Gospel Worship, Sermons · Sermon 10
SERMON X.
LEVITICUS. 10. 3.
I will be Sanctified in them that come nigh me.
NOW follow the Reaſons why God ſtands ſo muchStepney, Janu. 25. 1645. upon it that he will have his Name Sanctified in this Ordinance of Hearing his Word.
1 Firſt, It is becauſe there is ſo much of God in his Word, and therefore we ſhould Sanctifie Gods Name. If it were poſſible there could be ſin in heaven, that ſin would be greater then ſin committed here; therefore the ſin of the Angels when they were in Gods preſence in a more eſpecial manner was the greater: The name of God being in any thing, the greater will be the evill if we do not ſanctifie Gods Name in it; now there is very much of God in his word, more of God there, then in all his works of Creation and Providence. In Pſ. 138. 2. Thou haſt magnified thy word above all thy name: There being therefore ſo much of God in his word, we muſt Sanctifie the Name of God in it.
2 Secondly, God hath appointed his Word to be the great Ordinance to convey the ſpecial mercies that he intends for the good of his people. That we ſpake to before in the generall, in ſhewing how the duties of Gods Worſhip are as a channel for the conveyance of ſpeciall good to the Saints: But none more then the Word, that's the Ordinance to convey the Firſt Grace to thoſe that belong to Gods election. The Sacrament is for frengthning, and therefore there is rather more in the Word then in the Sacrament, and yet every one thinks in conſcience that he is bound to come carefully to the Sacrament, and to look to Sanctifie Gods Name there. It is an eaſier matter to convince men and women, that they are bound to Sanctifie the name of God when they come to receive the holy Communion, then for the hearing of the Word: they think not ſo much of that, but certainly the Word is appointed to be an Ordinance. of conveying more bleſſing then the Sacrament, becauſe it is appointed to convey the firſt Grace, and to convey ſtrength of Grace as well as the Sacrament: Now being appointed to convey ſuch great things to the ſouls of the elect, both the firſt grace and ſtrengthning of grace, and comfort, and aſſiſtance thereof, the Lord expects to have his Name Sanctified in it.
3 Thirdly, The Name of God muſt be ſanctified in the Word, becauſe the word is very quick and lively, it works men or women to life or death, to ſalvation or damnation. In Heb. 4. 12. The word of God is quick and powerfull, and ſharper then any two edged ſword, peircing even to the dividing aſunder of ſoul and ſpirit, &c. It is very quick of opperation the text ſaith; that is, when God hath to deal with men by his word, he will not ſtand dallying and trifling with them, but he is very quick with them, either to bring their ſouls to life, or to caſt them away. The time of mens ignorance God winks at, but now he cals all men to repent. Let them look to it now, God did forbear in the time of ignorance, but he will not forbear ſo when the word comes, Now is the Ax laid to the root of the tree: And when was that? When John Baptiſt came to preach repentance becauſe the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Though the tree were barren before, and did not bring forth good fruit, yet it might ſtand ſtill and not be cut down; but when the powerfull miniſtration of the Word comes, then the Ax is laid to the root of the Tree; either now come in and be ſaved, or reſiſt the word and periſh: And therfore that is very obſervable when Chriſt ſends out his Diſciples to preach, in Mark 16. 15, 16. ſaith he, Go ye into all the world and preach the Goſpel to every creature, and he that beleeveth and is Baptized ſhall be ſaved; but he that beleeveth not ſhall be damned. As if he ſhould ſay, There ſhall be quick work made with them, go and preach, & thoſe that belong to my election ſhall be brought in to beleeve and be ſaved, and the others ſhall be damned: As if God ſhould ſay, If they will come in and imbrace the Goſpel they ſhall be ſaved, If they will not, they ſhall be damned, and there is an end of them: So that I ſay, we have need to look to it that we ſanctifie the Name of God in his Word upon theſe Three Grounds. Becauſe there is ſo much of God in his word. Becauſe he hath appointed it to convey the greateſt Mercies to his Saints. And becauſe God is very quick in his Word, one way or other.
We ſhall now proceed to the Application of this Point: And,
Firſt by way of reprehenſion to all thoſe that do not Sanctifie Gods name in hearing the word, and herein we ſhall ſhew their fearful condition, and how God will Sanctifie his name upon them in waies of judgement, and then when we come to the uſe of exhortation, to exhort you to Sanctifie the name of God, there we ſhall ſhew you likewiſe how God will Sanctifie his name in waies of mercy upon thoſe that do Sanctifie him in waies of obedience in hearing of his word.
