Exposition of John 17, Exposition · Part 23
JOHN. 17.6.
And they have kept thy Word.
TO paſs on to the Second branch of this diſcovery; Have you kept the Word of God in your Hearts by believing? This is a degree higher, and reaches further then the other. Many keep it in their memories, who do not keep it in their hearts. Many remember it, who do not believe it. And yet unleſs we do both, we can have no aſſurance that we belong to Jeſus Chriſt by the donation of the Father.
And is it ſo with you my Brethren? Do you believe the Word of God? Do your hearts ſay Amen to every particle and tittle of it? If God ſhould come and put the queſtion to you concerning thoſe particulars of holy Truths which ſeem moſt hard to be believed, moſt difficult to be accompliſhed, as once our Saviour did to Martha, when he had ſaid, I am the Reſurrection and the life; he that believeth in me though he were dead, yet ſhall he live. And whoſoever liveth and believeth in me ſhall never die. Believeſt thou this? Joh. 11.26. Can you return the ſame anſwer? yea Lord I believe, as ſhe did; May not the ſame be charged on abundance of you, which God ſo ſharply reprehends in Iſrael, Pſal. 106.24. They believed not his Word, and hearkned not to the voyce of the Lord. Are there not multitudes among us, who give no credit to the Word at all? who when they hear the truths of God delivered to them, do not enquire with Nicodemus only, How can theſe things be? but even peremptorily determine they can never be.
And here becauſe they are of many ſorts who do not keep the Word of God in their hearts by believing, I will ſet them in their ranks, and proceed with them in order.
Some there are who queſtion all the Word of God throughout, from the beginning of it to the end, do not believe one word of it; Either they throw it off, as falſe and vain, without Conſideration, in a raſh and wilde way, or elſe they ſoberly reſolve the Scripture to be nothing elſe but the invention and device of Politick and ſubtile heads, to keep fools in awe withal. And ſo they ſay, upon deliberation, as David in his haſte and in his paſſion, All men are lyars; the very Pen-men of the Word of Truth it ſelf. The Prophets, the Apoſtles, all are lyars. As that blaſphemous Pope who ſtiled the Goſpel, the Fable of Chriſt. Theſe men are flat Atheiſts, what ever their profeſſions be. We want not ſome in theſe times, who are ſo bold as to declare themſelves in this particular, and openly to renounce the Word of God. And certainly however other men conceal themſelves for ſhame, yet there are more of this opinion then we are aware of. They do not ſay with their tongues perhaps, but yet with Davids fool, they ſay it in their hearts, the Scripture is not Gods Word, yea there is no God at all, to be Author of the Scripture.
Others there are who though they do not queſtion all the Scripture, yet they do not believe it all, they give not abſolute belief to every part and parcel of it. And ſince the Word hath in it precepts, promiſes, and threatnings, and there are ſome that queſtion one, and ſome another of them, we will proceed with them diſtinctly, and in order.
1. Some there are who do not give aſſent to the Divine Authority of all the Precepts of the Word of God. Some deny ſome certain Precepts' and Commandements by themſelves apart. The Papiſts they deny the ſecond Precept. Vaſques acknowledges that this Commandement interdicts not only the adoring of an Image under the notion of a God, but alſo the adoring of the true God in an Image. And further he confeſſes that they do the very thing that is condemned in this Commandement. What then? becauſe it will not be obeyed, it muſt be cancelled and repealed, and not admitted to have any place among the Moral precepts of the Law of God. It was ſaith he, a poſitive and Ceremonial Law, and therefore ceaſes now in our days. And thus they make the Commandement of the Lord of no effect, through their tradition. Others deny the fourth Commandement, and affirm that is alſo vaniſhed with the Ceremonials, that it belongeth not to Chriſtians, ſave only in regard of Moral equity, in which reſpect the Moral and Judicial Laws belong to us alſo. And yet the Lord you ſee hath placed it in the middle of the Decalogue, and hedged it in on every ſide with other precepts that it might be the ſafer from the violence of thoſe who ſeek to raze it out of the Tables. But that which theſe men do by parcels and retail, there are another ſort who do in groſs, and as it were by whole ſale, caſt off all the Precepts and Commandements of the Law of God together, affirming they are all aboliſhed, not only in regard of irritation, malediction, condemnation, but even in regard of obligation; And thus with thoſe in Davids time they make void the Law of God. Theſe men cannot pray to God as David doth, Pſal. 119.66. Teach me good judgement and knowledge, for I have believed thy Commandements. And verily if all that are beſtowed on Jeſus Chriſt do keep the Word of God in the heart by believing, they that renounce it thus, ſeem to be in an ill Condition, and they have reaſon to conſider well whether they be given up to Chriſt or no.
