The Sound-Hearted Christian, Sermon 5

The Sound-Hearted Christian · Sermon 5

p. 208The preciouſneſs of the Word:

Pſal. 19.10. More to be deſired are they then Gold, yea, then much fine Gold.

THe Pſalmiſt had lay'd down in the former part of the Pſalm, many commendations of the Law, the Statutes, the Commandements, the Teſtimonies and Judgments of the Lord. And here he draws up a concluſion concerning them all, They are more to be deſired then Gold, then much fine Gold. The words themſelves are a Doctrine, or an Obſervation, and you may take it thus,

Doct. Divine truths are more to be deſired then the choiceſt Treaſures of the earth; then all earthly treaſures. Two things are here to be done.

Firſt, to ſhew you that Gold is deſirable, and truths upon the ſame account.

Secondly, that divine truths are more deſirable then Gold or Silver, or any earthly treaſures whatſoever.

For the firſt, two things there.

Firſt, what deſire is.—Secondly, that Gold is deſirable, and the truths of God upon the ſame account.

Firſt, what deſire is, deſire is the reaching out of the ſoul after ſome good affected, not in poſſeſſion, but abſent: ſaith David, O that I had of the water of the Well of Bethlehem; here's the reaching p. 209out of his ſoul after ſome good affected, 2 Sam. 23.15. ſaith Rachel, give me Children or elſe I dye: here's the reaching out of her Soul after Children.

It is after good affected. Either ſeeming good, or real good affected. Love is the root that bears deſire, and deſire is the branch, or fruit; the hand and opperation of Love, what we have no Love to, we dont deſire, but what we have ſome Love too, that we do deſire.

It is the affecting of Good, either ſeeming, or real; Solomon, he deſires wiſdom, that was a real good, and he had real deſires of it: The deſire of the Righteous is onelyonly to good, ſaith Solomon, and there are ſeeming goods. Eve deſires the fruit, 'twas but a ſeeming good to her, for it brought woe and ſorrow to her and all hers. Amnon deſires Tamar, it was a ſeeming good, but a real evil. Achan deſires the Wedge of Gold, it was his ruine; Gehezi deſires the Garments, and the Wedge of Gold. Now there muſt be good, real, or in appearance, where deſire is carried out unto it; the ſoul ſees ſome amiableneſs in the thing it doth deſire, and ſo it puts forth its deſires after it, either ſome profit, or pleaſure, or ſome ſweetneſs, and therefore would enjoy it, and delight in it: So that deſire is the reaching out of the Soul after ſome good affected, not preſent but abſent.

2. The ſecond thing is, that as Gold is deſirable, ſo upon the ſame account are the truths of God, the Laws, and Statutes, and Judgements of God. We ſhall ſee upon ſeveral accounts that Gold is commendable, p. 210and deſirable; and upon the ſame the word of God is ſo too.

1. Gold is precious, there's a preciouſneſs in it, Ezr. 8.27. precious as Gold. The Heathens, yea and many others to, did ſo eſteem it, as they made Gods of Gold, they thought nothing more precious to make their Gods of than Gold: 1 King. 12.28. Jeroboam made two Golden Calves, and ſaid to Iſrael, theſe are thy Gods, and in the 115. Pſal. 4. v. Their Idols are Silver and Gold, ſpeaking of the Nations: So addicted were Nations unto this practice of making Gods of Gold, that God forbids his people to make Gods of Silver or Gold. Exod. 20.23. yea, in the 17. Acts 29. you will find that they did liken the very Godhead unto Gold. So then Gold is very precious, and as that is precious, ſo is the Word of God, that is precious as Gold, 'tis of great worth and value: The word is full of great and precious promiſes, and every promiſe is a Pearl of great price, Prov. 3.13, 14, 15. Happy is the man that findeth wiſdom, and the man that getteth underſtanding, for the Merchandize of it is better than the Merchandize of Silver; and the Gain thereof than fine Gold. It's more worth then all Rubies: The Word of God is very precious, Pſal. 138.2. Thou haſt magnified thy word above all thy name, what's the Name of God? The whole creation, all his works are his Name, they hold forth his power, his wiſdom, his goodneſs, his mercy, his loving kindneſs, bounty (and the like) now God doth magnifie his Word, or his Law above all his Name, he prizes it above the wrole creation, hence ſaith Chriſt, that not one jot or ſyllable of it ſhall fall to the p. 211ground: So that if Gold be precious, the Word of God is precious, and ſo deſirable upon that account.

2. Gold contains much in a little. A little piece of Gold contains many Shillings. And Gold is Ductile, a little piece of Gold may be drawn out to cover a great piece of ground. So the Word of God contains much in a little, Fear God, there's a great deal contain'd in theſe words. God manifeſted in fleſh, how much is contained in that word? And, Caſt all your care upon him, a great deal contained in that word: who can tell what treaſure is in any one Text of holy Scripture? There is more than any man, than all men can find or draw out. Chriſt is the Image of the inviſible God, who can find out all that is in thoſe words? In him is all fullneſs, who can find out all the fullneſs of Chriſt? So that if Gold contains much in it, and is deſirable upon that account, the Word of God contains much in it, and is deſirable upon the ſame account.

3. Gold is very pure, Rev. 21.18. The City was of pure Gold, and Pſal. 21.3. Thou ſetteſt a Crown of pure Gold on his head; Gold is very pure, 'tis purified and cleanſed from all droſs; ſo the Word of God: If Gold be deſirable becauſe of its purity, ſo it the Word of God being very pure: Prov. 30.5. Every Word of God is pure: Not onelyonly one word, but every word of God is pure; and Pſal. 114.140. Thy word is very pure, there is nothing comparable to the Word of God for purity, and therefore deſirable as Gold is, upon that account.

p. 2124. Gold hath a beautiful ſplendor in it, therefore Rev. 21.21. 'Tis put for the Glory of the new Jeruſaſalem, a Similitudine aurorae. aurum ab aura dictum, i. e. a Splendore. Martinius in Lexic. v. aurum.or Heaven; it hath it's name from its ſplendor; and the word of God is very beautiful, and ſhining, Prov. 6.23. The Law is light, and light is a ſhining and a glorious thing; and the Goſpel is light, and the Goſpel is glorious, 2 Cor. 4.4. The Glorious Goſpel: Full of Glory, and beauty, and ſplendor is the Word of God, and therefore deſirable as Gold is upon that account.

5. Gold is ſollid and weighty; the Hobrew word for fine Gold, is foreign Mippaz and Phaz or Phez is from Phazaz, to conſolidate to ſtrengthen and make firm; ſuch is the Word of God, it is firm, and ſollid: hold faſt the pattern of ſound words, and Tit. 1.9. ſound Doctrine. The Doctrine of Law and Goſpel, is ſound Doctrine, and Prov. 2.7. he layeth up ſound wiſdom for the righteous, wiſdom that hath ſubſtance, and being for the righteous, and the truths of God are called Gold, 1 Cor. 3.12. for the ſollidity of them: now if any man build upon this Foundation, Gold, Silver, precious Stones, Wood, Hay, Stubble. Build Gold upon the Foundation; that is, if he build ſound Doctrine upon the Foundation, Chriſt; that's ſollid, maſly, and weighty. Corrupt Doctrines are wood, and ſtubble, and will burn. The Word of God is very ſollid and weighty. The ſoul that ſins ſhall dye; what a weighty truth is this? Every …d…e word we ſpeak, we ſhall give account thereof; a weighty truth. We muſt all appear before the Judgement p. 213ſeat of Chriſt, a weighty truth, 2 Cor. 10.10. ſay they, his words are weighty; and ſo are all the Words of God, they are ſollid and weighty.

6. Gold it is of great uſe; it is of uſe,

Firſt, to adorn and beautifie; what an Ornament was the Gold Chain about Joſeph's neck, Gen. 41.42. So Saul, he put on Ornaments of Gold upon the Apparel of the Daughters of Iſrael, 2 Sam. 1.24. Gold doth adorn and beautifie things; you beautifie many things, your Rooms, and Books, and many other things with Gold; So the Word of God is of an adorning and beautifying nature, Prov. 4.9. She ſhall give to thine head an Ornament of Grace, a Crown of Glory ſhall ſhe deliver to thee. The word of God, the wiſdom of God, 'tis an ornament of Grace, a crown of Glory: nothing becomes a Chriſtian more than the Truths of God, they adorn the ſoul, and the very outward man, and makes the outward man lovely and beautiful when we hold forth the word of Life, and the word of God and of Jeſus Chriſt.

