The Christian Mans Calling, Treatise · Chapter 15
CHAP. XI. How a Christian may exerciſe himſelf to godlineſs in hearing and reading the word, and of preparation for hearing.
THe bleſſed God as he appointeth the Children of men their ends, namely to ſerve him here, and to injoy him hereafter, ſo he doth alſo afford them directions about the way, how they may attain and accompliſh thoſe ends. He is our Maſter, and cutteth out that work for us, which he expecteth we ſhould make up. He beſtoweth on all the ſtarlight of nature, which though it be but ſmall and dull by reaſon of our firſt fall, yet it ruleth and commandeth the night of the Pagan World, and is ſufficient to leave them inexcuſable, for not working and walking by it. When Heathen ſhall be thrown into the Goal of Hell, and bound with chains of everlaſting darkneſs, their own conſciences will hinder them from the leaſt thought of commencing a ſuite againſt God for falſe impriſonment, becauſe they are judged not by the Law Moral, written in Tables of ſtone, but by the Law Natural, written in the Tables of their hearts.
But out of his infinite favour, he is pleaſed to give ſome (in thoſe places where he intendeth to gather a people to himſelf, for his eternal praiſe) beſide the twinkling Star-light of nature, the clear and perfect Sun-light of Scripture, to guide their feet in the ways of peace; Which word is one of the moſt ſignal mercies, that ever he beſtowed upon the Sons of men, the whole World without it, being but a barren and rude Wilderneſs.
The Word of God, is a Spring of living water, a deep Mine of coſtly treaſure, a table furniſhed with all ſorts of food, a Garden wherein is variety of pleaſant fruits, the Churches Charter, containing all her priviledges, and her deeds, many infeſting her Title to the purchaſed poſſeſſion. It hath pious precepts for the Chriſtians reformation; and precious promiſes for his conſolation. If the Saint be afflicted, it can hold his head above water, and keep him from ſinking, when the billows go over his ſoul, there are Cordials in it rich enough to revive the moſt fainting ſpirit. If the Saint be aſſaulted, the word is armour of proof, whereby he may defend himſelf manfully, and wound his fo…s mortally. If the ſoul be unholy, this word can ſanctifie it, ye are clean through the word which I have ſpoken to you, Joh. 15.3. this water can waſh out all the ſpots and ſtains: if the ſoul be an heir of Hell, this word can ſave it; From a child thou haſt known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wiſe to ſalvation, 2 Tim. 3.15. Other writings may make a man wiſe to admiration, but this onelyonly, can make him wiſe to Salvation.
This word which is of ſuch unſpeakable worth, God hath depoſited as a ſpecial treaſure, into the hands of the Children of men, that they might obey his will, and know the juſt one. And Reader, it is thy duty to ſearch and ſtudy this book. When Kings ſend out their Proclamations, either concerning acts of grace, or ſome Law which their Subjects ought to obey, they expect that all ſhould take notice of them, and give them the reading and hearing. What an affront doſt thou offer to the King of the whole World, if thou turneſt thy back upon his word? I muſt tell thee, it is no leſs then crimen loeſae Majeſtatis. He that heareth you, heareth me, and he that deſpiſeth you, deſpiſeth me, and he that deſpiſeth me, deſpiſeth him that ſent me, Luke 10.16. Thou mayſt think (poſſibly) that by neglecting to hear, thou doſt onelyonly contemn the Preacher, but beleive me, it is a contempt of thy Maker, Miniſters are Gods Embaſſadors; Now to deny an Embaſſador audience, is one of the greateſt diſreſpects which can poſſibly be offered him, nay it is an affront to his Prince on whoſe errand he cometh, and whoſe perſon he repreſenteth, and what is the concluſion uſually of ſuch bad premiſes but a bloody War? Confider what thou doſt, when thou refuſeſt him that ſpeakeſt from heaven; for if thou ſhutteſt the windows of thine eyes from reading, and the door of thine ears from hearing, God may clap ſuch a padlock of a judiciary curſe upon them both, that thou ſhalt never open thine eyes nor ears, till thou comeſt, as the rich Glutton, to ſee Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his boſom, and to hear and bear thy part in thoſe dreadful ſcreechings and howlings which are in Hell.
It is a mercy that the Tree of Knowledge, the Word of God, is not forbidden, but commanded fruit; nay, that it groweth in the very path to the Tree of life: O why ſhouldſt thou then like the Phariſees, reject the counſel of God againſt thy own ſoul? If thou art a childe of Adam, I am ſure thou haſt thy deaths wound; now by neglecting the Word, thou like a frantick Patient, throweſt away that plaiſter which onelyonly can cure thee.
