Exposition Upon 1 Peter, Biblical exegesis · Chapter 1 · Verse 23
Verse 23. Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
THis duty of love is of such use, and we so untoward to it, and so hard a thing for us to love as we ought, that its urged with a Reason:Iames 4. 5. True, it is so, and no more then needs; for the spirit that is in us lusteth after envy.Tit. 3. 3.
The Reason is taken from the grace of Regeneration bestowed upon them, They were born again, and therefore were to shew the fruits thereof, as in other things, so in this of love. Where might be noted,
1. That such as are not born again,Observ. cannot love, no more then men can gather Grapes of Thorns,No unregenerate person can truly love. or Figs of Thistles, or pour Wine out of a Bottle full of Vinegar; but as Grapes are gathered of the Vine, so must love come from a Regenerate man, not otherwise.
2. That the Regenerate man must needs love;Observ. therefore they that declare no love,Such as are born again, must needs love. but hate their Brethren, the people of God especially, shew they be not born again, nor of God. But I proceed to the words.
Being born again, 1 Ioh. 3. 10.] Here's occasion offered to speak of the grace of Regeneration. Touching it, consider briefly these particulars:
1. What it is to be born again;What Regeneration is. Its to be made new creatures, to be cast in a new mold, to have the corrupt Image of Sin, which we have by Nature (and wherein we were conceived and born) put off throughout, and the contrary good one, wherein we were at the first created, put on, to have the understanding enlightned with distinct knowledge of God, the heart bowed to the obedience of God, &c. new thoughts,2 Cor. 5. 17. desires, speeches, actions: In the new Creature all things must become new; Thus its done to all that were elect before the foundation of the world: They are changed up and down, from a good state by Creation, to a bad in Adam; from thence to a good one in Christ, by grace here in expectation of glory hereafter: For the wicked, they are changed from good to bad, and there remain the same (but still worse and worse) for ever; we should give God thanks that made us so good at first, be humbled to see our base and woful state now, and seeing there is help, never to be quiet till we recover our first condition.
2. That the Lord is the Author hereof,The Lord the author thereof. he takes away the stony heart,See Deut. 29. 4. and gives a new heart, an heart of flesh; Its his work onelyonly, nor Man or Angel can change the heart,Psal. 51. 10. to work a deadly hatred of that which by nature we love as our lives,Ezek. 36. 26. and to love and take delight in those courses,Iohn 1. 13. & 3. 5. duties, companies, which sometimes were as a Prison:Acts 11. 21. Alas, the best Paul and Apollos cannot; often even of their Children or very Friends,1 Iohn 3. 9. not a few remain unconverted, though haply in the mean time God bless their labors to convert many others; Yea, if an Angel should take a man and carry him to Heaven, and shew him the Joys thereof, and thence to Hell, and shew him the Torments thereof, yet this would not convert him, neither all Mercies, Afflictions, or Plagues of Egypt: Its a great work of God, and so great, as if all things were not possible to him; he could not do it; Its a greater work then the Creation of the World: In that, there was no opposition, in this much: we have not onelyonly no aptness to good, or to be wrought to goodness, but a violent opposition against it; there but to make the things, here both to put out the corrupt nature, and to put in the contrary good; then he made all of nothing, now he makes good of nought.Simile. As its easier making a thousand glasses, then the setting together one that is broke; so it was easier (to speak quo ad nos, for all things are alike easie to God) to make the world, then to repair the broken Image of God in man: Its a miraculous work of God, greater then any miracles that Christ or his Apostles wrought; our Saviors several miracles upon the bodies of men, are all done in the conversation of a sinner; sight restored to them that were blinde, and darkness it self, hearing to the deaf, speech to the dumb, feet to the lame, Devils cast out, yea many, for the Devil possesseth us, and all our Parts and Members, Hearts, Hands, Eyes, Tongues, Feet, &c. as any Captain holds a Castle, and hath it at command. Thus its a wonderful work of God to see a mans Soul and Life,Acts 3. 10. his wit, will, desires,Iohn 9. 8. affections, and all altered from black to white: It was a wonder to see the Criple go, and for him that was born blinde to see; but its more marvel to see a man converted: for whereas God gave power to work all these miracles (the raising of the dead not excepted) to men,1 Tim. 4. 16. this of regenerating is his own onelyonly: If we finde it ascribed to Ministers, as Paul is said to have begot Onesimus, and as a Father the Corinthians, 1 Cor. 4.we must not conceive as if it were not proper to God onelyonly, but know, that it is; for that God would keep them the instruments by whom he works from contempt:1 Cor. 7. 16. A good Husband or Wife may be a good means each to other, but have no power of themselves: Adam could easily cast away himself, but none could restore him but God onelyonly; as a Childe of half a year old may break a glass, which all the men in the Town cannot set together again: Its wrought of God by uniting us to Christ by Faith, through his holy Spirit, which works this alteration, when pardoning our sins past, he taketh away the guiltiness and punishment thereof in his death.
