Lectures Upon Psalm 51, Part 1 · Lecture 5
Lecture V. On the Title of Psalme 51. November 2. 1625.
Vse. 3.FOlloweth the third, and last use of the doctrine, which is for direction; even to direct us how we may heare the Word so as we may feele this divine power, and efficacy of it in our own hearts. Before we come to the direction it selfe consider I pray you the necessity of this use in three points.
First, it is a great sin, and matter of great danger to us (as we heard the last day) to be unprofitable hearers, and to continue so. This danger our Saviour implieth in that earnest charge he giveth to all the hearers of the Word, Luk. 8.18. Take heed how you heare.
Secondly, consider, that there are few or none of you but you stand guilty of this sin, you have long enjoyed this ordinance of God, but have felt little power, and efficacie of it in your hearts, profited or thriven in grace little or nothing by it at all. Little or no fruit can be seene now a daies of the Lords cost, and pai…es any where, where he hath sowed this precious seed most plentifully, little or no increase can be seene. So as that complaint is justly made now, by many of Gods faithfull servants, Esa. 53.…. Who hath beleeved our retort, and to whom is the arme of the Lord revealed? I have my selfe knowne the time when it might have beene said in this, and many other townes as Act. 2.4…. The Lord … the Church daily, such as should be saved. And as Ma…th. 11 12. The kingdome of heaven suffered violence, and the violent tooke it by force. In those cases … have beene said of us as Esa. 32.20. Blessed are yee that sow beside all waters, that send forth thither the feet of the Oxe, and the Asse. Men might have called us blessed, and happy men in the fruitfulnesse of our ministery, the ground God gave us to till, and husband was a most fruitfull soile. But those daies are gone, no such thing is to be seene now, we now plow, and sow in stony, and thorny, and barren ground, you heare still but with no such affection, love, and delight as once you did, you feele no such power in the Word to reforme you, and draw you unto the practise of that you learne, as once you did. So that I may say to many of you as the Apostle doth, Heb. 10.32. Call to remembrance the former daies.
Thirdly, consider well what may be the causes of this, that though there bee as much preaching, and hearing as ever there was, yet men profit now adaies nothng so much in the life, and power of godlinesse as once they did.
First, it cannot be denied but that one cause why the ministery of the Word is so weake, and unprofitable, is the want of that due inspection that Christ hath lest to his Church to make it fruitfull, and effectuall. The Minister is by Gods ordinance not onelyonly to teach, but to oversee his slocke, Act. 20.28. Take heede to the slocke over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers. Heb. 13.17. Remember them which have the rule over you who have spoken unto you in the name of the Lord. They have authority from God, not only to teach you his will, but to oversee all your waies at home, and abroad, to observe how you profit by that which you heare, to require at your hands the practise of that they teach you, Matth. 21.34. The Lord sends his servants to demand fruit of them that occupie his ground. The Guides of Gods Church have also authority from God not onelyonly to admonish, and reprove you if you be unfruitfull, but also to correct you by executing the censures of Christs Church upon you. Paul speakes of a rod that God hath committed to his servants to that end, 1 Cor. 4.21. Shall I come to you with a rod? Certainely Gods vineyard, and garden hath need not onelyonly of such as plant, and water it, but of such as take continuall care of it, to looke unto it, to dresse, and husband it, Luk. 13.7, 8. If it be not pruned nor digged no marvell though it beare briers, and thornes rather then any thing that is good. Marke that curse, Esa. 5.6. I will lay it wast, it shall not be pruned nor digged, but there shall come up briers, and thornes. And surely this is a great cause why the ministery of the Word doth so little good. 1. That Ministers take so little care of their people, how they live, whether they profit or no by that they heare, but thinke if they preach constantly unto them they have done asmuch as God requireth of them. Whereas it is a chiefe part (as I have told you) of the Ministers office to oversee the flocke. 1 Pet. 5.2. Taking the over-sight thereof; and to take care of them, 1 Tim. 3.5. If a man know not how to rule his owne house how shall he take care of the Church of God? 2. That the people generally are sonnes of Belial will not beare Christs yoke, but conspire together against it, and say, Psal. 2.3. Let us breake their bands asunder, and cast their cords from us. They will be content to heare us now and then in our publique ministery, but if we offer to deale with them in private, and come in our Masters name to demand fruit of them, they will be ready to offer all violence, and despite unto us, as they did, Matth. 21.35.