Do not ſay thou waſt not warned of thy danger and duty: I do here ſhew thee the hand and ſeal of the King of kings to that Warrant to which I require thy obedience. The Scripture is the Word of Chriſt, and God commandeth thee upon thine allegiance to hear him, Coloſ. 3.16. Matth. 3.17. The Word is the Cabinet in which thy Saviour, that Pearl of infinite price, is laid up; and therefore thou art commanded to look into it for this Jewell, Search the Scriptures, for they are they which teſtifie of me, John 5.39, The Word is foreign, and ſpeaketh ſuch a diligent ſearch as covetous men make for ſilver; they ſpare for no labour, that they may attain their Deified Treaſure: What ſhouldſt not thou do for durables Riches and Righteouſneſs?
But Reader, if thou art a childe of God, I doubt not but thou delighteſt to look into thy Fathers will, and weighteſt every Word in it, as knowing, that in his Teſtament there is a great charge committed, and a great legacy bequeathed to thee. It is thy daily Companion and Counſellour; thou dareſt not go without thy cordial, being liable every day to faint; nor without thy weapons, being called every hour to fight. The Scriptures are the light by which thou walkest, and the tools with which thou workeſt. Let me perſwade thee to perſevere in this gracious practice: Take the counſel of the Author of it, who is fitteſt to give Laws for thy carriage towards it: Let the Word of Chriſt dwell in you richly, Coloſ. 3.16. The Word is foreign, and ſignifieth to keep houſe with you: Do not leave thy Bible, as ſome do, at Church, and hear nothing of it all the week long; but bring it home to thy houſe, let it dwell with thee: Let not the Word be as a way-faring man, to tarry with thee but for a night, and ſo be gone; but let it be an inhabitant, one that accompanieth thee to bed and board, and with whom thou converſeſt continually as thy familiar and intimate friend: Make thine heart (as Jerome ſaith of Nepotians, by his aſſiduous reading and hearing the Scriptures) Bibliothecam Chriſti, The Library of Jeſus Chriſt. I cannot but think that thou haſt found the Bible ſo bountiful a Gueſt, to pay thee ſo liberally for its board, that thou haſt bid it heartily welcome, and wouldſt not part with it for the whole world. Ageſilaws is commended, ſaith Xenophon, becauſe he never went to bed, nor roſe up, before he had looked into Homer, whom he called his Sweet-heart: Adviſe thou with a Divine, at leaſt, as often as he did with a prophane Author. Kings have their Counſellors, and great men their Remembrancers: Let Gods teſtimonies be the men of thy council, Pſa. 119.24.
Let not others negligence abate the leaſt of thy diligence, but rather by an Antiperiſtaſis, let their extreme coldneſs double thine inward heat. As the fire is hoteſt, when the weather is coldeſt; ſo Davids heart boiled with zeal after it, when the waters of others affections to it were frozen: They have made void thy Law, therefore I love thy Commandments above gold, yea above fine gold: Therefore I eſteem all thy Precepts, concerning all things, to be right, Pſal. 119.126, 127, 128.
O conſider what love the Saints of God have ever had to his Law. Luther ſaid, That he hated the Books he made, and could wiſh them all burnt, leſt the time ſpent in reading them, might hinder the reading of the Scriptures. O how love I thy Law! ſaith David. The godly have meditated therein day and night; they have eſteemed it above the ſweeteſt honey, and the fineſt gold; the Martyrs in England have given much of their Eſtates for a few leaves of it, and they laid down their lives, before they would loſe the precious fruit in it. The French Proteſtants (ſaith their Hiſtorian) burnt in zeal to the Word, whileſt the bloody Papiſts burnt them for the Word. Scipio Africanus was applauded, for having uſually in his hands the books of Xenophons Inſtitutions of Cyrus: O let this Book of books be often before thee, and always in thee, let it be thy mediation all the day. One would think, that he who knoweth and believeth the contents of the Word, ſhould hardly ever let a Bible be out of his hand, at leaſt, he will lay it up (as the two Tables in the Ark) in his heart. Scriptura eſt cor & ipſa anima Dei. Greg.One of the Fathers calls it, The heart and ſoul of God. Indeed as a man by his word diſcovereth his minde and will; ſo God by the Goſpel, which is his Word, revealeth his eternal good will to men: It is the Copy of his everlaſting love, of which his Decree is the Original, containing all his pecious thoughts (before the foundation of the World) of redeeming miſerable man with the blood of his Son, and making him an heir of the eternal weight of glory. Thoſe gracious and myſterious purpoſes of his, which were hid in the night of many ages, when the Sun of Righteouſneſs once appeared in the Horizon of the Goſpel, were viſible and legible to every eye: He hath brought Life and Immortality to light by the Goſpel, 2 Tim. 1.10.