1 For the firſt: Certainly if that be to Sanctifie the name of God that we have ſpoken of; Gods name is but very little Sanctified by people that do come to hear his word, and we have no cauſe to wonder that there is ſo little good got by the word, becauſe there are ſo few that make conſcience to Sanctifie Gods name in hearing it; Some there are that are ſo far from Sanctifying Gods name in it, as they altogether neglect it, and make it a matter of nothing whither they come to hear it or no: Saith Chriſt in Joh. 8. 47. He that is of God heareth my word, ye therefore hear them not becauſe ye are not of God. Certainly he that hath the knowledge of God and any intereſt in God, and that belongs unto him, nothing is more ſweet to him then the hearing of his word, but becauſe ye are not of God (ſaith Chriſt) therefore you hear not his word. Thoſe men and women that have no intereſt in God, but live without God in this world, they regard not to hear his word. O how many have we that belong to this place that do ſo! How many live without God in the world, and do declare to all the world that they are not of God? they have no part nor portion in God in that they hear not his word. Some there are that come to hear it, but they come to hear it as a meer matter of indifferency, in a meer formall and cuſtomary way, or for companies ſake, or to give content to others: Theſe are poor and low ends, thou ſhouldeſt come to hear the word as expecting God ſhould ſpeak to thy Soul for the furtherance of thy eternal good, but your conſciences may tell you what vain and wandring hearts you have, when you come to hear it. The eies of the fool (ſaith Solomon) are in all the corners of the earth, up and down wandring, little minding that you are come to hear God himſelf ſpeak to you in the Miniſtry of man. And if ſo be that it be minded, yet ordinarily the hearts of men do put off the word, and if it come any thing neer to them they think to ſhift it from themſelves to others. We have a notable Scripture in Heb. 12. 25. for ſuch men as ſhift off Gods word when it comes many times very neer to them: See that ye refuſe not him that ſpeaketh: for if they eſcaped not who refuſed him that ſpake on earth, much more ſhall not we eſcape, if we turn away from him which ſpeaketh from heaven: See that ye refuſe not him that ſpeaks the word, ſee that you do not put him off: And that that is the ſignification of it: If you compare it with Luke, 12. 18. you ſhall find that there is the ſame word uſed, where ſpeaking of thoſe that were invited to the ſupper, it is ſaid, They all with one conſent began to make excuſe, they began to ſhift it off, that is the ſame word: O take heed of this that when you are hearing the word and Chriſt comes and ſpeaks to your hearts, and you begin to think that it may concern you, and your conſciences begin to ſtir, take heed that you do not ſhift him off, take heed that you do not put away the word from you by any kind of pretence whatſoever. It may be you will ſay, If I were certain it were the word of God, and that God ſpake to me, God forbid but that I ſhould ſubmit unto it. But though it may be the hearts of men are not ſo notoriouſly rebellious as to reſolve to ſin againſt the word, which they will acknowledge to be the word of God, yet this is the deceit of the heart, when the heart hath no mind to obey, it will ſhift off the word, and have pretences, and put offs, O take heed that you do not ſhift oft him that ſpeaks from heaven by making any kind of excuſe whatſoever, but when thou heareſt, if the word of God come to thy conſcience, do not liſten to vain reaſonings that are againſt it. Others there are that cannot tell how to ſhift off the word but it will come upon them when they are hearing, it may be they are a little ſtirr'd, but it is preſently gone, ſo that they are far from houlding the word, far from keeping it in their hearts. Oh how many of you have been ſtirr'd when you have been hearing the word, and how happy had it been for you if you had hid thoſe words in your heart that the Lord hath ſpoken to you in the Miniſtry of it. If you had but the Invitations of the Spirit now that ſometimes you have had, how happy were it for you? But it is with many in hearing the word, juſt as with you Marriners when you are to go aboard, your friends come with you, take their leaves of you, and then you ſee them ſtand upon the ſhore a while, but when you ſail a little further your friends are out of ſight, and then you ſee only the ſhore, you ſayl on a little further, and then you ſee only the houſes, you ſayl a little further and then you ſee only the ſteeples and ſuch high places, and you ſayl yet a little further and then you ſee nothing but the Ocean: So it is in hearing the word; It may be when you go home there are ſome things freſh in your minds, but on the munday morning you have loſt ſome, but then there are ſome others that do yet preſent themſelves before you, and then you looſe more and more until you have loſt the ſight of all: all truthes are gone, you ſee no more of the word, as if you had never heard it; this is not to Sanctifie Gods name, you ſhould treaſure up the word as the moſt rich treaſure that may be.
Another ſort to be rebuked are thoſe, who are ſo far from falling down before the Lord to receive the word with meekneſſe, as they can bleſſe themſelves in their wicked waies, notwithſtanding the word comes and meets with them. I only name this becauſe of that notable Scripture we have, In Deut. 29, 18, 19. ſaith Moſes there to them, Take heed, leſt there ſhould be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood, (what's that root that beareth gall and wormwood?) And it come to paſſe when he heareth the words of this curſe, that he bleſse himſelf in his heart, ſaying, I ſhall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of my heart, &c. Take heed there be not among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood; This is a bitter root in mens hearts, when they can hear the word of God, and have their hearts riſe aganſt it, and think with themſelves that there is no ſuch matter, theſe are but meer words, but meer wind, let the Miniſter ſay what he will, and talk as long as he will, I will go on in my way, I ſhall do well enough, that which he ſaith it is but his opinion, I ſay when men can bleſſe themſelves thus in their way, and when there are ſuch tumultuous and rebellious thoughts riſing in their hearts, this is a root of gall and wormwood, and take heed of it, it will bring forth bitter fruit one day. But I ſhould quickly be prevented if I ſhould lanch into this argument, to reprove the ſeveral waies of ſinning againſt God in the hearing of his word. And therefore I leave thoſe and come to ſhew what a fearful thing it is for men and women not to Sanctifie the name of God in the hearing of his word, that ſo you may ſee that God will have his name Sanctified upon them. And they are theſe;
1 In the firſt place, You that do not Sanctifie Gods name in hearing his word in thoſe waies that have been opened to you, firſt you looſe the greateſt and happieſt opportunity of good that ever creatures had, for an outward opportunity: indeed when God moves by his Spirit if that be neglected, that opportunity is more then meerly hearing the word, but otherwiſe except it be at ſuch a time when God adds his Spirit together with his word; I ſay you that are caſt by the providence of God in ſuch a place where the word of the Goſpel is preached to you, applied and urged upon you, if you Sanctifie not the name of God, to hear as you ought and to profit by it, I ſay you loſe the greateſt opportunity for good that is in the world? Oh what haſt thou loſt that haſt lived many yeers under the Miniſtry of the Goſpel, and yet haſt not been acquainted with this myſtery of godlineſs in ſanctifying Gods name in the word. There are many thouſand ſouls that are and ſhall be bleſſing God to all eternity for what of God they have met with all in the word, but thou haſt fifteen under it ſtupid as a block, dead and barren, and no good hath been done; Wherefore is there a prize in the hand of a fool, and he hath no heart to get wiſedome? this will lie upon thee heavy one day, the loſſe of ſuch an opportunity, and that is the firſt.
