A Gospel Glass, Treatise · Chapter 15
CHAP. XV. Their ſlighting the written Word of God, eſpecially in not reading, and meditating on it, as they ought.
8ly. Profeſſours deſpifing Gods written Word.SLighting of the written word of God is another piece of ungodlineſs, which Engliſh Profeſſours have been very guilty of. There is not a ſurer ſign of deſpiſing any perſon, than the ſetting light by what he ſaith unto us; for according to the honour we give unto the Speaker, the words ſpoken will be of weight with us. But alas! how hath the Bible, Gods written word, been undervalued by us?
How little have we credited Gods written word? Evidenced in their not crediting it.And yet it is natural for us to believe whatſoever is ſaid by one, of whoſe truth we are confident. Have not Scripture-affirmations been doubted of by us? How little hath our knowledge of them been attended with building a Chriſtian life upon them as a foundation? Have we believed that Scripture commands come from God, and are moſt juſt and fit for him to lay upon us? Hath this belief brought forth obedience? Have we believed that Scripture-threats are Gods-threats, and will therefore be performed to every impenitent Sinner? And hath this belief kept us from ſin, or promoted repentance? Have Scripture promiſes been believed to be Gods-promiſes, and that therefore all the abſolute ones ſhall certainly be performed to the Elect, and all the conditional ones, to thoſe that perform the conditions? And hath this belief ſtirr'd us up, and help'd us to perform the conditions?
God hath magnified his Word above ell his Name; but ſo have not we. Pſal. 138.2. Not honouring it above Gods other Names.We are apt to be afraid at the appearances of the great God in his extraordinary works in the World; but who trembleth at the appearances of God in the Scriptures? And yet God appears more in the glory of his Majeſty therein, than in all his other works, whether of Creation, or of common Providence. Mat. 5.8.God maketh more account of his written Word than of Heaven and Earth: he had rather loſe Heaven and Earth than one jota or tittle of his Word.Accounted it a ſmall matter to ſwerve from it.
But have not we accounted it no great matter to ſwerve a little from the written Word of God? Yea have not we made a light matter of leaving undone what is therein required, and of doing what is therein forbidden? Were the Scriptures high in our eſteems, did we look upon Gods teſtimonies as wonderfull things, our very Souls would be in keeping them? Pſal. 119.129Thy teſtimonies are wonderfull, therefore doth my Soul keep them.
Have not we accounted them fools that have preferr'd the Word before whatſoever hath been near and dear unto them in this World? Accounting tender Conſciences more nice than wiſe. Rev. 6.9.Have not we accounted them more nice than wiſe, who have been ſlain for the Word, who have loſt Name, Liberty, Livelihood, Friends, Relations, yea Life it ſelf, and endured all Torments and Tortures, rather than they would offend the written Word of God in any one thing, either by omiſſion, or commiſſion?
God hath written to us the great things of his Law (or word) but have they not been accounted a ſtrange thing, Accounting it a ſtrange thing. Hoſ. 8.12.a thing that we ſhould have got little good, if we had obeyed them, and little hurt by diſobeying them? Have not we uſed the Word as a ſtranger, only for our own ends, to ſerve our own turns, as we have had advantage thereby?
Have not we made the Word a ſtalking horſe for our own carnal deſigns? Making the Word a ſtalkinghorſe.Have not we pretended very great Zeal for the Word, when all the while we have been Zealous for ſelf, either our own opinions and perſwaſions, or our own honour and greatneſs, or our own livelihood? Have not we, like boat-men, looked one way, and rowed another, cryed, the Word of the Lord, but meant the other thing? Have not even Scripture Doctrines eb'd and flowed upon politick conſiderations?
How ſeldome have we diſcourſed with others Seripturally? Not talking of it. Deut. 6.7.The Scholar is upon every occaſion diſcourſing of thoſe Notions, which he prizeth; but hath not our ſpeech bewrayed our low eſteems of the Word?
Have not we been willingly and contentedly ignorant of Scripture-diſcoveries? Willingly ignorant of it. Job. 21.14.So is not the Scholar of thoſe Notions which he affects and valueth. Haven ot our hearts cryed out many times unto the Bible, depart from us for we deſire not the knowledge of Gods wayes, either as to worſhip, or manners, and that becauſe knowledge is an obligation, yea a provocation to duty, and a ſting in caſe duty be neglected?
What things we prize we ſearch into; Not ſearching the Scriptures. Jo. 5.39.But how little have we ſearched the Scriptures, as diggers in Mines do ſearch for gold and ſilver in the Earth, as the Word ſignifieth? And this leads me to thoſe two main Evidences of our ſlighting the written Word of God, our not reading, and not meditating upon it, Not reading them. Dent. 31.11. Matth. 12.3.5.21.16. Luk. 10.26. Deut. 17.19.as we ought, which I ſhall a little enlarge upon.