The Apoſtle calls it, The grace of God; and, The word of his grace, Tit. 2.11. Acts 20.32. not onelyonly becauſe the rain of the Word goeth by coaſts, as a gift of grace, Pſal. 147.19, 20. (He cauſeth it to ſhower down upon one City, and not on another, Amos 4.7.) and not onelyonly becauſe like a ſeal, it ſtampeth grace, the image of God upon the ſoul, Acts 2.37. but chiefly, becauſe on the ſtage of the Word, the grace and favour of God to mankinde is fully diſplayed: The Goſpel preſenteth us with the whole method of Gods grace and love to poor ſinners. This world is the Theatre in which Grace acteth its part (the Triumph of Juſtice is reſerved for the other World) and the Goſpel is the Throne on which Grace ſits, and from whence it holds out its golden Scepter. The language of the Law is no leſs then a ſentence of death; but the Goſpel alloweth a Pſalm of mercy, and in it Grace reigneth, foreign, playeth the King, commandeth in chief, unto Juſtification of life, Rom. 5.17, 18, 21.
But the more precious this Water of Life is, the more fearful thou ſhouldſt be of ſpilling it. Kings cannot endure that their Acts of Grace ſhould be tampled under foot: Abuſed favour, turneth into greateſt fury. Men ſurfeit ſooneſt of the greateſt Dainties, and further their Miſeſery, by that which was given them as in Mercy.
Our Saviour therefore commandeth, Take heed how ye hear, Luke 8.18. There are two ſpecial Leſſons which Chriſt commendeth to his Scholars: The firſt concerneth the matter of their hearing, Take heed what ye hear, Mark 4.24. Miniſters are Chriſts Uſhers, Chriſt himſelf is the head-Maſter; now Chriſt forbiddeth the pinning our faith upon our Uſhers ſleeve. The Bereans have an honorable creſt put into their coat of Armes by God himſelf, to diſtinguiſh, them in nobility from others, for bringing the coyn offered to them to the touchſtone of the Scripture, to try whether it were true gold or counterfeit; And theſe were more noble then thoſe of Theſſalonica, becauſe they received the Word of God with all readineſs of mind, and ſearched the Scriptures daily, whether thoſe things were ſo, Acts 17.11. Men muſt not like Children take down whatever their Nurſes put into their mouthes, whether meat or poiſon, but know how to diſtinguiſh between good and evil. Our faith muſt not ſtand in the wiſdom of men, but in the Power of God. All weights and meaſures muſt be compared with, and tryed by the Kings Standards. The Copy is no farther authentique then it agreeth with the Original Deed.
The ſecond Leſſon concerneth the manner of their hearing, take heed how ye hear. The richeſt Cordial may be loſt as it may be taken. It will be requiſite therefore to give thee ſome preſcription, how thou mayſt take this coſtly Phyſick to thy greateſt profit.
In reference to which duty I ſhall ſpeak,
1. To thy preparation for it.
2. To thy carriage at it.
3. To thy behaviour after it.
1. As to thy preparation for hearing the word, I ſhall requeſt thee from God to mind theſe enſuing particulars.
1. Empty thine heart of evil frames, and prejudice. Evil frames. The diſh muſt not be ſluttiſh, into which we put theſe ſpiritual dainties. If the ſtomach be cloged with filth and flegm, it cannot digeſt and concoct our food. The light of the Sun, as pleaſant and delightful as it is to ſound, is yet offenſive and painful to ſore eyes. This part of preparation is injoyned us by the Spirit of God. Wherefore lay apart all filthineſs, and all ſuperfluity of naughtineſs, and receive with meekneſs the engrafted word, which is able to ſave your ſouls, Jam. 1.21. If the body be feaveriſh, the ſweeteſt Syrup will taſt bitter; If any ill humour or luſt be predominant in thee, like the full and foul ſtomach thou wilt loath even the hony comb. The Table book of thine heart muſt be wiped clean, before any new thing (as the Law of God) can be written in it. Briars and Thorns muſt be ſtubbed up before the ground be capable of the grain.
As evil humours becauſe of the Doctrine taught, ſo prejudice againſt the perſon teaching, muſt be removed. Prejudice againſt the Preacher, is the greateſt prejudice to the Hearer. A condemned perſon will eſteem a begger when he brings a pardon. How beautiful are (not the lips onelyonly and hands, but the meaneſt parts) the feet of them that bring the glad tydings of peace; I confeſs it is a mercy to be related to a Paſtor who hath both parts and piety, gifts and grace; and if thou art to choſe a dwelling, I would wiſh thee to bear with many outward inconveniences, to ſit down under ſuch a Miniſtry. But ſuppoſe thy teacher, at leaſt in thy thoughts, is a man of mean parts, wilt thou thence conclude, his pains will yeild thee little profit Truely ſhouldſt thou gratifie Satan ſo far, it would be the ſpeedieſt way to find a truth in what thou doſt fancy. Friend, friend, doth the efficacy of the ordinance, depend on the parts of man, or on the power of God? May not a coſtly treaſure be brought to thee in an earthen Veſſel? Conſider, thou maiſt light thy candle as well (it may be better) with a brimſtone match, as at a great fire. Chriſt taught his Apoſtles by a little Child, Mat. 18.2. A ſmall damſel was inſtrumental for Naamans recovery both of his ſpiritual and corporal leproſie. And who art thou that none muſt inſtruct thee, but ſuch a one as like Saul is higher then others by head and ſhoulders in gifts and abilities; I wiſh it be not from the pride of thy ſpirit, that none is worthy enough to teach thee thy Grammar Leſſon, but ſome head of the Ʋniverſity. A picking ſtomach (I am ſure) argueth a diſeaſed body, and then a ſquemiſh heart and itching ear, cannot argue a ſound ſoul. The induſtrious Bee, Plut.ſucks honey from the Thime, an harſh and dry hearb. The Meat is as good in a Pewter, as in a Silver Diſh.
