23. All is yours whether it be Paul or Apollos c. all is yours and ye are Christs and Christ is Gods Now what greater comfort So that ye see that the Word faithfully preached is the Word of comfort and therefore wee have reason to love it in that regard Fourthly Because carnall or worldly comfort is little worth therefore in the fourth place the Word preached is the best meanes of spirituall comfort gracious and heavenly consolation Hereupon it is called the Grace of God Titus 2. 11. And the Word of 〈◊〉 Grace Act. â—0 32. And the ministration of the Spirit 2 Cor. 3. 8. It is the Instrument that the Spirit of God useth to worke grace in the hearts of Gods people It is the ministery of reconciliation 2 Cor. 5. 18. Yea the Word of regeneration Iam. 1. 18. Of his owne will begate he us with the Word of Truth sayth the Apostle It is the immortall sâ—ede of our new birth 1 Pet. 1. 23. yea the chiefe meanes of our Conversion Psal. 19. 7. The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the soule Yea it is the chiefe meanes of our Sanctification Psal. 119. 9. Wherewithall shall a young man cleanse his way c Ioh 15. 3. Now are yee cleane through the Word that I have spoken unto you sayth our Saviour and Ioh. 17. 17. Sanctifie them with thy Truth thy Word is Truth Loe the chiefe Instrument of our Sanctification Yea as God himselfe is the God of all grace so is his Word the Word of all grace for what grace of the Spirit is it that is not usually begotten in us by the Word whether knowledge or faith or repentance or the feare of God c. 1. Out of question it is the chiefe meanes of knowledge and wisedome and understanding in the things of God See it in Davids example Psal. 119. 98. Thou through thy Commandements hast made me wiser then mine enemies for they are ever with me Ver. 99. I have more understanding then all my teachers for thy Testimonies are my meditation Ver. 100. I understand more then the Ancient because I keepe thy precepts Then for faith the Word is the meanes to beget and preserve that for it is the Word of faith Rom. 10. 8. And the Apostles conclusion is Ver. 17. So Then faith commeth by hearing and hearing of the Word of God And then for the feare of God another excellent grace of the Spirit the Word of God is the chiefe meanes to beget that Deut. 17. 19. Where it is said of the King that he shall write him a copie of the booke of the Law and reade in it all the dayes of his life Why so That he may learne to feare the Lord his God and to keepe all the words of this Law Yea this is the end of our publike meeting to heare the Word faithfully preached all both old and young must come to heare it Deut. 31. 12. Gather the people together men and women and children and the stranger that is within thy gates All sorts must constantly frequent the Church assemblies and depend upon the ministery of the Word Why so That they may heare and that they may learne and feare the Lord your God and observe to doe all the words of this Law The true feare of GOD must be learned out of the Booke of GOD and hearing the Word preached is the means to attaine thereunto The like might easily be shewed of sundry other graces But this is not all the Word preached is not onely the meanes to beget the graces of Gods Spirit in us but to encrease them also Observe it 1 Pet. 2. 2. As new borne Babes desiâ—e yee the sincere milke of the Word that yee may grow thereby sayth the Apostle So that the ministery of the Word is not onely the seede of our new birth but also the chiefe means of our encrease and growth in Grace yea it will still build us up farther untill we come to perfection Act. 20. 32. And now brethren I commend you to God and to the Word of his grace which is able to build you up farther and to give you an inheritance among all them that are sanctified Oh precious Word and well worthy of all high esteeme that is able to build us up in grace farther and farther untill wee come to perfection How can we choose but love the Word exceedingly and delight to spend much time in it if we seriously consider how usefull it is unto us also in this respect Fifthly and lastly The Word preached is not onely the chiefe meanes of spirituall life and comfort but of our eternall happinesse and salvation It is not onely the Word of grace but of glory too and of salvation Romans 1. 16. I am not ashamed of the Gospell of Christ saith the Apostle Why so Because how simple or despicable so ever it may seeme in it selfe yet it is the power of God through faith unto salvation a foolish thing indeed it is in the eye of flesh and bloud and of carnall Reason but yet it pleaseth God even by the foolishnesse of preaching to save them which doe believe 1 Cor. 1. 21. Yea it is the Word of salvation so that he is farre from salvation that rejects it Psalm 119. 155. Yea it is the Word of eternall life and therefore he that thrusteth it from him doth judge himselfe unworthy of eternall life See two direct Testimonies for this the one is the speech of Peter to our Saviour Iohn 6. 68. Will ye also goe away saith our Saviour to his Disciples The Apostle Peter maketh answer Whither should we goe where shall wee thinke to mend our selves thou hast the words of eternall life And therefore he that rejecteth it and careth not to spend time in the hearing and reading and serious perusall of it doth even judge himselfe unworthy of everlasting life Acts 13. 46. saith the Apostle addressing his speech to the Iewes It was necessary that the Word of God should be first preached unto you the preaching of Gods Word is of necessary use in the Church of God but since that ye thrust it from you and judge your selves unworthy of everlasting life c. behold wee turne to the Gentiles Oh how readily and with what great affection would we receive the Word if this was rightly considered CHAP. X. Containing part of the fifth Direction c. FIfthly All that desire to spend much time in Gods service must follow that golden rule of the Apostle sc. of redeeming the time Redeeming the time because the dayes are evill saith the Apostle Ephes. 5. 16. Which rule he repeateth againe to the Colossians Colos. 4. 5. Now if you aske me From what wee must redeeme the time I answer from all such lets and impediments that will hinder this way There are diverse great consumers of precious time from which he must carefully redeeme it that would spend much time in Gods service I shall need to say