Secondly, Gold is of uſe to make Veſſels; for they made Veſſels for the Sanctuary, and for the Temple; there were Golden Tongs, Golden Candleſticks, and Golden Lamds, &c. as you may find in the 1. King. 7. and 2 Chron. 7. and Heb. 9.4. So the word, the word makes Golden Veſſels, it makes Golden Candleſticks, Golden Churches: All true Chriſtians and Believers are Golden Veſſels in the Temple of God, Lam. 4.2. The precious Sons of Zion, comparable to fine Gold. All true children of Zion are precious, and comparable unto fine Gold, to the fineſt p. 214Gold or Silver that is in the world. 2 Tim. 3.16. They make wiſe unto Salvation; they furniſh and fit a man for every good word and work; they make precious Veſſels.

Thirdly, Gold is ſaid to be a Cordial likewiſe: and is not the word of God a Cordial, the beſt Cordial we have in this world next to Chriſt, and God himſelf: The Word of God 'tis a ſweet Cordial, a ſweet Comfort unto the Soul.

7. Gold endures tryal, it will endure the fire, the exacteſt tryal that can be: Zech. 13.9. I will bring them through the fire, and try them as Gold is tryed: Gold is tryed, and tryed in the fire, and therefore it is eſteemed becauſe it will endure the fire: ſo the Word of God is a tryed word, Pſal. 12.6. The words of the Law are pure, as Silver tryed in a furnace of earth, purified ſeven times: The Word of God is a tryed word, Pſal. 18.30. The word of the Lord is tryed, his promiſes have been tryed in all Ages, they have had tryals ſeveral times, and ſeveral wayes: Thoſe that have received the word have been tryed, the Martyrs have been tryed, and they find the word to hold out in the ſharpeſt tryals, and to ſtand them in ſtead. So that you ſee Gold is deſirable, and upon what accounts, and upon the ſame account the Word of God is deſirable.

2. Now the ſecond thing is to ſhew you that Divine truths are more to be deſired than Gold, yea, than much fine Gold: More to be deſired, and that will appear ſeveral wayes.

Firſt, Gold and Silver, and earthly treaſures, are at the will and command of men, and we may p. 215be deprived of them, Dan. 11.43. He ſhall have power over the treaſures of Gold, and of Silver, and ever all the precious things of Egypt. The King ſhould have power over them, and take them away from them, and we ſee how Gold and Silver is ſubject to Thieſes, and to others, and we may be deprived thereof; But the Word of God when 'tis ours, when 'tis written in our hearts once, there's none can take it from us, nor deprive us of it.

Secondly, The Word of God, and Divine truths, are more deſirable than Gold, becauſe it's better than Gold. Pſal. 119.72. The Law of thy mouth is better unto me, than Thouſands of Gold and Silver. There's a betterneſs in the Word of God than in Gold and Silver; it exceeds it, and that in ſeveral reſpects.

Firſt, Gold and Silver are ſubject to cankering, and ſo to periſh, James 5.3. Your Gold and Silver is cankered, and the ruſt of them ſhall be a witneſs againſt you, and it is ſubject to corrupt, 1 Pet. 1.18. ye are not redeemed with Corruptible things, as Silver and Gold; and in the 1. Ch. 7. Gold that periſheth. But the word of the Lord periſheth not, corrupts not, The word of the Lord endures for ever, 1 Pet. 1.25. there's no corrupting, no cankering, no periſhing of the Word of God. Therefore it's better than Gold.

Secondly, The word is better than Gold or Silver, becauſe it doth that which Gold and Silver cannot do, nor all the treaſures in the world can do; and what's that?

Firſt, It is not in the power of Silver and Gold, and Riches or earthly Treaſures, to ſanctifie any p. 216mans heart or nature: They may pollute men, and they do pollute moſt, but ſanctifie none: But in Joh. 15.3. ſaith Chriſt, Now are ye clean, through the Word which I have ſpoken unto you. The word of Chriſt, and of God, is a cleanſing word; it will cleanſe your heads, your hearts, your lips, your lives: where withall ſhall a young man cleanſe his way, by taking heed thereto, according to thy word; But all the treaſures in the world will never cleanſe any, Joh. 17.17. Sanctifie them through thy truth, thy word is truth. Gods word is a word of truth, and 'tis a word of Sanctification; that will make men and women holy; the more of the word is in you, the more holy you are, the more filthineſs of fleſh and ſpirit is purged out of you; So that it's better than Silver and Gold upon this account.

Secondly, Silver and Gold can never ſatisfie you, Eccleſ. 4.8. The eye is not ſatisfied with Riches. Alexander had the world, and yet he was not ſatisfied, he would have another world. Eccleſ. 5.10. He that loveth Silver, ſhall not be ſatisfied with Silver, nor he that loveth abundance, with increaſe. A man is never ſatisfied with theſe things that are below: The heart of man is triangular, and the whole world being round, can never ſatisfie a triangle; but the truths of God are ſatisfying truths: Open thy mouth wide, and I will ſill it, ſaith God; I will fill it with Divine truths, Pſal. 36.8. They ſhall be abundantly ſatisfied with the fatneſs of thy houſe, the word of God hath that in it will ſatisfie your ſouls; Eye hath not ſeen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man to conceive, what God hath prepared for them that wait for him, and for them p. 217that love him: There is more prepared than you can expect or look for, and that will ſatisfie, Pſal. 65.4. We ſhall be ſatisfied with the goodneſs of thy houſe: there is ſo much goodneſs in the houſe of God, there you have Communion with God himſelf, and with the Spirit, and with Jeſus Chriſt, and theſe will ſatisfie the ſoul, if ever it will be ſatisfied.

Thirdly, They are more deſirable than Gold and Silver, becauſe it is deſire that makes the ſubject fit to receive the thing deſired. If a man be hungry, and thirſty, his hunger and thirſtineſs makes him fit to receive bread, and to take drink: Now the more excellent the thing to be received is, the more muſt it be deſired, Matth. 10.37. He that loveth Father or Mother more than me, is not worthy of me; and he that loveth Son or Daughter more than me, is not worthy of me. Why I am the moſt excellent, therefore I muſt have the moſt love, and the moſt deſire: That Soul will never receive any real good by the Word, that doth not deſire it more than any other thing. If you deſire the Word but in competition to another thing, or equal to another thing, you will have no good by the Word; but you muſt deſire it more than other things, and therefore it is better than other things.

Fourthly, If our deſires be more after the Word than after Gold and Silver, and theſe outward things, then theſe will fall in of courſe, Mat. 6.33. Firſt ſeek the Kingdom of God and the Righteouſneſs thereof, and all theſe things ſhall be added unto you: we muſt firſt therefore ſeek the Kingdom of God; that is, we muſt more deſire the Kingdom of God p. 218than theſe things, if we labour to know the Goſpel, to know God and Jeſus Chriſt, and deſire the knowledge of theſe, other things will be given in, we need not trouble our ſelves about them, and ſpend our ſtrength and deſires after them, but after theſe, and then they will be caſt in.

Fifthly, Gold is of an earthly nature, and of an earthy abſtract; but the Word is from Heaven heavenly, 'tis a ſpiritual thing: There is nothing comparable unto the Word of God, all things thou canſt deſire are not to be compared to her, to the wiſdom of the Word. Now the Word being heavenly, it is more to be deſired than Gold, which is but out of the bowels of the earth; The Word is ſpiritual, and comes from Heaven, and heavenly, and therefore more deſirable: So that you ſee upon what account it is that the Word is more to be deſired than Gold and Silver.

Qu. Now a queſtion may be moved; with what deſires are we to deſire the Word of God?

Anſ. Firſt, We muſt deſire the Word of God with ſtrong and ardent deſires; with ſtrength of heart and ſoul; this ſhould be in our deſires, Pſal. 42.1, 2. As the Hart panteth after the water brooks, ſo panteth my ſoul after thee, O God: My ſoul thirſteth for God, for the living God, when ſhall I come and appear before God. He was baniſhed from the houſe of God, and from the Ordinances of God, and from the Word of God; now ſaith he, when ſhall I come and appear before God: I have ardent deſires, ſtrong deſires to be where God is, and his Word and Ordinances are; and in Pſal. 119.20. (a remarkable place) My ſoul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy Judgments p. 219at all times. My ſoul breaketh! what ardent, what ſtrong deſires were in the heart of David now after the Word of God? So then, they muſt be ſtrong and ardent deſires in our Souls after the Word of God, which is better than Gold or Silver.

Secondly, Theſe deſires muſt be ſincere deſires: It may be men have deſires to the Word, but they are not ſincere; they ſhould deſire the Word for it ſelf, becauſe it is the Word of God, becauſe it is pure, Pſal. 119.440. Thy Word is very pure, therefore thy Servant loveth it. It is a good argument of Truth, of Grace, and of a ſervant of God, to love the Word for the purity of it. Many cannot endure it becauſe it is pure; but if we love it, and deſire it for its purity, it's an argument we are right: Such ſhould our deſires be, ſincere deſires, to love the Word for it ſelf. It is ſincere milk, and it calls for ſincere deſires, ſincere affections, there ſhould be no Bias in our affections, no crookedneſs, no ſelfiſhneſs, but ſincere deſires unto the Word of God.

