde to be the truth and consonant to the Word of God embrace it hold it fast in your judgment that you run not into contrary Opinions and in your practice that yee run not into any vicious courses in your lives and conversations and what ye finde to be false and sinfull reject it And thus you have a briefe paraphrase and explication of the words From the first part of the words Prove all things I shall draw this Observation viz. Doctrin That it is the duty of all hearers of the Word to try and prove all the Doct●rines which they heare It is the injunction that Saint Iohn gives in his first Epistle ch 4. v. 1. Beloved 1 Iohn 4.1 believe not every spirit but try the spirits whether they are of God because many false Prophets are go●e out into the World that is Try the Doctrines that such men preach who pretend that they have the Spirit and preach by the Spirit whether they be true or false Erronious Teachers will boast of the Spirit and therefore we must try what spirit their Doctrin cometh from we must not with Solomons fool give credence to every thing that is published under the glorious name of Truth But wee must consider that the Church of God hath alwaies been pestered with false Teachers in Ieremiah's time there were such as published the Visions o● their own Brain for sound Doctrine and the Apostle Paul doth often complain of false Teachers that transformed themselves into Angels of Light it is the Devils policy many times to transform himselfe into an Angell of Light and because his commodities will not sell in his own Market therfore he labours to bring them into Gods Market for such is the Preaching of the Word thinking that none will suspect them there Have wee not then great reason to trie all Doctrines that we heare In the handling of this Doctrine I shall first give some Cautions Secondly the Reasons thereof Thirdly lay down some Directions about trying what you heare The first Caution is this 1 Caution People must not take liberty to trie all Preachers When the Apostle bids you prove all things he doth not thereby intend that people should have a liberty to heare any body and so to trie all Preachers as Calvin upon the place well observes for by this meanes a man may sooner suck in an Error than embrace the Truth Nay the Scripture is expresly against it If you can heare a man that doth preach the Truth you are not to follow such as are known to divulge Errors 2 Tim. 4.3 4. 2 Tim 4.3.4 For the time will come when they will not endure sound Doctrine but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves Teachers having itching eares and they shall turn away their eares from the Truth and shall bee turned into Fables And 2 John 10.11 2 Iohn 10 11 If there come any unto you and brings not this Doctrine receive him not into your House neither bid him God speed for he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evill deeds M●th 24 3 24 And Math. 24.23 24. If any man shall say unto you Lo bere is Christ or there is Christ beleeve it not for there shall arise false Christs and false Prophets and shall shew you great Signes and Wonders insomuch that if it were possible they should deceive the very Elect. And verse 26. Wherefore if they shall say unto you behold Hee is in the Desart go not forth behold Hee is in the secret Chambers believe it not False Prophets shall arise and what shall they say Lo here is Christ not as if Christ was there personally but doctrinally Some shall say He is in the Desart for these false Teachers used to draw people out into desart places where they might more securely publish their Errors and Heresies Veritas non quaerit angulos wheras Truth seeks no corner But go not out after them saith Christ If they shall say Hee is in the secret Chamber doe not believe them Things honest ever rejoyce in being made publique Nocte latentmendae but viciousnesse would be concealed and therefore it is that they seek out secret Chambers Lucern●m ext●●guunt Fures Darknesse best becomming their deeds of darknesse Hence it is that in the Scripture you have a command to take heed not only whom you heare for the Preacher and how you

Devil out of a man that was dumb caused the fame of Christ to have great renown through many parts of the World And though for all this his enemies would not acknowledge the Divinity of Christ yet a certain young woman as may be gathered from the history came and lifted up her voice and said unto him Blessed is the womb that bare thee and the paps that thou hast sucked Now Christ instead of giving her thanks for applauding of him doth rather give her a rebuke a check and said I will tell thee who are blessed Rather blessed are they that bear the Word of God and keep it Thus you have the coherence of the words This speech of the woman was a proverbial speech amongst the Jews when any person did an acheivement that was praise worthy they would cry out and say Blessed is the womb that bare thee And from this proverbial speech I would note thus much Observa ∣ tion viz. That good children are a great prayse and blessing to their parents This woman could blesse the mother of Christ who bare such a son as he was Solomon saith A wise sonne maketh a glad father Pro. 15.20 And in many other places you read what great blessing Pro 15.20 and honour doth accrue to parents whom the Lord hath blessed with wise and godly children And on the contrary the Scrípture marks those parents with a brand of reproach that bring forth wicked children into the World children to encrease the number of the damned to fill Hell and to pollute the Earth therefore it is that you so often read in Scripture Pro 10.1.5 That a wicked child is a shame to his