It may be thou goeſt to Table onelyonly for the ſauce, to Church for the ſtile and elegancy of the language; if ſo, I dare be bold to tell thee, that thine heart is not right in the ſight of God. Doſt thou not know that it is the naked ſword which doth the Execution, that a crucified Chriſt is the great conquerour, not a pompous gaudy Meſſiah, which the Jews dreamed of. Paul is commanded to Preach not with Wiſdome of words, leaſt the Croſſ of Chriſt, ſhould be made of none effect. 1 Cor. ….17. ſo … verſe 27, 28.
Truly, if thou luſteſt after the Quails of ſome new diſh, it is a ſign that thou loutheſt Manna, the Bread of Heaven; and what a condition is thy poor ſoul in then? They that have the Green-ſickneſs, care not for ſolid food, but hanker after traſh: They have ſouls ſadly ſick, that neglect the good Word of God, and long after the fancies and wit of men.
God doth by the fooliſhneſs of preaching, ſave them that believe, that he alone might have the glory of their ſalvation, That the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us, 2 Cor. 4.7. When men nibble at the bait of Humane Eloquence, and are caught, the skill of the Angler is applauded; but when men bite at the naked hook, the ſimplicity of the Goſpel, all will grant this to be a miracle, and ſay, This is the finger of God.
Doſt thou not ſee, that as Daniel and his companyons thrived better, and looked fairer, with feeding upon pulſe, then the other Captives who fed on the Kings dainty proviſion? Optimi concionatores ad vulgus ſunt, dixit Lutherus, qui puriliter, trivi aliter, populariter & ſim liei… ſime d…cent. Melch. Adam in vita.So thoſe Chriſtians (in every Pariſh, look abroad where you will) thrive more in holineſs, and are fairer in Gods eye, who feed on plain, naked Scripture, then thoſe whom no diſhes will pleaſe, but ſuch as are curiouſly cooked for a Kings Palate. Thou wilt not believe but that thy face may be ſeen in a glaſs, where the ſides are not guilded; thou wilt chuſe an horſe, not by its trappings and fine furniture, but by its uſefulneſs and ſerviceableneſs: Why ſhouldſt thou be ſo childiſh, as to be in love with no garments, but what are daubed with Silver lace, when other plain raiment will warm thy body as well.
Reader, if the fault be not thine own, thou mayeſt gain much (nay I muſt ſay) moſt good by plain preaching. Thoſe that dwell by the Sea ſide gather up thoſe precious commodities (bequeathed to the Sea, at the death or wrack of the ſhip) when the Sea is loweſt, which they cannot do when the waters are higheſt: I do not here plead for vain repetitions, and tedious circumlocutions; nor for them that dreſs their meat ſo ſlovenly that their Gueſts loath it. I know its below the Majeſtie of a King, when he is delivering his minde by his Ambaſſador, to play the Orator; but it is not below him to ſpeak ſenſe and reaſon. Wiſe men love a neat, compact diſcourſe, but it muſt be more full of matter then words, convincing the judgement, and working upon the affections. Plain, ſolid Sermons, are moſt acceptable to pious and ſerious ſouls: There is a vaſt difference between waſhing the face of a Diſcourſe clean, and painting it; the former is lawful and commendable, the latter ſinful and abominable. Miniſters muſt minde the capacities of their Auditories, and not put that meat into their mouthes which their teeth cannot chew, nor their ſtomachs concoct: Their Sermons of quiddities, haeccieties, and School nicities, may (in the opinion of giddy men) tend to their own praiſe, but never to their hearers profit: Such men when their children ask bread, give them ſtones which may choak them, but will not cheriſh them. It is pity he ſhould ever teach School, that will not ſpeak to his Scholars, ſo as they may underſtand him.