Others there are who give no credit or belief to the threatnings of the Word, who when they hear them thundered out againſt them, ſay it is not be, with Iſrael, neither ſhall we ſee Sword nor Famine, Jer, 5.12. And are there not a multitude of this opinion? For tell me, my Beloved, when you that know your ſelves to be unclean livers; have heard that dreadful commination, Whoremongers and Adulterers God will judge: when you that are ſo glewed to the world, that nothing can divide you from it, have heard that flaming ſentence, That no covetous perſon hath any inheritance in the Kingdom of God: when you that wallow in your filthineſs, you that are lyers, ſwearers, drunkards, enemies of all goodneſs, have heard that nothing that is filthy or unclean, ſhall come within the new Jeruſalem; that without ſhall be lyars and dogs that bark and ſnarl, and ſnap at holineſs, that ſuch ſhall have their portion in the lake, &c. have you believed theſe threatnings? have you aſſented to the truth of them? Alas, my Brethren, it is Evident you have not. For
1. Firſt, If you believe the threatnings, you will quake and tremble at them. This diſpoſition is obſerved in the Saints of God in Scripture, that as they had believing, ſo they had tender trembling hearts, in relation to his threatnings. Such a heart had good Joſiah, his heart was tender when he heard the words (that is, the threatning words) of God, his words againſt Jeruſalem, 2 King. 22.19. not to it to inſtruct; nor for it to comfort; but againſt it to affright. Such a heart had holy David, Pſal. 119.12. My fleſh trembleth for fear of thee, and I am afraid of thy judgements. He ſpeaks not of his Judgements actually inflicted, for they are felt, but of his judgements threatned only; and hanging in the Commination, for they ate feared, I am afraid of thy judgements. Of ſuch a temper was the Prophet, Hab. 3.16. when I heard, my belly trembled, my lips quivered at the voyce, &c. And ſuch a diſpoſition they diſcovered, of whom the Propeht Ezra ſpeaks, ch. 9. ver. 4. they feared the words of the God of Iſrael. That is, his threatning words, as appears by that which follows, becauſe of their tranſgreſsion. Nay the Apoſtle James affirmeth of the very Devils that even they belive and tremble, Jam. 2.19. They believe the Comminations, and they quake and tremble at them. And verily the ſame effect would they produce in men, if they did but believe them as the Devils do. But alas how many are there who have no ſuch thing in them? who though they hear the wrath of God denounced, and though they ſee his vengeance executed on ungodly men before their eyes in a very dreadful manner, yet are not moved or troubled at it in any meaſure or degree, by which it is apparent that they have no faith in them.
2. Secondly if you believe the threatnings, you will take ſome courſe or other, to avert the evil threatned. It is obſerved of the Ninvites; that they believed God, believed him in the threatning meſſage he ſent them by the Prophet, Jonah 3.5. And what followed? They proclaimed a Faſt, and put on Sack-cloth, and turned every one from his evil way, from the violence that was in his hands. They that are never troubled for the ſins which God threatens, never endeavour reformation, but continue as they were, wicked and unclean ſtill, do not believe his Comminations, they look upon them but as bruta fulmina, and empty Scare crows which though they may fright others ſo as to drive them out of their beloved ſins, they are reſolved they ſhall never ſcare them, ſo as to work the ſmalleſt change, or the leaſt amendment in them.
There are a third ſort yet behind, and they are ſuch as do not believe the promiſes of God. They do not act their faith upon them; They do not keep them in their hearts by beleiving. And truly there are multitudes that fail in this particular, as is apparent by theſe ſymptomes following, viz.