2 In the Second place, know that this word that is appointed by God for the conveyance of ſo much mercy to his elect, it will prove to be the greateſt aggravation of thy ſin that can be: This is the condemnation that light is come into the world and men love darkneſſe rather then light: This is [The] condemnation. If ſo be that light had not come among you, then the condemnation had not been ſo great your ſin had not bin ſo great, & your puniſhment had not bin ſo great. In Mat. 10. 14, 15. where ſpeaking of thoſe that did injoy the word, and yet did not ſanctifie Gods Name in it. Whoſoever ſhall not receive you (ſaith Chriſt to his Diſciples) nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that houſe or City, ſhake off the duſt of your feet; Verely I ſay unto you, it ſhall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorah in the day of judgement then for that City. It is a moſt dreadfull Scripture; their very duſt muſt be ſhaken off in token of indignation, and it ſhall be more eaſie for the Land of Sodom and Gomorah in the day of judgment, then for that place: You would be very loth to be in a worſe condition then Sodom and Gomorah that was conſumed by fire from heaven, And now ſuffer the vengeance of eternall fire, Jude 7. Certainly they ſhall not be ſo deep in judgments as thoſe that live under the Miniſtry of the word and ſanctifie not the Name of God in it. Your ſin is of a deeper dye, then the ſin of the Heathens, yea and in ſome reſpects then the ſin of the Devils, they never had the word of the Goſpel ſent to be preached to them and therefore this will aggravate your ſin not only beyond heathens but beyond devils. Look to it then, that Gods Name be Sanctified in the hearing of his Word.
3. Thirdly, Know that ſo much as the word is rejected, Jeſus Chriſt is rejected: Luk. 10. 16. He that deſpiſeth you deſpiſeth me, and he that deſpiſeth me deſpiſeth him that ſent me. It is Chriſt himſelf that is rejected when the word is rejected, thou haſt not to do with man ſo much as with Jeſus Chriſt in the hearing of the word: And the power of Jeſus Chriſt is to be put forth either to do the good by the word, or to avenge thy neglect of the word: Therefore in Matt. 28. 18, 19. when Chriſt ſends forth his Diſciples to preach, he makes this preface, All power is given unto me in heaven and earth, go ye therefore and teach: As if he ſhould ſay, I having received all power in heaven and earth, through the power I received I ſend you to preach, and I'le be with you to the end of the world: that is, All power in heaven and earth ſhall go along with you to aſſiſt your Miniſtry, either for the good of thoſe that ſhall imbrace it, or for the Miſery of thoſe that ſhall reject it; So that whoſoever ſtands out againſt the Miniſtry of the Word, ſtands out againſt all the power in heaven and earth that is given to Chriſt: Do not think that thou doeſt reſiſt a poor weak mortall man, but thou doeſt reſiſt all the power in heaven and earth. And is not this a dreadfull thing then, to be guilty of not ſanctifying of Gods Name?
4 Fourthly, It is an Argument of extreame hardneſſe of heart not to be wrought upon by the word. Luk. 16. 31. If they hear not Moſes and the Prophets, neither will they be perſwaded though one roſe from the dead, ſaith Abraham. Certainly that man or woman that ſhall not be wrought upon by the word ſo as to Sanctifie Gods Name in it, I ſay to ſuch, If one ſhould riſe from the dead they would not have their hearts wrought upon, and therefore much leſſe are they like to be wrought upon by afflictions. It may be ſome of you think when you are upon your ſick beds then you will repent; no ſurely, if this that is the great Ordinance to bring men to God ſhall not work upon you ſo as God ſhall be honoured in it; you cannot expect that ſickneſſe and affliction ſhould do it, no if one ſhould come from the dead to tell you of all the miſeries that were there, certainly if the word work not upon you, that will not do it. But you will ſay, One would think that there ſhould be more power to work upon the heart: truly no, becauſe that is not ſuch an Ordinance appointed by God for working ſuch great works upon the hearts and conſciences of men, as the word is: It is true, the word is but a weak thing in it ſelf, but here lies the ſtrength, that it is an Ordinance of God appointed for to work upon the hearts of men therefore if this work not upon you to give God glory in the hearing it; there is no other means is like to do it.