Secondly, another cause of the unfruitfullnesse of the ministery is this, that the Lord for the contempt men have shewed unto the Word, doth denie to give his blessing unto it in their hearts. Even as if he should say of many places as Esa. 5.6. I will command the clouds that they raine no raine upon it: And as Matth. 13.14. By hearing ye shall heare, and shall not understand, and seeing yee shall see, and shall not perceive. Many aone there is (and would to God there were none such among you) that seemed once to be fruitfull, and to profit much by that they heard, that are now growne so senselesse, so sottish, so hardened in their evill courses, as if (for their apostacy) God had pronounced of them in his decree as once he did of the figtree, Mat. 21.19. Let no fruit grow on thee hence forward for ever.
Thirdly, but the chiefe cause sure why we profit no more by the Word is in our selves, Esa. 59.1, 2. The Lords hand is not shortned that it cannot save; but your iniquities have seperated betweene you, and your God. And as the Apostle saith of praying, Iames 4.3. Ye aske, and receive not because ye aske amisse, so may I say of hearing, ye heare, and heare often, but receive no profit at all, because you heare amisse.
It is therefore necessary for you all to be directed, how you may heare to profit by your hearing, how you may heare so as your hearts may feele the divine power of God in this his ordinance. This direction then consisteth of three parts. For such as would profit by their hearing must do something before they come to heare; something during the time that they are in hearing; and something after they have heard the Word.
For the first, As Physicians before physicke use to give somewhat to prepare the body that their physick may worke the more kindly; so must the soule be prepared for the receiving of this heavenly physicke, or it will never worke kindly upon it.
Object.But you will object, There is no such need of this. The Word hath wrought mightily to the conversion of some that never prepared their hearts to receive it; as in that convert mentioned, 1 Cor. 14.24, 25. Yea in some that came with that in their hearts as might utterly have hindred the saving operation of it, even with hatefull hearts, and with full purpose to cavill, and oppose it: As in the case of the pursevants that were sent to apprehend Christ, Ioh. 7.32, 46. And in those Iewes that immediatly before Peters sermon mocked him, and the rest of the Apostles, and said they were full of new wine, Act. 2.13.37. And in those Athenians who when they came to beare Paul esteemed him no better then a babler, Act. 17.18, 34.
Answ.To this I answer. 1. That I speake not now to the unconverted (for such I know can do nothing to prepare their owne hearts, seeing they are dead in their sins, Ephes. 2.1.) but to Gods people, and such as are regenerate. 2. I speake of the outward meanes that God hath revealed in his Word, and appointed us to use, to make this his ordinance effectuall in our hearts, no way limiting Gods power, but leaving his secret working to himselfe. According to that, Deut. 29.29. The secret things belong to the Lord our God; but those things that are revealed belong to us, and to our children for ever. 3. Though many have felt this ordinance effectuall in themselves that never thus prepared their hearts unto it, yet can none such have any assurance or hope that they shall profit by it, that are not carefull to prepare their hearts before hand, because they have no promise of God for it.
Now this preparation consisteth in eight things, which I will distinctly deliver unto you, and run over them with all the speed I can.
First, you must come in repentance, that is, before you come to heare you must (by unfeined repentance) cast of every knowne sin, Mar 1.15. Repent, and beleeve the Gospell, saith our Saviour. Men must repent with legall repentance before they can beleeve. And the Word can profit no man unlesse it bee mixed with faith, Heb 4.2. This preparative the Apostle prescribeth, 1 Pet. 2.1, 2. Laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisyes, and envies, and evill speakings, as new borne babes desire the sincere milke of the Word that ye may grow thereby.