3. Our deſires muſt be permanent, and abiding; not fleeting and flaſhy deſires, but permanent, abiding deſires; our deſires ſhould be alwayes to the Word of God, our hearts ſhould ſtand bent to the Word of God continually, Pſal. 119.20. My ſoul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy Judgments at all times. Mark, at all times; my ſoul is carried out with venement deſires unto thy Judgments at all times; I do continue, and maintain my deſires towards thy Word, Pſal. 1.2. In his Law doth he meditate day and night: when a mans deſires are to the Word p. 220of God night and day, here's permanent, conſtant, and abiding deſires.

But you will ſay, that's impoſſible for a man to hold up his deſires at ſuch a height, and to continue them.

True, to fleſh and blood it is; but we muſt renew our deſires when they begin to flag and fall.

4. Laſtly, our deſires they muſt be opperative, and working deſires, many have lazy and ſluggiſh deſires, they have velleities, wiſhes, O that I did underſtand ſuch and ſuch things! O that I were acquainted with the Word of God (and the like;) they have velleities, and wiſhes, but they muſt be real deſires, which will put men upon ſearching the Scriptures, comparing place with place, reading, and meditating, and improving of truths: Mens deſires after Gold are ſuch, 1 Tim. 6.9. They that will be rich, how they will work, and labour, riſe early, and lye down late, and ſtudy, and caſt this way, and that way to get the world, to get Gold and Silver, ſuch ſhould be our deſires, Joh. 6. Labour not for the meat that periſhes, but for the meat that endures to everlaſting life. So you ſee what kind of deſires the deſires of our ſouls ſhould be after the Word of God. I ſhall now come to ſome Inferences from the point. Are Divine truths more to be deſired than Silver and Gold? Then,

Firſt, I infer, many are very faulty, and worthy of blame, yea of great blame.

Firſt, Thoſe that have no deſires to the Word of God: There are ſome people in the world that have no deſire to the Word of God, Job 21.14. p. 221We deſire not the knowledg of thy wayes: we have better wayes than thine, our own wayes; and as for thy wayes we dont deſire the knowledge of them, do theſe men look at the Word of God to be better than Gold or Silver? No, we dont deſire the knowledge of thy wayes, it blames and condemns them.

Secondly, It blames thoſe who have moſt deſire after Gold, and Riches, and after the things and pleaſures of the world: They have little deſire after Gods Teſtimonies, Statutes, Laws, and Judgments, little deſire after theſe, they cannot ſay the zeal of thy houſe hath eaten me up, but the zeal of the world hath eaten me up: Theſe are blameable that have ſo little deſires after the things of God, and ſuch ardent deſires after the world, and the things of the world.

Thirdly, It blames thoſe that have fleeting, tranſient deſires: now and then they have a fit, they have ſome deſires after the Word of God, but their deſires are fleeting, and tranſient, they dont keep up and maintain their deſires: Every morning, noon, and night we ſhould have deſires after the Word of God, and the wayes of God: David would prevent the morning watches, and ſeven times a day be would have his heart in a frame for God and the things of God, I at midnight would he riſe to praiſe God for his Righteous Judgments; but we have a fit now and then and away, and this is blameable.

Fourthly, It condemns thoſe that have not ſincere and pure deſires: They have deſires after the Word of God for ſome baſe ends, they make a profeſſion that they may cover their wickedneſs with a pretence of Zeal, and Profeſſion, and Religion p. 222and Godlineſs. As the Scribes and Phariſees, they made a ſhew, O they minded the Word, and every Letter and Syllable of the Word, and yet within (as Chriſt ſaith) they were full of Exceſs, Hypocriſie, and Uncleanneſs.

Laſtly, It reproves thoſe that reſt in their deſires, and labour not to accompliſh their deſires, they dont put forth their deſires into endevours: and thoſe deſires are fooliſh and hurtful deſires, that dont carry out the ſoul to endeavours: All theſe come under cenſure, and are blameable.

Secondly, If the truths of God are more deſirable then Gold and Silver: Then here we may ſee who are the richeſt men in the world, and have the beſt treaſure, even thoſe that have gotten moſt of the Word into their hearts, not moſt of the world into their houſes and into their poſſeſſions: the Word is better than thouſands of Gold and Silver: They are the richeſt that have moſt of this heavenly riches; let the word of Chriſt dwell richly in you, Col. 3. To be rich in promiſes, there's the true riches, and great riches. Here we ſay, he is a rich man that hath many Bonds, or Ships, or Houſes, or Lands, that hath many Hundreds, or Thouſands lay'd up, or abroad: but he is the richeſt man in the Scripture account, and in Gods account, that hath moſt of the Word of God lay'd up in his heart, that hath moſt light in his underſtanding, moſt promiſes in his Soul, that hath a good ſtock, that hath a treaſure within; I have hid thy Law in my heart, ſaith David: So when Gods Law is hid in your hearts, then you are the richeſt men, the wealthieſt men, and men of ſubſtance indeed.

p. 223Thirdly, Then I infer from hence, that you may ſee a great difference between men and men; between Saints and the men of the world: The men of the world, they prize Gold and Silver, the Saints prize the Word of God: Pſal. 119.72. The Law of thy mouth, is better unto me than thouſands of Gold and Silver. David prized the Law of God more than his Kingdom, or the Crown of Gold that was upon his head more than the Gold of Ʋphaz, of Havilah, and the Gold of Ophyr, the fineſt Godl that might be had.

Fourthly, If the Word of God be more deſirable than Gold and Silver, then certainly their loſs is great that have the Word taken from them; I mean the Word outwardly, and the Ordinances and enjoyments, when our Silver and Gold is taken away, we cry out we are undone, we are undone: No, no, you are not undone if you have God and his Word; but if Gods Word be taken away from men and women, they are more undone than others: It's a great loſs to loſe that that is better than Gold & Silver, better than all the world: There are many in the world at this day, that are depriv'd of their Teachers, of Sabbaths, and of the Word of God: They cannot read themſelves, and they have none to read unto them, it's a ſad condition, and a great loſs unto them, and thoſe that rob them of theſe they muſt anſwer for it one day, and they are very guilty that have done it.

Fifthly, If the Word of God be more deſirable than Gold and Silver, then let us eſteem if according to the value and worth of it, above outward treaſure, above all Gold and Silver: Jo… p. 224eſteemed the Word of God more than his neceſſary food, people cannot eat Gold and Silver, and Houſe and Land, but their neceſſary food maintains their lives, and 'tis more valuable than Gold and Silver: If you could not have meat and drink, what would your Gold and Silver do you good? you would part with it all for a little bread, for a little drink; now Job did value the Word of God more than his neceſſary food: O that we would ſet ſuch a price upon the Word of God: I love thy Commandments above Gold, yea, above fine Gold: Let us all ſet ſuch a price upon the truths of God, there's more worth in them than you can find out: you have riches unſearchable in the promiſes, and in the truths of God, Phil. 3.8. Paul accounts all but dung for the excellency of the knowledge of Chriſt Jeſus: And where will you have that but in the Word of God, prize it therefore at a high rate, Pſal. 84.10. A day…n thy Courts, is better than a thouſand elſewhere: A thouſand dayes are almoſt three years, and one would think they might meet with brave things in ſuch a time; but one day in the Courts of God is better than a thouſand elſewhere: The Word of God is little eſteemed in theſe dayes, and every thing preferred before it; but let it not be ſo with you.

Sixthly, If the Word of God be more deſirable than Gold, and fine Gold; then let us keep the Word of God as men keep their Gold, and lay it up as men lay up their Gold; and know, the Word of God if you will lay it up, it will be a defence unto you, and a Buckler unto you, Pſal. 91.4. his truth ſhall be thy Shield and p. 225Buckler: Solomon tells you, money is a defence, and Gold is a defence; it will defend you from the injuries of the world and wrongs of men: ſo is the Word of God, it is a defence, it is a Shield, a Buckler, therefore lay it up ſafely as you would your Gold and Silver, Job. 22. The Almighty ſhall be thy defence: ſo you read it, but the Margent is, the Almighty ſhall be thy Gold: God would be your Gold if you would lay up Gods truth in your hearts, God will be your defence, he will be your Gold, your treaſure.