5 Fiftly, When the word works not upon men, it is a dreadful ſign of Reprobation If our Goſpel be hid (ſaith the Apoſtle in 2 Cor. 4. 3.) it is hid to thoſe that are loſt. It is a dreadfull Argument that here is a loſt creature, one that God intends no good to. One the Lord works upon, perhaps he lets paſſe another, one in a family and not in another. Now where it is ſo that the word worketh not, I ſay, there is no ſuch dreadfull brand of Reprobation as this is. It is true, we cannot give any certain ſign of Reprobation; therefore I cannot ſay of any man, he hath now ſuch a mark upon him as doth evidently prove that he is a Reprobate; we cannot tell that, becauſe we know not what God may do afterwards, but we may ſay this, That it is as dreadfull a ſign as any. There are not any more dreadfull ſigns then theſe two.
Firſt, For a man to be ſuffered to proſper in a ſinful courſe; For God to let men go on and have their hearts deſire ſatisfied in an ungodly way.
And then Secondly, For the Lord to leave them to themſelves, ſo as the Miniſtry of the word ſhall not work upon them, that they ſhall be by Gods providence ſo diſpoſed of, as to live under a faithfull and powerful Miniſtry, and that it ſhould not work upon them: Theſe are the two blackeſt ſigns of Reprobation: and therefore it is a moſt dreadfull thing to ſit under the Miniſtry of the word and not to ſanctifie Gods Name in it.
6 In the next place, Surely there can be nothing Sanctified to thee who doeſt not ſanctifie Gods Name in his word. The Scripture ſaith, That every thing is ſanctified by the Word and Prayer. And how canſt thou expect that the word ſhould ſanctifie any thing to thee, ſeeing that thou doeſt not make conſcience of Sanctifying Gods name in the word? The godly think thus, 'Tis the word that muſt Sanctifie all things to my Soul, and I had need then ſanctifie Gods name in that from which I expect the ſanctified uſe of all bleſſings. You therefore that can fit under it, and make not conſcience of ſanctifying Gods name in it, I ſay you cannot expect no ſanctified uſe of any thing that you have in this world.
7 Such as do not ſanctifie Gods name in the word, are very nigh to a curſe: There is a notable Scripture for this in Heb. 6. 7, 8. where the Apoſtle compares the word to the rain that fals upon the ground, For the earth that drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dreſſed, receiveth bleſſing from God: But (ſaith he) that which beareth thorns and briers, is rejected and is nigh unto curſing, whoſe end is to be burned. The meaning is this plainly. The rain here is the word, and the good hearers they are like the ground that receive the rain and bring forth fruit, and receive a bleſſing: But now ill hearers that do not ſanctifie Gods name in his word, they are like ground that receive the rain as much as the other, hear as many Sermons as the other, but they bring forth nothing but thorns and briers; and mark what a dreadfull expreſſion is againſt them; Firſt, It is rejected. Secondly, It is nigh to curſing. Thirdly, Whoſe end is … burned. Thou rejecteſt the word, doeſt thou? The Lord rejecteth thy Soul. If thou haſt no need of the word, the word hath no need of thee it is a dreadfull thing to be rejected of God. And then, thou art nigh unto curſing: It may be the Lord may for the time withdraw himſelf from the Soul, and manifeſt that it is as it were rejected; but yet the Soul hath not the curſe of God upon it, to ſay, Well, let this Soul periſh for ever: but ſome there are that are under an actual curſe, and ſaith God, Well, my Word ſhall never do good to this …oul, ſuch a one hath ſate under it thus long, and hath rejected it, my word ſhall never do good to him: Like as in Luk. 14. where thoſe that made excuſes when they were bidden to the Supper, the text ſaith at length, That the Maſter of the feaſt was angry, (which was God himſelf that invited them by the Goſpel to partake of his Son; and when men would not come in but make excuſes, and refuſed the offer of the Goſpel,) Verily (ſaith he) none of thoſe men that were bidden ſhall taſte of my Supper. They ſhall never partake of any good of the Goſpel. This is a dreadfull curſe. Now the Lord deliver you from having this curſe pronounced againſt you, but yet I beſeech you tremble at this Scripture in the Hebrews, They are nigh to curſing. Who knows how nigh ſome ſoul in this place may be to this curſe, for God to ſay, This ſoul hath been often invited, and yet hath made excuſes and put off all, he ſhall never taſte of my Supper, of the good things in Jeſus Chriſt, the word that hath been ſo rejected ſhall never do them good more; you had better never been born then to have this curſe actually upon you. Oh fear and tremble leſt your condition be ſuch as to be nigh to curſing: Who knows what a day, a week may bring forth? It may be the Lord may ſpare and be willing to paſſe by the neglect of former Sermons; but who knows what the next actuall rebellion againſt the Lord in his word may do to bring the curſe upon thee? And then if ſo, the next part of the verſe will prove to be thy portion, Whoſe end is to be burned. Oh! It is a dreadfull thing to ſin againſt the Word: God ſtands much upon it.
