their callings into the House of God to heare and to performe the Exercises of Religion Truly though they be never so diligent in hearing yet their hearts will goe after their covetousnesse Ezech. 33. 31. 3 A third dutie before the hearing of the Word is Prayer no good thing can be expected from God as a blessing if it be not sought by prayer Deut. 4. 7. and wee finde it layd downe as a condition required Prov. 2. 1 2 3 c. My sonne if thou wilt receive my words and encline thine eare to wisedome and apply thy heart to understanding yea if thou cryest after knowledge and liftest up thy voice for understanding then shalt thou understand the feare of the Lord and finde out the knowledge of God The reason is Vers 6. For the Lord giveth wisedome and out of his mouth commeth knowledge and understanding Because the Lord gives knowledge therefore you must crie for it unto him What is the reason that you do pray for your daily Bread and a blessing upon it Why Deut. 8. 3. Man lives not by Bread onely c If this be so much more ought you to pray for a blessing upon your spirituall food Now for the particulars First you ought to pray for the Teachers That they may so speake as they ought to speake Col. 4. 3 4. so they are to pray for the power and peace of the Ministerie 2 Thess 3. 1 2. Secondly you must pray for your selves that through Gods assistance you may heare profitably and be blessed in the hearing Ioh. 3. 27. No man can receive any thing except that it be given him from above Therefore David prayed Psal 119. 18. Open thou mine eyes that I may see the wonderfull things contained in thy Word Isay 48. 17. God sayth I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit Therefore no profiting by the Word without seeking unto the Lord for it Now the prophanenesse of people in this case is the generall cause that our Ministerie doth no more good Few pray at all before they come to Church either for the Minister or for themselves nay few even when they are in the Church have any heart to joyne with the Preacher in the prayer that he makes before the Sermon But the complaint of the Prophet may be taken up in this case Isa 64. 7. There is none that calleth on thy Name that stirreth up himselfe to take hold of thee 4 You must be sure to goe with an open heart readie to receive every truth that God shall teach you in this Ordinance Act. 17. 11. it is said of those noble Beraeans that they received the Word with all readinesse of minde i. readinesse to receive every truth And Cornelius said Act. 10. 33. Wee are all here present before God to heare all things that are commanded thee of God It is well added that are commanded thee of God not what any Minister shall teach be he never so good or so learned nay were he an Angell from Heaven yet his Doctrine must be examined Gal. 1. 8. But when there is such a disposition in us as to receive both in judgement and practise whatsoever God shall reveale unto us out of his Word this is a precious disposition But alas the most come to heare with prejudicate and fore-stalled hearts they beare a secret grudge and quarrell against some strict Truth or other as against the sanctification of the Lords Day or Family-duties or secret communion with the Lord by prayer dayly c. And these imaginations seeme as strong Holds to keepe Christ and his Truth out of their hearts 2 Cor. 10. 4 5. And thus men that in their hearing doe limit the Spirit of God would if it lay in their power say as those wicked men Isay 30. 10. to the Seers see not and to the Prophets prophesie not right things unto us speake unto us smooth things And those that said so the Lord calls them despisers of his Word These are the maine and principall duties before the hearing of the Word Secondly let me proceed briefely to those duties that are required in the hearing of the Word Which wee must the rather stirre up our selves unto because wee have naturally uncircumcised hearts Ier. 6. 10. and are dull of hearing Heb. 5. 11. Now the principall duties in hearing are five which I will briefely set downe as may be 1 You must set your selves in Gods presence whilest you are hearing of his Word and consider with your selves that it is God that you have to deale withall in this businesse and not man and that it is Gods Word and not mans It is the great commendation of the Thessalonians 1 Thess 2. 13. that they received the Word as the Word of God This was that whereby the Lord would prepare his people to receive the Law Exod. 20. God spake all these words And hee not onely gave the Law but the whole summe of the Gospel with his owne voice Mat. 3. 17. Loe a voice from Heaven saying This is my beloved Sonne in whom I am well pleased Yea it is the Lord himselfe that speakes unto you in our Ministery Luke 10. 16. So the Lord is present in a speciall manner where his Word is preached to observe and marke how it is received or delivered and either to blesse or curse the hearers or speakers accordingly So that of this and such like places it may be said as Iacob said of Bethel Gen. 28. 16 17. Surely the Lord is in this place and How dreadfull is this place This is no other than the House of God this is the Gate of Heaven And truly this apprehension of Gods presence in the Assemblies of his people will worke three things in us First keepe us in that awfull and reverent disposition of body and minde that is meet Secondly it will preserve our hearts from â—oving and wandering thoughts which are great impediments of hearing Psal 119. 113. I hate vaine thoughts but thy Law doe I love Thirdly it will make us to receive and obey that that shall be taught us for so God hath beene wont to prepare his people to receive his Word yea he said of his people when they were thus affected Deut. 15. 29. Oh that there were such an heart in them to feare me and keepe my Commandements alwayes Now the want of this is that which hinders abundance of benefit that the Ministerie of the Word would otherwise doe us This is the root of all the mischiefe the Devill doth to poore soules in the hearing of the Word the practice thereof is the fountaine of all our good Many gracelesse wretches there are in our Assemblies like him Luke 18. 2. that neither feared God nor regarded man that despise the Church of God yea contemne the presence of the holy Angels 1 Cor. 11. 10. and of God himselfe in the Assemblies who hath layd such a speciall charge upon us Lev. 26. 2. to keepe his
