Sermons in One Volume, Sermon 27
Food for new borne babes.
1. Pet. 2. 2.
As new borne babes diſire the ſincere milke of the word, that ye may grow by it.
THis Scripture (beloued in the Lord) containeth an exhortation to in…re and ſtirre vp the beleuing Iewes, that as God had illightned them with ſome knowledge of his trueth, and ſanctified them in ſome meaſure with the grace of his ſpirit: ſo they would proceed & grow on and dailie increaſe more and more in the faith and feare of Ieſus Chriſt, like the glorious ſunne which ſtill augmenteth and redoubleth his heat and light, till it bee come to the middeſt of heauen, where is perfect daie. Nowe the meanes whereby we receiue all our grouth and increaſe in God, is the liuelie preaching of the word of trueth. And therefore the Apoſtle by a figuratiue, and borrowed kinde of ſpeech, earneſtly preſſing them to thirſt & to long for the word of God, euen the foode of their ſoules, as little infants (which are new borne) crie for the mothers milke to nouriſh and ſuſtaine them. For there are two birthes mencioned in the Scripture: the one fleſhly, and naturall by propagation from the firſt Adam, whereby originall and our birth-ſin, as it were a Serpentes poiſon, paſſeth and tranſfuſeth it ſelfe into vsus: the other heauenly and ſpirituall by renouation, from the ſecond Adam which is Ieſus Chriſt, whereby grace and holineſſe is deriued and brought vntounto vsus.
In this latter and better birth, God is our Father to beget vsus, the Church his ſpouſe our mother to conceiue vsus,1. Pet 1. 2. the ſeede whereby we are bredde and borne againe,Gal. 4. 6. is the worde of God,1. Pet. 1. 29. the Nurſes to feede, and to weane,1. Theſ. 2. 7 and to cheriſh vsus, are the Miniſters of the Goſpell, and the foode whereby we are nouriſhed, and held in life, is the milk of the worde, as in this place. And therefore in as much as children which are newe borne, cannot increaſe in grouth and ſtature, but muſt needes die, and come to diſſolution, vnleſſe they bee continuallie fedde and nouriſhed with wholeſome foode: it behooueth all the faithfull and godlie, who are quickened and reuiued in the life of God, as new borne babes to deſire the ſincere milke of the worde, that they may grow by it. I thinke we neede not many words to cleare the generall drift and ſcope of this Scripture, as we need not many fingers to pointe at the ſhining ſun. Let vsus now therefore diſcend to the particular doctrines which iſſue and ſpring from the ſeuerall branches of this ſcripture.
Firſt here is noted a preparation, if we wil be bettered and increaſed by the worde, wee muſt bee as new borne bares. Secondlie, our affection and duetie when we are newe borne we muſt deſire. Thirdly the matter & obiect of our deſire, the milke of the worde. Fourthly, the qualitie of the milke, it muſt bee ſincere. Laſtly, the ende and vſe for which we deſire it,Mat. 18. 4. that we may grow thereby. For the firſt point we muſt be as new borne babes: 1. Cor. 14. 20Children wee know are principally commended for ſimplicitie and harmeleſnes: and therefore all thoſe which will profite in the ſchoole of Chriſt and receiue light and comfort by the preaching of the worde, are here taught to become as babes, to laie aſide all maliciouſneſſe, and to bring holy and ſanctified hearts to the hearing of it.Luk. 18. 29 Suffer the little babes to come vntounto mee (ſaith our ſauiour) and forbid them not: for of ſuch is the kingdome of heauen: as if we were neuer fit to heare & learne of Chriſt, til we be reformed & newly changed into little babes againe. For the ſecrets of the Lord (as the Pſalmiſt ſpeaketh) is with them that feare him: Pſal. 25. 14to teach vsus, that as Dauid would admit no vile perſon into his coū ſell: So God will admit no ſinfull ſoule into his ſecretes. If any man will doe Gods will, (ſaith our Sauiour) he ſhall know of the doctrine whether it be of God or no,Iohn. 7. 17 becauſe no man can learn this doctrine, but he that doth it,Reue. 14. 3 as no man could learne the Virgins ſong, but they which ſang it. And Salomon to the ſame effect ſaith, The feare of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, Prou. 1. 17.as if the firſt leſſon to be wiſe, were to be holie: & therefore Chriſt is ſaid to hauehave expounded all thinges to his Diſciples apart, to ſhew, that if we will hauehave Chriſt to teach vsus, we muſt go a part from the world. So that as a man ſlippeth off all his cloathes, when he goeth into a bath to waſh him: So we muſt ſlippe off all our ſins, when we come to the word to feed vsus: for wiſedom will not reſt in the defiled ſoule, nor in a bodie that is ſubiect vntounto ſinne. As the Deuill woulde not dwell but in a houſe that was ſwept from godlines:Luk. 11. 25. ſo the graces of God will not come vntounto the heart which is not cleanſed from wickedneſſe, for God will not powre new wine but into new veſſels: therefore vnles ye hauehave prepared new hearts,Math. 9. 