The Way to the Tree of Life, Part 1 · Chapter 9
CAP. IX. Of the Manner of Preparation before the Reading of the Scriptures.
OF what neceſſity carefull Preparation is to the Reading of the Scriptures, hath beene ſufficiently manifeſted in the firſt Chapter, wherein we ſhewed that the Truths revealed in Scripture, are in themſelves deepe and great Myſteries, that our underſtanding is ſhallow, and full of darkeneſſe, and thereby unable to comprehend them. Laſtly, that our rebellious carnall diſpoſitions are, with great difficulty, brought to ſubmit fully to Gods will revealed, much more to delight in it as we ought. We are now to ſhew what this Preparation is, and wherein it ſpecially conſiſts.
There needs indeed unto this work a double Preparation, Adouble Preparation needfull. 1. To the undertaking and reſolving upon the duty: 1. For the ſluggiſhnes of our nature.Firſt, to the undertaking. Secondly, to the performance of this duty. For the undertaking of the work it ſelfe, we need to be prepared with a firme and conſtant reſolution, before we goe about it. Partly, becauſe of the ſluggiſhneſſe of our carnall natures to holy duties, and our inconſtancy and unſtedfaſtneſſe in perſiſting and going thorough with them to the end: (which moved holy David to ſtrengthen himſelfe thereunto with a ſolemne oath, Pſal. 119.106.) and partly becauſe we know how dangerous it is to put ones hand to the Plough and looke back againe, 2. For the danger of breaking of the work begunne. To this reſolution we muſt be ſtrengthened, 1. By the ſenſe of our ignorance and perverſeneſſe.Luk. 9.62. which moved the ſame Prophet to reſolve and promiſe to perform Gods Statutes alway even to the end, Pſ. 119.112.
Now the grounds, upon which our hearts muſt be ſetled in the firmneſſe of ſuch reſolutions, muſt be drawn: Firſt, from the ſenſe of our own blindneſſe and ignorance, who of our ſelves have not the knowledge nor underſtanding of a man, as Agur acknowledgeth, Prov. 30.3. as indeed every man is brutiſh by his owne knowledge, Ier. 51.17. and withall by that ignorance of ours being alienated from the life of God, and paſt feeling, without ſpeciall grace preventing, are given over to all laſciviouſneſſe, as the Apoſtle ſets out ſuch a condition, Eph. 4.17, 18. made to be enſnared and taken for a prey, Iſa. 42.22. Nay, beſides that we are men of untractable ſpirits, naturally averſe from, and oppoſite to, all Gods Counſells, Rom. 8.7. and bent in our own reſolutions to doe what is good in our owne eyes, though we ſay not ſo much in expreſſe tearmes, with the Iewes, Ier. 44.16. All which conſiderations laid together, are great motives to awaken our hearts, to apply our ſelves to the ſtudy of the Scriptures, 2. By aſſurance that this is the onelyonly meanes ordaned by God to help both.as the onelyonly meanes to inlighten our eyes, Pſal. 19.7.8. and to ſubdue the thoughts of the heart to the obedience of Chriſt, 2 Cor. 10.5.
Secondly, we muſt be well aſſured, that there is no other meanes ordained by God, but the Word alone to help us out of this dangerous condition. That is the light that ſhines unto us out of a darke place, to which we muſt take heed, 2 Pet. 1.19. the onelyonly light to our ſteps, Pſal. 119.105. Without which whoſoever ſpeakes, there is no light in him, Iſa. 20.8. now as there is no other meanes of true knowledge but the Word, ſo we muſt underſtand that this is ſo full of heavenly Wiſdome, that it is able to make one wiſe to Salvation, 1 Tim. 3.15. Wiſer then our teachers then our enemies, then the ancient, Pſal. 119.98, 99, 100. And that it is not more full of wiſdome then of power, quicke and powerfull, Heb. 4.12. the Power of God to Salvation, Rom. 1.16. able to clenſe the wayes even of young men, Pſ. 119.9. in a word, ſufficient to convert the ſoule, Pſalm 19.7.
The heart of man being thus once ſenſible of the miſerable, and dangerous bondage, into which it is brought by ignorance, and perverſneſſe, and being with all aſſured, that the Word is both a lampe, and light, Prov. 6.23. and beſides that, as a fire and hammer, as it is reſembled, Ier. 23.29. able by the power of God, to maſter and bring under thoſe rebellious thoughts of the ſpirit, which no earthly power can ſubdue: cannot but be effectually moved to a reſolution, and earneſt deſire to make uſe of it for the freeing himſelfe, in that dangerous condition in which he ſtands at preſent, by his blindneſſe, and perverſeneſſe of ſpirit. As it fared with Iacob, who ſeeing nothing before his eyes, but famine, and death, when he had once beene informed that there was corne in Egypt, reſolved to have it whatſoever it coſt, yea though he were to hazard his beloved Benjamin in the voyage, Gen. 41.1. and 43.24. As likewiſe, upon the ſame conſideration, the lepers adventured their lives in the Aſſyrians campe, 2 King. 7.4, 5. And indeed a deſire kindled in the heart of a man, upon ſuch effectuall motives, will neither ſuffer him to be idle, like the ſlothfull man who had rather ſtarve then labour, Prov. 21.25, 26. nor yet wavering and unconſtant, becauſe he will ſtill finde in himſelfe the ſame powerfull motives urging him forward to goe on in this worke, which drew him unto the undertaking of it at the beginning.