Let all that can prove it,Use. give all glory to God, for so unspeakable a mercy, even that when they were going headlong to destruction, when as vile as any, he yet called them, passing by thousands which yet lie in their sins: And for them that can prove no such thing, let them not delay, nor put off to the last, as the fashion is, as though it could be dispatcht in a trice, or with a wet finger, but seek it both earnestly and quickly in the means appointed: Why do men think they shall repent on their death bed rather then now? Is it because the pain or fear of death will make them? Alas, all the Plagues in the world cannot change a man without God, and will God be near to work then? Nay, he that was rejected in health and life, will more likely cast off in death; and if he will not bless his Word, will he work in the end by other means? This is little better then Sauls practise, to go to the Devil when God would not help him.
3. That the Lords own will is the moving cause hereof;The Lords will the cause hereof As he Elected freely, and gave Christ of his love, so this: Nothing in us could move him hereto,Iam. 1. 18. but whom he elected before the world, those doth he of the same grace effectually call and convert,Iohn 3. 16. which should binde our hearts more effectually to praise and serve him all the days of our life.
4. That the excellency of this grace is such,Without regeneration, all things else that we have are nothing. as all things without it are nothing; If we had the wisdom of Solomon, the strength of Sampson, the policy of Achitophel, the wealth of Ahasuerus, &c. if we could measure the Heaven, Earth and Sea, and knew the nature of all Creatures therein, from the Cedar to the Hysope; nay, if we could understand the Bible, could Preach never so Learnedly, and had all gifts of knowledge and utterance, yet were we not born again, all were nothing: Besides, its the more excellent, both because so rare (only the Elect of God are born again) and because Eternal. In the natural birth we dye, because born of mortal seed, and nourished by corruptible food, but they that be born again never dye more, never come more into their former state, as being born of the immortal seed, of the Word, and Spirit, and being thereby nourished, are joyned to the fountain of life, Christ: Again, by our first birth we are made miserable, by this happy; by that sinners, by this righteous persons; by that children of wrath, by this children of God; by that slaves of Satan, by this servants of righteousnes; by that limbs of the Devil, by this members of Christ; by that heirs of Hell, by this heirs of Heaven: O happy day, O happy birth; before Regeneration, Sin and Satan wholly ruled in us, but after, Grace and the Spirit of God.
1. This should teach us,Use 1. if we can prove it in our selves to rejoyce, and remember our birth-day. Many delight to talk of their age, as others, when, where, and what year they were born; But canst thou tell where and when thou wert born again? thou canst else have little joy of thy first birth. The older thou art, the more shame and greater condemnation if thou art not born again: He that is not regenerate is a Bastard; for though he have after a sort the Church to his Mother, yet he hath not God to his Father; and though in the Natural birth the Mothers side is the surest, yet in the Spiritual birth its otherwise: Therefore if thou hast Wit, Beauty, Strength, Wealth, and the like, rejoyce not in them, but that thou art born again; yea, though thou art Poor, Weak, Sickly, yet being born again, thou art happy: If God hath denied thee Wealth and Health, or taken them away, yet if he hath given thee grace, thou art to rejoyce exceedingly.