Seventhly, Laſtly, if the Word and Teſtimonies of God be more deſirable than Gold, yea than fine Gold, then let us deſire it more than outward treaſure, let us deſire it with ardent and ſtrong deſires, with ſincere deſires, with abiding conſtant deſires, with acting and endeavouring deſires, let us uſe our utmoſt endeavour to be enriched with theſe riches, Pſal. 84.2. My ſoul longeth, yea even fainteth for the Courts of the Lord, my Soul longs ſaith David, and my ſoul faints for the Courts of the Lord; why, what was there? There was the Word of the Lord, there were the Ordinances of the King in his own Courts: and he long'd to be there where he might hear the word of God, and have the benefit of the Word of God. And in Pſal. 119.131. I opened my mouth and panted, for I longed for thy Commandments: Let us wait daily at the Courts of the Lord, lot us long, and take any pains we can for them, Joh. 6. Labour not for the meat that periſheth: all your Gold and Silver, and theſe things, are all of a periſhing nature, and will not continue long; but let us labour for the p. 226meat that endureth to everlaſting life: part with your Silver and Gold, which is from the earth; to get Scripture Gold, which is from Heaven. To get Divine truths into your heads and hearts. One queſtion more.

Qu. You will ſay, how ſhall we get our hearts, and the deſires of them more inflamed after the Word of God.

Anſ. Firſt, Conſider your own poverty, and what riches there are to be had in the Word, when men conſider they are poor men, I am a poor man, I have neither houſe nor Land, I have neither Gold nor Silver, and in ſuch a place is a Mine, and I may go thither and have riches enough, this will inflame his deſires. Now conſider your ſpiritual poverty, conſider then I have little light, little grace, little ſtrength, it may be I have none at all; this will ſtrengthen your deſires after the Word of God, which will enrich you.

Secondly, Let every one of us conſider what vile and baſe creatures we are, we are earth-born, and fleſh-born; but now the Word of God will enoble us, and make us Heaven-born, Spiritborn, 'twill elevate us. If a man be a poor beggerly creature, and ſhall conſider, if I take ſuch a courſe I ſhall be a Noble-man, a Prince, a King, 'twill inflame his deſires to be in ſuch a ſtate and condition. Now it is the Word that will enoble us, Joh. 1.12. To as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the Sons of God, even to them that believe on his Name. If you will believe on his name, on his Word, you will be enobled, and made the Sons and Daughters of p. 227God, which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the fleſh, nor of the will of man, but of God: And when are we ſaid to be born of God? but when we are born of the incorruptible ſeed of the Word of God, 1 Pet. 1.23. Being born again, not of corruptible ſeed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God which liveth and abideth for ever: If therefore you would conſider, what a baſe ſpirited creature am I? but I would have a noble ſpirit, a divine and heavenly ſpirit, and that's to be had by the Word of God, 'twill enflame your deſires towards the word, Acts 17.11. Theſe were more noble than thoſe in Theſſalonica, they were better born than they, In that they received the Word with all readineſs of mind, and ſearched the Scriptures daily whether thoſe things were ſo: If you would therefore look into the Scriptures, and ſearch them, and mind them, you would be more noble Chriſtians than others, better born, of heavenly ſpirits.

Thirdly, Conſider what beauty is in the Word, what reallity, what excellency, what duration: If men and women would conſider what beauty there is in the Word of God, what excellency, if they did conſider this? it would inflame their deſires abundantly that way. See Pſal. 27.4.

Fourthly, Laſtly, conſider the ſutableneſs of the Word unto your conditions: There is ſomewhat ſutable in the Word to every man and womans condition in the world: and when we think of a thing ſutable to our conditions, 'twill ſtir up our deſires to it, when men and women are ſick, and they hear of a Medicine will cure them, their deſires are carried out ſtrongly to that Medicine; now the Lord Chriſt hath Medicines for p. 228all Sores, and all Conditions; and the Word of God will be a Plaiſter for every Sore: if a man be ſick, there's ſomething to comfort him; if a man be dead, the word is a quickning word; if a man be in darkneſs, the word is an enlightning word. Therefore conſider of this and it will cauſe you to deſire the Word of God more than Gold and Silver, or any thing elſe in this world. It follows now in the latter part of the verſe.

Sweeter alſo than Honey, and the Honey-comb.

IN the firſt part of this verſe, you have the worth of the Word, and in this latter part you have the ſweetneſs of the Word. Gold is very precious, Honey is very ſweet; and by theſe two Metaphors it pleaſes the ſpirit of God to ſet out the worth and ſweetneſs of the Word. I muſt open this word, Honey.

Honey ſometimes in Scripture is taken literally, for a creature we call Honey: Judg. 14.8. there was a Swarm of Bees, and Honey in the Carcaſs of the Lyon that Sampſon had killed, and there 'tis in a literal ſence, Sampſon eats of it. So its ſaid, the taſte of Manna was like unto Honey, Exod. 16. Wafers made with Honey.

Sometimes in Scripture Honey is taken Metaphorically; and that,

Firſt, For things ſweet and pleaſing to the taſte: things that are ſweet and pleaſing to the taſte, are called Honey, Deut. 32.13. he made p. 229him to ſuck Honey out of the Rock; that is, the water that came out of the Rock was as ſweet as Honey unto them; it was not Honey, but ſweet as Honey. And Prov. 25.16. Haſt thou found Honey, eat ſo much as is ſufficient for thee; that is, haſt thou found any thing delightful, and ſweet, and pleaſing to thy taſte? eat that which is ſufficient for thee; any thing delightful to the taſte, is to be underſtood by Honey often in Scripture; ſo a full Stomach loaths the Honey-comb; that is, loaths ſweet and pleaſing things.

2. This Metaphorical ſenſe is put for gracious & comfortable words, in Cant. 2. it's ſaid; Thy lips O my Spouſe, drop as the Honey-comb, Honey & Milk are under thy Tongue; that is, thy Words, thy Conferences, thy Prayers are very ſweet and pleaſing. So in Prov. 16.24. Pleaſant words, ſaith he, are as the Honey-comb: That Honey which drops from the Honey-comb, is the ſweeteſt Honey, that is not preſs'd and ſqueezed out, but drops from the Honey-comb, as the Juyce which runs from the Grape without preſſing, makes the ſweeteſt Wine: Now there are many things which are ſaid to be ſweet in Scripture, ſweet Wines, ſweet Fruits, ſweet Sngar, ſweet Cane, ſweet Calamus, ſweet Spices, ſweet Incenſe; but none of all theſe are ſo ſweet as Honey: Judg. 14.18. what is ſweeter than Honey? they could not tell of any thing ſweeter than Honey, of all earthly things, that is the ſweeteſt: But David could tell them of ſomething ſweeter than Honey; thy Law, thy Teſtimonies, thy Statutes are ſweeter than Honey and the Honey-comb. Take Honey in a litteral ſence, or Honey in a p. 230metaphorical ſenſe, for any ſweet thing, the Word of God is ſweeter than all, Pſal. 114.103. How ſweet are thy Words unto my taſte; yea, ſweeter than Honey unto my mouth. And the Church ſaith of Chriſts mouth, Cant. 5.16. that it is moſt ſweet: The gracious words of Chriſt are ſweet, are ſweeter than Honey; yea, they are moſt ſweet. So that all the degrees of Compariſon are in the Words of God and Chriſt, they are ſweet, they are ſweeter than Honey, they are moſt ſweet. The very words themſelves are a Doctrine or Obſervation.

Doct. Gods word is very ſweet; yea, the ſweeteſt thing of all. A little to inſtance in ſome things in the word of God.

Firſt, Are not the Counſels of God ſweet? David ſaith, that the counſel he took with Ahithophel was ſweet, Pſal. 55.14. what then was the counſel he took with God? how ſweet was that counſel? Pſal. 119.24. Thy Teſtimonies are my delight, and my Counſellers. Gods Teſtimonies were his Counſellers, and they were ſweet Counſellers, and gave him ſuch ſweet counſel, as he delighted in them: he had ſuch counſel from the word of God as even raviſh'd his ſoul, ſuch ſweetneſs he found in it that he would be guided by Gods counſels all the dayes of his life; Pſal. 73.24. Thou ſhalt guide me with thy counſel, and afterward receive me to glory; ſo in Rev. 3.17. I counſel thee, ſaith Chriſt, unto the Church of Laodicea, To buy of me tryed Gold that thou mayeſt be rich, and white rayment, that thy nakedneſs may be covered, and the ſhame thereof may not be ſeen; was not this good and ſweet counſel that the Lord Chriſt did give to p. 231the Church, that was poor, and naked, and ſhameful, and deſtitute of all good. So that the counſels of God are ſweet counſels.