But the moſt prevalent meanes, 3. By the delight which we may finde in the uſe of it.to keep a man on conſtant in the uſe of this holy Ordinance, eſpecially with deſire and cheerfulneſſe, is not ſo much the great neceſſity that drives him to it, as the delight that he finds in the Word, for the wonderfull wiſedome revealed therein, Pſalm 119.129. the Purity of it, ver. 140. together with the abſolute perfection of it every way, which drew holy David to the continuall Meditation of it, ver. 96, 97. yea for the ſweetneſſe of it, ver. 103. ariſing out of the ſutableneſſe of it to his ſanctified Nature, but moſt of all for the great profit that it brings ſundry wayes, Preparation. 2. To the practiſe of the duty when we goe about it.expreſſed Pſal. 19.7, 8, 11. and 119.9.11, 50, 98, 138. Prov. 2.11, 12. and 3.18, 23, 24. and in ſundry other places.
A mans heart, being thus confirmed with a full purpoſe, and ſetled reſolution, to undertake, and continue conſtantly in the ſtudy of the holy Scriptures, muſt be more particularly prepared to the work it ſelfe when one goes about it. In the firſt place one muſt be carefull to free himſelf from all incumbrances that peſter the heart. Secondly, he muſt awe his heart with a holy reverence both of the Word it ſelfe, and of him that ſpeakes in and by it. Thirdly, the ſoule muſt be quickned with a ſpirituall appetite and deſire after it. Fourthly, Faith muſt be ſtirred up and ſtrengthened ot believe it. Fiftly, the heart muſt be made ſoft and tender to admit and entertain it. Laſtly, all muſt be cloſed up with an effectuall prayer, for the Spirits aſſiſtance, to give life and power to the Word, to work upon the heart and conſcience effectually.
The firſt work, 1. By cleanſing the heart.when we come to read the Scriptures, is to cleanſe the heart, as men do the ground where they caſt in their ſeed, that we ſow not among thornes, Ier. 4.3. Unleſſe veſſels be emptied, whatſoever we powre into them runnes over. 1. Of all naughtineſs.Now the heart muſt be cleared in generall of all ſuperfluity and naughtines, Iames 1.21, and particularly of worldly cares which choak the word, Mat. 13.22. 2. Of all worldly thoughts.and of all manner of diſtracting thoughts, of what nature ſoever, which muſt needs hinder attention while we are about this ſerious work. And laſtly, of all unquiet paſſions of anger, feare, joy, ſorrow, &c. 3. And of all diſtempering paſſions.which unſettle the heart, pervert the judgment, and bring perverſnes into the will, and ſo hinder and diſtract all the faculties of the ſoul, that it cannot receive, diſcern & imbrace the word as it ought.
Next, 2. By awing the heart with due reverence of God before whom we ſtand, and hath power to command us.to poſſeſs the heart with Reverence we muſt adviſedly conſider with what, and whom we have to doe, while we are reading the Scriptures. That the God before whoſe preſence we ſtand, firſt is our God, by Creation, Pſalme 100.2, 3. and Redemption, Iſa. 43.1. and Covenant, Deut. 26.17. and therefore hath right to command us what he pleaſeth, according to our Saviours intimation, Mat. 20.15. to whoſe will and word we have already vowed obedience, which we muſt the more carefully perform, becauſe he can find us out in all our failings, as knowing our very thoughts afar off, Pſalme 139.2. much more having all our waies before him, Pſalme 119.168. and being one who will not forgive our wilfull tranſgreſſions, Iohn 24.19, 20. ſuch conſiderations cauſe us to receive the Word with that trembling of heart which God ſo much reſpects, Iſa. 66.2. withall we muſt know that the Word is a Law, that muſt ſway our hearts, being ſo righteous and holy in all things, Pſalme 119.128. that we cannot but approve it. Nay, ſo good, verſe 39. that we cannot but ſubmit to it with all cheerfulneſs, as being ordained to us for our good, Deut. 6.25. who ſubmitting thereunto, and walking according to it, have our fruit in holineſs, and the end everlaſting life. 3. By ſtirring up in our ſelves a ſpirituall Appetite to the word.Rom. 6.22.