2. It may teach us to rejoyce,Use 2. if we know our children new born: We rejoyce at their Natural Birth; but alas, wert not for hope because they be of Christian Parents, we might rather weep: for when a childe is born, there's come a sinner, a guilty person into the World, one that is in danger of all evil, subject to a great deal of sin and sorrow, and one that hath deserved to be cast into Hell; O therefore, if we know them born again, there's cause of rejoycing, yea, we must rejoyce at the new birth of a servant or any other as the Angels do: The World likes such the worse, a sign they are the old men.
3. If we know it not,Use 3. we are to use the means, bring them to Baptism, after teach them what is fit, that they may make conscience of their Covenant, and bring them to the Word; if they be any whit forward, further them, if backward or unwilling, use thy Authority over them.
4. Rebuke them that desire to see them Strong,Use 4. Fair, Rich, Healthy, and the like, in the mean time not respecting whether they be born again or not.
5. He that is not born again,Use 5. hath nothing excellent in him, but abides in death, and is the servant of sin.
5. That its so necessary,Regeneration of absolute necessity. as without which there's no entring into the Kingdom of Heaven, for thereinto can no unclean thing enter, and they onelyonly which are pure in heart shall see God:Iohn 3. 3, 5. We are born impure, sinful,Revel. 21. 27. defiled from head to foot; while we are in this state, there's no possibility of serving God,Mat. 5. 8. as either by thinking, speaking, or doing good; we must therefore be washed and made clean.
The world imagine no such necessity herein, its a riddle to them, few know what any such work or change meaneth: They think to be saved by their good meaning, civil life, and living orderly, O this is sound; if these do not well, God help us all: Again, though openly bad, if they can cry God have mercy on their deathbed, they shall do well enough: Here's no dreaming of a new birth, of any change in the understanding, will, affections, yea, throughout both body and soul;Col. 3. 9, 10. but none of the others will serve the turn, therefore try whether ye be new born: If we live still in sin (as in lying) its a certain argument we are as we were naturally,2 Cor. 5. 17. He that is in Christ is a new creature, and such a one walketh not after the flesh, Rom. 8. 1.but after the Spirit; if thou art thus, thou hast put off thy old conversation, and put on a new.
6. The effects of Regeneration;The effects of Regeneration. 1. An hatred of all sin, a love of all good. 2. A strife and labor to do the one, and avoid the other. 3. A diligent use of the means for this purpose, and a Spiritual combat against the lets, wherein being conquerors, we have peace and joy; if otherwise,See also the notes laid down. grief. 4. Delight in the Word, Prayer, and Heavenly things, whereas we were wont to delight in vain and worldly things; so to cry,2 Cor. 7. 11. Abba-Father, to love the Father, to desire the sincere milk of the Word, and to live innocently: If upon tryal of thy self by these notes,1 Iohn 2. 29. thou findest thy self not born again,1 Pet. 2. 2. thy case is fearful; it had been better then thou shouldest thus dye, that thou hadst never been born, or born a Toad, whereof when its dead, there's an end; but the man that is not born again while he lives, when he dyeth, the second death will lay hold on him eternally; yet alas, a number of old folks ready to drop into the grave, are not yet born again; What shall become of these? few men are born again when they become old, which I speak not to discourage you quite, but to awaken you the more earnestly to look about you; some were called about the eleventh hour, but let them that have day before them, not defer or put it to the venture.