17 look for no new bleſſings to bee powred on you. The Iewes reade the Scriptures daily in their Synagogues to finde Chriſt, but all in vayne, becauſe the vaile is not takē away in reading them: Euen ſo doe we preach in vayne, and you heare in vaine, becauſe the vaile of ſinne which is drawne like a Curtaine ouer your harts, hideth and eclipſeth the glorious light of the Goſpell from you. And therefore (beloued brethren) if you will hauehave the Lord to bleſſe your hearing, and to proſper our preaching, you muſt waſh and rince out the dregs of ſin that are frozen in you, you muſt purge the leauen of maliciouſnes that ſowreth your ſoules, you muſt caſt vp your couetouſnes, & your pride, and your ſlothfulnes, & your partiall preiudice, like the ſerpent which ſpues vp his poyſon when he goes to drinke: For this is the cauſe why there are ſo many fruitleſſe & non-proficient hearers, becauſe there are ſo many ſinfull and wicked hearers. It is ſayd of Chriſt,Mat. 13. 11 that he did not many great works in his owne countrey for their vnbeliefs ſake: ſo it may be ſayd, that GOD concealeth many great myſteries of faith from vsus for our ſinnes ſake. Our wickedneſſe ſtops Chriſts mouth that hee will not ſpeake, as the Iewes incredulitie chayned his handes that hee woulde not worke. Will an Embroderer teach an other mans ſeruant his trade, if he knowe he will hurt him? No more will God teach the Diuels ſeruants his truth, becauſe hee knoweth they will offend him. The ſeed which fell into the thornie groud, ſprang vp very cherefully for a time, that it might ſeeme to giuegive great hope of a ioyfull harueſt: but becauſe thornes grewe vp with it,Mat. 13. 22 at length they choked it: ſo that vnleſſe wee cut vp the thornie ſinnes which naturally ſprout and ſpring vp in vsus, they will ouerthrow all the good plants of holy doctrine that are graffed in vsus: and therefore the Prophet Ieremie willeth vsus to breake vp the fallowe ground, Iere. 4. 4.and not to ſowe among thornes, as if the heart muſt firſt be ſanctified, and afterward inſtructed, as yron muſt firſt be heated, and afterwards be faſhioned. In regard whereof, I beſeech you (my beloued) in the feare and reuerence of Gods bleſſed name, looke to your feete when ye enter into the houſe of GOD: preſſe not into this marriage feaſt without a Wedding garment, treade not into the holie Sanctuarie to heare the word, with an vnſanctified, and a defiled, and a filthie ſoule.
A man will not keepe the Sabbaoth in his working apparell, but will put on his richeſt iewelles, and array himſelfe in his beſt attyre, and yet wee make it no ſeruple at all to come vntounto the Sabbaoths exerciſe with a prophane, and a wicked, and our workie day heart. When Nadab and Abihu offered ſtrange fire before the Lord,Leu. 10. 3. God ſayd, I will bee honoured in them that draw nigh vntounto mee, to ſhewe that the Lord doth then looke for more holines at our hands, when by practiſe of his ſeruice, and the duties of holy religion, wee approach to drawe more neere vntounto him. Wherefore, to ſhut vp this point; as the begger (in the Goſpell) caſt off his cloake to come to Chriſt: ſo muſt we caſt off the cloke of our wickedneſſe, when we come to heare. We muſt be as babes, Mat. 11. 25if wee will bee Chriſtes pupilles; becauſe he reuealeth knowledge & wiſedome to none but babes. And yet wee muſt not be babes only, but newe borne babes, which hauehave a newe ſoule, a newe life, newe members, new affections imparted to them. Whereby wee learne, that it is not enough in our regeneration, to redreſſe and reforme ſome one diſordered affection in vsus, but wee muſt bee chaunged and new faſhioned in euerie part.1. Sa. 10. 9. As Saul when the kingly ſpirite came vponupon him, was turned as it were into another man: So wee when the word begetteth vsus a new, muſt be turned and chaunged into other men, and therefore they which are implanted into Chriſt,2. Cor. 5. 17. are called new creatures, becauſe neither the olde hearn, nor the olde hand, nor the olde eare, nor the olde eye, will ſerue the turne, but all muſt bee … and newe framed agayne.Ioh. 3. 6. For whatſoeuer is borne of the fleſh, is fleſh: If wee will hauehave it ſpirit, that is fit for Gods worſhip, who is a ſpirit, Ioh. 4. 24and will bee worſhipped in ſpirit and truth, it muſt bee borne agayne of the ſpirit. The ſenſe hereof made the Prophet Dauid crye out,Pſal. 51. 10 Create in me a cleane heart, O God, and renue a right ſpirit within me: and therefore we muſt not patch and peece vp our hearts for GOD like a beggers cloake which is made of ſhreds, but we muſt be renewed and thorowly chaunged in the ſpirite of our mindes. When Naaman the leper had waſhed in Iordan, his fleſh came agayne like the fleſh of a young child: If the leproſie of ſinne be waſhed and purged from vsus, al our affections, and all our deſires will bee altered and chaunged like the fleſh of a child. And therefore if wee will fit our ſelues to bee good hearers, wee muſt not entertaine friendſhip with any ſin. As the Adder ſlippes off her skinne, and the Eagle caſteth her bill: ſo wee muſt quite ſlip our ſelues of all our luſts, when as newe borne babes we come to heare.