8 Eightly, Know that if Gods name be not Sanctified in it, the end that God hath appointed it for, will be turned quite contrary to thee; The proper end that God hath appointed his word for, it is to ſave ſouls, but now, where Gods name is not Sanctified it is turned quite contrary, ſo the Apoſtle in 2 Cor. 2. 16. To the one we are the ſavour of death unto death, and to the other the ſavour of life unto life: It is a dreadful thing that the good word of God in which there is ſuch treaſures of Gods mercy, wherein the counſels of God, concerning mans eternal eſtates comes to be revealed, that this ſhould prove to be the favour of death unto death, unto any ſoul, that is, to have ſuch an efficacy in it, as to kill them by the very ſcent of it as it were; As ſome things have ſuch a poyſon in them, as the very ſcent is enough to poyſon one. So ſaith the Apoſtle, to ſome our word hath that efficacy being turned quite to the contrary end ſome ſouls are ſav'd, and are and ſhal be bleſſing God to al eternity for the word, and thy ſoul is dam'd by the word, ſo as thou wilt hereafter curſe the time that ever thou cameſt to hear it: That will be a dreadful thing that the ſame word that others ſhall be bleſſing of God eternally in heaven for; that thou ſhalt be curſing eternally in hell for, it will be turned to the quite contrary end, If it works not in the right way it will work the other, the truth is, it hardens mens hearts if it brings them not to God; there is nothing that doth harden the hearts of men more then the Miniſtry of the word: yet by accident, not by its ſelf, there is no men in the world have ſuch hard hearts as thoſe that are wicked under the Miniſtry of the word; It is not only an argument that their hearts are hard, but they are hardened by it: That in Iſa. 6. 9. 10. is remarkable for this, and the rather becauſe I find it ſo often quoted by Chriſt, I think it is quoted three or four times in the Goſpel, And he ſaid go and tell this people, hear ye indeed, but underſtand not, and ſee ye indeed but perceive not; Make the heart of this people fat, and make their eares heavy, and ſhut their eyes, leſt they ſee with their eyes, and hear with their eares, and underſtand with their heart, and convert and be healed. This is a ſtrange Scripture, what muſt a Prophet go to them, to make their hearts fat, and to ſhut their eyes, why, the word is appointed to open mens eyes, but here the Prophet is ſent to ſhut their eyes that they might not be converted, this is dreadful, this is for the puniſhment of ſome former neglect of the word of God ſent unto this people, above all Judgements you ſhould be afraid of this; It is not ſo much that a fire ſhould be upon your houſes, as that God ſhould make his word to be a means to harden your hearts. In Ezek. 14. we have a dreadful expreſſion to this purpoſe by the Prophet there, where the Lord ſaith, that the people did come to inquire of him, with ſetting up their Idols in their hearts, but ſaith God, I will anſwer them according to their Idoll. If men come to the Miniſtry of the word with their beloved ſins, and reſolve that they will not part with them, the Lord many times in his juſt judgment ſuffers ſome things in the word to be accidentally a means to harden them in that ſin of theirs, I will anſwer them according to their Idoll, thoſe men are in a dreadful eſtate whoſe hearts come to be hardened by the word.
9 Ninthly, If thou doeſt not Sanctifie Gods name in the hearing of the word, what comfort canſt thou ever have by the word in the day of thy affliction? certainly when the day of thy affliction comes, then there is nothing can comfort thee but the word. Vnleſſe thy law had been my delight (ſaith David) I ſhould then have periſhed in mine affliction, but thou having been exerciſed in the word ſo much and Gods name not Sanctifed, thou muſt not expect to have thy ſoul comforted in the day of thy affliction. No marvail then though the word hath been applied again and again to your hearts, and nothing would ſtick: I remember it was an expreſſion of one in a great deal of terror of conſcience many came to apply comfortable Scriptures to him, and he himſelf for a while did take thoſe Scriptures and lay them upon his heart to paſſifie his troubled conſcience, but a little before he dyed, he cries out with a moſt fearful terror, there is a fair plaiſter made but it will … on, it will not ſtick on, ſo dyed deſpairing; ſo there is in the word ſuch a plaiſter as may help a wounded and troubled conſcience, but … thou expect that haſt not Sanctified Gods name in thy life time that it ſhall ſtick upon thy ſoul in the day of thy affliction? never expect it, for the Lord hath ſaid otherwiſe, Prov. 1. Becauſe when I cryed and call'd ye would not hear, you ſhall cry and call and I will not hear; The Lord in his word cries to thee, Oh thou ſinful ſoul who art going on in the waies of ſin and eternal deſtruction, Return, return, that is the way that will bring thee to eternal miſeries, but here is the way that will bring thee to life and eternal ſalvation: Thus the Lord cries and cals to day to day, and thou ſtoppeſt thy eare, Oh how juſt is it with God to ſtop his eare from thy crying and calling in the day of thy affliction.
10 Further, Know that thou that doeſt not Sanctifie the name of God in his word, that all the word of God will be made good one day upon thee, God hath his time to magnifie his Law and to make it honorable Iſa. 42. 21. You ſight Gods Law, you ſlight his word, and deſpiſe it, but God will magnifie it and make it honorable, there is not any ſentence that thou haſt heard in the word, but it ſhall be made good, whatſoever becomes of thy ſoul, Thou thinkeſt that God is a merciful God & he will not damn thee; but though God be merciful & hath regard to his creatures, yet the Lord hath ten thouſand times more regard to his word then to all the ſouls of men and women in the world, and God will ſtand to make that good, he will not have ſuch regard to that wretched vile ſinful ſoul of thine as not to honour his word, he will honour his word whatſoever becomes of thee, and all that thou haſt heard and rejected ſhall be made good upon thee one day.