1. Becauſe they are ſo full of fears, they walk ſo ſadly and dijectedly. Faith in the promiſes will fill the heart with joy and comfort in the worſt of times, and the ſharpeſt of ſufferings. Believing we rejoyce with the Apoſtle, and that with joy unſpeakable and glorious, 1 Pet. 1.8. You cannot think of any trial, any trouble, whether inward in the ſoul, or outward in the body, name, eſtate, but there is a promiſe for it, to clear and comfort and ſupport the ſoul in it. And if the promiſe be believed, the ſoul cannot be void of comfort; It will revive the ſaddeſt heart. It is for want of faith that men are ſo oppreſſed with grief and ſorrow.
2. It is too evident that men do not believe the promiſes of God, becauſe they are ſo full of doubts and fears, ſo full of endleſs cares and troubles, and diſtractions. Brethren, there is no end of the cares and fears of men, of their queſtions and debates untill they come to pitch upon the promiſes. Till they come to reſt on this, God hath ſaid it, I have God in bond for it, he hath undertaken it who lives for ever, in whom is everlaſting ſtrength; the ſoul will never be at quiet, it will be ſhaken as the trees in the Forreſt, as Iſa. 7.2. Oh thinks a poor wretch, if I ſhould live till I be blind, till I be impotent, till I have ſpent all, what ſhould I do? What ſhall my wife and children do? What if I loſe ſuch a friend, or ſuch a comfort? So rich men have as much trouble, What if the times ſhould frown upon me? what if malicious men ſhould ſwear againſt me? what if the Enemy break in upon me and plunder me? &c. and a thouſand of theſe doubts and fears men have; And whence are all theſe? truly they are not ſo much from the greatneſs of their danger, as from the ſmallneſs of their faith: O you of little faith, wherefore do you doubt? whence are your doubtings, troubles and perplexities, but becauſe you do not keep the word of promiſe in your hearts by believing? You do not act your faith upon that Word of God, that he will never fail you nor forſake you. Beloved, let a man look where he will, there is a greater power againſt him, then there can be for him, out of God. And all theſe outward things are ſo contingent, they lie ſo doubtful and uncertain, that a man can never be ſecure in them. And therefore if you would be ſetled and ſecured for the future, build on God, and on the Promiſe. Say not I have ſuch a Parent, ſuch a Friend, and he will provide for me, he will ſee I ſhall not want. I have ſuch Income by the year, ſuch a Trade, ſuch an Eſtate, ſuch a power on my ſide. The concluſion will not hold; but ſay rather I have ſuch a God, and ſuch a promiſe. God hath ſaid that he will feed me, and therefore I ſhall be fed. God hath ſaid that he will keep me, and therefore I ſhall be kept. God hath ſaid that he will pardon me, and therefore I ſhall be forgiven.
3. It is apparent that men do not believe the promiſe, becauſe they are inconſtant and uncertain in their ways. They knew not what to do, nor where to live, nor what ſide to ſtick to. They are toſſed to and fro, they are on and off again. And what is the cauſe of this? truly it is for want of faith upon the promiſe; for that would ſettle them and root them; but on the other ſide, ſaith God, and bindes it with a ſtrong aſſeveration too, If ye will not believe, ſurely ye ſhall not be eſtabliſhed, Iſa. 7.9. You will be thus unſtable ſtill, and fickle ſtill, unleſs you pitch by faith upon the promiſe.
4. It is apparent that men do not believe the promiſe, becauſe they will ſuffer nothing for it. They will not part with any thing, their liberty, their eaſe, their profit for the promiſe ſake: whereas faith if it were acted, would have an admirable operation on them. And therefore the Apoſtle makes this the ground of the ſtrange patience of the Saints. When they were tortured, tryed with mockeries, ſcornings, bonds, impriſonment, when they were ſtoned, ſawn aſunder, what made them able to endure ſuch things, and not to accept deliverance when it was offered, if they would have yeelded and complyed a little? It was their faith, as you may ſee, Heb. 11.33, 37. by faith upon the promiſe they attained to this ſtrength, that they could not be overcome nor made to yeeld to adverſaries when they endured ſuch torments as were impoſſible for fleſh and blood to ſuffer, but became Conquerors in them all, yea more then Conquerors, as the Apoſtle Paul ſpeaks, Rom. 8.37. So when it is affirmed of the holy Martyrs, Apoc. 12.11. that they overcame the Dragon in all the perſecutions that he raiſed againſt them, it is withall obſerved, that they did it by the blood of the Lamb; the faith they had in the blood of Jeſus Chriſt enabled them to bear and overcome ſo bitter torments as they did endure. And ſo it will do any of us in the like caſe. This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our Faith, 1 Joh. 5.4. And therefore when we are ſo quickly overcome, and brought to chooſe ſin rather then affliction, it is a ſign we want faith.