parents Pro. 10.1.5 Vse The Use is to teach you whom God hath blessed with good children to to be exceeding thankful unto God for it is a greater blessing unto you then if God should fill your house with silver and gold And you whom God hath thus afflicted in suffering bad children to come out of your loyns oh mourn under the heavy hand of God that he hath made you instrumental to bring forth children into the World which shall encrease the number of the damned in Hell Thus much from the womans speech who said The words of the text opened Blessed is the womb that bare thee and the paps that gave thee suck But Christ said Rather blessed are they which bear the Word of God and keep it Christ said Rather blessed He doth not say that his mother was not blessed but that the woman might not too much dote on his mother to think that she was so greatly blessed onely for bearing him in her womb therefore he said I will tell thee who indeed is the blessed man and woman even they that bear the Word of God and keep it Christ would not give way to her applause but he gives her a milde and loving rebuke Hence observe Observation That you must take heed that you bee not tickled with pride when you heare your selves or yours commended Christ would give no way to the womans commendation She thought that the virgin Mary was the happiest woman in all the World yet Christ puts a Rather on them that make conscience of hearing the Word of God and keeping of it A beleiver hearing and obeying Jesus Christ is Rather blessed in so doing then the virgin Mary was mearly for bringing Christ into the World although it was the happiest birth that ever was brought forth Oh how should this bee a spur unto you to hear and to practise what you heare seeing that by so doing you are thus blessed Observation 1 Now I shall observe somthing from the manner or form of expression that Christ doth here use It is not said blessed are they which hear the Word of God for there are many sorts of hearers who come short of blessedness but blessed are they that hear the Word of God and Keep it that incorporate it into their souls and become transformed into the Image of it There are four forts of hearers spoken of Mat. 13. Mat. 13. and three of them fell short of blessednesse All hearers although it be the Word of God which they hear do not attain unto blessednesse It is not hearing but keeping and observing the Word of God which makes men blessed Observation 2 2. Observe again That it is not sayd Blessed are yee that believe although it be indeed a truth that all true beleivers are blessed yet it is not so said lest men should think that a naked beleiving is enough to make them blessed or lest they should think that they are above hearing praying or receiving which are the proud aspiring vanities of many in this age Observation 3 Neither is it said Blessed are ye that keep the Word of God in a disjunction from hearing but in a conjunction with hearing Blessed are yee that heare and keep Many men pretend to a great perfection of life and conversation in keeping what Christ commands but it is with a disjunction from hearing they leave off hearing the Word But those only are blessed in the esteem of Jesus Christ who hear and keep the Word of God Observation 4 Again it is not said Blessed shall ye be that hear and keep the Word of God but Blessed are yee To shew that ye shall not only be Blessed when ye come to Heaven but that yee are blessed in so doing whilst ye are here on earth Rom. 6.22 Rom. 6.22 But now being made free from sin and become servants unto God you have your fruit unto holinesse and the end everlasting life Thou hast thy fruit O man if thou art an holy man even before thou comest to everlasting Life Observation 5 Again it is not said only Blessed are ye if ye hear and keep But if ye hear the Word of God and keep it Thou maist heare men that preach damnable errors and keep them fast in thine heart but in this case thou art nearer a cursing then a blessing Men may bee followers of Sermons but if those Sermons which they hear and practice bee not agreeable to the Word of God be not grounded upon the Scriptures they are under a curse and not a blessing by what they beare Therefore the Holy-ghost here faith Blessed are they that hear the Word of God and keep it This should teach men how they hear whom they hear and what they hear that they hear nothing but the Word of God and then keep what they hear We read of Teachers who shall bring in Damnable Heresies and that many shall follow their pernicious wayes ● Pet. 2.1 2 3. 2 Pet. 2.1 2 3. But there were false Prophets also amongst the people even as there shall be false Teachers among you who privily shall bring in damnable Heresies even to deny the Lord that bought them and bring upon themselves swift destruction and many shall follow their pernicious wayes by reason of whom the way of Truth shall bee evil