6. That the life of a Regenerate man cannot be that it was,A Regenerate man is not the same he was before. or as is the life of carnal men, for the case is altered; he is now united to Jesus Christ as an imp to the stock, a member to the head; by Faith on our parts, but principally by the Spirit of God: by which Faith we draw, and by which Spirit is conveyed to us vertue from Christs death to kill sin, our old man, and the corruptions thereof, whereby it hath a deadly wound given it, which it shall never recover; so from his Burial, his Spirit conveyeth power to hold under our corruptions, that they get head no more; so from his Resurrection, power to rise to newness of life: so that now being graft into such a living stock, by such a cunning hand of the Spirit of God, the Regenerate man receiveth vertue accordingly: He was before a branch of the wilde olive, but now of the true olive, therefore the fruits are and must needs be accordingly; so that though he sinneth, yet its not as before: before he was guided by the Spirit of Satan and the world, now by the holy Spirit of God, and therefore must needs bring forth the fruits of holiness,Gal. 2. 20. as it is holy, must needs be renewed throughout, though not wholly and perfectly.
1. Here's a great comfort to Gods children,Use 1. and infinite cause have they to praise God, that whereas before they brought forth nothing but fruit unto death, now they are enabled to bring forth fruit to God, and to life; before servants to the flesh, reaping corruption, now to the Spirit,Gal. 6. 8. the fruit thereof being everlasting life: There must needs be joy in doing such work.
2. This condemneth them that say they believe,Use 2. and they are converted, and hope to be saved by Jesus Christ, and yet continue in their course: No, every one thats in Christ is a new creature; its a disgrace to Christ to say such fruit comes from him.
7. The growth of one thats truly Regenerate,A Regenerate man groweth by degrees. he is not at his pitch the first day: Its not with him as with Adam, who was perfect at once in his creation, but he comes to it by degrees; as every thing that moveth from one place to another, doth it in some space of time, so in this motion from sin to righteousness and life eternal, its done in time, and by degrees, and that not in all alike: But as some men are of greater stature, some of smaller, and sometimes the yonger are taller then the elder; so it may be in this: but all do and must grow, and that by the Ministery of the Word and Sacraments, as Corn by the early and latter rain springs up by degrees: and a Babe first small and weak, yet by good tendance and Gods blessings grows bigger and stronger in every part, then can go alone, speak, digest strong meat, begin to bear burthens, and do the works of a man; so must a Christian grow from a Babe to be stronger, to digest strong meat (higher Points of Doctrine) to be able to go alone in good Duties, by the finger, as in Prayer, Reading anothers Prayer, but now can go alone in it, so in other Duties; then stronger to bear Afflictions. Temptations, Mocks, Discouragements, and also to put up wrongs, and go through duty and service.
1. This may rebuke them that are so far from growing,Use 1. as they go back, and are worse then sometimes they were. These may suspect that either they never begun in truth, but were suddenly moved, had but some common gifts, and were but built upon the Sand; or else that they have ill behaved themselves, beginning in the Spirit, to end in the Flesh: Were you too well? what fault found you that you are weary, and gone back to your old Master? If you belong to God, and do not awaken your selves, the Lord will whip you home, will send you as Runnagates to the house of Correction.
2. For those that stand at a stay,Use 2. and no difference can be discerned between that they were many years ago, and now, they also are in a woful case. Doth not a man look his childe should grow in learning every year, and would it not grieve if he should stand always at one stay? We love to see our children grow, and would grieve to see them Dwarfs, and no bigger now then they were many years ago; and have we no care of our own or their growth in grace? As men every year aym more and more to grow in wealth: and as in a Race men press hard forward towards the mark, so should we to grow in grace. But why do men grow no faster?Why men grow no faster in goodness. A. 1. Some are proud, and conceited they have more then they have, and so strive not. 2. Some compare themselves with them that are under them, and not with them that exceed them in grace, and so think they have enough; whereas in worldly things they reach always at those above, that they may not onelyonly equal them, but over-top them. 3. Some are so cloyed with the love of the world, and multitude of businesses, that they can spare no time for this. This is the bane of Religion, and hinders from many a duty publike and private, choking the Word in the obedience thereto, and practice thereof, and causing many a duty to be but poorly performed. 4. Ill company is as great a hinderance to Spiritual growth, as the East and North winds to tender flowers and plants. 5. Neglecting and failing of the means of growing; as if any man want his meals, he will soon faint, and if any Tradesman want his Markets, he will soon be Bankrupt. 6. Some use them negligently, as Hearing, Praying, &c. and thrive accordingly: He that keeps the Market but once in a monethmonth, will not gain much; so they that hear the Word but now and then at their leisure, will not get forward very fast, especially they that keep not the main Market, nay, the Mart of their Souls, The Lords day, when they should make off their corruptions, and provide themselves with all Spiritual commodities. 7. Such as hear often, but without preparation before, or regard after. Do men thrive by meat taken into a full or foul stomack? or by swallowing their meat whole? no more shall we Spiritually thrive though we swallow down whole Sermons, unless we chew them by Meditation and Practice they will never nourish us.