Touch no vncleane thing, 2. Cor. 6. 17ſayth the Lord, becauſe ſinne will cling to the conſcience like bird-lime to a feather, therefore we muſt not touch it: it muſt not hauehave a finger of vsus. When the Diuell made his reentrie, he tooke vntounto himſelfe ſeuen other ſpirites worſe thenIoh. 15. 5. himſelfe. Thus one diuell brings moe diuels, and one ſinne pulles on more ſinnes, as one crow calleth many crowes to a carrion: and therefore as the leauen was hid in the meale till all was ſowred: ſo let vsus neuer reſt ſeaſoning our ſoules till all be ſanctified: for then wee bee fit to vnderſtand eueryevery part of Gods will, when we bee in eueryevery part newe borne againe.
Furthermore, this poynt diſcouereth and deſcrieth a groſſe errour in Poperie, concerning the works of nature, which are wrought and effected by the ſingle vertue and power of our owne free will without the finger and grace of GOD. For whereas the Papiſts acquite manie of them, and cleare them from ſinne, as if an vnregenerate man, by the ſtrength and abilitie of his owne will, as it were mounted vponupon his owne wings, were able to aſpire to the accompliſhment of holie deſires: wee ſee that the Apoſtle in this place maketh no other account of the vnregenerate,Eph. 4. 14. then of dead men: and therefore that they muſt bee quickened and new borne againe, before they can practiſe or performe any vitall action in the life of GOD. Chriſt is reſembled to a vine, and wee to the braunches: for that all the iuice and ſappe whereby the braunches ſpring and liue, iſſueth and ariſeth from the roote of the vine: ſo all the grace and goodneſſe that is in vsus, droppeth and diſtilleth from the riches of the perſon of Ieſus Chriſt. Before GOD bleſſed Sara, ſhe was barren, and childleſſe: ſo vntill God bleſſe our hearts, they bee wicked, and fruitleſſe. And therefore as an vncleane fountaine cannot ſende foorth ſweete water, nor a bad tree bring foorth good fruite: no more can the corrupt and wicked heart of the vnregenerate, bud and bring foorth anie good and vertuous actions. Thus much of our condition and preparation, whereby wee hauehave learned with how holie, and with how ſanctified affections, wee ought to repaire to the hearing of the worde. Now followeth our duetie and affection when wee are newe borne.
As newe borne babes deſire. Wee muſt not bee children in wauering and inconſtancie, becauſe the Apoſtle ſayth, that GOD hath furniſhed his Church with Paſtors and Teachers,Mat. 12. 41 That we bee no more children wauering and carried about with eueryevery winde of doctrine, reeling from faith to faith, from religion to religion, like a drunken man from wall to wall. Nor we muſt not be children in vnderſtanding and knowledge, becauſe the ſame Apoſtle ſayth,1. Cor. 14. 20. Brethren be not children in vnderſtanding, but concerning maliciouſnes bee children, but in vnderſtanding be of a ripe age. But wee muſt bee children in an ardent and burning affectiō, in thirſting and longing for the word of God. Bleſſed are they which hunger and thirſt after righteouſnes, Matth. 7. 6.for they ſhall bee filled, becauſe God filles the hungrie with good things, but the rich and the wealthie he diſmiſſeth emptie. The kingdome of God ſuffereth violence, becauſe none can enter at the narrowe gate, but ſuch as ſtriue, & throng and thruſt to enter. And therefore as when the damme feedes her young, eueryevery bird gapeth, and ſtruggleth, and ſtretcheth out the necke to receiue the foode: So when wee come to heare, eueryevery man muſt reach, and ſtretch out his heart to receiue the word. For then indeede the word worketh moſt effectually in vsus, when our hearts before are kindled and inflamed with deſire of it, like waxe which receiueth any ſtampe after it is heated. The Shunamites child which was raiſed by Eliſha, ſo ſoone as his fleſh beganne to waxe warme, neeſed, and opened his eyes, and reuiued agayne: So when wee waxe warme in the ſpirite, and conceiue a deſire and a thirſt of the word of GOD, it is an vndoubted token that wee are borne agayne, that there is breath and a ſoule within vsus, and we are not vtterly dead in the life of grace. As contrariwiſe, they which hauehave not a ſharpe and hungrie appetite to bee fedde and ſatisfied with the milke of the word, are but dead carcaſſes, and skinnes full of rotten bones: ſo that this Citie which ſhoulde bee the glorie of the kingdome, may well bee tearmed Golgotha, The place of dead mens skulles, in regard there are ſo manie thouſand ſoules dead in ſinne, dead in deſire, who hauehave no thirſt and hunger for the word of God. If they hauehave a bare reading Miniſter, as children hauehave a puppit to play with, they thinke themſelues in a happy ſtate: as if Eliſhaes ſtaffe could raiſe the dead child without Eliſha, and the word giuegive life without a preacher. It may bee they can bee content with Micah, to accept a Leuite if they light vponupon him: But who will ſende to Hieruſalem the ſchoole of the Prophets, as Saul ſent to Bethelem to fetch Dauid for his comfort? I thinke you know my meaning. I would not wiſh you wait till preachers offer themſelues to inſtruct you, but to ſende to the ſchooles of learning, to prouide godly & able men, who may miniſter the word in due ſeaſon. Balaake, becauſe he longed for Balaam, went to the vtmoſt coaſt of the countrey to meete him. The father, becauſe he longed for his prodigall ſonne, ranne to kiſſe him a great way off. Dauid becauſe he longed for the Arke, went and brought it vp from Kiriathaim: So then indeed we deſire the word of God, when we will not ſtay till it come vntounto vsus, but we will preuent it, and goe to the vtmoſt borders of our coūtrey to fetch it home vntounto vsus. We muſt deſire the milke of the word, and we muſt deſire it as babes, that is, in three reſpects.