How have we been guilty of not reading the Scriptures as we ought? That every one ought to read them, is ſo evident, that there is no way for the Papiſts to keep men from believing this truth, but by keeping of them from reading the Scripture. No buſineſs can diſcharge any from this duty, and yet how is this evident duty neglected? Some have not been ſo farr wrought upon, as from ſenſe of their own ignorance and blindneſs in the things that concern their Everlaſting welfare, and from conviction, that they can know ſuch things only by the help of the written Word of God, to take up firm reſolutions to undertake the ſtudy of the Scripture?
Others notwithſtanding their reſolutions never ſet upon the reading of the Bible over. At all.They have ſeen no excellency in this book: they have ſeen more in a piece of Philoſophy, in a rational diſcourſe of Divinity, in an ingenious Hiſtory, in a politick diſcourſe, yea in a Romance, or in a Play, Polititian-like, who preferr'd an Ode in Pindar before all Davids Pſalms.
How many read the Bible too ſeldome, Oft enough.thinking it too much to read it dayly, to ſpend one hour therein every day? Have not ſome ſpent ſeveral hours in a day, in reading ſome good books of mens inditing, but not a quarter of an hour in reading Gods-book? I even hate mine own works (ſaid Luther) and oft times wiſh they were burnt; becauſe I fear leſt they ſhould withdraw men from reading the Scriptures.
How much greater is the Number of thoſe, Aright, not reverently. 2 Sam. 7.18.that have not read the Bible aright? Are not all of us in this number; When have we prepared for the reading of the Scriptures, as becomes thoſe that are going in unto God (ſo going into the Sanctuary, where the Word of God was kept, is tearmed.)
Have not we read fearleſly? Tremblingly.When we were going to take the Bible into our hands, have we trembled at the Word? Iſa. 66.2leſt we ſhould not ſanctifie the Name of God, yea, leſt we ſhould take the Name of God in vain in our reading?
Have not we read heedleſly? Attentively.Not diligently marking the Duties commanded, the Sins forbidden, the Rewards promiſed, and the Puniſhments threatned therein? Have not our thoughts been wandering and gadding, and not fixed upon what we read? When did we attend to Scripture words, as heedfully, 1 Kings 20.33.as Benhadad's Meſſengers did to the words of Ahab?
Have not we read unbelievingly? Believingly Deut. 29.9. Rom. 15.4. Joſh. 1.5. compar'd with Hebr. 13.5. Conſcieneiouſly. For right Ends,Not believing that the Scripture is the Word of God; that whatever we read therein is true and good; that the Spirit of God, the Inditer of every word in this Book, did particularly intend our good in every Verſe; that in the Scripture Life and Death is ſet before us; yea, that Scripture words are our Life?
Have not we read out of cuſtome, and not conſcienciouſly, in obedience to the command of God?
Have not we read for wrong ends? Either to ſatisfie our curioſity, and not to regulate our hearts and lives: or to have matter of diſcourſe, but not matter of practiſe; to have Scripture at our tongues end, not at our hearts: or only to know, being aſhamed to be ignorant of thoſe things, which all Chriſtians know; and to be able to ſay nothing of ſuch matters, which we cannot but have occaſion divers times in company to talk of, but not to do? When did we read the Scriptures with this particular intention, that they might be a Lamp unto our feet, Pſa. 119.105.and a Light unto our paths? That we might thereby be help'd to order our converſation aright? When did we read the Bible with the ſame attention, reverence, Quid eſt Scriptura Sacra niſi quaedam Epiſtola Omnipotentis Dei ad Creaturam ſuam. Greg. Hoſ. 8.12.and reſolution, to follow every rule therein; as we think we would (if we had lived when Chriſt was upon Earth) received a Letter from him, directing us what to believe and do, that we might be ſaved? Or as we think we ſhould a Book writ immediately by the ſinger of God, as he wrote the Ten Commandements in two Tables? Why, the Bible is Gods Letter to every one of us in particular, written by himſelf, though mediately: I have written to him the great things of my Law: To him, it is in the ſingular number, becauſe to every man and woman particularly. When did we read the Bible, as Children read the laſt Will and Teſtament of their deceaſed Parent?
Have not we read the Scripture, With Prayer.without begging of God his Spirit, to help us to underſtand what we read, and to practiſe what we underſtand; at leaſt, not ſo importunately, as we would, if we had been begging for our Lives, at the Barr of a Judge? Have not we ſown this ſeed among thornes, in unplowed hearts, Jer. 4.3.and have not ſo much as prayed to God, to take away the heart of stone, and to give an heart of fleſh, a teachable, plyable, tractable ſpirit, ready to receive every Divine impreſſion? O! when ſhall we make conſcience of reading the Scriptures daily as we ought? The Emperour of Heaven (ſaith Gregory the great) the Lord of Angels and Men hath ſent to you, that which concerns your life, and will you (ſtill) neglect to read it with a fervent and zealous Spirit?