And whereas many humble Souls complain that they do not grow,A Caveat for such as complain they do not thus grow. though earnestly desirous thereof, and diligent in the use of the means, they must examine themselves, whether indeed they have used the means, and that diligently with preparation and prayer; If not, they must reform the same; if yea, they may be of good comfort, for assuredly they cannot but grow somewhat, though not as they would: They must yet be constant, and that God who hath given them an heart to use the means of growing,See Wilson of Sanctification, pag. 11. 12. will also enable them to grow: we must be growing as long as we live here. If we had Methuselahs years to live, and still took pains, yet still there would be work; so hard is it to get victory over, and to subdue this Army of our lusts, and to draw dry this ocean of our corrupt affections.
Blessed is he that makes this his chief or onelyonly work, to mortifie more and more his sinful nature, applying the Word, Promises, Threats, Mercies, Judgements, general, particular, on our selves or others: To this end God hath given us many means to subdue them, therefore will be angry if we keep them not under, and grow especially against our strongest corruptions; they offend God, hurt us, glad Satan, defile the Temple of the holy Ghost, were the cause of Christs death, are of long continuance, and therefore must be put away: And as we must labor daily to mortifie our lusts and old man, so to grow in all graces.
8. The perfection of a Christian:There's no perfection here in this life. There's none here in this life we know but in part; there be still remnants of sin in us: we are indeed perfectly Justified, not, but in part Sanctified. Sin and Grace is mingled in every part,1 Cor. 13. 9. (not sin in one part, and grace in another) as heat and cold in lukewarm water,Eph. 5. 27. light and darkness in the twilight: God will have it so to be,Reasons hereof 1. That we might be saved of mercy, and by Christs merit, and not by any merit of our own: for if we were perfectly Sanctified here, then should Christ seem onelyonly to make us fit to merit our own Salvation. 2. That his power might be made known in our weakness, whereby we are enabled to overcome such mighty enemies of our Salvation. 3. That continually we might be kept humble, ever thankful to God for daily pardon. 4. That there might be continual use of the Word, Sacraments, Prayer, and one of another. 5. That there might be something to weary us hence, and make us long for Heaven, where we shall attain that which here we can never: But though these Corruptions remain, yet they reign not; they are indeed troublesom and hurtful, as the Canaanites to the Israelites, or Rebels that make Insurrection in a Kingdom, but have not the Scepter in their hand, but are subdued in time; and they dwell in us as unwelcom guests. There is always a Civil war in a Childe of God; two men in one man, the old and the new; two laws, the law of our members, and the law of our minde: the Flesh and Spirit fight each against other,Rom. 7. now the one prevailing, then the other,Gal. 5. 17. yet so as the old man grows weaker, and the grace of God stronger. It had a deadly blow at first, and still languisheth, and is in a Consumption;Simil. as a Serpent that is deadly wounded in his head, yet wrigles with the tail; or a Soldier deadly wounded in his brain, yet thrusts with his weapon. The Scripture speaks of the old man in Regeneration, as if it were crucified and wholly destroyed, because its so wounded that it can never recover his former strength.