confessed his owne guiltinesse and the justice of God 2. Vindicated the innocency of Christ. 3. Was affected with the judgement and brought to feare God 4. Earnestly desired to worke upon his fellow servant Doest thou not feare God c. i.e. ô feare God consider what a wofull estate thou art plunged into Reasons or Motives io perswade us hereunto are foure 1. In regard of God 2. In regard of our selves 3. In regard of others 4. In regard of the excellency of Gods Ordinances 1. In regard of God because the Lord is much honoured and his Name is highly magnified and therefore hereby we shall shew our zeale for Gods glory and our â—ove unto his Majesty Gods glory in all things should be respected in the first place Whether ye eate or drinke or whatsoever ye doe doe all to the glory of God saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 10. 31. Now surely the more people and the greater the company is that joyne together in the duties of Gods service the more glory must needs hereby redound to God for the enlarging of Christs kingdome is a chiefe meanes of advancing Gods glory This our Saviour teacheth in the very mould and course of the Lords Prayer it appeareth in the very order of the petitions 1. Hallowed be thy Name to shew that in all things in the first place Gods glory must be respected 2. Thy kingdome come there is the chiefe meanes to shew that the comming of Gods kingdome is one chiefe meanes for the hallowing of his Name and the enlarging of Christ's kingdome is a chiefe meanes for the advancing of Gods glory Matth. 6. 10 11. certainely much glory must needs hereby redound to God when we are not content only to serve God our selves but also exhort and excite and stirre up others hereunto Secondly There is another Motive to perswade us which is drawne from our selves Hereby we shall manifest the work of grace wrought in our own hearts This is a good testimony that we are truely religious indeed when wee are not content to serve God our selves but are ready to provoke and stirre up others hereunto for goodnesse is a spreader of it selfe it is ready to disperse and communicate it selfe for the good of others Yee heard what the Holy Ghost said of Barnabas Acts 11. 23. That he exhorted them all that with purpose of heart they would cleave to the Lord ver 24. for he was a good man and full of the Holy Ghost A good man and one that is full of the Holy Ghost is and will be ready to excite and stirre up others unto that which is good When thou art converted strengthen thy brethren said our Saviour Luk. 22. 32. He that is truly converted himselfe will be ready to be a meanes to convert and turne others to God See it in David Psalme 51. 13. Then shall I teach thy wayes to the wicked and sinners shall be converted unto thee Where there is abundance of grace in the heart it will manifest it selfe in our gracious speeches and holy communication Psal. 37. 30 31. The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisedome his tongue will bee talking of judgement the Law of his God is in his heart c. for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh saith our Saviour Matth. 12. 34. I have hid thy Word in my heart saith David Psalme 119. 11. See the fruit of this Psalm 95. 6. O come let us worship and fall downe and kneele before the Lord our maker c. True grace maketh a man ready to doe good offices for others especially to perswade them to serve God and be religious Thirdly In regard of others For hereby we shall best manifest our love and respect to others yea we doe not know how much good we may doe them this way for by this we may come to save a soule from death and cover a multitude of sinnes Iam. 5. 20. Hereby we may come to be acquainted with the wayes of God our selves and others whom we perswade may be hereby converted to walke in his pathes for Psal. 19. 7. The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the soule c. See how confidently David assureth himselfe of the conversion of others upon his best endeavour to teach them Gods wayes Psal. 51. 13. Then shall I teach thy wayes to the wicked and sinners shall be converted unto thee How much more if we come to the house and Ordinances of God and bring others with us This argument Gods people have used to perswade others to goe with them to Gods house Come let us goe up to the mountaine of the Lord for he will teach us of his wayes and we will walke in his pathes Isa. 2. 2 3. This is the way to bring others to the true feare of GOD as well as our selves if we can perswade them to accompany us in the constant and frequent use of Gods Ordinances Observe an excellent place to this purpose Deut. 31. 