But the worſt ſuppoſition is, Thy Teacher may be untaught himſelf; his life may give the lye to his lips. As to this prejudice, 1. Remember, That an accuſation muſt not be received againſt an Elder, except under two or three witneſſes; thy charity, O Chriſtian, and the Dignity of his Calling, muſt both move thee to be ſlow to believe. As it is ſinful to raiſe up an evil report (Conſtantine the Emperor ſaid, That if he ſaw a Biſhop committing uncleanneſs, he would rather cover that foul fact with his Imperial robe, then ſuffer it to be divulged to the diſhonor of the Goſpel) ſo it is ſinful to take up an evil report, whoever laid it down ready for thee. But ſecondly, if thy Paſtor, like a wooden Veſſel, giveth that wine to thee which he never taſteth, nor ſavoureth himſelf, be not therefore wholly diſcouraged: If it be true, that thy Miniſter is falſe to God and his own ſoul, that he onelyonly wears Chriſts livery, that he might the more unſuſpected do the Devils work: I confeſs it is matter of great lamentation (the good Lord take care either for their converſion or ejection) for certainly they being liſted under Chriſts colours, and falſe to their Captain, do his adverſary the Devil double ſervice. The ſins of Teachers are, the Teachers of ſins; they who forget their Sermons, will remember their ſins, to patronize their own: But if the providence of God ſhould binde thee to ſuch a Paſtor, which is no ſmall unhappineſs; conſider, that God fed Elijah by a Raven, and ſurely he can feed thee by an unclean creature. He increaſeth ſometimes his Enemies gifts that they might be inſtrumental to increaſe his peoples graces. It is unqueſtionable in my judgement (though ſome I know doubt it) that a ſinner may convert a ſoul; and my reaſon is this, becauſe the operation of the word doth not depend upon the piety of the Preacher, but upon the free grace and power of the Lord. Yet I muſt alſo confeſs that I beleive that God doth not ſo often vouchſafe to his enemies as to his friends, that honour and happineſs. But as bad as he is, God may uſe him to do thee good. As the beſt Miniſters Sermons are not to be received for their good lives ſake, ſo the worſt Miniſters Preaching is not to be rejected becauſe of their evil practices. A blind man may hold a Candle to give light to others, whilſt he himſelf remains in the dark; the Sun of righteouſneſs may convey the light of holineſs into the houſe of thine heart, through this ſluttiſh Window. Thou mayſt derive water from the Fountain of life, through a leaden pipe; A deaf bell may be uſeful to call a Chriſtian to Church, and he that never heard ſo as to live, may call a ſoul to Chriſt. Wholeſom Sugar may be in a poiſoned Cane.
The Egyptian Jewels were helpful to the Tabernacle; David made the ſpoiles of the Gentiles, ſervice able to the Temple; and ſurely the ſon of David can make the parts and guifts of an Egyptian, an Enemy to God ſerviceable to thy ſoul. The Phariſees in the days of Chriſt, were many of them vicious perſons, yet they fitting in Moſes Chair, Chriſt doth not deny them audience, but commandeth his Diſciples to diſtinguiſh between their words and their works; he doth not forbid them to hear their Doctrine, but enjoyn them to forbear their doings, Mat. 23.2, 3.
2. The ſecond thing requiſite to preparation is this;
Before thou goeſt to hear, labour to affect thine heart with the neceſſity, excellency and efficacy of the word. There was half an hours ſilence in Heaven before the ſeventh Trumpet ſounded; thy duty is to weigh the nature and end of the word, before thou goeſt to hear that Trumpet ſounded by one of the Angels of the Churches. Conſider its neceſſity; Mary minded the one thing neceſſary (indeed ſhe gave the word her heart, but the way to it was this, ſhe gave it her ear) She ſat at Chriſts feet and heard his word. The cuſtom even in thoſe days, was for the Teacher to Preach either out of a Desk or Pulpit, or ſome place above the people; hence their hearers ſitting below them, are ſaid to ſit at their feet. Urge thy ſoul with this, The word which I am going to hear, in regard of the ordination of God, is abſolutely neceſſary to my ſpiritual and eternal good. I am dead, and it is the word that muſt enliven me; I am blind, & it is the word that muſt enlighten me. It is abſolutely neceſſary that I know my ſins and miſery; now the word muſt do this, and is therefore called a glaſs, Jam. 1. It is abſolutely neceſſary that I know my Saviour, and the way of my recovery; now the word muſt do this, and is therefore called faith and life, Joh. 6. Rom. 3. It is neceſſary to open mine eyes to ſee Chriſt, to open my heart to receive Chriſt, and that Heaven hereafter may be open to my poor ſoul. My ſoul is ſinful, and its the word that muſt ſanctifie it; My ſoul is ſick, it is the word that muſt heal it; My ſoul is hungry, and its the word muſt feed it, or I ſhall ſtarve; My ſoul is thirſty, and its the word that muſt ſatisfie it, or I ſhall die for thirſt; whatſoever conditions of miſery I am in, it is the word that muſt give ſutable conſolations to ſupport me; whatſoever relations of life I ſtand in, it is the word that muſt give ſutable exhortations to direct me; whatſoever ſervice I am called to, whether of doing or ſuffering, it is the word which muſt releive me with ſutable ſupply. O, of what concernment is this word to my well being, in this and the other World! I muſt be ſanctified, or I can never be ſaved; I muſt turn to God, or burn in hell; and the word muſt do this for me, or it will never be done; good Lord how ſhould I hear! Men are careleſs about things which are indifferent, but they are careful about things that are abſolutely neceſſary; Neceſſity makes men ſtrive oftentimes beyond their ſtrength. None work ſo hard as they that have neceſſity for their Maſter.