1. This condemns all Anabaptists,Use 1. and others that dream of a purity in this life.
2. It teacheth us to bear with one another:Use 2. The husband, though godly, must not look the wife should be without fault, nor the wife the husband; so the Master the Servant, or the Servant the Master; there are none without Imperfections: we never read of any, but noted with some weakness, Christ alone excepted; therefore think it not strange, neither neglect the graces that be in any for one or more infirmities, so as they grow to no height.
3. Here's comfort to those that doubt of their Conversion,Use 3. because they meet with temptation, and feel sin rebelling in them, and their corrupt nature lusting after evil. Its not so much a sign you are not converted, because you have sin (for thats common to all) as that you are, because you feel it, strive against it and grieve for it: This is indeed a sign you have the Spirit in you. The godly and wicked sin both, but there's great odds in the maner; the wicked sin willingly and advisedly, yea, delight in it, are loath to be hindred from it; when they have done, are not humbled, but go on therein: whereas the Regenerate sin not with full consent, but haled thereto by force of temptation, and strength of corruption, being thereafter humbled, ashamed, grieved. If it be thus with thee, be of good comfort, be still constant in resisting, use means to subdue the old man, and cherish the new, so shall you every day get the victory more and more, and when you be overtaken thus, it shall not be laid to your charge, but pardoned in the Death and Obedience of Jesus Christ: Neither shall your corruption recover it self again to rule over you as before, but shall still languish; and this is the cause why the Scripture speaks, as if our Regeneration were perfect, our old man destroyed: And at last by death we shall get a final and perfect victory, and never feel sin more, for with laying down our bodies, we lay down our sin, and not before.
Not of corruptible seed, &c.] Here is set down, 1. The efficient cause of our Regeneration, both Negatively; where's shewed, what it is not, and Affirmatively, what is not. 2. The instrument thereof, the Word of God. 3. A description of God, that he liveth and abideth for ever.
Not of corruptible seed.] Of mortal seed we are born,Observ. not born again;Regeneration cometh not by nature. by it we are made Creatures, not new Creatures; we are not born holy, but by being born again we are made holy: The godliest Saints of God cannot convey grace into their Children,See Iohn 3. 6. but sin and nature;Psal. 51. 5. whence it is, that even Abraham had an Ishmael, Isaac an Esau: Iob 14. 4.As we are born of our Parents, we are altogether corrupt, our understanding seeth little in heavenly things, and our Reason is an enemy thereto; as that there is one God in three Persons, Christ God and Man, born of a Virgin, the world made of nothing, Man saved by the imputed righteousness of another, the near Union between Christ and a Believer, the Resurrection and last Judgement, &c. Reason sees them not, yields not to them, nay, being much urged,Mat. 16. 17. laughs thereat; and that which it doth understand, it conceives not as it ought: the will desires nothing that good is, or at least as it ought, for it is defiled, and so the whole man. Again, mortal seed begets that that is mortal onelyonly, and not immortal; but when we be once Regenerate, we never dye more, but live the life of grace here, and shall that of glory hereafter; a final fall, or the second death can never befal the new Creature.1 Ioh. 5. 18.
Let none therefore trust in this, that they were born of godly Parents, but desire God as their Father to beget them anew.
But of incorruptible, Observ.] Namely, by the Spirit of God, which is the true efficient cause,Gods Spirit by the word doth alter and change mans heart. who doth alter and change our hearts, and conveys power to kill sin in us, and to quicken us to a good life: Usually these words and the next are put together, and understood of one thing; namely, that the Word is the immortal seed of Regeneration,1 Iohn 3. 9. & 5. 1. and after a sort it may be so called, but properly the Spirit of God is the seed,Iohn 3. 5. the Word is the instrument, and we know the Word of it self can do no such thing, no more then a Tool can work without the hand of the workman. Joh. 1. 13. is a notable Exposition of this place, where by Blood, and the will of Man, and of Flesh, the same is meant that here he calleth mortal seed, and that which is here immortal, or incorruptible seed, is there but of God: All Men and Angels cannot do this, whomsoever God useth as the instrument, he himself is the worker; therefore is the Spirit compared to water, as washing and making fruitful, and to fire, as through whom our corruptions are purified.