By this, you ſee there are too many who do not keep the Word of God in their hearts by believing. Now I beſeech you, my Beloved, as you would have this aſſurance that you are of the number of thoſe that belong to Chriſt by the donation of the Father, keep his words; if you obſerve your Faith to waver, or to fail in any point, abaſe and judge your ſelves for it. And that you may the better know how far to judge, and how far to acquit your ſelves in this particular, I ſhall give you ſome Cautions.
1. You are not bound to credit every thing that is preſented to you, under the name and title of the Word of God; To give a ſuddain and inconſiderate aſſent to all that the beſt Miniſter delivers to you, becauſe he teaches it, and you are well perſwaded of the man. You may, nay more then ſo, you ought to try before you truſt in this caſe. Prove every thing, ſaith the Apoſtle, 1 Theſ. 5.21. and then hold faſt that which is good. It is obſerved of the Bereans, that they were not ſo ſervilly addicted and engaged to any Teachers, how excellent ſoever their endowments were, as to receive upon their credit any thing that they delivered. No, their manner was to ſearch the Scriptures, whether things were ſo, Act. 17.11. And yet it is notable that they are ſaid to have received the Word of God with all readineſs of mind for all this. The Lord requires no greater readineſs of mind then this, in entertaining or believing any thing that is delivered in his Name, that is, to take it upon ſome trial.
2. It is no ſign of infidelity to move ſome queſtions, with an aym at ſatisfaction concerning things delivered either in or from the Word. If it be done with holy reverence, and with an humble and ſincere deſire of ſatisfaction and inſtruction, it is a very good courſe. So did the bleſſed Virgin make a queſtion concerning what the Angel had delivered to her, Luke 1.34. A queſtion not of oppoſition, but of inquiſition, How ſhall theſe things be? This way of making doubts and queſtions it ſeems was uſed in the Jewiſh Church, and Chriſt approved it by his Example, Luk. 2.46, 47. So it is ſaid of the Apoſtle Paul that he reaſoned with the Jews out of the Scriptures, Act. 17.2. And if ſuch reaſonings were more in uſe, not reaſonings againſt the Word, but out of the Word, there would aſſuredly be more faith then there is at this day.
3. Nay (though it be a ſign of weakneſs,) it is no ſign of utter infidelity, to have ſome doubtful thoughts ariſing in our hearts concerning the moſt clear and pregnant Truths that are revealed in the Word of God. David had ſuch thoughts as theſe, and yet he was a good man, though this indeed were no part of his goodneſs, Pſal. 89.19, 37, 38. There you have firſt the Lords aſſurance, that he will eſtabliſh David and protect him. And at laſt he comes to ſwear that he will not lye to David, his Throne ſhall endure for ever, &c. And yet obſerve how David faileth in the very next words, but thou haſt caſt off and abhorred, thou haſt made void the Covenant of thy ſervant. This was his great infirmity, and yet you ſee it was not incompatible with grace. It may befall a Saint, to have ſuch unbelieving thoughts as theſe, provided that he pray againſt them, ſtrive againſt them, and be humbled for them. As David was when he had motions to diſtruſt the Providence of God, to queſtion this great truth of God, as Pſal. 73. this did ſo trouble him, that at verſ. 21. he ſaith his very heart was grieved, and he was pricked in his reins becauſe he was ſo fooliſh and ſo ignorant: And while it is thus with us, we need not thereupon, to doubt our intereſt in Jeſus Chriſt.