Conſider its excellency. It is the Word of God; though thou dallieſt when men are ſpeaking, yet ſurely it becomes thee to be ſerious when the great God is ſpeaking. It is of divine inſpiration; All Scripture is given by inſpiration of God. The Epheſians cryed up their Idol Diana, becauſe it was the Image which fell down from Jupiter, Great is Diana of the Epheſians; O how ſhouldſt …ou prize and prepare for the Word, when it came down from the great God: Men were but the Organs through which the Almighty God ſpoke; Non vox hominum ſonat; It is the voyce of God, and not of man. It is of Divine operation; I am not aſhamed of the Goſpel of Chriſt, which is the power of God to ſalvation, Rom. 1.16. What wonders hath the great God wrought by his Word? He hath given eyes to the blinde, feet to the lame, ears to the deaf, life to the dead, by his Word. What legions of Devils and luſts hath he unkennel'd and caſt out with his Word? Hannibals Sword.Some write of the Weezel, that it doth aure concipere & ore parere, conceive in the ear. &c. He hath cauſed many a ſoul to hear and live by his Word; he hath awakened many a ſoul that was aſleep in ſin, by the voice of the Scriptures, and cauſed them to ariſe and work out their own ſalvations: Thouſands of poor creatures, who were ſinking into the bottomleſs Hell, have by Gods hand, ſtretched out in his Word, been delivered from going down to the pit, and lifted up to Heaven.
It is a Word of Divine Inſtitution, and of Divine Benediction, Revel. 1.3. It is the Word in which the Father ſpeaketh, John 6.45. Every one that hath heard and learned of the Father, cometh to me. It is the Word of Chriſt, Heb. 12.25. Col. 3.16. In it the Spirit ſpeaketh to the Churches, Rev. 2.11. The pearl hid in it (the Scriptures are they that teſtifie of Chriſt, John 5.39.) the price paid for it (both Teſtaments are ſprinkled with the blo… of Jeſus, Heb. 9.27.) do fully ſpeak the excellency of it.
Now Reader, think with thy ſelf thus, I am going to hear that Word which hath God for its Author, Jeſus Chriſt for its matter, and Eternal Life for its end: Shall I like a beaſtly Swine, trample theſe invaluable Jewels under my feet? ſhall that which is infinitely more precious then fine gold, be eſteemed by me as dirt? It is the picture of Gods own excellencies; how chary ſhould I be of the picture, for the Perſons ſake? Ah, how tender ſhould I be of that glaſs, which hath wine in it more worth then Heaven and Earth? Would it not be a thouſand pities that I ſhould ſuffer the Flies of my wandring thoughts, to corrupt and ſpoil this Box of Precious Oyntments.
Conſider the efficacy of it: The revealed Word is like the eſſential Word; for the fall, as well as for the riſe of many in Iſrael. As there is nothing ſo evil, but a ſerious holy perſon may get good out of it, like ſome Creatures we read of, he may digeſt and fetch nouriſhment out of Serpents; ſo there is nothing ſo good, but a careleſs, graceleſs heart may pervert to his hurt; like the Spider, he may ſuck poyſon out of the ſweeteſt Roſe. The Word will work one way or other; if it work not for thy ſalvation, it will work for thy damnation; if it be not a ſavour of life to life, it will be a ſavour of death to death: As the rain cometh down and watereth the earth, and returneth not thither again; ſo ſhall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth, it ſhall not return unto me void, Iſa. 55.10, 11. The Word is compared to fire: Fire doth either purifie the mettal, or conſume it; the Word will either convert thee, or confound thee. The Sea ſinks ſome Veſſels, and lands others ſafely; the Scripture will either further thee towards Heaven, or towards Hell: The ways of the Lord are right, and the juſt ſhall walk in them; but the tranſgreſſors ſhall fall therein, Hoſea 14. ult.
Mark Reader, what an Engine is here to ſcrew thee up to the greateſt attention to the Word which is poſſible? It is like ſtrong phyſick to a perſon exceeding ſick, which either mends them, or ends them. Think thus with thy ſelf, I am going to hear that Word which will not be in vain, but will either kill me, or cure me; this Sword of the Spirit is ſharp and keen; if it doth not defend me, it will deſtroy me: O it is bad jeſting with ſuch edged tools! How ſad will it be for me to finde death about the lips of Chriſt, to fall into Hell with a ſtumble at the Goſpel of the Kingdom of Heaven? How exceedingly am I concerned to ſet my heart to all the words which I ſhall hear this day? for it is not a vain thing, but it is for my life, Deut. 32.46, 47.