11 12. When all Israel is come to appeare before the Lord in the place that he shall choose thou shalt reade this Law before all Israel in their hearing Gather the people together men women and children and the stranger that is within thy gates Why so What good will they get this That they may heare and that they may learne and feare the Lord your God to doe all the words of this Law Where we see that the house or place of Gods worship and service must be constantly frequented and that it is not enough for us to come thither our selves but we must also bring our whole families men women and children yea the very stranger that doth but occasionally come unto us we must bring all to Gods Ordinances And lastly that hereby we are likely to be instruments of working the feare of God in the hearts of those whom we bring and so to bring them to obedience Let no man say What neede we trouble our selves with others Is it not enough for every man to looke to himselfe and to have a care that he spend time himselfe in Gods service though he doe not meddle with others For though Christian charitie begin at home yet it doth not end there but he that is truely carefull to serve God himselfe will be readie to exhort and admonish others especially those of his familie and such as are committed to his charge And if any thinke much at this yet let him know that it is no more then his dutie Heb. 3. 13. But exhort one another dayly while it is called to day Nay no man can have any good assurance that he draweth nigh to God with a true heart himselfe if he doe not doe his best endeavour to excite and stirre up others to doe so too See an excellent passage to this purpose Heb. 10. 22. 24. c. Let us draw neare with a true heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled from an evill conscience and our
him so busie at their returne that he had forgotten both his hunger and thirst in so much that they were enforced to urge him saying Master eate ver 31. Now marke the sweet answer of our blessed Saviour I have meate to eate that yee know not of ver 32. And see how he doth farther expresse his full meaning Ver. 34. Iesus sayd unto them my meate is to doe the will of him that sent me and to finish his worke Oh admirable patterne Oh heavenly example such was his delight in doing Gods will that hee preferreth it before his meate and drinke in the time of his greatest hunger and thirst Now for the perfecting of this point to quicken our affections and to set the better edge upon our appetites let us consider these three particulars First That we may love Gods Ordinances the better and delight to spend more time in the exercises of Religion let us consider whose Ordinances they are They are the Lords Ordinances of divine authoritie they come from above they are tokens of love sent from our heavenly Father the Word preached is Gods Word the Sacraments are his broad Seales of Righteousnesse and prayer is a dutie expresly required by God himselfe and therefore they are worthy of all due regard and esteeme for his sake that hath sent them Now a token sent from a deare friend O how welcome a Letter a Booke a Ring c. these finde speciall regard with us And shall the Lords Word that gracious Epistle sent from the King of heaven to us shall that be accounted as a strange thing God forbid Oh let us love the Word faithfully preached because it is the Lords Word It is the Gospel of Iesus Christ. This is the Apostles Argument Rom. 1. 16. I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation Yea it is the very Word of Gods grace Act. 20. 32. And now brethren I commend you to God and to the Word of his grace which is able to build you up farther and to give you an inheritance amongst them that are sanctified Yea the Word preached is a speciall fruit of his favour peculiar to those that are Gods people so that wheresoever he sendeth it he hath a purpose to save some there See how this is mentioned as a speciall priviledge to the Iewes which were then the onely people of God under heaven Psal. 147. 19 20. He sheweth his Word unto Iacob his Statutes and Ordinances unto Israel He hath not dealt so with any Nation Oh how we should value the Lords goodnesse herein to us if this were rightly and throughly considered This was the Iewes chiefe priviledge that they had the Lords Word in speciall for their direction when all Nations besides were left in darknesse Deut. 4. 8. For what Nation is there so great that hath Statutes and Judgements so righteous as all this Law which I have set before you this day So marke how the Apostle setteth out the Iewes priviledge above all other Nations which he sheweth consisted in this that they had the Lords lively Oracles for their Direction Rom. 3. 1 2. What advantage then hath the Jew and what profit is there of Circumcision Much every way chiefely because unto them were committed the Oracles of God They were the Lords Oracles and therefore the more to be esteemed and their priviledge was so much the greater that did enjoy them So againe setting out the Iewish priviledges see how the Apostle reports the matter Rom. 9. 4. To whom pertaineth the adoption and the glory and the Covenants and the giving of the Law and the service of God and the promises The Lords Covenants the Lords Law the service of God and his promises this should make us esteeme them Yea it is the Lord that sendeth Prophets and Apostles and Pastors to teach and instruct his people in this Word that he hath given us Ier. 3. 15. I will give you Pastors according to mine owne heart that shall feede you with knowledge and understanding It was the Lord Jesus Christ himselfe that sent the Apostles to preach the Gospel Mat. 28. 20. Goe and teach all Nations c. teaching them to observe all things that I command you and loe I am with you alwayes unto the end of the world Yea and this sending of Ministers to preach the Word unto us is a fruit of Gods singular love towards us it argueth the Lords fatherly pitie and compassion towards us according to that we reade in 2 Chron. 