But if we entertain ſuch thoughts as theſe, and bid them welcome when they come, &c. if we never pray, nor ſtrive againſt our unbelief, nor grow up into any certainty in matters of Religion: If we reſolvedly reject the Word of God, either in part, or in the whole, this is a very ſad caſe. If I ſpeak the truth ſaith Chriſt, why do you not believe me? Joh. 8.46. And mark what follows preſently, ye therefore hear me not, that is, believe me not, becauſe ye are not of my ſheep, as I ſaid unto you. So that it is a formidable thing you ſee not to believe the Word of Chriſt. It ſhews that men are none of Chriſts. And therefore let us give aſſent to the whole Word of God, the precepts, promiſes, and threatnings, that Chriſt may own us, that he may ſay concerning us to God the Father, Thine they were, and thou gaveſt them to me.
And thus we have diſpatched the firſt and ſecond branch of the diſcovery.
Proceed we to the third; Have you kept the Word of God in your affections by loving it? it is ſomewhat to remember it, it is more to give aſſent and credit to it, but it is moſt of all to love and delight in it. And yet unleſs you reach to this you can have no aſſurance that you belong to Jeſus Chriſt, and that you are beſtowed upon him by the Father. The very Devils know the Word of God, and think upon it, and believe it too; they are convinced of the truth of it, and yet they are ſo far from loving it or taking any pleaſure in it, that they tremble at it. They perceive it is againſt them, they look upon it as an Enemy that ſpeaks ſad things to them, and ſo they are afraid of it. They fear it with a ſlaviſh fear, and ſlaviſh fear caſteth out love. To ſay the truth, the more they credit it, the leſs they love it, and the more they tremble at it. And ſo it is in ſome degree with wicked and ungodly men. They give aſſent to the letter of the Scripture, they believe it to be true, but they have no affection to it; becauſe it is no friend to them and their courſes. It croſſes them in every thing they have a mind to, and therefore they are at enmity with it, and their hearts riſe up againſt it; they receive the knowledge, and in ſome ſort the belief, but they do not receive the love of the Truth. But you my Brethren, muſt go further yet if you will clear your intereſt in Jeſus Chriſt; you muſt go beyond Devils, yea you muſt go beyond the beſt of carnal and unſanctified men, you muſt not ſatisfie your ſelves with this, that you know the Word of God, that you have it in your mindes, that you are able to diſcourſe of it; that you believe it to be true in all particulars. But more then ſo, your hearts muſt be carryed out in dear affection to it. If this be wanting, all the reſt is worth nothing: You may periſh notwithſtanding as peſons that are out of Chriſt, and be damned in hell for ever, unleſs you come to love the Word of God, as you may ſee in that remarkable Example, 2 Theſ. 2.10. They received not the love of the Truth ſaith the Apoſtle there, and what follows? that they might be ſaved. No ſalvation unleſs the Word, the Truth of God be kept in the affections by the loving it. And therefore it is added preſently, for this cauſe God ſhall ſend them ſtrong deluſions, that they might all be damned. Oh then as you deſire to have this ſweet aſſurance in your ſouls, that you belong to Jeſus Chriſt, and that you ſhall be ſaved by him, examine whether you have kept the Word of God in this reſpect or no? whether you have it dear in your affections?
And that you may the better try your ſelves in this regard, I ſhall give you ſome diſcoveries.
If you love the Word of God, you will deſire on all occaſions to converſe with it. Deſire of union and communion is alwaies an effect and evidence of true affection. You ſhall obſerve it in the Prophet David, who was unparalleled in this reſpect, for infinite affection to the Word of God. It is a wonder to conſider how his heart was ſet upon it. And hence it was, that when he was kept off from the enjoyment of the Word, he had ſuch vehement and enflamed deſires to be partaker of it. He panted and he gaſped after it, even as the Hart panteth after the water-brooks. Oh when ſhall I appear before God? Pſal. 42.2. when ſhall I be partaker of his Word, and of his Ordinances once again? when will it once be? So in another place, My ſoul longeth, yea even fainteth for the Courts of the Lord, where Ordinances were diſpenſed. My heart and my fleſh cryes out for the living God, Pſal. 84.2. So that he envies the very Sparrows and the Swallows, who were freer then himſelf to be near that place. Yea, his longing was ſo great, that he was even heart-broken with it, Pſal. 119.20. My ſoul breaketh for the longing that it hath to thy judgements at all times. And have you ſuch affections, and ſuch anhelations in you? Let us examine it a little in theſe two particulars.