Urge thy ſoul in earneſt with theſe particulars. As Eliſha ſtretching himſelf upon the young dead child, at laſt got life and quickning into it; ſo thou forcing and ſtretching, as it were, theſe things upon thy heart, mayſt quicken it, how dull and dead ſoever it is.
Thirdly, if thou wouldſt prepare thy ſelf for the Word, entreat God to bleſs it to thee: The operations of the Spirit muſt accompany the adminiſtration of the Word, or it will be ineffectual: It is the Spirit that quickneth, John 6.63. The fire burneth naturally, and the water cooleth naturally; but if the fire of the Word ever burn up thy corruptions, or the water of the Word refreſh thee with real conſolations, it muſt not be by its own nature, but by a Divine power. If thine eye be opened by that eye-ſalve of Scripture, to ſee Chriſt in his native beauty, or thy ſelf in thy natural deformity, God muſt anoint thine eyes therewith; therefore David beggeth this favour at Gods hand, Open mine eyes, that I may ſee wonderful things out of thy Law, Pſal. 119.18. As good ſight as David had, he could not read in Gods Law, without Gods light. If the door of thine heart be opened by this key, to give admiſſion to the King of Glory, Gods hand muſt turn the key. The Lord opened the heart of Lydia, that ſhe attended to the words of Paul, Acts 16. Paul might have preached his heart out, before Lydia's heart would have opened to let the Word in, if God had not undertaken the work.
If the Sword of the Word pierce thy ſoul, hack and hew, and ſlay thy moſt beloved ſins (thoſe enemies within thee, which would not have Chriſt to reign over thee) the arm of the Lord muſt weild it: The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God, to the pulling down of ſtrong holds, caſting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth it ſelf againſt the knowledge of God, 2 Cor. 10.4. Surely that voice of Thunder muſt come from Heaven, which can pluck up the ſtrong trees of thy natural unbelief and ſenſleſsneſs, and pull down the high Towers of pride and ſelf. If the Word, which is called a Seal (Rom. 6.17.) ever imprint thy Saviours Image on thee to thy Regeneration, God muſt adde weight to the Seal, or it will make no ſtamp: He hath of his own will begotten you by the Word of Truth, James 1.21. He that made the Watch, can make it ſtrike right; and he that made the Word, can make it ſtrike home, even to the dividing aſunder of ſoul and ſpirit, and of the joynts and marrow, Hebr. 4.12. If the Word which is called life (John 6.63.) quicken thee to thine eternal Salvation, God muſt breathe on thy dry bones, and bid thee live: I am not aſhamed of the Goſpel of Chriſt, which is the power of God to ſalvation, Rom. 1.16.
It was the Angels troubling the waters, which made the Pool of Betheſda medicinal to the diſeaſed people: And it is not the water of the Word which can heal thy ſoul-ſickneſſes, unleſs the Angel of the Covenant work in it, and with it.
Elijahs mantle could not divide the waters of Jordan, but the Lord God of Elijah did it: The Preacher may ſhew thee thy Leſſon, but God onelyonly can help thee to learn it.
Reader, before thou heareſt, Remember it is Gods prerogative to open thine ear: Mine ear haſt thou boared, Pſal. 40.6. There is a thick film in thine ears naturally, which hindreth thine hearing; thine ears are ſtopt, that Sermons can have no paſſage: Now God alone can with his Seringer diſſolve the wax congealed there, and break through the skin, whereby thou mayeſt come to hear, and live. Remember, that the ſeeing eye, and the hearing ear, the Lord hath made them both, Prov. 20.12. Therefore intreat him to open thine eyes, that thou mayſt ſee his comely face, in the Glaſs of the word, and to open thine ears that thou mayſt hear his lovely voice in the word, and to open thine heart that thou mayſt receive grace from him through the word. Say as David, Shew me thy way O Lord, teach me thy paths. Make me to underſtand the way of thy precepts, ſo ſhall I talk of thy wondrous works, Pſa. 25.4. Pſa. 119.27. And be not diſcouraged either at the miſteriouſneſs of the word, or at thine own dulneſs; for he that made the lock, can help thee to a key that will fit all its wards.
But be ſure thou forget not to commend thy Miniſter to God. As thy duty is to beg a door of entrance for thy ſelf, ſo a door of utterance for thy Paſtor. Withall praying for us, that God would open to us a door of utterance, to ſpeak the myſtery of Chriſt, Col. 4.3. Epheſ. 6.19. Thy profit by him will be not a little furthered by thy prayer for him. He that loves his child, will often remember the Nurſe that feeds it. He that loves his precious ſoul, will often mind the Preacher that prepareth and bringeth its ſpiritual portion. I have known ſome to praiſe their Cooks highly, when they would prevail with them to dreſs a Diſh curiouſly for their palates. I am ſure thy way is to pray for thy Paſtor fervently, if thou wouldſt have him provide ſuch food as may be for thy ſouls pleaſure and profit. Starve the Mother, and you ſtarve the child in her womb. If the Heavens do not favour the Hils with ſhours, they cannot fatten the Valleys with their chalky ſtreams. If the Pipes be broke which convey water to our houſes from the River, we can expect no ſupply.