36. 15. And the Lord God of their fathers sent unto them by his Messengers rising early and sending because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place Now lay up all these together If the Word preached be an Ordinance of Gods appointing if he send the Ministers to preach it if their comâ—â—â— to doe this be a fruit of his love yea 〈◊〉 compassion towards us then surely if this 〈◊〉 rightly considered wee cannot choose â—ut love it it is the Lords doings and therefore it is marvellous in our eyes The like may be said of prayer and the Sacraments they are also of Gods ordaining Secondly Consider the worth excellency of these Ordinances in themselves The Word of God faithfully preached is an excellent Ordinance of God and so is prayer and so are the Sacraments matters of speciall and exceeding worth now yee know men love and delight in things that are most excellent This is one reason that David giveth why he delights in the societie of Gods Saints sc. because they were excellent persons Psal. 16. 2. My goodnesse extendeth not unto thee sayth he to God v. 3. but to the Saints that are in the earth and to the excellent in whom is all my delight Doest thou delight in those things that are excellent O then delight thy selfe in Gods Ordinances which are most excellent The Word of God faithfully preached is a most sweet and excellent Ordinance of GOD. See how highly David that man of GOD commends and extolleth it Psal. 19. 7. The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the soule the Testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple and ver 10. More to be desired are they then gold yea then much fine gold sweeter also then honey and the honey-combe Oh the transcendent excellency of the Word of God faithfully preached Had I the tongue of men and Angells I could not expresse it to the full Take notice of a Testimony or two to this purpose in the new Testament 2 Cor. 10. 4. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnall but mightie through God to the pulling downe of strong holds yea it is able to make Sathan fall downe from heaven like lightening This is the Lords great Ordinance to batter the strong holds of sinne and Sathan they are excellent things for the demolition of Sathans Ammunition this casteth out the strong man armed and taketh away his armour wherein
a Comparatis by comparing time spent in Gods service with time spent otherwise there is a broad difference a thousand to one So that if you aske David why his soule longed so sore for Gods Courts He answereth because A day in Gods Courts is better than a thousand Before we come to receive that instruction which the words affoard us it is necessary for mee to unfold the meaning of the words And herein there is no great difficultie but only for me to shew you what is meant by the Courts of God in this place So then by the Courts of God David doth not meane the outward fabricke or frame of Gods Courts but hee hath speciall respect to the duties of Gods worship and service and the exercises of religion performed there by Gods people So that we may conceive Davids meaning as if hee had spoken more largely thus O Lord of Hosts I am now a banished man debarred of the liberty of thine House and ordinances I cannot joyne with thy people in the duties of thy publike worship nor serve thee in the beautie of holinesse O Lord I pray thee restore me againe for so highly doe I prize all things appertaining to thy publike worship and service that I thinke them onely happy that have free liberty to frequent them and therefore doe envie the very Sparrowes which have more liberty in this then I have and that so much the rather because I value that time which is spent in thy service before all other time a thousand fold This is the sense Let us now consider of the Doctrine viz. This That time spent in Gods service is absolutely and incomparably the best spent time Even a day spent in the duties of Gods solemne worship and service is better then a thousand dayes spent otherwise Hereupon it is that the Saints of God have spent so much time in the duties of Gods worship and service and exercises of religion as in holy meditations preaching praying hearing c. See it in examples Let us begin with David Oh how great a part did he spend in Gods service see Psal. 119. 97. O how I love thy Law it is my meditation continually Hereupon it is that hee beginneth the day with prayer Psal. 5. 3. Early in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee and will looke up yea not only in the morning but even at noone and night too Psalm 55. 17. Evening and morning and at noone will I pray and cry aloud yea and this not for a fit or spurt only but constantly even every day Ps. 145. Every day will I praise thee and blesse thy name for ever and ever yea as if this were too little he would be at this worke seven times in a day upon occasion according to that we reade Psal 119. 164. Seven times a day doe I praise thee because of thy righteous judgements besides this as if the day were too little he would sometimes borrow some part of the night for this purpose O Lord I cry in the day time but thou hearest not and in the night season also I am not silent He would upon occasion spend night and day in these holy courses yea and as if all this was not yet enough he would be at it againe at midnight Psalm 119. 