Firſt they ſay children ſo ſoone as they are borne into the worlde, preſently crie out for the mothers dugge: ſo muſt wee ſo ſoone as wee feele the grace of God to hauehave renewed vsus, while wee are yet hote from the wombe, hunger and thirſt for the milke of the word. If the mother ſhould deferre to giuegive her childe ſucke, were it able to liue a monethmonth, or a weeke, or a day? No more is our faith able to ſuſtaine and ſupport it ſelfe, vnleſſe it be preſently nouriſhed with the foode of life.Mar. 5. 46. Chriſt ſo ſoone as he had rayſed vp Iairus daughter, commanded her meate, as if it were in vaine for vsus to be quickned by the finger of his power vnles we be fed by the word of his grace: and therfore Eden was watered ſo ſoone as it was planted,Gen. 2. 6. to ſhew that we muſt be ſtrengthened ſo ſoon as we are inſtructed: ſo that it is a great fault among vsus, when GOD hath quickned vsus with his ſpirit, & we perceiue his graces to budde and to bloſſome in vsus, that we preſently prouide not moyſture to nouriſh and to preſerue them. We count it a miracle that Elias liued fortie dayes without foode: and yet we after many yeares of famine ſtill poſte off the feeding of our ſoules. We thinke it alwayes too ſoone to beginne, though we begin then when we are ready to end, as the rich man, who then went in hand to inlarge his barnes, when hee was euen at deaths doore to reſigne his life. As Chriſte was then ſent for to heale the Rulers daughter,Mar. 7. 23. when ſhe was ready to departe: ſo, manie neuer deſire the preachers company till they be ready to die. They ſay that the time is not yet come that the Lords houſe ſhoulde bee built: not yet time to ſanctifie their ſoules for God; not yet time to prouide for the milke of the word. And thus we poſte off from day to day, from yeare to yeare, till wee bee arreſted by death: As the bad Lawyer driues off his Client from terme to terme, till the ſuite be loſt. Lot was ſo long loytering and trifling in Sodome, that the Angell was fayne to plucke him out with violence; and certainly vnleſſe the Lorde by the good meanes of his prouidence ſhould plucke vsus out of ignorance and darkeneſſe wherein we vſe ſuch trifling, and plunging, and delaying, that ſcarce one of a thouſand would bee ſaued.
Wherefore (beloued in Chriſt) if Paule hauehave planted you in the true fayth, deſire alſo an Apollo to water you: If the foundation be layde by a maiſter builder: ſeeke out a skilfull workeman, who may roofe it alſo: if ye hauehave receiued one grace, ſpeedily deſire the preaching of the word, that it may increaſe and grow vp by dreſſing and manuring vntounto a double grace: for euen the beſt giftes will wither and decay in you, vnleſſe they be preſently watered with the word.
Againe we knowe, that children are ſo greedily carried with a deſire of the foode, that when hunger aſſayles them, they neither regarde leiſure, nor neceſſitie, nor willingnes of the mothers, but all excuſes & buſines ſet apart, ſo ſoone as they crie for it, they muſt be fedde; Euen ſo wee muſt not thinke it enough to deſire the worde, but we muſt bee earneſt and feruent, and importunate in calling and crying for it. A notable parable is in Luke,Luk. 11. 5. how one called for bread in the night, the other anſwered that he was in bed; which ſeemed a reaſonable anſwere, and yet it would not ſerue: So we hauehave long called (my brethren) and wee hauehave a great while craued the bread of life, though it may ſeeme a reaſonable anſwere, that they cannot giuegive it vsus without impoueriſhing themſelues and their children, who are fat and inriched with the Miniſters mayntenance: yet we ought not to be daunted and diſcouraged ſo, but to continue asking ſtil, as Peter continued knocking til the doore was opened.Act. 12. For as Iehu was knowen by his furious marching; ſo you may know a faythfull and true Chriſtian, by his zealons perfecting of holy purpoſes. The mother doth not alwayes feede her childe for louelove, but many times to keep it ſtill and quiet, is conſtrayned to leaue all, and giuegive it ſucke: So if our mother neyther reuerenced God, nor feared men, yet if we would be earneſt and importunate with her, if we would continually crye and call for it, as babes doe for the milke, ſhe would feede vsus at laſt, if not of louelove, yet at leaſt to be eaſed of vsus. It is an olde ſaying, that he which asketh faintly teacheth vsus to denie him: If we will teach men to graunt vsus, we muſt aske it with courage and conſtancie. And therefore as Iacob wreſtled with the Angel and ſaid, I will not let thee goe vntill thou bleſſe me: ſo muſt our requeſts wreſtle with the Gouernours of our land, and ſay, I will not let you reſt vntill you heare me.