Applic.Is it therefore any wonder though they that are usually drunke on the Saterday night or spend it in gaming, and then come hither on the Lords day to heare; or that (immediatly before they come to the Sermon) have beene scoulding or acting some other foule sins, should go away from the Ministery of the Word never a whit better then they came? Did you ever know any salve so soveraigne, that could cure a wound that had a splint or an arrow head remaining in it? Surely so will every knowne sin unrepented of, hinder the saving operation of the word in any mans heart; yea it will make the Word a savour of death unto a man. See how God threatneth such, Ezek. 14.7, 8. For every one of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourneth in Israel, which separateth himselfe from me, and setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumbling blocke of his iniquity before his face, and commeth to a Prophet to enquire of him concerning me I the Lord will answer him by my selfe. And I will set my face against that man, and will make him a signe, and a proverbe, and I will cut him off from the midst of my people, and ye shall know that I am the Lord.
Secondly, you must come with an empty, and free heart; lay aside, and cast of all worldly cares, and thoughts, which will distract, and draw away thy heart. That is one chiefe reason of that rest that is enjoyned upon the Lords day, and of the commandement the Lord gives to remember, and thinke of it before hand, and to do all our businesse in the sixe daies that we may have nothing to doe on that day, Exod. 28.8—10. This is that that God intended to teach by that ceremony he commanded. Moses to use, Exod. 3.5. Put of thy shooes from of thy feet for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground; to lay aside all their worldly thoughts, and affections. They that in this ordinance of God seeke for wisdome (that is to be made wise unto salvation) must first separate themselves from all other matters to this businesse; as Solomon speaketh, Pro. 18.1. 1 Tim. 4.15. Give thy selfe wholy to them, that thy profiting may appeare to all.
And how should they then profit by the Word,Applic. that jumpe out of their worldly businesse, from busying their heads, and tongues about such matters, into the house of God, and will never take the paines to put of their shoes, and to sequester their thoughts from such things? Whereby it comes to passe that though they draw neare to God with their eares, and lips yet their hearts are farre removed from him, Esa. 29.13. Their heart goeth after their covetousnesse, Ezek. 33.31.
Thirdly, you must come with an appetite, and earnest desire to learne, and profit by the Word, without which (as meat taken into a full stomacke) the Word will profit us little. With this heart came David to the Word, Psal. 119.131. I opened my mouth, and panted, for I longed for thy commandements. This preparative also the Apostle prescribeth, 1 Pet. 2.2. As new borne babes desire the sincere milke of the Word, that ye may grow thereby. To such God hath ever beene wont to blesse his Word, He filleth the hungry with good things, Luk. 1.53. This maketh the Word sweet, and wholsome to us, Pro. 27.7. To the hungry soule, every bitter thing is sweet.
But the most of our hearers come to the Word without all appetite or desire after it,Applic. as may appeare by the heavinesse of their countenance while they are hearing, Of whom it may be said as Esa. 3.9. The shew of their countenance doth witnesse against them.
Fourthly, you must come with an humble heart, affected with the sense of the need you have of this ordinance of God, in respect of the ignorance, hardnes of heart, infidelity, and other corruptions you find in your selves, Psal. 25.9. God will teach the humble his way. He giveth grace to the humble, 1 Pet. 5.5. All conceit of our own knowledge must be cast of if we would profit by the word. We must first become fooles (in sense of our owne ignorance) before ever we can be made wise unto salvation by the Lord in this his ordinance, 1 Cor. 3.18. No man can hunger, and thirst after righteousnesse, and grace till he be first poore in spirit, Matth. 5.…, ….
And what marvell is it then that our hearers profit so little?Applic. 1. Many come onelyonly to heare for novelty sake, that they may try, and passe their sentence, and censure on the preachers gifts, Luke 23.8, 9. Herod had heard a great fame of Christ, and therefore was exceeding glad both to see him, and to heare him too, that he might try whether he were such a one as he had heard him to be. 2. The most are Laodicean hearers too well conceited of themselves as it is said of them, Revel. 3.17. void of all sense of ignorance or any other corruption in themselves.
