Christian Observations and Resolutions, Observations · Observation 86
86. Thirst of Newes.
ALl are not borne, or liue in Athens, yet wee are all sicke of the Athenian disease, in a desire to heare & tell newes: And that not in the younger so…t, who may hauehave a longer time in this life, but euen in the aged, who are at the end of their race: Belike they are prouiding fresh Newes to carrie with them out of this life… but such wares will giuegive no price th…ae.
What… businesse in inquyring for Newes and in reporting of them? Scarcely are they heard when they are loathed: They become stale with the first report, and are olde in the verie birth, the desire is full of them at their first noyse, and yet desirous of some other: To tell these same newes ouer and ouer againe, is as tedious as their first report was pleasant. It seemeth to bee a new worke of a new man: To bee euer thus busied about newes, but it will bee found the worke of the olde man.
There may bee, and is a fruitfull disposition about Newes in the prudent, but that is so new to these Nouellers, that they know it not: They seeke onlie Newes for Newes, and goe n… further, than to heare, and then to … of them, and that not as they heare them, but as a liberall hoas they send them away with a new porta… ▪ They giuegive them a large allowan… … passe for Newes, that is, newlie …mented lyes.
They may hauehave some ground of trueth for their beginning, but by few reportes it is buried in the multitude of new additions. Wee would thinke it strange, to see a Booke hauehave as many editions as it findeth Readers: And yet Newes hauehave that current and changing Noueltie, that many reporting the same thing, make it still new by some alteration or augmenting: Bookes hauehave that immunitie, because they are a standing report in print; but Newes le…t to a vanishing report, cannot bee secured from change.
It is Sathans policie to abuse our eares in …earing, our tongues in speaking, … our heartes in beleeuing lyes, to disabl… vsus from the discerning of Trueth. But God hath giuen them to bee busied ab…t Trueth.
God hath giuen to his owne a souera…e remeede of that disease, to bee ful… possest …ith the best Newes in the worl…, and then to make a spirituall vse of common Newes. I finde these good Newes: That Christ is come to saue sinners: And that I am one whom hee hath saued: The testimonie of mine adoption; the Spirit witnessing to my Spirit, that I am one of his Children: The testimonie of my justification, Son bee of good comfort, thy sinnes are forgiuen thee. The Seales of mine Election and calling in the …ruites of the Spirit.
These and the like are excellent newes, their matter is good and glorious: Their delight is great and constant: Though they were heard euerie houre, yet they are euer fresh and new to the New man: They fall neither vnderunder stalenes in themselues, nor loathing to mee; but their last hearing, delighteth mee as much as the first hearing.
As for other matters, I rest not on them as Newes, but obserue in them the prouidence of God, how he ruleth the world by ouer-ruling the malice of Sathan, and madnesse of man, to his owne glorie, and good of his Saintes, to make them new, and to put in their mouth a new song. To bee grieued with Nebemiah, when wee heare of Ierusalems desolation, and rejoyce when wee heare of her prosperitie, is a marke of Grace in the New man: When all trifling Newes shall bee ended, God shall put a new Song in his mouth▪ to praise him eternallie. The Soule enstamped with Newes of Grace, turneth all occurrent Newes to that better and biding substance.