Secondly, Are not the invitations that we find in the word very ſweet, ſweet invitations are there made unto poor ſinners, Iſa. 55.1. Ho every one that thirſteth, come ye unto the waters, and he that hath no money, come buy, and eat, come buy Wine and Milk without money, and without price. Here is a Hive of Honey, and Honey-combs in theſe words; come, come, come, here's water to quench your thirſt, here's wine to comfort your hearts, here's milk to nouriſh you, and cauſe you to thrive, and grow in the wayes of God, here's bread to ſtrengthen you, and here's all free, without money. How ſweet are theſe invitations, come, come, come? and for ſuch things as are ſo excellent, and ſo precious; ſo that of the Lord Chriſt in Matth. 11.28. Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and all of you come unto me, and I will give you reſt, how ſweet is this now to a burthened ſoul, to a burthened conſcience; for a man or woman that is in ſtraights, and knows not what to do, to come to the Lord Chriſt and they ſhall have reſt: in the 14. Hoſ. 1. ſaith the Lord there, O Iſrael, return unto the Lord thy God; for thou haſt fallen by thine iniquity: one would have conceived, that Iſrael ſhould have firſt ſought to God; who had offended God, but God comes to delinquent Iſrael and ſaith, O Iſrael, return unto the Lord thy God, for thou haſt fallen by thine iniquities. Take with you words, and turn to the Lord, ſay unto him, take away all iniquity, and receive us graciouſly, ſo will we render the Calves of our p. 232lips: he puts words into their mouths, how ſweet are theſe invitations of the Lord to poor ſinners. So in Matth. 25.34. Come ye bleſſed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. There's ſweetneſs in the invitations that the word holds out unto us.

Thirdly, Are not the promiſes in the word of God very ſweet? ſweet, yea, ſweet as the Honeycomb. There are many great and gracious promiſes, 2 Pet. 1.4. they are exceeding great & precious promiſes: to have a promiſe from a great man that is able to perform his promiſe, and faithful, is ſweet unto a poor man; but to have exceeding great and precious promiſes from the great God who is able, and willing to perform, and faithful and will not fail; how ſweet are theſe promiſes to the Sons of men. Ezek. 36.25, 26. I will ſprinkle clean water upon you, and ye ſhall be clean, from all your filthineſs, and from all your Idols will I cleanſe you. A new heart alſo will I give unto you, and a new ſpirit will I put within you, and I will take away the stony heart out of your fleſh, and I will give you an heart of fleſh, and I will put my ſpirit within you, and cauſe you to walk in my Statutes, and ye ſhall keep my Judgments and do them. Are not here ſweet promiſes, very ſweet promiſes, promiſe upon promiſe: And all the promiſes of God they are very ſweet, Jer. 32.40. I will make an everlaſting Covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good, but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they ſhall not depart from me; what a ſweet promiſe is this to poor ſouls that fear they ſhall fall away, and ſhall not hold out to the end, God will put his fear into them, p. 233and they ſhall not depart from him, I will heal their backſlidings and love them freely, Hoſ. 14. full of ſweet and precious promiſes is the word of God.

Fourthly, Is not the Goſpel, and the Doctrines of it very ſweet? Is not the Goſpel glad tidings? Luke 2.10, 11. Behold I bring you glad tidings of great joy, to you this day is born a Saviour. 'Tis a Goſpel of reconciliation, that declares the reconciliation of poor ſinners unto the great and holy God, 2 Cor. 5.19. it is the Miniſtration of life, and of Righteouſneſs, 2 Cor. 3.8.9. it is the Doctrine of Chriſt, 2 Joh. 9. what gracious words came out of the mouth of the Lord Jeſus; never man (ſaid his enemies) ſpake like this man; but there's ſweetneſs in this Doctrine, is it not ſweet that rich mercy is held out unto the chief of ſinners, 1 Tim. 1.15. This is a faithful ſaying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Jeſus Chriſt came into the world to ſave ſinners, of whom I am chief: what a ſweet ſaying is this, here is mercy held out to the chief of ſinners: ſo that, all manner of ſins and blaſphemies ſhall be forgiven, how ſweet is this, Matth. 12.31. So that, God hath freely given his Son, Joh. 3.16. God hath ſo loved the world, that he gave his onelyonly begotten Son; That whoſoever believeth in him, ſhould not periſh, but have everlaſting life. Here is a ſweet truth unto thoſe that will underſtand truth, there is more ſweetneſs in it than they can taſte or find out, he is a propitiation, in this is manifeſted the love of God towards us, becauſe that God ſent his onelyonly begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him; and to be the propitiation for our p. 234ſins, 1 Joh. 4.9, 10, 14, 15. By him we ſhall live, he is the Saviour of his body, the Saviour of ſinners. So, how ſweet is that, 1 Cor. 1.30. He is made of God unto us, Wiſdom, Righteouſneſs, Sanctification and Redemption. Here's ſweetneſs in theſe things, that we are freely juſtified by him, Rom. 3.24. Acts 13.38, 39. How ſweet is that ſaying of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, Joh. 6.37. (if there were no more in all the Goſpel but that) all that the Father giveth me, ſhall come to me, and him that cometh to me, I will in no wiſe caſt out. Let any poor creatures come unto me in their rags, in their filth, in their guilt, in their ſores, I will not caſt them out, I will not ſend them away diſcouraged, but they ſhall find favour in mine eyes. So the Doctrine of Chriſts interceſſion with the Father, 1 Joh. 2. If any man ſin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jeſus Chriſt the Righteous: He is an Advocate to intercede for us, and to order all things for our good; ſo that there's a great deal of ſweetneſs in the word of God.

Fifthly, There is ſweetneſs in the example of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, Chriſt waſhed his Diſciples feet; what ſweetneſs is there in it, to think that the Lord of glory, and the Prince of life, and the Heir of the world, ſhould humble himſelf ſo as to waſh his Diſciples feet; and Chriſt ſaith, Learn of me, I am meek and lowly, &c. Take my yoke upon you, and do you imitate me. The Lord Chriſt is the ſweeteſt example for us to imitate that is in all the Scriptures.

Sixthly, The parables of the Lord Chriſt, or the parables that are held out in the Word of God, are very ſweet parables. In the 15. Luke, what p. 235ſweet parables are in that Chapter; the loſt Sheep is found out; the loſt piece of Silver is found; the Prodigal Son comes home, and what ſweet entertainment hath he of his Father? The Father runs out to meet him, and doth not upbraid him, but runs and falls upon his neck and kiſſes him.

Seventhly, The Providences that are held out in the Scripture, are ſweet providences: That of Joſeph, who was envyed of his Brethren, and ſold into Egypt, was it not a ſweet providence, to ſave the Egyptians lives, to ſave the Iſraelites lives. So the providences about Eſther, Vaſhty ſhe is remov'd, and Virgins are ſought out, and Mordecai diſcovers Treaſon, Haman gets up and ſeeks the ruine of all the Jews; Eſther is taken to be Queen, and brought in to ſave the Jews lives, and to take Haman out of the way.

Eighthly, There is ſweetneſs in the experiences of the Saints of God, ſaith David, God hath delivered me out of the jaws of the Lion, and out of the paw of the Bear, and he will deliver me ſtill, and Pſal. 116. Thou haſt delivered my ſoul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling; and ſo Paul, God hath delivered, and he doth deliver, and he will deliver. The word is full of ſweet experiences of the Saints of God.

Ninthly, the word of God is full of ſweet titles, titles that are given to God, and titles that are given to Chriſt, and titles given to the ſpirit, and titles given to the Saints.

Titles that are given to God, as that God is a Father, a Father of mercies, a God of all conſolation. In the 68. Pſal. 5. Theſe are helpleſs, and p. 236friendleſs, God is a Father to them. A Father of the Fatherleſs, how ſweet is this to fatherleſs ones, and helpleſs ones: Pſal. 10.14. Thou art the helper of the fatherleſs; ſo in Hoſ. 14. In thee the fatherleſs findeth mercy; ſo, God is a fountain, and that of living waters, Jer. 2.13. A fountain that's alwayes flowing, and alwayes overflowing, overflowing with living waters, Iſa. 35.5, 6. The eyes of the blind ſhall be opened, and the ears of the deaf ſhall be unſtopped, then ſhall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb ſing; why? for in the wilderneſs ſhall waters break out, and ſtreams in the deſert. God who is ſuch a fountain will make waters of life to overflow, and be in deſerts and wilderneſſes. So, God is the hope of Iſrael. Jer. 14.8. O thou, the hope of Iſrael, the Saviour thereof in the time of trouble. That God is the hope of Iſrael, it's a ſweet title, Thou art my hope in the day of evil, be not thou a terrour to me. Who is your hope in an evil day but God? and he is ſweet to thoſe that hope in him. So God is ſtiled a God ready to pardon, and forgive ſins, Neh. 9.17. he is not backward but ready, and forward to forgive ſins, to pardon iniquities, ſins, and tranſgreſſions. Let the wicked forſake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon, Iſa. 55.7. So, he is the God of grace, and glory: There is no grace but in him, no glory to be had but by him.