This doctrine enditeth and conuinceth a great number of vsus, who though we hauehave a deſire to the worde, yet we are ſo chill and ſo colde, and ſo looſe in it, that in eueryevery croſſe euent, we ſtand ſtone ſtill. If it be but a ſtraw it is a blocke in our way,Ier. 9. 3. becauſe as Ieremie ſpeaketh, We hauehave no courage for the truth vponupon earth: we hauehave ſome louelove to the trueth, but we hauehave no courage to labour and aduenture for it, as a merchant that would gladly gaine, but dares not venture the ſeas for feare of drowning. If the people be ſomwhat backward or a Preacher cannot be procured at the firſt daſh, while the fitte is freſh vponupon vsus, we take our diſcharge, and caſt off the care for euer after. The ſlouthfull man ſayes, There is a Lyon in the way: And ſo we diſcourage our ſelues in ſeeking good things, becauſe there is paines in the way. But if we deſire the word, as babes doe milke, we muſt neuer reſt to deſire it, vntill we hauehave it.
Laſtly, we know, children are continually crauing foode; a little pauſe, and then to the breaſt againe: and therefore we muſt not bee gorged and glutted with once ſeruing, but continually deſire it: We muſt be of Elias diet, bread and fleſh in the morning, and at euening too; So morning and euening our ſoules muſt bee fedde. The Apoſtle exhorteth, Let the worde of GOD dwell in you, Col. 3. 16.becauſe it muſt not take vp a nights lodging and ſo be gone, but it muſt be a continuall reſidence and abode in our hearts. Though the ground be good, yet it muſt hauehave the former and the latter rayne to make it fertile, and yet many of vsus thinke to grow greene with one ſhower, and to goe vntounto heauen with one ſermon. It is reported of the faythfull, that they continued daylie in the temple, as if a Sabbaoth dayes exerciſe would not ſerue the turne,Act. 2. 6. vnleſſe we had ſome ordinarie repaſt in the worke dayes alſo: and therefore as the lampe burned continually in the Temple without quenching: So the word muſt continually ſound in our eares without intermiſſion. Thus you ſee (beloued) that if you wil deſire the milke of the word as newe borne babes, you muſt deſire it preſently without delay, importunately without fainting, & continually without loathing, and being ſatisfied with it.
Now we come to the matter and obiect which we muſt deſire; namely, our food and nouriſhment in Chriſt, which is here called the milke of the worde. To this our Sauiour recalleth vsus from al our dayn…s,Ioh. 6. 27. Labour not for the meate that periſheth, but for the meat which endureth to eternal life. For the word is euerlaſting foode and immortal ſeede, becauſe it makes vsus immortal,1. Pet. 4. 23. and to laſt for euer. We deſire wealth, honour, and pomp, and pleaſure, and eueryevery thing, ſaue the milke of the word which we ſhould deſire, like Adam who had al trees, and yet liked none but the forbidden tree.Mat. 13. 22 There is a deſire of the worde, but it is a tare to choak the good corne; There is a deſire of money, but it is the roote of al euil;1. Tim. 6. There is a deſire of the fleſh, but it fighteth and wageth warre againſt the ſpirit;Iam. 4. 1. There is a deſire of preheminence, but it is ſwelling and ambitious; There is a deſire of reuenge, but it ariſeth from a raſh and carnal ſpirite; There is a deſire of praiſe, but it is curſed and phariſaicall;Luk. 9. 54 the bleſſed and holy deſire is, to deſire the milke of the word. When Ionathan ſaw the hony dropping, he muſt needs be licking: ſo when ye ſee the milke of the Goſpel ye muſt deſire to be ſucking. Of al the bleſſings of Canaan this was the chiefeſt, that it flowed with milke and honie; and this incouraged the Iſraelites to trauail to it, in the deſart to poſſeſſe it. The worde is a land flowing with better milke and hony, and we muſt not think any paine or toyle too much to attaine it.Ioh. 12. 45. God hath many names in Scripture to make vsus conceiue more honorably of him: ſo hath the word many titles to make it more amiable: It is called a lanterne to direct vsus,Pſal. 119. 10 a medicine to heale vsus, a guide to conduct vsus, a bit to reſtraine vsus, a ſworde to defend vsus, water to waſh vsus, fire to inflame vsus, ſalt to ſeaſon vsus, milke to nouriſh vsus, wine to reioice vsus, rayne to refreſh vsus, a treaſure to inrich vsus, and the keye to open and vnlocke heauen gates vntounto vsus. Thus the worde is named in al things, that we ſhould onelyonly deſire it in ſtead of all things. And ſurely therefore the worde is in ſo ſmall requeſt among vsus, becauſe wee know not what bleſſings it bringeth with it. It is the word of ſaluation, becauſe it ſaueth the ſoule from pyning, as the corne which Ioſeph ſent, did Iacobs houſe from famine. So that as Eliſha ſayd of Iordan, waſh and be cleanſed; ſo may we ſay of the word, Heare it and be ſaued. It is called the worde of life, becauſe it reuiueth the ſpirite, as Eliſhaes bones reuiued the Iſraelites. It is called the worde of reconciliation, becauſe it is like a golden chayne to linke GOD and vsus together. And in regarde hereof,Mat. 13. 16 it is called a iewell of ineſtimable price, as if all the treaſure in Egypt were not wealthy enough to buy it. And therfore, as Dauid longed for the Well of Bethlehem; ſo muſt we long and languiſh for the milke of the worde.