11 Again the word that thou doeſt reject and ſin againſt, it ſhall be the word that ſhall judge thee, Joh. 12. 48. Look to it as well as you will: this book of God out of which we preach, and thoſe truths that we delivered to you from this word, they muſt be called over again at the great day to judge your ſouls by, the ſentence of every one of your eternall eſtates muſt be tryed out of this book: Oh look upon it as the word that muſt judge your Souls at the laſt day, and then you will ſee it a dreadfull thing not to ſanctifie Gods Name in it. And then when the word doth judge you, you ſhall obey it whether you will or no. Now the word convinces you and you will not obey it; but when God comes to judge you by the word, then you ſhall obey it: Then when God comes to read that ſentence out of the word, Go ye curſed into everlaſting fire: then I ſay you ſhall be forced to obey it.
12 Laſtly, There is yet one thing more (which ſhould have been mentioned before) which is very remarkable; That thoſe men which do not ſanctifie Gods Name in his word, they will be blaſted, even here while they live their parts and common gifts that they yet have will be blaſted, wither, and come to nothing. We find it ordinarily, that many that are young, had very good beginnings, and very good parts, that were very hopefull, and would ſpeak very favourly where they came, afterwards beginning by degrees to neglect the Word, the Lord hath blaſted them, their gifts have withered, the common gifts of the Spirit have been taken from them. I will give you one Text for that in Luk. 8. 18. Take heed therefore how ye hear. (It is an Exhortation that follows upon the parable of the Sower that went out to ſow) becauſe it is ſo that when the word is ſowen as ſeed, there is ſo little of it doth proſper, and moſt hearers do not Sanctifie Gods name in it, therefore look to your ſelves: Why? For whoſoever hath, to him ſhall be given; and whoſoever hath not, from him ſhall be taken even that which he ſeemeth to have. You had need look to your ſelves how you hear, for the truth is, all depends upon it under God, have you got any common gifts of the Spirit of God, or any abilities to do any ſervice for God? do not be proud of them, neither be jolly, nor think that you are able to do better then others, and that thoſe are but ordinary things that the Miniſter ſpeaks, and you are gotten into a higher forme. Look to your ſelves, take heed you come not to the word with a proud Spirit, be not offended at the plainneſſe of the word, take heed how you hear; for if you do not, that that you ſeem to have ſhall be taken from you ſaith Chriſt: You ſeem to have excellent gifts yea you ſeem to have grace too, but take heed how you hear for all this, whatſoever parts you have got, though you be highly eſteemed in the company where you come, and you are able to do things more then others, yet I ſay, Take heed how you hear, for otherwiſe that that you have will be taken away from you: have have we not ſeen this in our own experience? and it is apparent that they began to be withered and to be blaſted by neglecting of the Word. And therefore I beſeech you look to this, that you do Sanctifie the name of God in his word, and let your hearts bow unto it as unto the Ordinance of God, and waite upon it in the Miniſtry of it, leſt you wither and be blaſted and come to nothing.
And thus I have ſhewen the great evill of not Sanctifying Gods Name, and how God will be Sanctified.
I ſhall be very brief in the Uſe of Exhortation.
Oh that the Lord by this would cauſe ſome thing to ſtick upon your hearts, that what hath been preached in this point may be made uſefull for many Sermons afterwards! that it might be ſaid of you in this place as it was ſaid of them in Act. 13. 48. When the Gentiles heard this they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord, and as many as were ordained to eternall life beleeved! Oh that God would make every one of you to be a means to glorifie the word of God! That ſhould be our care that the word of God may be glorified by us; we come to hear the word, but take heed that the word of God be not diſhonoured by us, In 2 Theſſ. 3. 1. Finally Brethren pray for us that the word of the Lord may have free courſe, and be glorified, even as it is with you; Oh that we were able to ſay ſo! and yet through Gods mercy in ſome degree we hope we can ſay ſo and I could heartily pray that the word of God might be glorified in all places as it hath been with many of you; but yet go on in this, and labour every one of you that it may be more glorified, that you may manifeſt the power of the word in your converſations, that all that do behold you may glorifie the word and ſay, Oh what hath the Lord wrought in ſuch a place, in ſuch families, families that were wretched, vild, carnal, and liv'd without God in the world, Prophane, Swearers, foul-mouth'd, Unclean; Now ſince they have attended upon the word, how hath it wrought upon them! what a change is there in ſuch men and women! That the carnal husband may ſay, ſince ſuch time as my wife hath attended upon the word I have ſeen a Beauty in her converſation, ſhee is more holy, more gentle, and meek; and ſo my ſervant, more ſubmiſſive and faithful, and ſo my children more obedient then before; Oh that the word may be thus glorified! Take heed I beſeech you that the word be not blaſphemed by any of you: In Tit. 2. 5. there the Apoſtle gives divers exhortations, and among others to wives, and to ſervants: To be … chaſt… keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the … God be not blaſphemed, you muſt perform your duties unto your husbands, and why? that ſo the word of God be not blaſphemed, that is, that neither your husbands, nor any of your friends may blaſphem the word, and ſay, what, do you get this by going to ſermons? Oh it ſhould peirce your hearts when as your conſciences tell you that you have given cauſe whereby the word of God ſhould be blaſphemed: and ſo he exhorts ſervants and others, and all in the ſtrength of this argument, that the word of God be not blaſphemed: you get up early in a morning to hear the word, that's good, but take heed you give no occaſion that the word be blaſphemed:
Now, I ſhall ſhew what an excellent thing it is ſo to Sanctifie Gods name in the hearing of his word, as to honour it, and how God will Sanctifie his owne name in mercy to you.