So for the titles of the Lord Chriſt: There are ſweet titles in Scripture given to him: that he is the Shepherd, and the true and faithful Shepherd, p. 2371 Pet. 2.25. and in the 10. Joh. he is the faithful Shepherd, the great Shepherd of the ſheep, Heb. 13.10. The good Shepherd that will ſee you ſhall want nothing, Pſal. 23.1, 2, 3. The Lord is my Shepherd, I ſhall not want. He maketh me to lye down in green paſtures, he leadeth me beſides the ſtill waters, he reſtoreth my ſoul, he leadeth me in the paths of righteouſneſs. What a Shepherd is Chriſt, in Iſa. 40.11. A Shepherd that gathers his Lambs with his arms, carries them in his boſom, and gently leads thoſe that are with young; he is a faithful Shepherd to all his Sheep and Lambs, So, Chriſt is a Phyſitian to heal all your wounds; yea, the good Samaritan mentioned in Luke, when the Prieſt and the Levite paſt by the man that was wounded; the Lord Chriſt was a good Samaritan, and drops oyl into his wounds, and gives him wine to drink, ſets him upon his beaſt, and carries him to an Inne, and hath him look'd after: what a ſweet title is this of the Lord Jeſus? He is called likewiſe, The childrens bread. Matth. 15.26. It is not meet to take the childrens bread, and to caſt it to dogs; he ſpeaks of himſelf, what good bread is that bread? My fleſh, ſaith Chriſt, is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed, Joh. 6.53, 55. The Lord Chriſt is ſtiled the Deſire of all Nations. What a ſweet title is that, Hag. 2.7. The Deſire of all Nations ſhall come, a bleſſing to all Families, In thee ſhall all the Families of the earth be bleſſed, he was therefore the deſire of all Nations; ſo he is called a Friend, Joh. 15.15. a Bridegroom, Joh. 3.29. a Husband, 2 Cor. 11.2. a Mediator, 1 Tim. 2.5. an Advocate, 1 Joh. 2. a Brother, Heb. 2.12. a p. 238Father, an everlaſting Father, Iſa. 9.6. and there is one more which hath all theſe in them; he is called, The Conſolation of Iſrael, Luk. 2.25. If Iſrael have any true conſolation, it muſt be from the Lord Jeſus Chriſt; if the ſoul ever have any true comfort, it muſt be from him. He finiſhes the tranſgreſſion, makes an end of ſins, makes reconciliation for iniquity, brings in everlaſting righteouſneſs, Dan. 9.24.

So the titles that are given to the Bleſſed Spirit of God; are all ſweet titles: The Spirit is called a Remembrancer, Joh. 14.26. 'Tis a ſweet thing to have one to put you in mind of every thing. So the bleſſed Spirit is the Recorder in the Church, to put the Church in mind of her duty, to mind her of the counſels of God, and invitations, and promiſes, and doctrines (and the like) The Spirits title is an Helper: we know not what to pray for, but the Spirit helpeth our infirmities, Rom. 8.26. the Spirit is a Teacher, 1 Joh. 2.27. the Spirit is a Sanctifier, Rom. 1.4. according to the Spirit of holineſs, Rom. 15.16. ſhe Gentiles were ſanctified by the Holy-Ghoſt. 'Tis a revealer of deep and hidden things, Eph. 1.17. 1 Cor. 2.9, 10, 11, 12. Laſtly, the Spirit is a Comforter, Joh. 14.26. he ſhall ſend you the Comforter, and it's the beſt Comforter that we can have.

So likewiſe the titles that are given to the Church of God, and to believing ſouls; the Church is called the Temple of God, 1 Cor. 3.16. So is every believer; the Church is ſaid to be the Lords portion, and his treaſure, Jer. 12.10. So is every believing ſoul Gods portion, and his pleaſant portion. Again, it's called the ranſomed p. 239ones, Iſa. 35.10. the ranſomed of the Lord. God hath been at great coſt and charges to ranſome the Church, purchaſed it with his own blood, Acts. 20.28. It's called Chriſts body, and how ſweet is it to the thoughts of Saints to think, I am a member of Chriſts own body, I am a member of the precious body of the Lord Jeſus. It's called, Gods beloved, Pſal. 108.6. The dearly beloved of his Soul, Jer. 12.10. The Church is the Bride, the Lambs wife. Rev. 21.9. The Church is the bleſſed of God, and ſo is every believing ſoul, Iſa. 61.9. It's the ſeed which the Lord hath bleſſed: The other ſeed is a curſed ſeed; but this ſeed is a ſeed which the Lord hath bleſſed; yea, bleſſed with all ſpiritual bleſſings in Chriſt. Laſtly, it's the glory of God; the Church is the glory of God, and every believing ſoul, is the very glory of God, Iſa. 4.5. Upon all the glory ſhall be a defence; All true believers they are accounted the glory of God. Thus you ſee there is ſweetneſs in the word.

But wherein is the word ſweeter than Honey, and ſweeter than the Honey-comb? In ſeveral particulars.

Firſt, the ſweetneſs of Honey is Natural, that of the Word is Divine and Spiritual; and look how much ſpiritual doth exceed natural, ſo much the ſweetneſs of the word doth exceed the ſweetneſs of honey. All ſpiritual things do exceed natural things, and the word is from Heaven, a divine word, a heavenly word, and honey is but from the earth. Rom. 7.14. The Law is ſpiritual, and the Goſpel is ſpiritual, it is the Miniſtration of the Spirit: and Heb. 6.4. and have taſted of the p. 240heavenly gift. The word is a heavenly gift, and it hath heavenly ſweetneſs in it. It is ſweeter in the taſte than any earthly gift whatſoever.

Secondly, The ſweetneſs of the word refreſheth the heart of a man, ſo doth not honey, honey dont affect the ſoul; it doth affect the pallate, and the taſte, but it dont refreſh the heart and the ſoul; but the word doth affect the ſoul, and the heart of a man or woman. Pſal. 110.111. Thy Teſtimonies are the rejoycing of my heart: the Teſtimonies, Statutes, and truths of God, they do rejoyce the very heart and ſoul of a man or of a woman, and v. 77. Thy Law is my delight; and Pſal. 19.8. The Statutes of the Lord rejoyce the heart: when the heart is heavy and ſad, the word of God will rejoyce it, and revive it, which all the honey in the world can never do.

Thirdly, Honey, and Honey-combs, they cannot ſweeten bitter afflictions: they may ſweeten bitter waters, or bitter things, but they cannot ſweeten bitter afflictions. But the word of God doth ſweeten bitter afflictions, and can do that which honey cannot do: If a man eat never ſo much honey, it will not ſweeten his affliction, Pſal. 119.49. Remember the word unto thy Servant, upon which thou haſt cauſed me to hope. This is my Comfort in my affliction, for thy word hath quickned me. The word of God will comfort you in any affliction whatſoever, it will ſweeten the bittereſt waters that can be; and ſo in the 92. v. Unleſs thy Law had been my delights, I ſhould then have periſhed in mine affliction. Men and Women would periſh in their afflictions, if they had not ſome word of God to uphold them, and to comfort them; and p. 241in the 54. v. Thy Statutes have been my Songs, in the houſe of my pilgrimage. So that they are ſweeter than honey, and can ſweeten any affliction that we meat withall. As the bough that was caſt into the bitter waters it ſweetned them; ſo doth this bough (the word of God) ſweeten the moſt bitter waters that are.

Fourthly, The Word doth ſanctifie all things, and makes them ſweeter than they were; yea, the word doth ſweeten honey it ſelf, 1 Tim. 4.5. Every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refuſed, if it be received with thanksgiving; for it is ſanctified by the Word of God and Prayer. Sanctified by the word of God, let your mercies be covenant mercies, and choice mercies, they are ſanctified more now by the Word of God: They are ſanctified by the Word of God and Prayer: your very honey, which is ſo ſweet, is made ſweeter when it is ſanctified honey by the Word of God and Prayer. So that the word of God is ſweeter than honey, it ſweetens all things unto us.

Fifthly, Men may eat too much of honey, Prov. 25.27. 'Tis not good to eat much Honey, and in the 16. v. you have the reaſon of it; Haſt thou found honey, eat ſo much as is ſufficient for thee, leſt thou be filled therewith, and vomit it. If you eat too much honey, you may vomit it: But now for the word of God, we can never eat too much of that honey: John did eat up the little book, Rev. 10. he eat up the whole book: So if we ſhould eat up the whole book of God, 'twould never be too much, it will never make us vomit, Col. 3.16. Let the word of Chriſt dwell in you richly; and in the 119. Pſal. 27. O how I love thy Law, it is my Meditation all the day; you can never meditate too much p. 242in the Law of God, nor feed too much upon the promiſes, invitations, &c.