The Word is reſembled to milke in three reſpects. Firſt, becauſe it is the onelyonly foode of the faithfull, as milke is the onelyonly and proper foode of babes. Secondly, becauſe it is not hard and intricate, but playne and eaſie to be conceiued, as milke is eaſie to be digeſted. Thirdly, becauſe it is ſweete and comfortable to the ſoule, as milke is ſweete and pleaſaunt in taſte.
For the firſt poynt, the Lord chargeth the Iſraelites, Deu. 12. 32.to doe whatſoeuer he had commaunded, and not to adde or diminiſh any thing. And Ioſua, Ioſiah, Ezra, and the reſt, when the… would renew the Lordes couenant with the people, reade nothing but the lawe, to ſhewe that it was the only rule and ſquare of al their duety:Eſay. 8. 20. and therefore Eſay recalleth vsus to the lawe and to the teſtimonie, &c. and Chriſt ſends vsus to ſearch the Scriptures, Iohn. 5. 39▪becauſe by them we hauehave eternall life: and therefore the Popiſh church (which nor content with the milke of the Gospell) hath broached manie heathen traditions, and vnwritten traſh; doth not feede but choke and poyſon her children with them, and depriue the Lords people of this foode of life, and like curſed Philiſtines ſtop vp the wells of water which other hauehave digged: what doe they elſe but ſtarue and famiſh ſo manie Nations? For well may their hedge prieſts like drie Nurſes delight and diſport the children for a ſeaſon; but when hunger bites; when the diſtreſſed conſcience would bee fed and comforted, then they are not able to affoorde them the very crummes from Chriſts table, and therefore wee muſt needes account the eſtate of thoſe congregations to bee full of dread and horror which hauehave not this milke of the word to feede their ſoules, which want a good ſteward to giuegive them their meate in due ſeaſon; which like the AEgyptians lye crawling in the darke, when other churches enioy moſt comfortable light. Iaacob forſooke the bleſſed land of Canaan when it had no bread, and can we be enamored of thoſe aſſemblies where there is no ſoules foode? If ye did conſider (my beloued) that ye cannot be nouriſhed vntounto eternall life, but by the milke of the word; ye would rather deſire your bodies might be without ſouls than your churches without preachers. I tremble to thinke how oft you hauehave heard this, and yet how little you hauehave performed it. For the ſecond poynt, that the doctrine of the Goſpel is plaine, appeareth, when the wiſe man ſaith, Al the words of his mouth are plaine & eaſie to him that wil vnderſtand. Pro. 8. 9.The teſtimony of the Lord is ſure & giueth light to the ſimple. Pſal. 19. 7If our Goſpel be hid (ſaith the Apoſtle) it is hid vntounto them that periſh: 2 Cor 4. 3.for as the Sunne which was made to lighten all things, is moſt light; ſo the word which was made to cleare all things, is moſt cleare: ſo that if there be no communion betweene light and darknes,Pſal. 119. 5 & the word of God be a lanterne vntounto our feete, & a light vntounto our pathes; then it is euident that the Word hath no darknes in it. If we ſee not all thinges, the fault is not in the light, but in the eie; as Agar could not ſee the water which yet was before her, & therfore our aduerſaries falſly charge the Scriptures of exceeding hardnes and intricatenes▪ When the ſpies were returned from Canaan… they could not ſay,Num. 13. but that it was a good lande; but they ſayd it was hard to come by: So the Papiſts muſt needes confeſſe, that the Scripture is a good Word, and yet to diſſwade the Lordes people from a ſerious and diligent ſearch of it; they bring vp a ſlaunder and ſay; it hath many obſcurities and bypathes. But as Eliſha ſaw the horſes and fiery chariots which his enemies could not ſee: So (beloued) if yee come with a faithfull and a holy heart to the Worde and to the Scripture, yee ſhall ſee that plainneſſe and eaſineſſe in the doctrine which our aduerſaries cannot ſee. For the third poynte, that the Goſpell is the onelyonly comfort and conſolation of a faithfull ſoule; The Prophet Ieremie ſaith, Thy wordes were found by mee, and I did eate them, Ier. 15. 16.and thy worde was vntounto mee the ioye and reioycing of my heart. Thy testimonies hauehave I taken for an heritage for euer: Pſal. 119. 111for they are the ioye of my heart. As a man will bee glad to be hired to a noble man: ſo Dauid when hee had gotten the milke of the Worde, reioyced as much as if hee had been hyred vntounto God: and therefore, in all the ſtorie of the Acts, we ſee ioy and comfort to hauehave followed the word, as Eliſha followed Elias, and would not leaue him. So the wiſe men reioyced exceedingly when they ſaw the ſtarre which ſhould leade them to Chriſt: ſo yee hauehave matter of great ioy & comfort, when ye heare the woord preached which ſhall carrie you to heauen, like the chariots which conueyed Iaacob into AEgypt. There be many Micols in this land which hauehave mocked King Dauid for dauncing before the Arke. There are many which terme vsus heady and fooliſh men, becauſe we come and throng, & preaſe thus to a ſermon: but as Chriſt ſaid, Father forgiue them, they knowe not what they doe; So God forgiue them, they know not what they ſay: for if they did feele the calme of conſcience, the ioy of heart, the conſolation of ſpirite, and the exceeding and euerlaſting comforts in God, which the faithfull poſſeſſe and enioye by hearing the word, they would account vsus not onelyonly fooles, but ſtarke mad, if al the pleaſures, or profites, or daungers of the world ſhould withdrawe or with-holde vsus from it. So much for our food; now we come to the qualitie of our foode.