Thirdly, we muſt labour to quicken, and work into our hearts a Spirituall appetite after the Word, ſuch as Iob found in himſelf, Job 23.12. and holy David, Pſal. 119.131. which ariſeth both from the ſenſe of our emptineſſe (for the full ſoule loatheth the hony and the hony combe, Prov. 27.7.) and withall, of the fitneſſe of the Word, to ſupply unto us whatſoever we want & hunger after, as being the food of our ſouls, 1 Pet 2.2. the word of eternall life, Iohn 6.68. which quickens us, Pſalme 119.50. and is beſides ſweet and pleaſant above meaſure, verſe 103. In a word, all thoſe Motives, which we preſcribed before, to be uſed to ſtirre up our ſelves to undertake this holy exerciſe, muſt be againe called to mind when we ſet about it.
Fourthly, 4. By awaking our faith. 1. By remembring that it is the word of the God of truth.That we may awaken and ſtrengthenen our faith to entertaine and beleeve the Word, we muſt conſider that it is the word of him that ſpeakes righteouſneſſe, Iſa. 45.19. whoſe faithfullneſſe is to all generations, Pſalme 119.90. and who hath founded his teſtimonies forever, verſe 152. So that we have great reaſon to build firmely upon every tittle and ſyllable which we find in this Word, without doubt or queſtion. 2. That he hath made it his power to ſalvation.Beſides that, we muſt remember that God hath made this word his power to ſalvation, Rom. 1.16. mighty through him to caſt down ſtrong holds, 2 Cor. 10.5. and hath promiſed that it ſhall not returne empty, but ſhall ſurely execute that for which it was ſent, Iſa. 55.10, 11. Indeed it wondrouſly furthers the operation of the Word in our hearts, when we ſet theſe promiſes before our eyes, and urge God with them, and challenge the making of them good unto our ſoules. God indeed much delights to be preſſed with his word, and to be called upon, as Eliſha did when he ſtood by the waters of Iordan, and ſmote them with Elijahs Mantle, crying out, Where is the God of Elijah? 2 Kings 2.14.
In the fifth place the heart muſt be made pliable and ſoft, 5. By ſoftening the heart and making it pliable.like that good ground, Luke 8.15. for ſoft things we know eaſily take impreſſion of any forme that is imprinted on them, as the Apoſtle calls the Doctrine delivered to the Romans Rom. 6.17. It was the tenderneſſe of Ioſiahs heart, mentioned, 2 Chron. 34.27. which cauſed that deep impreſſion in his ſpirit by the reading of the Law, verſe 19.21. This pliableneſſe of heart we are brought unto, by caſting aſide of our owne wills and wiſdome, which ſtiffen our hearts againſt Gods counſells, as appeares by thoſe rebellious Jewes, Ier. 44.16. Indeed a very foole is more tractable then one that is wiſe in his own eyes, Prov. 26.12. This tenderneſſe is called opening of the heart, Acts 16.14. which is the work of the Spirit, much furthered, by awing our hearts with a reverend feare of his Majeſty before whom we ſtand. Which being to be wrought by God onelyonly, it is needfull when we begin the work to lift up the heart unto God in prayer.Their preſence before God, made Cornelius and his company ſo apt and ready to heare S. Peters Sermon, Acts 10.33.
Now ſeeing it is the work of God only, to frame us to ſuch a diſpoſition of heart, who only can take away the ſtony heart out of our bowells, and can in ſtead of it give us a heart of fleſh, Ezek. 36.26. we muſt in the laſt place, before we enter upon this work, lift up our hearts to him in prayer, to open our eyes, Pſalme 119.18. enlarge our hearts, verſe 32. incline them to his teſtimonies, verſe 36. and that to keep them to the end, verſe 112. Ordering our ſteps in them, verſe 133. and acquainting us with the will of God, by his Spirit, to teach us to doe them, Pſalme 143.10. according to his promiſe to ſend his Spirit to lead us into all truth, Iohn 14.16.30. Some ſhort effectuall prayer to this purpoſe, to cloſe up our meditations in this preparation of ours to the reading of the Word, repreſenting unto God our dependence on him alone, which is a meanes to make us humble & thankfull.for his aſſiſtance to proſper us in the uſe of his own ordinance, ſeldome returnes without a gracious anſwer, and is of great uſe unto us, both to keep down the ſwelling of our hearts, if we find that this work proſpers in our hand, 2. And to make us good buſhands of the grace which we receive.as manifeſtly diſcovering that the grace we receive comes from God, unto whom we have addreſſed our ſelves by prayer; (which takes away all glorying in our ſelves, 1 Cor. 4.7.) and withall it makes us carefull to be good husbands of that which we have received from Gods hands, as well knowing, that ſeeing we have no more then he is pleaſed to beſtow upon us, it is not in our power to command it when we will.