Sixthly, Laſtly, The word is the ſavour of life unto life; ſo is not honey, honey cannot produce life, it cannot work in any man a ſpiritual life; but the word is the ſavour of life unto life; it begets life in the ſoul, 'tis called the word of life; and Phil. 2.16. 'tis the ſavour of life, of ſpiritual life; yea, of eternal life: The words that I ſpeak, they are ſpirit, and they are life. And ſaith Peter, Thou haſt the words of eternal life; how ſweet is life, and how ſweet is eternal life, and the word of God hath this ſweetneſs in it.

Qu. Now having ſhown you that the word is ſweeter than honey, and wherein, a queſtion may ariſe here, if the word be ſo ſweet, what is the cauſe that perſons taſte not the ſweetneſs of it. There be many read the word, and hear the word; but dont taſte the ſweetneſs of the word. There be ſeveral reaſons for it.

An. Firſt, Becauſe ſome have no ſpiritual taſte, no ſpiritual ſenſe. We read of Barzillai, that ſaid to David (when he would have had him gone with him to the Court, ſaith he, thy Servant cannot taſte what I eat, or what I drink, ſo many there be that have no ſpiritual taſte at all in them: And where there is no taſte, all things are alike, Cant. 2.3. his fruit was ſweet unto my taſte, the Church had a taſte, and found ſweetneſs in the fruit of Chriſt; where there is a ſpiritual life, there is a ſpiritual taſte, where there is no ſpiritual life, there is no ſpiritual taſte at all. Heb. 5. They had their ſenſes exerciſed to diſcern between good and evil; ſome have no ſpiritual ſenſes, p. 243they cannot diſcern between good and evil, therefore they find no …etneſs in the word of God, that's one reaſon; men and women are dead in ſins and treſpaſſes, and never are quickned with the life of grace.

Secondly, Some have their taſtes, yet find no ſweetneſs, becauſe they have a fullneſs of other things in them, Prov. 27.7. The full ſoul loatheth an Honey-comb. If there be a fulneſs in us, nothing is ſweet unto us; now men and women are full of ſeveral things.

Firſt, ſome are full of the world, Amos 8.5. when will the new moon be gone, that we may ſell Corn, and the Sabbath, that we may ſet forth wheat (and the like) theſe were full of the world and ſo they could not taſte of ſpiritual things. Matth. 13.12. He that received among Thorns, is he that heareth the word, and the care of this world, and the deceitfulneſs of riches, choke the world, and he becometh unfruitful.

Secondly, Some are full of conceitedneſs, in Luke 18.11. The Phariſee, he was conceited of his own goodneſs, righteouſneſs, and doings: and the Church of Laodicea, ſhe was full and wanted nothing, and ſo could not taſte the dainties of the Lord, nor the ſweetneſs that was in his Ordinances, and his word, there was ſuch a fullneſs in them of their own conceitedneſs, that they wanted nothing.

Thirdly, There is a fullneſs of errors in many, a fullneſs of opinions. Scribes and Phariſes, they found no ſweetneſs in Chriſt, nor in Chriſts way, they were full of their own opinions, errors, traditions and falſe doctrines: So, many now are p. 244full of their own light, and the light within, that's all in all unto them, and they find no ſweetneſs in Ordinances, nor in the means of Grace.

Fourthly, Many, yea moſt are full of creature delights, and creature contentments, and creature comforts, full of ſenſual pleaſures, they take ſo much pleaſure in the creature, in their outward comforts, contentments, in their eſtates, and relations, in their gifts, and parts, and things of that nature, that they can taſte no ſweetneſs in the word of God.

Thirdly, Men taſte not the ſweetneſs in the word, becauſe of their ſlighting of the word; and hence it is a juſt Judgment of God to ſuffer them not to taſte the ſweetneſs that is in the word, when they made light of the Goſpel, and the Goſpel dainties prepared for them, Matth. 22.5. They went away and flighted the invitation to the Goſpel feaſt. It is ſaid in Luke 14.24. none of them ſhall Taſte thereof; that is, none of them ſhall ever taſte the ſweetneſs, or goodneſs therein; they might hear, but they ſhould taſte no ſweetneſs in their hearing; and therefore to ſlight the word of God is a great evil, and will h…nder perſons from taſting the ſweetneſs that is in the word of God.

Fourthly, A fourth reaſon is that formality that is in the people, they come to the Word and Ordinances of God with formal hearts and ſpirits, we come not to the Ordinances as the Ordinances of God, we come not to the word as the word of the great God, we hear not for time to come, we hear not for eternity, we hear not as matters of life and death, and therefore we dont find that p. 245ſweetneſs as they do that hear ſo. Men pray, but not in the Spirit; ſerve God, but not in Spirit; they draw near God with their lips, but their hearts are far from him.

Fifthly, And I may add one thing more, people dont find ſweetneſs in the word of God, becauſe they do nouriſh ſome baſe luſt or corruption in their hearts: And Peter gives you an intimation of this, 1 Pet. 2.1. Wherefore laying aſide all malice, and all guile, and hypocriſie, and envies, and evil-ſpeakings, as new-born babes deſire the ſincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby. If there be in our hearts ſuch things, we ſhall not taſte the ſweetneſs of the ſincere milk of the word, neither ſhall we grow thereby, ſo now you ſee what hinders the taſting of the ſweetneſs of the word.

Qu. Another queſtion may ariſe hereupon, and that is, What ſhould we do to find ſweetneſs in the word of God.

An. Firſt, If you would find ſweetneſs in the word of God, get hungry ſouls, Prov. 27.7. To the hungry ſoul, every bitter thing is ſweet: If we had hungry ſouls, the bittereſt truth in all the word of God would be ſweet unto us. Now there be three things which beget hunger in men and women; there's Faſting, Purging, and Excerciſe.

Firſt, If you would have hungry ſouls, you muſt faſt much; I dont mean a faſting from bread, meat and drink; but from ſin, faſting from pleaſures, and delights, faſting from lawful things of the world, 1 Cor. 7.29. The time is ſhort. It remaineth that both they that have Wives, be as though they had …one; and they that weep, as though they wept not; p. 246and they that rejoyce as though they rejoyced not; and they that bay, as though they poſſeſſed not. Faſt from your lawful enjoyments, from your pleaſures, delights, and contentments, and this will breed an appetite to the word of God.

Secondly, Purging, we take bitter things to purge us; ſo we ſhould take ſomething to purge our Hearts, our Heads, and Conſciences: Be ſenſible of ſin, and the bitterneſs of ſin; what a bitter and evil thing ſin is, what danger ſin doth involve the ſoul in, and expoſe it to; the wrath of God, hell, and damnation: we ſhould take ſome pills to mortifie our luſts, and then the word of God would be ſweet unto us indeed.

Thirdly, Exerciſe will beget a ſtomach, 1 Tim. 4.7. Exerciſe thy ſelf to Godlineſs. If men and women did pray much, read much, meditate much, and have their hearts much in Heaven, they would have hungry ſouls after the word of God, and find a ſweetneſs in the word of God: Joh. 7.17. ſaith he there, If any man will do his will, he ſhall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I ſpeak of my ſelf. He ſhall know whether the Doctrine be not an heavenly Doctrine, and a ſweet Doctrine, he ſhall taſte the ſweetneſs of my Doctrine that I have brought down from my Father, if he will do the will of God; So that thats the firſt thing, to get hungry Souls, and then we ſhall re…ith the word of God, and find ſweetneſs in it.

Secondly, If we would find ſweetneſs in the word of God, we ſhould make much Conſcience of the Lords time and day, and ſanctifie the Lords day, if we did ſanctifie the Lords day as we ought p. 247to do, we ſhould find ſweetneſs in his Ordinances, and ſweetneſs all the week after in his Ordinances, and in his word. Iſa. 58.13.14. If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleaſure on my Holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable, and ſhalt honour him, not doing thine own wayes, nor finding thine own pleaſure, nor ſpeaking thine own words. Then ſhalt thou delight thy ſelf in the Lord, thou wilt find ſweetneſs in the Lord, and ſweetneſs in the words and wayes of the Lord, in all things of the Lords thou wilt find ſweetneſs; ſuch ſweetneſs as will make thy ſoul to delight in the Lord.

Thirdly, If you would find ſweetneſs in the word of God, then take that which is ſuitable to your conditions; There is ſomthing alwayes ſuitable to your conditions: when you read the word, or hear the word Preach'd, ſomething will concern you; now that which is moſt ſuitable to your condition, will be moſt ſweet unto you: If one want peace, and there be a word ſuits you, take that; if one want comfort, take that; if one want counſel, take that; that that is ſuitable to the ſoul, that's ſweet.