It muſt be ſincere. Sincere both in his ſauor, and alſo in effect and operation: for, as in nouriſhing our bodie naturally, our blood cannot be good if our diet be vnholſome: ſo in feeding our ſoules ſpiritually, neither our hearts nor affections, nor our words, nor our workes can be good, vnleſſe the milke bee wholſome whereupon we feed, and therefore, as our Sauiour b…ds vsus take heede what we heare: ſo the Apoſtle to the like effect,Math. 4. 24. giues a caueat to take heede vponupon what we feede; for there is a pure and freſh doctrine, in. Ier. 1. 7. and there is a ſower and leauened doctrine, in Matth. 16. 6. There is a new wine of the Goſpel in Matth. 9. 17. & there is mixed wine in the cup of Fornicators in Reu. 17. 4. There are wholſome wordes in 2. Tim. 1. 13. and there are corrupt and vnwholſome words, Epheſ 4. 29. There is a doctrine of God, Ioh. 7. 16. and there is a doctrine of Diuels. 1. Tim. 4. 1. There is an edifying and a building worde, and there is a fretting and a cankred word, 2. Tim. 2. 17. As the Prophets children cryed out death in the pot; ſo ſome places may ſay, death in our foode: and hereof it is, that we are ſo often for warned in Scripture to beware of the leauen of the Scribes and Phariſies; to take heede of the Prophets which come to vsus in ſheepes cloathing: to beware that no man ſeduce vsus through Philoſophie: to trie the ſpirites whether they be of God or no; as we muſt taſte our foode before wee digeſt it: to trie our gold before wee treaſure it: Chriſt taſted the vineger but would not drinke; ſo when wee taſte falſe doctrine we muſt reiect it. There are many greedy of milke, but it is Dragons milke: they take great paines to learne, but it is to learne the language of Aſhdod, & not the language of Canaan: they run to heare, but to heare fables and vntruthes. Nimrod was as paineful in building of Babel, as Salomon in rearing the holy temple. Micah entertained a Leuit, & conſecrated his ſiluer but to an idolatrous worſhip. The Iſraelites melted their eare-rings, but to erect a calfe. Iezabel fed a great rout of trencher chaplains, but to honor Baal. Many deſire to hauehave milke, but they wil hauehave it from dragons poyſoned; and therefore we are here warned to deſire the ſincere milke, &c. For the Lord will not hauehave the wine of his word to be mingled and maſhed with the water of humane inuentions. He that hath my word, Ier. 23. 28.let him ſpeake faithfully: what is the chaffe to the Wheat? God would not hauehave one fielde ſowed with two kindes of graine; to ſhew vsus that hee would not hauehave one heart filled with two kindes of doctrine. Dagon could not ſtand with the Lords Arke; no more can Chriſts trueth holde any fellowſhip with the word of error: and therefore as the miniſters muſt beware that they make not merchandiſe of the word of God, ſo muſt the people alſo, that they drink not any milke but that which is ſincere. And here ye ought (my beloued) more carefully to behaue your ſelues, as yee ſee the diuell more ſubtilly to aſſault you, and vnderunder the cloake of zeale and reformation, to bring into the Lordes ſanctuarie moſt wicked prophanation.
As a man will be more warie to trie eueryevery peece of gold, when he ſees many counterfeit and Flemiſh angels to flie abroad: ſo, when yee ſee many ſortes of doctrine, crawling daily like Locuſts out of the bottomles pit, yee muſt bee more diligent to taſte and trie which is ſound and ſincere. It followeth:
That ye may grow by it. Here is the end of our hearing, That we may grow in grace and increaſe in the faith of righteouſnes: for the faithfull are called the trees of righteouſnes, Eſay. 61. 3.becauſe they muſt bee alwaies ſpringing:1. Pet. 2▪ 3. liuing ſtones, becauſe they muſt growe in the building:Mat. 25. 16 good ſeruants, which muſt trade and traffique the Lords talents to increaſe: fruitfull branches, Ioh 15. 2.which muſt be purged & pruned by the hande of the heauenly husbandman. Iſaac muſt not alwaies hang on Saraes breaſt, but muſt be weaned: ſo we muſt not alwaies be children, but grow vp and increaſe and profite more and more. As the ſtar neuer ceaſed till it came ouer Chriſt; ſo we muſt neuer reſt walking till wee come to GOD. If we hauehave faith, we muſt proceede from faith to fayth: Ioh. 1. 17.if we hauehave louelove, 1. The. 3. 12we muſt increaſe and abide in louelove: Ioh. 2. 17.if we hauehave zeale, we muſt endeuour to be conſumed with zeale: if wee be liberall to the diſtreſſed ſaints of GOD, wee muſt double our liberalitie, as Elkana gaue Annah a double portion.