Fiftly, come with an open heart, ready to receive every truth that God shall teach thee, in this his ordinance; what God shall teach you (I say) not what any man shall teach thee, be he never so good. For as for the best teacher in the world you have a rule, to try before you trust, as 1 Thess. 5.21. Prove all things, hold fast that which is good, and nothing els. As the noble Bereans did, Act. 17.11. Even in these daies Gods people have need of that caveat, Mar. 4.24. Take heed what you heare. But this I say you shall never profit by the Word, unlesse you come to it with open hearts, ready to receive whatsoever God shall teach you. With such a heart came Cornelius to heare Peter, Act. 10.33. We are all here present before God, to heare all things that are commanded thee of God. It is the suit of Christ to his Church, Cant. 5.2. Open to me my sister, my love, my dove, shut not thy heart against me, and my Word. To this also a promise is made, Ps. 24.7. Lift up your heads ô ye gates, and be ye lift up ye everlasting doores, and the King of glory shall come in. And Revel. 3.20. If any man heare my voice, and open the doore, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Certainely if men would come to the Word with such open, and teachable hearts, ready to receive, and learne whatsoever God shall teach, they would profit must more then they do.
Applic.But alas most that heare us come with prejudicate, and forestalled hearts, they have certaine imaginations, and errors of their mind which they are resolved to hold concerning the Sabbath, and recreations, and even this point that I have now so largely handled touching the necessity of living under a sound, and profitable ministery, and diverse other things. And these imaginations, and errors of their judgement serve as strong holds to keepe Christ, and his truth out of their hearts, 2 Cor. 10.4, 5. With this mind many a one comes to heare us; I know the preacher well enough, he differs from me in judgement in sundry things; but it is no matter, I can heare him, and hold mine owne well enough, I like his gifts well, and will receive his doctrine so farre as I judge it to bee true, but if once he fall upon his owne conceits, there I will leave him. And do so still in Gods name, if any preacher teach his owne conceits, though he had the gifts of an Angell beleeve him not, Gal. 1.8, 9. But take heed thou count not that his conceit which he teacheth thee by good warrant of Gods Word. For in that case if thou receive not whatsoever he teacheth thee, I will assure thee that that which thou seemest to receive will doe thee no good. For certainely these men that in their hearing do thus limit, and gage the Word, and spirit of God, would if it lay in their power, as those wicked men mentioned, Esay 30.10. Say to the Seers see not, and to the Prophets prophesie not unto us right things, speake unto us smooth things. And those that did so the Lord calls despisers of his Word, verse 12.
Sixthly, come with a heart resolved to obey and practise whatsoever God shall teach and command thee. With such a heart came David to the Word, Psal. 119.33, 34. Teach me O Lord the way of thy statutes, and I shall keepe it unto the end, give me understanding, and I shall keepe thy law, yea I shall observe it with my whole heart. To this the promise is made, Ioh. 7.17. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the Doctrine whether it be of God or whether I speake of my selfe. Such shall attaine to a setled, and certaine knowledge of the truth. And Luk. 8.15. They that with an honest heart heare the Word, keepe it, and bring forth fruit with patience. Mica 2.7. Doe not my words do good to him that walketh uprightly?
And how can they then profit by the ministery of the Word that in their hearing seeke nothing but knowledge,Applic. intend nothing lesse then to practise ought they heare, like those Ezek. 33.31. They heare thy words but they will not do them But rather resolve before hand they will be still as they were, they will do as their neighbours doe; as Ze…echia did, 2 Chron 36.13. He s…iffaed his worke, and hardned his heart from turning unto the Lord God of Israel. No preacher shall alter them, they can heare them they trow, and ver do still as they list. What? Wee were wise men indeed if wee should practise what we heare, leave our good fellowship, bring religion into our families, so should we be counted Puritans, God forbid we should ever become such fooles, Oh take heed, God forbid it not indeed. When Pharaoh had hardned his owne heart against the meanes God had used to soften it, Exod. 8 15. ye read oft in that book afterward that God hardned his heart, Exod. 9.12. O therefore take heed of this, Heb. 3.7.8. If ye will heare his voice harden not your hearts.