How guilty have we been in not meditating in the Word of God as we ought? How little, Not meditating.if at all, have we dwelt in our ſerious thoughts upon the matters contained in the written Word of God, to the end we might underſtand how much they do concern us, and that our hearts may thereby be raiſed to ſome holy affections and reſolutions? Though meditation be commanded as a chief means ſanctified by God for the keeping of his Word; Joſh. 1.8. Pſa. 1.2.though we cannot be holy and happy without it altogether; though it be one of the Profitableſt duties of a Chriſtian: the Reader and Studier of Scripture may ſee the beauty, and ſmell the ſweetneſs of the flowres that grow in this Divine Garden; but it is the Meditater, the Chriſtian-Bee, that gathers the honey out of them; though it be the duty by which the Soul digeſteth truths, and draweth forth their ſtrength for its nouriſhment and refreſhment; yea the duty by which all other duties are improved; yet how much is this duty neglected by all ſorts of Profeſſours, becauſe though it be the delightfulleſt task to the Spirit, yet it is the moſt tedious to the Fleſh, that ever men on earth were imployed in.
Have not many been long Profeſſours, At all.and yet if they would tell all the truth, they will confeſs they never ſpent one hour together in mediating on the moſt weighty Scripture-truths, on God, on Mans Eſtate by Creation, Degeneration, Regeneration, Glorification, on Chriſt, on the Vanity of the Creature, on the Beauty of Holineſs, on Death, on Judgement, on Heaven, and Hell. Meditation (ſaith Mr. Baxter in his Saints reſt) is confeſt to be a duty by all, but by conſtant neglect denyed by moſt: and (I know not by what fatal cuſtomary ſecurity it comes to paſs, that) men, that are very tender Conſcienced toward moſt other duties, yet do as eaſily overſlip this, as if they knew it not to be a duty at all: they, that are preſently troubled in mind, if they omit a Sermon, a Faſt, a Prayer in publick, or private, yet were never troubled that they have omitted Meditation, (perhaps all their life time unto this very day.)
How few have mannaged this duty aright? Aright.Hath not that which we call Meditation been Study only? Hath not ſome controverſial point, or ſome nice ſpeculation been the matter of our Meditation? Hereby we evidence that we have not ſo great ſpiritual hunger after Righteouſneſs, as we ſhould: Hungry men (ſaith one) do not uſe to ſtand and pick bones, when they have meat enough to eat. Hath not our end in meditating been only the increaſing of our knowledge, and not the improving of our knowledge? Have not we begun this work without God? When we were going about to Meditate, have not we neglected Prayer for help from Heaven to go through with the work, though without God we can neither know, reſolve upon, nor perform what is good; for from him, yea from his own good pleaſure comes both the will and the deed? Have not we idled away our meditating ſeaſons? If we have ſequeſtred our ſelves from worldly buſineſſes, and company, for meditation at any time, have not we idled away that time, by ſuffering our thoughts to gad and wander up and down to no purpoſe, to be ſure not to fetch in conſiderations for the ſtamping holy impreſſions upon our hearts and lives? Have not we in meditating been without a due ſenſe of Gods preſence? May not we cry out, Gen. 28.16.ſurely the Lord was in ſuch and ſuch a place where I have been meditating, and I knew it not, i. e. I conſidered it not. Hath not the work of our underſtandings in this buſineſs been to retain, and not to convey truth into the heart? Have our underſtandings repreſented what ſhould work holy affections and reſolutions aright? Have they preſented things good, of a Divine and Heavenly nature as God, Chriſt, Heaven, &c. in their prime and beauty? Have they preſented things in their nature ſimply evil, as Sin, Gods wrath, Hell, at their worſt? Have not we left off meditating before we attained the end of Meditation? before holy affections and reſolutions are wrought? Have not we ruſh'd out of this duty as well as ruſh'd into it? Have not we gone from this work, as a bird out of the ſnare, with joy and ſpeed? Have not we ended as well as begun this work without God? not praying to God for ſtrength to perform, what we have been inabled by grace to reſolve upon for God; and for pardon of what hath been amiſs in the duty? O! when will Engliſh Profeſſours be prevailed with to make conſcience of this duty of duties? I once more intreat thee (to uſe Mr. Baxters words) as thou art a man that maketh conſcience of a revealed duty, and that dareſt not wilfully reſiſt the Spirit, as thou valueſt the high delights of a Saint, and the Soul-raviſhing exerciſe of Heavenly Contemplation, and as thou art faithfull to the peace and proſperity of thine own Soul, that thou ſpeedily and diligently ſet upon this great duty.
O! Conſiderations againſt flighting Gods written Word.what a mighty bleſſing is it to have ſuch a book, wherein are written by God himſelf the great counſels of his will concerning mans Eternal Salvation? What a ſin is it then to have low, mean, yea vile and baſe thoughts of it? Is not our ſlighting of the Word of the Lord the cauſe of all the wickedneſs in our hearts and lives? Whence are all our omiſſions and commiſſions, but becauſe we make a light matter of ſinning againſt the Scriptures? Certainly this great provocation hath a great hand in our miſeries, and threatneth utter ruine to us. Prov. 13.13. Iſa. 5.24.Who ſo deſpiſeth the Word ſhall be deſtroyed: Therefore as the fire devoureth the ſtubble, and the flame conſumeth the chaff; ſo their root ſhall be rottenneſs, and their bloſome ſhall go up as duſt; becauſe they have caſt away the Law of the Lord of Hoſts, and deſpiſed the Word of the Holy one of Iſrael.