A Manual of Practical Divinity, Treatise · Chapter 12
page missing may be ſtirring affections and freedom of ſpeech from the apprehenſion of popular applauſe in ſome Auditories; but gracious men know a difference between thoſe inlargements and the ſoul-humbling aſſiſtance of Gods ſpirit. (10) Gods Spirit gives to his ſervants many times a more then ordinary aſſiſtance in their labors amongſt the Saints for their ſakes, for their quickning, comforting, ſtrengthning and edification, whoſe building up was one great end of the ordinance of the Miniſtry, Eph. 4.10,11,12. (11) Gods Spirit gives his ſervants affections in preaching, as Zeal, Compaſſion to ſouls, and the like; but though ſomething of this may be obſerved by the hearers in the delivery of the word; yet not ſo as to the Preacher himſelf by the obſerving of the inward frame of his heart: ſome mens tone and art of ſpeaking may counterfeit affections, and other mens age and weakneſs of ſpeech may hide very ſpiritual affections in that work.
(6) The bleſſed Spirit is the great thing in reading and hearing of the word. (1) How clearely will the Spirit open a Scripture to a mans underſtanding? when a man hath read many Expoſitors, the Spirit of God is pleaſed many times to be the beſt Commentator. (2) How the Spirit of God applyes the word read or preached with power many times upon the conſcience, and indeed then comes the word with power when it cometh in the Holy Ghoſt, 1 Theſ. 1.5. and we ſhould not obſerve only what we read or heard, but what impreſſions the Spirit of God made upon the hearts in reading or hearing. Thoſe which Peter preacht to, Act. 10. the holy Ghoſt fell on them: when it is ſo with hearers, then the word affects them indeed. (3) The Spirit of God in hearing of the word ſometimes enlargeth a ſoul and enlightneth it into a Truth far beyond what the Preacher made out in expreſſions. (4) Yea, the Spirit makes uſe of ſome paſſage in a Sermon many times to work upon a ſoul that was but a parentheſis and circumlocution or reflexion upon the hearers ignorance and dulneſs, things that many would think might very well have been left out.
(7) The Spirit of God is of infinite uſe to us to lead us into Truth, Joh. 16.13. He leads Believers into all truth, all neceſſary truth to Salvation. Gods ſpirit doth as it were print a body of divinity in the hearts of Believers, and though many of them be of weak Judgement, and not able to anſwer the ſubtile Arguments that may be brought againſt a Truth, yet Gods Spirit keeps them in the Truth that they are not led aſide.
(8) The Spirit brings things to our remembrace, John 14.26. That though many an honeſt heart when he hath read or heard the word, complains he can remember very little, yet Gods Spirit will bring things ſeaſonably to their Remembrance, that it may be many years after, when by reaſon of ſome Temptation or affliction they have moſt need of ſuch a truth, then they have ſuch a place of Scripture, or ſuch a paſſage of a ſermon heard long ago brought to their Remembrance by Gods ſpirit, and ſhall be of mighty uſe to them. The conſcionable and diligent hearing and reading of the word is frequently bleſſed with ſeaſonable remembrance: yea Gods Spirit hath ſometimes convinced and converted a ſoul by bringing things to Remembrance that were read or heard many years ago, and then took no impreſſion upon the ſoul, that the benefit of hearing and reading of the word both by Believers and Unbelievers doth not always appear upon that inſtant, but it may be a great while af…r.