1. Do you hear the Word of God as often as you may? not only now and then, when you have nothing elſe to do, and when you have no other buſineſs to withdraw you, but conſtantly on all occaſions? do you attend upon it, as your main and chief buſineſs? do you for the love you bear it, neglect and ſet aſide and under-value other things? this is the Wiſemans admonition, Prov. 23.23. Buy the Truth and ſell it not. Sell it not for a little profit, in the field or in the ſhop, but rather buy it and redeem it with your loſs of outward things. Do you conceive that David of whoſe high affections you have heard, would neglect any opportunity, for being made partaker of the Word of God? Oh how did he bewail the want of it? How would he have ſtruggled for it? How eagerly would he have taken it, with any outward diſadvantage? And this is that which Chriſt commendeth Mary for, not for a work of ſupererogation, as doing more then ſhe was bound to do, but for a regular account and eſtimation of the Word, ſetting aſide her houſhold buſineſs, that ſhe might be partaker of it, Luk. 10.42. Not only they that will not hear the Word of God at all, but they that hear it ſeldom, that ſuffer every worldly buſineſs to withdraw them from it, will be found not to have loved it and eſteemed it as they ought to do. How ſhall we eſcape ſaith Paul, Heb. 2.3. if we neglect ſo geeat ſalvation?
2. Do you exerciſe your ſelves as in the hearing, ſo in the reading and in the meditation of it? Do you converſe with the Word of God in private? Doth it dwell with you in your houſes, as the Apoſtles phraſe is? Col. 3.16. For this you muſt know, my Brethren, that though you ſhould be ordinary hearers of the beſt Miniſtry beneath Heaven, yet you muſt not reſt in that, but you muſt exerciſe your ſelves in reading of the Word of God in private. It was the Lords Commandement to the King himſelf, that though he might plead want of leiſure more then many others, and though he had the ordinary help of the Levites, Prieſts, and Prophets more then others, as David had both Gad and Nathan, yet he muſt have his Bible ſtill, and muſt be conſtant in the reading of it, as you may ſee, Deut. 47.49. And it was that which cheered and ſupported Job in his affliction, Job 23.12. that he could ſay uprightly in the preſence of the Lord, I have eſteemed the Word of his mouth more then my neceſſary and appointed food. More duly then he kept his meals, he tyed himſelf to read and meditate in Gods-Word. Among the Jews under Antiochus it was made capital for any man to have the Book of God by him. And in Queen Maries days, you know the danger was not leſs, and then how did they prize a little piece of Holy Writ, how did they value a few Chapters of the Bible? If a poor a man could get a leaf, or two, how ſafely would he keep them in his boſom, next his heart, as the moſt pretious things he had? How would he wear them out with reading in them? God hath dealt more gratiouſly with us, there is now no danger to have a Bible, and therefore if we be not conſtant in the reading and the meditation of it, we ſhew not ſuch affection to it as we ought to do. That is the firſt thing then; if you love the Word of God, you will deſire on all occaſions to converſe with it, both in publique and in private.
2. If you love the Word of God, you will endeavour to be inwardly acquainted with it; we converſe with many men, with whom we are not intimate. And ſo there are abundance that hear and read the Word of God, and yet know little of the meaning of it. But if you love it as you ought to do, you will not ſatisfie your ſelves with this, that you read ſo many Chapters in a day, that you attend on every Sermon that is preached, unleſs you find that you do in a meaſure underſtand the mind of God, and the mind of Jeſus Chriſt, in thoſe things. If I affect a man exceedingly, I ſhall endeavour what I can to get within him, as we uſe to ſay; not to know his face, and to hear his words only, but to be inwardly acquainted with his diſpoſition, and the purpoſe of his heart. And ſo if you affect the Word, you will ſtrive to get into the boſom of it; You will not be contented with a formal ſuperficial knowledge of the letter of it, but you will dive into the very bowels of the Scripture, and never leave till you know the heart of it. And this is that which the Apoſtle Paul inſinuates, Col. 3.16. Let the Word of God dwell in you richly, foreign, Let it dwell, let it be a houſhold-gueſt, let it riſe, and ſit and walk, dine and ſup, and lodge with you, let it be familiar to you. Be you as throughly acquainted with it, as any man that dwells in your houſe, with whom you have diſcourſe and dealing every hour. And truly if you ſtrive not thus to be acquainted with the Word of God, you do not love it as you ought to do.