62. At midnight will I arise to give thankes unto thee because of thy righteous judgements And why all this but only to teach us thus much that time spent in Gods service is absolutely the best spent time this appeareth by his practise to be his opinion Hereupon it is that Daniel spent so much time in prayer and thanksgiving and that not onely in time of safety but also in time of apparent hazzard Dan. 6. 10. When Daniel knew that the writing was signed he went into his house c. and kneeled upon his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God as he did afore time Where we see First That this was Daniel's practise sc. to pray and give thanks to God three times a day upon his knees in his chamber with his windowes open towards Ierusalem this was his usuall and constant practise heretofore And Secondly that he did so still as openly and as solemnly and as frequently as he did before notwithstanding the danger of the Kings Decree And Thirdly that he knew that the writing was signed and sealed to this purpose all which surely he would never have done if he had not beene fully perswaded of the truth of this Doctrine which we have now in hand sc. That Time spent in Gods service is absolutely the best spent time Thirdly This appeareth by the practise of Mary Magdalen or Sister of Martha whereof we may read Luk. 10. 39 40 41 42. Where wee see that notwithstanding her great love to our Saviour and the desire that she had to give Him the best entertainement she could yet she layeth all other businesses aside and Siâ—teth her downe at our Saviours feete to heare his words saith the Text ver 39. In the time Martha was very busie to prepare entertainement for our Saviour and thought her sister in great fault to leave her thus to serve alone and would not put to her helping hand yea she thought her case so good that she durst herein appeale to our blessed Saviour Ver. 40. Lord doest thâ—u not care that my sister hath left mee to serve alone bid her that she helpe me i. e. Is it not an unreasonable thing that I should doe all and she sit here at thy feete and doe nothing yea and if she have no more love but tâ— put me to all this yet I wonder that thou haâ—t no more care but suffer her so idlely to spend her time when I have so great need of her helpe Lord Biâ— her therefore that she helpe me Sub juâ—â—ce lis est Now see our Saviours answer and observe his sentence ver 41. 42. Martha Martha thou â—arest and art troubled about many things But one thing is needfull Mary hath chosen â—he good paâ—t which shall not bee taken frâ—m her Where wee may see 1. That Mâ—â—y saith nothing our Saviour himselfe apologizeth for her 2. That hee blameth Marthâ— for too much care even in so good a worke as that was sc. to give entertainement to our blessed Saviour 3. That hee doth directly â—ustifie the godly practice of Mary in taking that opportunity to heare his Word as if that was the only one thing needefull Which doth plainely evince sc. that even â—n the judgement of our Saviour Time â—pent in Gods service in hearing c. is â—he best spent time and to be preferred farre â—efore any other time whatsoever In this regard 〈◊〉 it was â—â—at holy Paulâ—pent â—pent so much time and â—â—oke so much â—aines in praying and pâ—â—â—ching upon all â—ccasions Observe that speech of his to â—his purpose Rom. 15. 19. So that 〈◊〉 Ieâ—usalem and round 〈…〉 I
make good his promise 1 Sam. 2. â—0 Them that honour me I will honour and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed See what the Holy Ghost saith of those Boâ—reans that received the Word with all readinesse of minde and searched the Scriptures daily Acts 17. 11. These were more noble then those in Thessalonica saith the text And why so Wherein did their chiefe Nobility appeare sc. in their outward quality they had this spirituall excellency to regulate their hearing by the Word In that they received the Word with all readinesse of minde as appeareth in the words following and searched the Scriptures daily whether those things were so Every religious godly person that spendeth much time in Gods service is a noble person in Gods account It was one of Solomons titles of honour to be called The Preacher one that spent much time in Gods service and in teaching others Eccles. 1. Yea and see how David glorieth in this that he was Gods servant one that spent much time in Gods service Psal. 116. 16. O Lord truly I am thy servant I am thy servant and the son of thy handmaid Lo a mans greatest honour sc. to bee Gods servant to shew that time spent in â—ods service is the most for a mans credit and therefore the best 2. Time so spent affordeth the most sound solid pleasure all other pleasures are but vaine and mad mirth in comparison of this This will satisfie a mans soule as with marrow and 〈◊〉 as David speakes See what pleasure Gods servants have taken in this I â—steemed â—he words of his mouth more thâ—n my necessary foâ—de saith Job Iob 23. 12. O what pleasure and sweetnesse did Iob finde in the Word of Gods mouth it was sweeter and more pleasant in taste then his appointed or necessary foode It did him more good then his meate and drinke So likewise see it in David Oh how I love thy law it is my meditation continually Psalm 119. 97. How sweet are thy words unto my taste sweeter then honey unto my mâ—uth Ver. 103. So likewise to Ieremiah chap. 15. 16. Thy words were found and I did eate them and how did they taste They were unto me the very joy and rejoycing of my heart saith the Prophet Yea so it was to Paul Rom. 7. 24. I delight in the Law of God according to the inner man But above all observe that speech of our Saviour Joh. 4. 