4. Let thine end in going to hear, be to pleaſe God and profit thy ſoul. Propound a good endin hearing, if thou wouldſt have a good end of hearing; Some go to Church for nothing, like the Athenians, the greateſt part knew not wherefore they were met together, Act. 17. They have as much as they come for; They come for nothing, and they often go away with nothing. Others go to carp and catch at the Preacher; as the Herodians went to Chriſt to entangle him in his talk, Mat. 22.15. Theſe go not to hear Gods word, but to do the Devils work, and he will pay them their wages. Theſe flie to the carcaſs, not to defend it, but to devour it. A third ſort go to hear wit and parts, neat expreſſions, and an affecting graceful pronounciation, like the Jews to hear Ezekiel, Lo thou art unto them as a very lovely ſong of one that hath a pleaſant voice, and can play well on an inſtrument, Ezek. 33.32. Theſe go to hear man, not to hear God. They hear out of curioſitie, not out of conſcience; they deſire to have their ears tickled, not their hearts touched. They hear and do not, verſ. 33. Such go to Church, juſt as they who go to a noiſe of Muſitions, onelyonly for the pleaſant ſound, for nothing but to hear.
Reader, take heed of theſe and other finful ends, leaſt God anſwer thee according to the Idols of thine heart. Children go to Fayrs for babies, and rattles, but men go for ſome ſerviceable commodities, for the ſupply of their own, and their Relations neceſſities. Though fooliſh men go to Church to quarrel with the Perſon teaching, or to admire at ſome fine cadencies or alluſions in the Doctrine taught; do thou go to the word for the releif of thy ſpiritual wants; As a new born babe defire the ſincere milk of the word, that thou mayſt grow thereby, 1 Pet. 2.2. Here is a good end of a good action, not to gaze upon the people or Paſtor, but to grow by his Preaching. Some men go to Gardens to gather Gilly-flowers or Roſes, meerly to ſmell to them, or look on them and in a ſhort time throw them away, when a good houſe-wife goeth to her garden for a better end; ſhe gathereth them to make a precious conſerve or ſyrrup of them, which ſhe keeps conſtantly by her to comfort her in a time of ſickneſs. Though too many go to a Sermon, meerly to look on the gaudineſs of its dreſs, or to ſente the wit and fancy of the preacher, which ſight and ſente are quickly gone; do thou gather thoſe flowers which grow in Eden, the garden of the Lord, that thou mayſt by faith make ſuch a cordial of them as may be ever ready at hand to revive thy ſpirit in each fainting fit, whether of death, or any civil or ſpiritual danger, whilſt thou liveſt.
Laſtly, If thou would prepare thy ſelf to hear or read the word rightly, leave thy Worldly thoughts behind thee. It is written of Bernard, that when he came to the Church-door he would ſay; Stay there all my earthly thoughts Say to the cares of this life (when thou art about reading or hearing) as Abraham to his Servant; Abide you here and I will go yonder and Worſhip, Gen. 22.5. If thou ſhouldſt ſuffer thoſe weeds, they would hinder the ſpringing up of the good ſeed, the word. They are like Theeves never dogging thee at this duty but to do thee a miſchief, either to ſteal thy comforts, or to wound thy conſcience.
Chriſt ſharply reproveth the Jews for turning his Fathers houſe, which ſhould be called an houſe of prayer, into a Den of Theeves; but how did they do this? By buying and ſelling, and changing Mony in the Temple If thou Reader ſhouldſt in thine heart be buying in thy proviſion, or ſelling out thy commodities, or hankering after thine hoards and heaps of Corn, or Wares, or Money, when thou art in Gods Houſe, thou turneſt the Houſe of prayer into a Den of Theeves; therefore thy beſt way is to keep them out, and if they come in afterwards (as Chriſt did) to whip them out.
When men hear with their Harveſt ears (meditating and muſing on their flocks, or ſhops, or fields) no wonder if the word be ineffectual to them. If the wits of men be a wool-gathering, the Word of God will be like water ſpilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. Some Garden Seeds are mingled with Aſhes when they are ſown, and thereby they ſpring up the better; but this Seed muſt not be mixt with Duſt and Aſhes; if it be, it will not ſpring up at all.
It is reported of one of Englands Lord Treaſurers (ſome ſay Cecil, others ſay Burleigh) that though by reaſon of his Office he was crouded with buſineſs all day, yet when he was going to reſt at Night, he would throw off his Gown and ſay, Lie there Lord Treaſurer; What he did going to Bed, we muſt do when we go to this heavenly Banquet; though the concernments of our families and callings throng us at other times, yet when we go to hear or read the uncomparable word, we muſt lay them by, with Lye here all my thoughts of this lower beggerly World. Thus I have diſpatched the firſt particular, Preparation for the Word.