1 Firſt, All the good in the word is thine if thou doeſt Sanctifie Gods name. There is aboundance of good in this word that we preach, it is the word of the Goſpel, and to have all the good in that to be thine, that muſt needs be an excellent thing; you will ſay, ſome times I read and hear ſuch things in the word that if I were but ſure that theſe things were my portion how happy ſhould I be? Here's one ſign by which thou mayeſt be aſſured that they are all thy portion: Is it thy unfained care to Sanctifie Gods name in the hearing of his word? Oh peace be to thee, all the good in the word is thine: And here we might fall into a comendation of the word of the Goſpel, and if I ſhould give way to that a great deal of time would quickly be gone, I will only give you one Scripture for your encouragement to Sanctifie Gods name in the hearing of his word by way of comendation of it. It is Rom. 10. 5. (a place I am afraid you have not had the ſweetneſſe of it for the want of underſtanding it) It is quoted out of Deut. For Moſes deſcribeth the Righteouſneſs which is of the Law, that the man which doth thoſe things ſhall live by them. But the Righteouſneſs which is of faith ſpeaketh on this wiſe; Say not in thine heart who ſhall aſcend into heaven, that is, to bring Chriſt down from above, or who ſhall deſcend into the deep, that is, to bring Chriſt again from the dead? But what ſaith it? the word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth and in thy heart, that is the word of faith which we preach. The text hath ſome difficulty and yet exceeding ſweet to us to know it; I confeſſe if the Apoſtle Paull had not quoted this place out of Deut. and thus interpreted it, who could ever have thought in reading of Deut. that by the one had been ment the word of the Law, and by the other the word of the Goſpel, therefore the meaning is this, here is a compariſon between the word of the Law, and the word of the Goſpel, Concerning the word of the Law, there is two things wherein that comes ſhort of the word of the Goſpel.
Firſt, It is not ſo nigh thee.
Secondly, It is not ſo certain to aſſure thy Soul what ſhall become of thee to all eternity: The word of the Law ſaith who ſhall aſcend into heaven, &c. But the word of the Goſpel is nigh thee even in thy mouth and in thy heart: You will ſay, Why is not the word of the Law as nigh one as the word of the Goſpel? I Anſwer, The word of the Law you hear it in your eares, but it is not written in the heart as the word of the Goſpel is: The Law cannot work ſavingly upon the heart of a man to bring ſalvation: thoſe that are meerly Legall they can hear the duties that are required, but that word hath no power to write in their hearts what they do hear: But now when you come to hear the word of the Goſpel, that is nigh you, even in your very hearts as well as in your eares, God ſpeaks in it, and it comes into your hearts and there it works efficaciouſly, which the Law cannot. The Law is but as a dead Letter in compariſon of the word of the Goſpel. If you come meerly to hear the Law preached, and not in an Evangellicall way, you may hear it a hundred times and it will never be written in your hearts, But when you come to hear the Goſpel in an Evangellicall way, that will come to be written in your hearts: So that the word of the Goſpel is nigh you: But what is the meaning of the other, Say not, who ſhall aſcend up into heaven, &c? The meaning is this, As if the Apoſtle ſhould ſay, The truth is, while you have no other but the righteouſneſſe of the Law, you are at an infinit uncertainty about your eternal eſtates. The Law ſaith, Do and live: but you can never know when you have done enough ſo as to be certain that you are well for eternity. That ſaith, Who ſhall aſcend into heaven to know the mind of God concerning me? whether he will accept of me, and of that obedience and worſhip that I tender up to him? Who ſhall go down into the deep? Who ſhall go down to Hell to know there, whether that place be prepared for him or not? It is a phraſe that only expreſſeth an uncertainty that one cannot be ſatisfied about his eternall eſtate, except he could go to heaven and there ſee and read Gods book and ſo diſcover Gods mind concerning him; or go down to hell, and ſo know whether that place be appointed for him or not except I can do one of theſe, I can not certainly tell, (meerly by the Law) whether I ſhall go to heaven or hell. As you that are Merchants and dealers abroad, you are at a great deal of uncertainty what ſhall become of your eſtates. Indeed if I could ſend one over to the Indies to tell me how my Ship proſpered, then I could be at a certainty, then I ſhould hear whether I were a rich man yea or no, but except I could do ſuch a thing I am at an uncertainty: Such is the expreſſion here. As if a poor ſoul ſhould ſay, I would fain be ſaved, and loth to periſh eternally; But all the while the ſoul remains under the Law, it remains in an uncertain condition; but now ſaith he, The Word of the Goſpel is nigh thee even in thine heart; And that is the Word that we preach, that ſaith, Rom. 10. 9. If thou ſhalt confeſſe with thy mouth the Lord Jeſus, and ſhalt beleeve in thine heart that God hath raiſed him from the dead, thou ſhalt be ſaved. As if he ſhould ſay, This word of the Goſpel that is come into thine heart doth aſſure thy ſoul of thy eternall eſtate, ſo that though thou canſt not go up to heaven, nor go down to hell, yet thou haſt that in thine heart, that doth as it were aſſure thee that thou ſhalt be eternally ſaved, as if thou wert able to go up to the higheſt heavens and fetch newes from thence. Oh now the good word of the Goſpel how ſhould we prize it, and keep it in our hearts? for thats in our hearts that wil aſſure us of our ſalvation to all eternity, & of Gods eternal purpoſe to do the good in heaven. You would account it a great happines if there could be any art to ſend abroad to the Straits or to other place, to know how things fare with you: but now if thou haſt the word of the Goſpel within thee, if that prevails in thy Soul, thou haſt alwaies got ſomething in thy heart that will tel thee how things are with thee in heaven, and what ſhall become of thee for all eternity. Oh who would not ſanctifie the Name of God in hearing of his word, ſeeing it is ſuch a bleſſed word wherein the Goſpel is opened with more clearneſſe then it hath been to many of our fore-fathers.