3. If you love the VVord of God, you will not eaſily fall out with it, when you find the meaning of it, and perceive it is againſt you in ſomething that is naturally dear to you, you will not quarrel with it, your hearts will not riſe up in enmity againſt it. No, your dear affections to it will make you quietly and meekly to ſubmit to it. Indeed ungodly men cannot endure the VVord of God; the Precepts and Commandements of it are like bonds and cords to them, they lay reſtraint upon them, they curb them and they hold them in, and hence they are enraged againſt it. They endeavour what they can to break the bonds of God aſunder, they are always contradicting and oppoſing, and gainſaying, and raiſing quarrels, and diſputes againſt the Word, becauſe they hate it. But now the Saints upon the other ſide are very much in Love with it, and hence it is that the Commandements of it are not grievous to them, they agree with their ſpirits, they are written in their hearts. Or if at any time it croſs them, they are not angry with the Word, but with themſelves, that their baſe hearts ſhould not in every thing agree with it; Yea, when it is a little ſharp and bitter, though their ſtomachs riſe at firſt, yet in the iſſue they ſubmit, and ſay as Hezekiah to Iſaiah, Iſa. 39.8. Good is the Word of the Lord, which thou haſt ſpoken. They find a ſweet and pleaſing ſavour even in the ſowreſt paſſage of the Word. There goes a ſavour with their knowledge of it, as the Apoſtle Pauls expreſſion is, 2 Cor. 2.14. Carnal men may know abundance of the Scripture, more then a pretious Saint of God; but here is the difference, they find no ſavour in their knowledg of it, at leaſt no ſweet and pleaſing ſavour. No, it is diſtaſtful to them, it doth not ſuit with their palates, it doth not fit their humors. A Drunkard knows it is a ſin to be intemperate, to drink himſelf down to a beaſt; A wanton and laſcivious perſon knows it is a ſin to be unclean, but this doctrine doth not pleaſe him; and ſo it is in other caſes: whereas the Truth is ſweet to thoſe that are in Chriſt, they look upon it as their friend, and love it, becauſe it joyns with them againſt their luſts who are their greateſt enemies, whom they abhorre and whom they hate with a perfect hatred.
4. If you love the VVord of God, you will hardly part with it; you will not let it go from you, if you can keep it any way, by any means. And much leſs will you go from it. I have not departed from thy judgements, ſaith holy David to the Lord, Pſal. 119.102. for thou haſt taught me. Brethren, there are a ſort of men who have a kind of knowledge of the Word of God, but they have no love to it, and hence it is that they are eaſily withdrawn from it, as multitudes have been in theſe times; while they that have it dear in their affections are rooted and eſtabliſhed in the preſent truth, as 2 Pet. 1.12. They are not carryed clean away with every new opinion and conceit as others are. They cleave unto the Truths of God, with full purpoſe of heart. They are ſetled in their judgements, and reſolved in their minds, This is undoubtedly the Truth of God, I know it to be ſo, I find it to be ſo by ſenſible experience in my ſoul, and to this I mean to ſtick, even to the loſs of goods and life, and all. I am reſolved that I will not relinquiſh it, what ever hazard I may undergo to hold it, whatever Sophiſters and ſlie Seducers object againſt it.