34. There you shall finde that our Saviour at that time was hungry and thirstie and the Disciples were gone to the City to buy meate in the meane time commeth a woman to draw water and our Saviour tooke that opportunity to instruct her and convert her to God yea and was so serious in it and so much delighted with it that when the Disciples come with meate they say unto him M. eate Ver. 33. See what he answereth I have meate to eate which yee know not of and then explaineth the meaning Verse 34. My meate is to doe the will of Him that sent mee and finish his worke Lo this was his very meate it did him more good Hee found more sweetnesse in it and so farre preferred it before his meate and drinke so that if our mouth be not out of taste time spent in Gods service hath the most pleasure in it and therefore in that regard is the best spent time Thirdly Time spent in Gods service is the most full of profit every way both for body and soule Godlinesse is profitable unto all things saith the Apostle 1 Tim. 4. 8. having the promise of the life that now is and also of that to come This is the good and the right way as Samuel calleth it 1 Sam. 12. 24. It is that one thing needfull as our Saviour himselfe calleth it Luk. 10. 42. This is the only thing the very boone that David would begge at Gods hands Psalm 27. 4. One thing have I desired of the Lord that I will seeke after But one thing David surely it is some rare thing some extraordinary profitable matter What is it That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the dayes of my life and behold the beautie of the Lord and to enquire in his Temple This is Davids one thing sc. that hee might spend all the greatest part of his life in Gods service he knew the benefit and the profit of it He might well say then as Psalm 23. 6. Surely goodnesse and mercy shall follow me all the dayes of my life Time spent in Gods service is the only way to procure safety and profit both for body and soule 1. There is safety in this course even when their seemeth to be most danger Hee that looseth his life for Christ's sake shall be sure to finde it Mat. 16. Yea see that excellent promise v. 11. of this Psalme The Lord will give grace and glory and no good thing will he withhold from them that walke uprightly Let no man think that Religion is the High-way to danger and beggery No no It is the only safe way and the most profitable An excellent place to this purpose is that we have Exo. 34. 24. Where the Lord enjoyneth that all the Males should appeare before him thrise in the yeare at Ierusalem as if all the Males in England were to appeare thrise in the yeere before God at London Now whereas a man would think that this was very dangerous in regard of invasion from their cruell neighbours that might take the opportunity to set upon their borders in the absence of all the Males Now mark what the Lord promiseth in that case No man shall desire thy land such an envious covetous malicious thought shall not once enter into their heart as to thinke Now we have a fit opportunity to invade Israel So the equity of this promise remaineth still Time sincerely spent in Gods service bringeth safety with it or if any danger or outward hurt come in this case God will dispose it for our good Rather then Daniel shall loose by his time spent in Gods service the Lord will keepe him in safety in the Lions denne and send his Angels to shut the Lions mouthes that they may not hurt him as wee see Dan. 6. Marke that speech of the King to him Verse 20. O Daniel servant of the living God Is thy God whom thou servest continually able to deliver thee from the Lions Is there safety in the service of thy God See how Daniel answereth according to the event of it Ver. 22. My God hath sent his Angell and shut the Lions mouthes that they have not hurt me Lo what impregnable safety in Gods service So Daniel 3. What danger were the three noble Iewes in But see how God made good that promise Isa. 43. 2. When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee c. when thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burnt neither shall the flame kindle upon thee
thus wee are children of wrath and in the state of nature as the Apostle sheweth Ephes. 2. 3. All the while wee live thus we can looke for nothing but the wrath of God to come upon us as it doth upon the children of disobedience as the Apostle speakes Ephesians 5. 6. The wrath of God is even revealed from heaven against such Romans 1. 18. See a notable place for this purpose in Romans 2. 8 9. But unto them that are contentious and doe not obey the truth but obey unrighteousnesse marke the condition of all such indignation and wrath tribulation and anguish upon every soule of man that doth evill upon the Iew first c. See here the estate of such as spend time in the devils service instead of Gods Secondly Consider that all such have cause to feare that God will deny to helpe and succour them when they stand in the most need of it and seeke for it with greatest earnestnesse If I regard wickednesse in my heart God will not heare my prayer saith David Psalme 66. 18. Yea we know that God heareth not sinners saith the blind man Iohn 9. 31. and therefore if God doe not heare wicked mens prayers in their extremities but lets them perish in their sinnes it is not for want of power or mercy in God but onely for want of piety and repentance in them according to that excellent place which wee have to this purpose in Isa. 59. 1 2. Behold the Lords hand is not shortned that he cannot save neither is his eare heavie that he cannot heare where is the fault then that you shall see in the next verse verse 2. But your iniquities have separated betweene you and your God and your sinnes have hid his face from you that he cannot heare Oh the wofull estate of all such as cry unto God in their extremities and are nothing at all regarded Yea God hath told them already that hee will not heare them observe it Proverbs 1. 