1. This should stir up those that are born again,Use 1. to labor with all their might, to shew themselves thankful to God, that hath done that for them that their own Father, their Preacher, nay all the men of the world could not have done for them; and to labor to glorifie his name in all holy obedience all their days,Iam. 1. 18. for therefore hath he done it, that they should be as the first fruits of his creatures, even set apart for his service as the first fruits were.
2. For those that are yet natural,Use 2. let them not trust to Ministers nor means, but desire Almighty God to open their heart, and to work in them that work that may be to their Salvation.
3. Here's an exceeding comfort to all new born persons,Use 3. namely, That though they have a corrupt Nature, the Devil subtile, the World naught, and themselves subject to many temptations and dangers, yet they shall never fall finally from God; its not possible they should perish, for then the immortal seed (the Spirit given them, and which is in them) should perish, which is more impossible then that that should perish,Eph. 4. 30. whereby they are sealed unto the day of Redemption.
By the Word of God] Its the mean to make of the servants of sin,Obser. the servants of God;Gods word is the instrumental cause of our conversion. of unclean, clean; of vile persons like Lyons, Tygers and Bears, to make meek humble Lambs; to raise up the dead in sin, and to bring to the Kingdom of Heaven, which is therefore called, The Gospel of the Kingdom:Rom. 6. 17. See to this purpose Psal. 19. 7. Isa. 53. 1.Ioh. 15. 3. Rom. 1. 16. 1 Cor. 1. 21. Jam. 1. 18. Acts 26. 18. and for examples hereof,Isa 11. 6, 7. Acts 2. 37. & 11. 21. & 16. 30. The Law preparatively makes a way for Conversion and Faith,Ioh. 5. 25. by humbling and affrighting the heart with the sight of misery; the Gospel effectively: This works Faith and Repentance, tells us of the remedy, the sufficiency of it, and how freely it is offered, then works an earnest desire after it, and an heart to leave any thing that might let us from it; not that God is tyed to this,God doth not always tye himself hereunto. but thus it hath pleased him to appoint ordinarily to work: In times of persecution he can bless, and doth reading of the Word to convert, yea, the report of private men: So also for Infants he hath another way (no less easie to him, then hidden and admirable to us) how to work in them, as he sanctified John Baptist in his mothers womb:Luk. 16. 29, 31 He hath not ordained Angels to come and tell us news from heaven, nor any to come from the dead with tidings, but Moses and the Prophets, Ministers to open and apply the Scriptures, and this he makes effectual. Its true, God prepares men sometimes by crosses, as the fire doth the iron, but most are moved presently at the Word; some by sickness or terror outward or inward, sent of God, have something brought to their conscience that they have heard, and so are converted; as others thereby prepared to the Word, and thereupon converted by it, as by experience hath been often found. This is the reason that the Devil hath ever been a spiteful enemy hereto, an enemy to true, sound, plain and diligent preaching; raising so many Enemies against it, laying so many logs in the way to hinder the course of it, raising up such in the Ministery as either preach not at all,1 Cor. 2. 4, 13. or seldom, or in the fleshly words of mans wisdom, crying down preaching, under this or that colour, &c. for he knows well that its the mighty Engine to batter his Kingdom; its that which pulls down the walls of Jericho, 2 Cor. 10. 4.how base soever in the worlds eyes: Its the strong voyce of God that casts Satan out of his hold and possession, his mighty arm that plucks us out of his power and Kingdom, and translates us into the Kingdom of his dear Son.
1. This teacheth us highly to esteem of it above all other means,Use 1. not preferring or equalling thereto either Reading or Prayer, publique or private; For what were this but to thwart the Lord? hath he blest these alike to win souls? If thou sittest at home and readest, when thou shouldest be hearing, God will curse thy pride, that thinkest to be wiser then he, or teachest any so to do.