5. If you love the Word of God, you will be extreamly troubled when it is ſlighted and abuſed; it will vex you to the heart, to ſee it undervalued and deſpiſed; You will be ready to reply in ſuch a caſe, The VVord is a good friend of mine, one whom I love dearly, from whom I have received much comfort: And I am no way able to endure, it wounds me to the very ſoul to ſee it uſed in this faſhion. Beloved, theſe are times in which the VVord of God hath ſuffered much from wicked and ungodly men. It hath been ſtrangely ſcorned and contemned, and even trampled under foot: It hath been uſual in theſe days of ours for men to ſpeak againſt thoſe things that are delivered from the VVord, contradicting and blaſpheming. Now, my Beloved, how have ſuch things as theſe affected you, and wrought upon you? what tears have they drawn from you? what ſorrow have they wrought in you? how often have they ſent you over-loaden to your cloſets, there to open all to God? It is obſerved by the Holy Ghoſt, that when Jehoiakim had cut the roll in pieces with a pen-knife which Jeremiah brought him from the Lord, and burnt it in the fire upon the hearth, they that ſtood by were not afraid, neither did they rent their garments, nor manifeſt their ſorrrow, Jer. 36.23, 24. Beloved, ſome of you have ſeen as high contempt as this offered to the word of God, though not in the ſame kind. And truly if you have not rent your hearts, at leaſt, if you have not been inwardly afflicted in your ſpirits, and done what you are able to the vindication of it, you have ſhewed but little love to Gods word.
By theſe things you may try whether you have kept the word of God in your affections by loving it, and ſo have made it to appear that you belong to Jeſus Chriſt, by the donation of the Father.
Now in the laſt place, let me quicken you a little to the love of Gods word; That if you love it not already, you may come to love it; Or if you love it, you may go on to love it yet more. And to this end I ſhall deſire you to take notice of how great excellency and admirable uſe it is to you, as I ſhall lay it open in a few particulars.
1. Are you yet in your natural eſtate? the word of God is the means to convert you. The Law of the Lord is perfect, converting the ſoul, Pſal. 19.7. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Sanctifie them ſaith our Saviour; How? By thy truth, thy word is truth, Joh. 17.17. That ſpeech of Paul is appoſite and full, God hath choſen you to ſalvation through ſanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth, whereto, that is, to which ſanctification and belief he hath called you by our Goſpel, 2 Theſ. 2.13, 14.
2. Are you wandering from the way? as who hath not his deviations? The word of God is a light to guide you; it is a Lanthorn to your feet, as David ſpeaks, Thou ſhalt guide me with thy Counſel, Pſal. 73.14. q. d. although thou do not lead me by the pillar of a cloud and fire, as once thou didſt thy people in the Deſert, although thou goeſt not with me in a viſible appearance, yet thou haſt left me ſuch exact directions, ſuch wholeſome Counſel in thy word, that if I follow that exactly, it is impoſſible I ſhould miſcarry.
3. Are you ignorant? the word of God is a teacher to inform you, It giveth underſtanding to the ſimple, Pſal. 119.130. And makes them wiſe unto Salvation, 2 Tim. 3.15. There is no knowledge indiſpenſably required to ſalvation, nothing of neceſſary faith or practice, either to be believed or done, but is abundantly revealed in the Scripture.
4. Are you infirm and weak in grace? The word of God is a means to confirm you. This was the Inſtrument by which the Apoſtles confirmed the Churches, Act. 15.4. And as it is the uſual means, by which the grace of God is begotten in the heart, in which reſpect we find it ſtiled The word of grace, becauſe it works it, Acts 20.32. ſo it is the inſtrument by which it is confirmed and encreaſed. We grow by ſucking the ſincere milk of the word, 1 Pet. 2.2. And we are built up by it to Salvation.
5. Are you in any deep diſtreſs? The word of God is the means to comfort you. Through-comfort of the Scriptures we have hope, Rom. 15.4. And David to the ſame purpoſe, Ʋnleſs thy Law had been my delight, I ſhould then have periſhed in my affliction, Pſal. 119.92. And in another place cries out, Remember thy 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, Pſal. 119.49, 50.
6. Are you loſt, as we are all of us by nature? The word of God is the means to ſave you: this is the ſaving doctrine, Act. 11.14. The word of life, Phil. 2.16. the word that brings men to life and glory. The Gentiles ſaith the Apoſtle Paul to the Epheſians, Epheſ. 3.6. came to be fellow-heirs, and partakers of the promiſe by the Goſpel.
To ſum up all, we have cauſe to love the word, to have it dear in our affections, for it is the word that guides us, it is the word that informs us, it is the word that confirms us, it is the word that comforts us, it is the word that ſaves us, that is the power of God unto ſalvation; with which agrees the Apoſtles valediction to the Elders of Epheſus, Act: 20.32. wherewith I take my leave of you at this time; I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among them that are ſanctified.