Fourthly, Laſtly, make the word your delight, Pſal. 119.24. Thy Teſtimonies are my delight. So in the 77. v. Thy Law is my delight. They were the delight of David; and ſo he delighted in them, that he meditated in them day and night: Thy Teſtimonies are my Meditation, v. 99. what you delight in, you find a ſweetneſs in; ſo if you would delight much in the word of God, you would find much ſweetneſs in the word of God: Thus you ſee thoſe queſtions anſwered.

p. 248I ſhall now come to ſome Inferences, or Concluſions.

Firſt, If the word of God be ſweet, and ſweeter than the Honey and the Honey-comb, then they that find no ſweetneſs in the word of God, they are in an ill condition, they are in a ſtate of death, they are dead men, and dead women. A dead man taſtes nothing, ſo that man or woman that taſtes no ſweetneſs in the word of God, is a dead man: you read in Scripture, of men dead in ſins and treſpaſſes, and twice dead; Let the dead bury their dead, ſaith Chriſt; how can the dead bury their dead? let them who are dead in ſins, bury thoſe that are dead in body; if you find no ſweetneſs in the word of God, you are dead men, dead women.

Secondly, If the word be ſo ſweet, then it's no wonder if ſome perſons are ſo taken with the word of God, they are always reading the word of God, and looking into the word of God, and meditating in it, and why its ſweet and delightful to their ſouls. Thoſe that have Gardens full of ſweet flowers, they love to be often looking into their Gardens; ſo thoſe that are Godly, how do they find ſweetneſs in the word of God? In every promiſe, in every truth, in all the providences and experiences of the Saints, they find a great deal of ſweetneſs therein.

Thirdly, If the word of God be ſo ſweet, then praiſe and bleſs the Lord for the ſweetneſs of his word, that he hath given you out ſuch a word; praiſe him for his ſweet invitations, for his ſweet promiſes, for the ſweet and heavenly doctrines, for the ſweet titles you meet with therein. In p. 249the 56. Pſal. you have it three times, I will praiſe his word; praiſe the word, and praiſe God who hath given you ſuch a word; ſuch a word that is ſo ſweet, that is ſo precious, have you not found the ſweetneſs of it in your affliction, in your temptations, in your darkneſs, in your deſertions; O praiſe the Lord for his ſweet word, and let God have the glory of it.

Fourthly, If the word of God be ſweet, and ſweeter than Honey, and the Honey-comb, then ſurely they do ill that caſt off the word of God, and caſt off his Ordinances, and leave off the things that are good. Many in theſe dayes they caſt off Ordinances, and lay aſide the word of God, and are altogether for the light within, and nothing but for the light within; but it is to be ſeared that their light is but darkneſs, for the light of the Scripture will never direct men to caſt off it ſelf; The word of God is to be a light unto our feet, and a lamp unto our paths; therefore they do ill who caſt off the word of God that is ſweeter than Honey, and the Honey-comb, and that lay aſide the Commands of God, and the Ordinances of God.

But they will ſay, we lay aſide the Honey-comb, and we take the Honey.

For anſwer to that, look into the 5. Cant. 1. I am come into my garden, &c. I have eaten my Honey-comb with my Honey. The Church would eat the Honey-comb with the Honey, ſhe would have the Ordinances, and the ſweetneſs through the Ordinances, by the Ordinances: The Ordinances are the Honey-comb, and the ſweetneſs that God conveys through them is the Honey.

p. 250Fifthly, If the word be ſweeter than Honey, and the Honey-comb, then in all your afflictions, and bitter waters you have to drink, ſweeten them with this Honey, and this Honey-comb, ſweeten them with the word of God: Afflictions are very ſowr, ſad and heavy many times; but the word of God is Honey to ſweeten them, when they came to the waters of Marah, and could not drink them they were murmuring, and troubled, and they ſhould periſh for want of water, but Moſes takes a bough and throws in and ſweetens the waters, ſo that they could drink them, and were revived and refreſhed. So if men and women would but ſweeten their afflictions with the word of God, they would go down very ſweetly: The ſteps of a good man (ſaith the Pſalmiſt) are ordered by the Lord, and he delighteth in his way, though he fall, he ſhall not utterly be caſt down: what though you fall into afflictions, you ſhall not utterly be caſt down, for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand: and James 1.12. Bleſſed is the man that endureth Temptations; that is afflictions: for when he is tryed, he ſhall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promiſed to them that love him. who would now be troubled at temptations and afflictions, when a bleſſedneſs is fixed to them. Bleſſed is the man that endureth Temptations, &c. You ſhall have a crown of life for your temptations, what if they take away life? you ſhall have another life, and a crown of life; ſo that we ſhould ſweeten our afflictions with the conſolations of the word, 2 Cor. 4.17. The outward man decayes, but the inward man is renewed daily; and ſaith he, our light affliction, which is but for a moment, p. 251worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory. Here's light affliction, here's weighty glory, here's glory oppoſed to affliction, here's weight oppoſed to light, here's eternal oppoſed to momentary, and here's exceeding above all that. How ſweet would this be in our afflictions if we did lay it to heart, and receive in theſe truths to ſweeten our afflictions.

Sixthly, If the word of God be ſweeter than Honey, and the Honey-comb: Then eſteem the word of God very highly, dont think meanly of the word of God, Phil. 3.8. Paul did eſteem the knowledge of Chriſt above all knowledge in the world, the excellency of the knowledge of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt; that is, the knowledge of the Goſpel, and the knowledge of the word: There's an excellency in it beyond all knowledge, all Hiſtories, and all Arts and Sciences whatſoever; there is not that excellency in them as in the word of God, therefore eſteem it highly, Pſal. 84.10. A day in thy courts, is better than a thouſand: In the courts of God. There was the word of God preached and held forth, and read, and interpreted, and therefore a day there is worth a thouſand dayes elſewhere.

Seventhly, If the word of God be ſo ſweet, ſweeter than the Honey and the Honey-comb, then feed much upon the word of God; in the 24. Prov. 13. ſaith Solomon to his Son, My Son, eat thou Honey becauſe it is good. So let me ſay to you, Eat this Honey becauſe it is good; Honey hath three great properties. Honey doth cleanſe, it doth preſerve, and honey doth pleaſe. Eat this ſpiritual Honey, 'twill pleaſe your ſpiritual ſouls p. 252and appetites, it will preſerve you from all evil, it will cleanſe you from all your pollutions. David loved to be in the courts of God, and to be feeding upon this Honey continually, and to be ſatisfied with it, Pſal. 65.4. We ſhall be ſatisfied with the goodneſs of thy houſe; it will ſatisfie me in point of cleanſing, in point of preſerving, in point of pleaſing; I am never better pleaſed, nor ſafer, nor in a purer condition, then when I am under thy word; ſeed much upon this: others feed upon Acorns, and upon the Wind, and Aſhes (and the like) but Saints feed upon Honey; the Honey of Gods word, the Honey that will do your ſouls good to eat, it will ſweeten all of your afflictions.

Eighthly, Laſtly, if the word be ſweeter than Honey and the Honey-comb, then try whether it be ſo to you or no: Try whether you have found the word to be ſweet to you; ſweet as Honey, and as the Honey comb. Honey will ſweeten other things, ſo if the word have been Honey to you, it will ſweeten you; it ſweetens men and women, it ſweetens their ſpirits; men have harſh, ſowr, and bitter ſpirits of themſelves; but if the word have been Honey to them, it hath ſweetned their ſpirits, and calm'd and meekned their ſpirits, Eph. 4.31, 32. Let all bitterneſs, and wrath, and anger, and clamur, and evil ſpeaking be put away from you, with all malice; put away all of this nature, this is ſowr leaven; and be ye kind one to another, tender hearted, for giving one another, even as God for Chriſts ſake hath forgiven you: Have you found the word to be Honey to you, to ſweeten your ſpirits, and make them peaceable, and plyable to the will p. 253of God; it's an argument that you have taſted the ſweetneſs that is in the word of God; and ſo in the 4. Cant. 11. where it's ſaid, Thy lips, O my Spouſe, drop as the Honey-comb: That is, her words and expreſſions were ſweet, a Law of kindneſs was in her lips; ſo if the word of God have been ſweet to us, there will be ſweetneſs and meekneſs of ſpirit in us, therefore try whether the word have been Honey unto you.

Thus you ſee, that the Statutes, and Law of the Lord, they are more to be deſired than Gold; yea, than much fine Gold; ſweeter alſo than Honey, and the Honey-comb: And the Lord make them ſweet to every one of your Souls.