2. It teacheth us to praise God for his unspeakable mercy towards us,Use 2. that whereas most of the world sitteth in darkness, he hath given us the means of the new birth: If thou art hereby Regenerate, thou art happy, if not, thy case is hard; then will it profit us, when it hath wrought this in us; therefore pray unto God to continue his Word, and give it power to change thee, and that he would whet this two-edged sword to pierce through thee, and make it an hammer to break thy stony heart.
3. They that have it not,Use 3. should mourn for it, and pray for it, as being subject to perish,Prov. 29. 18. For where prophesie faileth, the people perish: we must pity them who do not pity themselves.
4. Labor to profit daily by it,Use 4. for its also for our further building up, and whereby we go on to perfection, praying that it may be so long continued, till we shall have no more need of it, or our poor children whom we leave behinde us.
5. Pray to God to give it free passage every day,Use 5. to the winning of many souls, to the accomplishment of the number of Gods Elect, and let every man further it what he can to the utmost of his power, herein shewing himself Christs true friend: And let all men take heed of hindring the same; hinderers are enemies to mens souls, and to the Kingdom of Christ, and friends to the Devils Kingdom.
Here I may speak how God hath appointed Ministers to be the bringers of this glad tidings,The Ministers of the Word, are appointed of God the instruments to convert souls. that converts the soul, and that the Lord useth them as instruments to win the soul, who are therefore called in Scripture by many Honorable names, as, Men of God, Angels, 2 Cor. 5. 20.Ambassadors from God, Spiritual Fathers &c. so, Builders, Laborers, Watchmen, Shepherds, &c. in respect of their pains; They are appointed over the Lords flock, they have the trust of Souls, the greatest trust that can be; other callings are about mens bodies or goods, but this their Souls.
1. Therefore for Preachers,Use 1. we must be faithful, in token of our thankfulness to God, that hath so highly honored us, and deeply entrusted us,Dan. 12. 3. so shall our reward be great above others; if we be unfaithful,1 Pet. 5. 4. we must look for greater damnation, as being treacherous in so weighty a work.
2. For people,Use 2. how ought they to regard Gods faithful Ministers, that watch over their Souls? Alas, how little are they regarded! how poorly maintained? every thing too much, every little enough for them; whereas Lawyers, Physicians, &c. live wealthily, are much sought to: Its a plain sign men love their Bodies better then their Souls, and the Earthly Inheritance better then the Heavenly.
Which liveth and abideth for ever. Whence it cometh to pass, that the Word worketh Regeneration.] These words spoken of God, are to shew how it comes to pass that the Word is able to Regenerate and beget us to a new and immortal life; namely, because it is the Word of him who liveth, and giveth life to all, and endureth for ever: If it were not the Word of such a one it could not; for as for the word of man, it can do no such matter. All the wisdom of all the men of the world put together, and used to perswade a sinner, are not able to change his heart: The word of a man can but stir up that in a man which is in him already; but to put any thing into him that was not in him, it cannot.
1. This teacheth us to preach the pure Word of God purely,Use 1. and not our own Devices: for what is the chaff to the wheat? not any word of man, this or that (how wise or ancient soever) can put life into a man: So, nor to mingle mans word with Gods; it hath no need of help from mans testimony, let it alone, it shall be able to perform that which its appointed for. The Word of God is sharp enough to divide between the joynts and the marrow,Heb. 4. 12. though it be not whetted on this or that mans Grindstone. As Pearls need no painting, so that which is of incomparable power,2 Cor. 10. 4. and is pronounced to be mighty, hath no need of the help of weak man.
2. Let him that is born anew by the preaching of the Word,Use 2. be well assured he shall live and endure for ever, as God so liveth and endureth; as every one that is not begotten thereby, shall through Gods judgement live after a sort and abide for ever, but it shall be in everlasting wo and misery.