28 29. Then shall they call c. that is in their extremity but I will not answer they shall seeke me early but they shall not finde mee because they hated knowledge and did not choose the feare of the Lord. Yea the Lord hath sent them word before hand that he will not helpe them Iob 8. 20. Behold God will not cast away a perfect man neither will hee helpe the evill doers saith the Text there O the wofull estate of all such when sicknesse commâ—n or troubles come or death then they are glad to cry out Helpe Lord or else I am damned for ever Not I may the Lord say I will helpe no evill doers such as you are and therefore thou art now like to perish and dye in thy sinnes Iohn 8. 20. Yea the Lord is so farre from regarding the prayers of such people in such cases that he rather refuseth them see upon what warrant I speake it Proverbs 15. 8. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination unto the Lord. The sacrifice what is that Surely his prayers as appeareth by the Antithesis in that place for so it followeth But the prayer of the upright is his delight God hateth and abhorreth the prayers of all such as live in their sinnes and hate to be reformed Hee that turneh away his eare from hearing the Law even that mans prayer shall be an abomination saith the Wiseman Prov. 28. 9. O wofull estate If men had but eyes to see it and hearts to consider it aright the Lord takes no pleasure in the very best services which they can doe him And no marvell for in the third place So long as men live in their sinnes without repentance and spend time in the Devils service instead of Gods there is a direct and an expresse enmity betweene God and them If when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Sonne saith the Apostle Romans 5. 10. Yea especially those that live and goe on in their sinnes have just cause to be assured of this and that they shall smart for it accordingly See a place or two to this purpose Psalme 37. 20. But the wicked shall perish why so surely because they are Gods enemies And the enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of Lambes easily melted into smoke shall they consume away Where we see first that the wicked are Gods enemies Secondly that they shall consume away like smoke and the fat of Lambes So in that Psalme for the Sabbath Psalme 92. 9. For lo thine enemies O Lord lo thine enemies shall perish and who are they that yee shall see in the same verse All the workers of iniquity shall bee scattered where we see both the description and the condition of wicked men They are Gods enemies there is their description dissipation and perishing there is their condition But above all to this purpose is that of Psalme 68. 21. God will surely wound the head of his enemies and the hairie scalpe of such a one as goeth on still in his trespasses O consider this ye that forget God and live in your sinnes lest God teare you in peeces and there be none to deliver you Psal. 50. 22. What estate can be more dangerous then an estate of enmity against God The adversaries of the Lord shall bee broken in peeces out of heaven shall be thunder upon them saith Hannah Samuel's Mother 1 Samuel 2. 10. Mee thinkes I have said enough if effectuall to afright men out of their service of sinne and Sathan especially if I shall adde but one thing more which shall be the fourth and the last remedy that I purpose to propound Fourthly Therefore consider that the devill is the worst master that any man can serve and giveth the most wofull and accursed wages What baser Master then the devill that great red Dragon Revelations 12. 12. That roaring Lion that goeth about continually seeking whom he may devoure A murtherer from the very beginning Iohn 8. 44. and the most damnable liar that ever was yea the very father thereof What baser Master then the Devill Yea and see what base wages he giveth Romans 6. 23. For the wages of sinne is death spirituall temporall and eternall both the first and the second death They that spend time in the devils service must goe to hell with the Devill for company Psalme 9. 17. The wicked shall be turned into hell and all that forget God They are utterly deceived that thinke to live like devils upon earth and yet for all that become glorious Saints in heaven when they dye that thinke they shall get into the new Ierusalem hereafter without being New Creatures for the present No no God hath revealed the contrary already as is evident Revel 22. 14 15. Blessed are they that doe his Commandements that spend time in Gods service for they shall enter in through the gates into the City of the new Ierusalem But without shall be dogges and Inchanters and Whoremongers and