If we read the Scriptures, 1. Tim. 4. 13we muſt go on and continue in prayer: Ioh. 12. 12.if we giuegive almes, we muſt ſtep on one foote further,2. Cor. 9. 7. and giuegive them with cheerefulnes: and thus as the Eagle continually ſoareth till ſhe come to the higheſt: ſo muſt we ſtill increaſe till we come to perfection. Let vsus be led forward vntounto perfection: Heb. 6. 1.as if a faithfull man were like a ſhip vnderunder ſayle, neuer anchoring till he arriue at heauen. The greater is our ſinne which heare, and heare, but are neuer the more reformed for our hearing, like Pharaohs ill fauored kine which deuoured the fat kine, but remained as il fauoured as they were before; ſo many of vsus, when we hauehave lugged the breaſt almoſt drie, after twentie or thirty yeares feeding, are as skregged and leane as we were before. No man almoſt among vsus is more zealous, no mā more faithfull, no man more conſtant for the truth, no man more feruent in religion, no man more ſanctified, no man more diligent in practiſing, nor leſſe vitious now, then he was one hundred ſermons a goe, as if wee were night black-rauens, which cannot bee waſhed with all the ſope of the Goſpel. Though wee hauehave long heard and ſtil deſire to heare, yet we doe not grow by our hearing, wee are verie dwarfes in Chriſt ſcant able to goe, little in faith, little in louelove, little in patience, little in obedience, little in zeal, like Zacheus, ſo little that wee cannot ſee Chriſt. This is an vndoubted euidence that we hauehave not fleſhly but ſtony hearts, which though they bee waſhed, yet they cannot be watred with the ſweete ſhowers of the Goſpell: For, is there not in eueryevery tauerne, and in eueryevery ſhop, and in eueryevery houſe, and in eueryevery hall, as much couetouſnes, as much briberie, as much coſening, as much wantonnes, as much maliciouſnes after this long ſhine of the word, as ther was before? Are we not now as ſlothfull in Gods ſeruice, as diſſolute in the practiſe of Chriſtian dueties, as diſhoneſt in our dealing between man and man, as proud in our attire, as light in our behauiour, as hypocritical abroad, as ſinnefull at home, as we were before? And what is the reaſon hereof, but that we come to the fountayn rather, to draw, than to drinke: rather to heare, than to bee bettered, and ſanctified, and increaſed by our hearing? One ſort heareth not at all, like Eutichus which was ſleeping when Paul was preaching:Act. 20. 9. another ſort forgets all as Nabuchadnezzar did his dreame, the moſt ſort remembers all, but will make no practiſe of it as a Carpenter which ſhoulde ſquare all by rule, and ſticks it at his backe, and workes all by aime. But aſſuredly (my beloued) it were better you neuer heard, then thus in deſpight of God to abuſe your hearing. If I had not ſpoken vntounto them (ſayth Chriſt) they ſhoulde hauehave had no ſin, Ioh. 15. 22.but now hauehave they no cloake for their ſinne. What cloake can yee hauehave when God offereth grace, and ye wilfully refuſe it? As meat, the more a man receiueth, the more it diſtempereth, if it be not digeſted; ſo the more yee learne, and the more yee heare, the greater is your ſin if ye grow not by it: if the ſeruant which hid his talent in a napkin was ſo handled, what ſhalbe done to them which ſuffer their talent to periſh? And therefore eueryevery man muſt beware how he heareth, eueryevery man muſt take heede that he receiue not the grace of God in vaine, that he deſire the milke of the word, to bee bettered and increaſed by it. Wherefore whoſoener thou bee that heareth this, and will heare other; ſearch thy conſcience, whether thou be growne in any vertue ſince thou heardeſt the laſt ſermon: conſider what ſinne thou haddeſt the laſt Sabboath, which thou haſt not this Sabboath? If thou finde no change, then the Word hath not had his working in thee: thou art not inereaſed by the food which thou receiuedſt. Will not, a man be angry to ſet his childe to ſchoole, and finde him alwaies at his A, B, C. or the firſt principles of ſanctification? So will God be diſpleaſed, if wee be negligent and ſlacke and neuer take out his leſſons, but ſtand at a ſtay.
I know many of you will giuegive me the hearing of this, as you hauehave done many of my brethren heretofore: but as the worme ſtroke Ionahs guord, and it died in the morning: ſo by the next morning a greedy worme of couetouſnes, or the like ſinne wil hauehave periſhed all. If it doe ſo, knowe the Iudge ſtandeth before the doore ready eueryevery houre to ſummon you by death, to make your appearaunce at the barre of iuſtice, and to giuegive vp your account for eueryevery talent, yea, for eueryevery leſſon that ye hauehave learned and left vnpractiſed.
As for you, (if any of you) walke in dutifull obedience to the word, I beſeech you in the feare of God, and in the bowels and louelove of Ieſus Chriſt, that yee will abounde and increaſe yet more and more, and contend by all meanes to put in practiſe & exerciſe thoſe things that yee heare, that ſo at length when yee be ripe for the ſickle, and the great day of harueſt be come, ye may be gathered as good corne into the Lords garner, and be inueſted in the holy heauens with that bleſſed kingdome which God hath prouided for them that ſerue and feare him. Amen.
FINIS.