Seventhly, come in faith to the hearing of the Word, and in a certaine expectation to receive that good from the Lord in this his ordinance, which he hath promised to doe and worke by it. We should thinke, and meditate of the promises God hath made to this duty, and expect by faith the performance of them Christ hath promised he will be with his servants in their ministery to the end of the world, Mat. 28.20. Beleeve this, and expect his gracious presence to make his ordinance effectuall in thine heart. He hath said, Luk. …1.28. Blessed are they that heare the Word. Consider who spake this, beleeve him of his word, and expect a blessing from him in thy hearing. The Lord hath said, Psal. 19.7 The law of the Lord is perfect converting the soule: And Rom. 1.…6. …t is the power of God unto salvation. Thou feelest sundry corruptions which thou wouldest faine have power to overcome, and thy heart converted from them unto the Lord, beleeve this which God hath said of his Word, and expect to finde this converting power of God, in this his ordinance. So the Lord hath said of this ordinance, Acts 20.32. that it is able to build his people up ▪ and to persit the worke of grace begun in them: and thou wouldst grow, and art troubled that thou grow…st to better; come in saith to it, and looke to receive this benifit by it. So the Lord hath said, Esa. 57.19 that he createth, and ordaineth the fruit of the lips: to be peace peace to them that are n…are, and to them that are a far of. And thou w…ntest peace in thy conscience, beleeve what God (that cannot lie) hath said, and look verily to have peace wrought in thy heart by this meanes. In a word God hath said of this his ordinance, Esa. 55.3. Heare, and your soule shall live And Iam 1.21. That it is able to save your soules; beleeve this then, and expect life, and salvation by it.
How should the most of our hearers then receive any good by this ordinance of God,Applic. when few or none come to it in this faith? They never stirre up themselves to thinke of these promises, or to expect any such good by it. As it was with them that desired to receive good by Christs divine power, in working miracles, they must bring faith with them, Marke. 9.23. Iesus said to him (that came to have his sonne dispossessed) If thou canst beleeve, all these things are possible to him that beleeveth. And still according to their faith, so they sped. Matth. 9.…9. So is it in this case. They that desire to receive good by the divine power of God in this his ordinance, must bring faith to it, and according to their faith, so shall they speed. And as it is said of Christ, Matth. 13.58. He did … are … works (in Nazareth) because of their unbeliefe. So may it be sayd of our Church assemblies now adayes, God sheweth not his saving power much in them, because of the unbeliefe of our hearers.
Eightly, and lastly, If thou wouldest profite by thy hearing, pray before thou hearest, No good thing ye know can bee expected from God with a blessing if it be not sought by prayer, Deut. 4.7. The Lord our God is nigh unto us in all that we call upon him for. And in this particular, it is the duty of Gods people to pray for their teachers, that they may so speake as they ought to speake. Col. 4.4. and specially that in their ministery they may so apply the word, as it may effectually meet with their corruptions. Let the righteous smite me (saith David, Psal. 141.5.) it shall be a kindnesse, and let him reprove me, it shall be as an excellent oyle. For themselves also they should pray, that (through Gods assistance) they may heare profitably, and be blessed in their hearing. Thus did David go to the Word Psal. 19.18. Open thou mine eyes that I may behold wonderous things out of thy law. For the Lord only is he, that can teach us to profite, Esa. 48.17. I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profite. To this is the promise made, Pro. 2.3, 5. If thou cryest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding, then shalt thou understand the feare of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.
And surely this is one chiefe cause, why there is so little profiting by the ministery of the word.Applic: For before they come to Church, pray either for the preacher, or themselves; nay, few when they are at Church have any heart to joyne with the Preacher in the prayer that he maketh before the Sermon. But that complaint may bee made in this case which the Prophet maketh, Esay 64.7. There is none that calleth on thy name, that stirreth up himselfe to take hold of thee.