he trusted here is the excellency of the Word preached So observe another testimony to this purpose which sheweth the excellency of this Ordinance Heb. 4. 12. For the Word of God is quicke and powerfull and sharper then any two edged sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soule and spirit This sword of the Spirit is a most excellent Ordinance of God it is a speciall Shield to defend us against the fury of all our spirituall enemies See the Apostles testimony for this Ephes. 6. 16. Take the Helmet of Salvation and the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God See how our blessed Saviour with this put Sathan to flight Mat. 4. Scriptum est this was his weapon and see the conclusion ver 11. Then the Devill left him This sword will pierce the very â—â—ead of that great Leviathan Oh how we should love it if this was rightly considered Thirdly and lastly Consider the singular use and benefit of Gods Ordinances in regard of us Give me leave to instance in one of Gods Ordinances sc. the Word preached Certainly the utilitie of it is extraordinarie if it be well considered observe it I beseech you and see in some particulars First The Word preached is the Word of life the meanes to quicken a dead soule It is the meanes both to beget and to preserve spirituall life in the soule of a Christian Psal. 119. 50. This is my comfort in mine affliction for thy Word hath quickened me We are by nature all dead in trespasses and sinnes Eph. 2. 1. Now the Word faithfully preached is the meanes to revive and raise us up unto newnesse of life Ioh. 5. 25. Verely I say unto you sayth our Saviour the houre is comming and now is when the dead shall heare the voyce of the Sonne of God and they that heare it shall live See here the meanes to revive and quicken our dead soules Oh therefore let us love the Word even as we love our life Pro. 8. 35. He that findeth me findeth life and shall obtaine favour of the Lord Oh the worth of life Life is sweet especially spirituall yea naturall life is very deare unto us Skinne for skinne and all that a man hath will he give for his life sayth the Text Job 2. 4. Now the Word of God faithfully preached is our very life Pro. 4. 13. Take fast hold of Instruction let her not goe keepe her for shee is thy life sayth the Wise-man How can we choose but love the Word if we consider this Secondly Because life it selfe without health is but a burthen rather then any benefit A sicke man is even weary of his life so was Iob in his extremitie My soule is weary of my life Iob 10. 1. sc. for want of health Therefore in the second place the Word of God is health as well as life to them that truely embrace it My Sonne attend to my words sayth Salomon Pro. 4. 20. Why so See the worth of them sc. Ver. 22. For they are life unto those that finde them and health unto all their flesh Life is a sweet thing if it be accompanied with health so Pro. 3. 8. It shall be health to thy navell and marrow to thy bones Health is a most precious Iewell and therefore the Word which is the meanes to beget and preserve it must needs be precious Thirdly But what is life and health without comfort And therefore in the third place the Word preached is the chiefe meanes of comfort that we doe enjoy This is our chiefe support and consolation next under God himselfe Psal. 119. 92. Vnlesse thy Law had beene my delight I should have perished in my affliction The Word preached is the Word of comfort proceeding from the God of all comfort 1 Cor. 1. 3. which is able to comfort us in all our tribulations that we may be able to comfort others with the same comfort wherewith we our selves are comforted of God Yea the holy Word of God is both written and preached to this end and purpose 1. It is written to this end Rom. 15. 4. Whatsoever is written aforetime is written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope Yea secondly This is one end of preaching Isa. 40. 1. Comfort ye comfort yee my people sayth your God speake comfortably to Jerusalem Hence also is that of the Apostle 1 Cor. 14. 3. when shewing the excellency of preaching he giveth this for one of the chiefe reasons of his Encomium But he that prophesieth speaketh to men unto edification and exhortation and comfort He that preacheth aright preacheth to the comfort of Gods people Indeed as for the wicked of the world here is no comfort for them they must goe to the world for comfort for the Word hath none for them it is the terror of the Lord to torment them before the time but to the godly and such as are religious it is to them a Word of strong consolation yea the very joy and rejoycing of their heart sayth Ier. 15. 16. This was Davids comfort Psal. 119. 50. This is my comfort in my affliction for thy Word hath quickened mee And indeed what greater comfort then for a condemned man to heare of a pardon Men in a desperate condition to heare of a Saviour Joh. 5. 39. Search the Scriptures for they are they that testifie of me sayth our Saviour himselfe What greater comfort The Scriptures tell us of the gracious readinesse of God to be reconciled to poore sinners 2 Cor. 5. 20. We are Embassadors for Christ as though God did beseech you by us and we pray you in Christs stead to be reconciled to God The Word assureth us that upon our repentance our sinnes are forgiven us Ezech. 18. 21. which is one of the chiefe grounds of comfort that can be propounded Thus Christ comforted the poore Palsie-man Mat. 9. 2. Sonne be of good cheare thy sinnes are forgiven thee Men may seeme but can never be truely chearfull in the want of this favour Thus also would our Saviour comfort the poore weeping penitent Luk. 7. 48. Thy sinnes are forgiven thee He knew she could receive no better ground of comfort So when God would have his people comforted Isa. 40. 1. see what direction he giveth to that purpose Comfort ye my people Comfort ye Jerusalem How Tell her that her iniquities are pardoned c. As if he had said If any thing will affoord her comfort that will doe it Blessed is the man whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sinnes are covered Psal. 32. 1 2. He that is assured of happinesse may well be comforted Yea the Word preached is the glad tydings of Salvation it doth assure us of our interest in Christ and that He is made of God unto us Wisedome and Righteousnesse Sanctification and Redemption 1 Cor. 1. 30. As also that Christ with all his merits doe properly belong unto us 1 Cor. 3. 21 22