spoken of and through covetousnesse shall they with fained words make marchandize of you whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not Now they are not blessed that hear men that bring in such damnable Heresies The Scripture doth not entaile blessing on all hearing but on hearing the Word of God and keeping of it Observation 6 Again It is not said blessed also but blessed rather Christ doth not say my mother is a blessed woman and they also are blessed that heare the Word of God and keep it But Christ comes in with a Rather as if he should have said I account those men and women Rather blessed then mine own Mother mearly for being instrumental in bringing mee into the World Oh how should the consideration hereof enflame your hearts and provoke you to a dilligent hearing of Gods Word and conscientious practifing of what you heare There is not the like phrase in all the Bible Observation 7 It is not said Rather Blessed are they that hear my words and my sayings it is so said in some other places but here it is said they that hear Gods Word For had Christ said rather blessed are they that hear my word then people might have thought that Christ did impute blessednesse only to his own preaching and to those that heard him personally preach Therefore Christ faith rather blessed are they that heare Gods Word be it preached by Peter Paul or Apollo by any Disciples now living or by any Minister of the Gospel that shall live afterwards to the Worlds end Whosoever shall heare the Word of God contained in the Scriptures of the old and new Testament and keep it they are rather blessed then my mother was if shee be considered only as instrumentall to the bringing of mee into the World And in this expression there is a secret Glory or Honour put upon the Ministers of the Gospel by Jesus Christ who would not limit the blessing to his own preaching but extends it to the Word of God in any Ministers mouth And that is the reason as many think of that saying in Scripture viz. Hee that beleiveth shall doe greater workes then Christ did It is not meant of the workes of Redemption but of the ministerial works that a faithfull Minister shall convert more souls then Christ by his Ministry did convert Christ indeed could have converted all that heard him but hee did it not lest men should have thought that they must have heard none but Christ We do not read of many that were converted by Christs preaching there were more converted by Peter and other Apostles then by Christ himself this Christ did that people might not dispise any of his ordinary Ministers If Christ had converted more then all the Disciples people then would have slighted the Disciples and followed only Christ This distemper began to grow in the Apostles daies 1 Cor. 1 Cor. 1.12 1.12 Now this I say That every one of you saith I am of paul I am of Apollo I am of Cephas and I am of Christ The Apostle blames them that they should say I am of Christ The meaning is not as though men were blame-wothy for following and loving of Christ God forbid it is our highest duty so to doe But there were some in the Church of Corinth who were ready to say I care not for hearing of Paul or Apollo but I am only for hearing of Jesus Christ This was a vain and sinfull crying up of Christ Thus for men to cry up Christ to preach Christ and in the mean time to cry down the Ministery this is sinfull and Christ will never own this to bee a preaching of him For Christ faith Blessed are they that hear the Word of God and keep it Let it bee preached by any faithfull Minister whatsoever Observation 8 Again It is not said Blessed are they for hearing and for keeping but Blessed are they that heare and that keep Blessedness doth never come with a for but with an if or a that The Lord doth not bless thee for thy hearing although thou hear as many Sermons as there are dayes in the yeare but he blesseth them that hear in obedience to his Command and practise what they here Thus you have eight Notes from the form of speech which Christ here used What is meant by keeping the Word of God Now I shall come to shew what is meant by Keeping of the Word of God which we hear And there is a double keeping of the Word of God 1 A keeping it in our memory Luke 2.19 First There is a keeping of it in your memory Luke 2.19 Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart She kept them in memory Out memories should be as the Arke wherein the pot of Manna was kept The pot of Manna is Divine Truths these should bee kept safe in our memories But this is not the keeping here spoken of for there are many men that have good memories to keep what they heare and yet have neither good hearts nor good lives and therefore not blessed by their keeping Secondly 2 A keeping of the Word in our practis There is a keeping of the Word in your practice and that is done when there is a conscionable eare to square your lives and conversations answerable to what you hear or know Now Blessed are you that hear the Word of God thus keep it And thus I have opened all the difficulties that may appear in the words Doctrin The Observation is this viz. That they are rather blessed that heare the Word of God and practise what they heare then the Mother of Iesus Christ was for bringing him into the World It is a point I confesse which doth well deserve a scanning and if it had not been in the Bible it would have been incredible that Christ should put a rather on thee O man or woman in every age of the VVorld that shalt hear the VVord of God and keep it It is worthy your notice what a different Dialect is used by the woman in the Text and Elizabeth that was kinswoman to the Virgin Mary The woman in the Text faith Blessed is the womb that bare thee and the paps that thou hast sucked Luke 1.45 But Elizabeth cryed out Luke 1.45 Blessed is shee that Beleiveth Upon which words a Learned Author hath a very good note faith he If the Virgin Mary had not born Christ in her heart by faith as well as in her womb she had not been blessed for Elizabeth here declareth wherein the blessedness of the Virgin Mary and of all the Elect consisteth Now how may this confute the dotage of the Church of Rome Vse for Reprehension that doth so excessively cry up the Virgin Mary I have a little viewed over some Popish Authors and I finde that for one tract of the Dignity and Glory of Christ they have written many of the Dignity of the Virgin Mary And they relate strange stories