2 It is a certain evidence of your election, in Theſſ. 1. 3, 4, 5. Remembring without ceaſing your work of Faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, in the ſight of God and our Father; Knowing Brethren, beloved, your election of God. Why? For our Goſpel came not to you in word only, but alſo in power, and in the holy Ghoſt, and in much aſſurance. And know this excellency there is in ſanctifying Gods name in hearing the word, I beſeech you mark it, that it is a more bleſſed thing, then if you did bear Jeſus Chriſt in your wombes; You that are women, would not you have accounted it a great happines if Chriſt had been borne in your wombes? Now if thou comeſt to the hearing of the word, and ſanctifieſt Gods name in it, thou art in a better condition, and haſt a greater bleſſing upon thee, then if thou hadeſt borne Jeſus Chriſt in thy womb. In Luk. 11. 27. 28. And it came to paſſe as he ſpake theſe things, that a certain woman of the company lift up her voice and ſaid unto him, Bleſſed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou haſt ſucked. Seeing Chriſt and what gracious things came from him, ſhe ſpake ſo; But he ſaid, Yea, rather bleſſed are they that hear the word of God & keep it. That is, Labour to ſanctifie my name, (as hath been opened in the particulars) rather is that women bleſſed that do ſo, then the woman that bare Chriſt: Me thinks this one ſcripture ſhould be ſuch a ſcripture for women, to cauſe them to ſanctifie Gods name in hearing of the word, inſtead of a hundred ſcriptures; certainly thou maieſt be ſo bleſſed, if thou wilt beleeve the word that comes from Chriſts mouth.
3 Do you ſanctifie the name of God in the Word, that wil ſanctifie you, by that your ſouls come to be ſanctified, & it wil comfort you in the day of your affliction, & it will ſave you at laſt.
4 You that do ſanctifie Gods name in the hearing of his Word, you will be the glory of the Miniſters of God at the great day of judgement. You will be an honour to them, before the Lord, and his Saints, and Angels. In Phil. 2. 16. Holding forth (ſaith the text) the word of life. This is the duty of all the hearers of the word that they muſt hold forth the word of life; when you go home, you muſt hold forth the power of the word you hear, well what will become of that? That I may rejoyce in the day of Chriſt, that I have not runne in vain, neither laboured in vain; Let that be one motive among the reſt, ſaith the Apoſtle, this will be ſuch a glory to me, that I in the day of Jeſus Chriſt ſhall rejoyce that I have not laboured in vain, I ſhall bleſſe God for all my ſtudies and care, and all the pains that ever I have taken, and ventring my ſelf for this People, I ſhall bleſſe God in the day of Jeſus Chriſt. Would it not be a comfortable thing to you, that all the Miniſters of God that come to preach the word faithfully to you, If at the day of Jeſus Chriſt you ſhould hear them bleſſing God that ever he did ſend them to preach the Goſpel in ſuch a place, and you ſhould hear them ſaying, Oh Lord, it may be had I been ſent to another place I ſhould have ſpent all my ſtrength in vain, but through thy mercy I was ſent to a teachable people that were ready to imbrace thy word, Oh this is my crown and glory. Would it not do good to any whoſe hearts are faithful to think this, that their holding forth the word of life will not only be a glory to God, which is the cheif, but it will be a glory to the Miniſters, to recompence all their labours, that you ſhall not only be ſaved your ſelves in the day of Jeſus Chriſt, but you ſhall adde to the glory of his faithful Miniſters likewiſe when they do appear before Chriſt?
5 I ſhall adde one particular more, There is a time coming when God ſhall magnifie his word before men and Angels: In I…. 22. 21. He will magnifie his Law and make it honorable, What a joy ſhal it be to thee when the Lord before men and Angels ſhall come to magnifie his word, and make it honorable, for thee then to think; This is the word that ſpoke to my heart at ſuch and ſuch a time, this is that word that I did reverence, that I did obey, that I did love, that I made to be the joy of my heart, this word the Lord now doth magnifie and make to be honorable? This will be comfortable to thy Soul.