Sabbaths and to reverence his Sanctuarie and he addes this reason I am Iehovah 2 The second dutie in hearing is diligent attention to that we heare as it is said of our Saviour Christ Luke 19. 48. The people were very attentive to heare him or as it is in the Originall they hanged on him as if their eares and mindes had beene tyed to his tongue there was such a dependencie upon him And that is a remarkable place Ezech. 40. 4. Sonne of man behold with thine eyes and heare with thine eares and set thine heart upon all that I shall shew thee See what attention is required Hee bids him set his eyes and his eares and his heart and all upon that hee speakes and not upon some things onely but upon all that hee should declare unto him So Prov. 4. 20 21 22. My sonne attend unto my words incline thine eare unto my sayings keepe them in the midst of thine heart for they are life to those that finde them i. looke as a condemned man will hearken to the Sentence of the Prince every word hee speakes being life or death As the servants of Benhadad when they were in their enemies power 1 King 20. 33. they observed diligently whether any word of comfort would come from him and they did hastily catch it Thus with such diligence and attention such poore condemned creatures as wee are are to heare the Word of God Now to quicken attention these meanes are profitable First it is good to doe as they did Luke 4. 20. They fastened their eyes upon Christ so doe ye upon the Minister and suffer them not to wander up and downe A wandering eye is alwayes a sure evidence of a wandering heart Secondly if ye doe not thus it will be a good helpe for those that can write to note the Word as Baruch wrote from the mouth of Ieremiah Ier. 36. 4. This holds the minde close to all that is said Some object indeed that it hinders affection in hearing but though it may doe so in some for the present yet afterwards it will worke more lasting affections upon the Word Onely they that use this helpe-meanes must be carefull that they doe not presume upon their Notes so as to neglect the recalling of what they have heard as many use to doe and so lose all holy affections and that impression that the Word would make upon their hearts Thirdly entreat the Lord to open thy heart as he opened Lydia's heart Act. 16. 14. Our hearts are shut up quite and cannot attend unto any thing that is good except that the Lord opens them Observe then another cause why the Word is so unfruitfull unto many Some are like the deafe Adders that stop their eares against the voice of the Charmer Psal 58. 4 5. And some sleepers there are that faile in their attention that the Devill usually rocks asleepe when they come to heare but they that are such should know that their damnation sleepes not the Devill sleepes not he comes to the Assemblies to picke up the good Seed that is sowne nay he comes to picke up their soules indeed for he cares not so much for the Seed but he will take your selves napping and your soules especially and carry them to Hell Besides let them remember what befell Eutychus Act. 20. 9 10. he slept at a long Sermon that lasted till midnight but he was taken up dead falling from the third Loft to the ground What shall become of such then that sleepe in the day time at a Sermon of an houre long And let them also take heed of that spirit of slumber that the Lord hath threatned to poure upon the despisers of the Word Isay 29. 9 10. The like might be said of our gazers and gapers about and those that by their talking disturbe others and hinder themselves they shut their eares and turne them away from God and may justly expect that he shall turne away his eares from them as it is threatened Prov. 2. 8 9. Zach. 7. 13. 3 You must heare the Word with understanding and judgement i. labour to understand what wee heare And to this end the Minister must have a speciall care to teach plainely so as he may be understood Neh. 8. 8. And Christ calls upon his hearers for this Math. 15. 10. Heare and understand How should we else profit by that we heare Act. 8. 36. Vnderstandest thou what thou readest saith Philip to the Eunuch so say thou to thine owne heart Vnderstandest thou what thou hearest Now the meanes to understand the Word are these First come to the Word with a willing minde to learne you know the Eunuch Act. 8. though he understood not what he read yet because he had a minde to learne how the Lord provided for him and what a comfortable successe Philips Sermon had with him Men love to teach willing schollers so doth God when we come with willing and readie mindes to be taught Secondly exercise your selves in the truth of God Heb. 5. last you must by continuall use get your sences exercised to discerne both good and evill but especially be well acquainted with the principles and grounds of Catechisme it is the want of this that makes men that they understand not what is preached They that are not first well nourished with Milke will not be fit to receive and digest stronger meat if the foundation be not well layd it is in vaine to build Thirdly walke according to Light Psal 111. 10. A good understanding have all they that doe his Commandements Then if thou wouldest get a good understanding and know the mysterie of godlinesse walke according to knowledge imploy that little knowledge thou hast well and then there is a promise to give thee more Fourthly be diligent in instructing and teaching thy family If thou art set over others a little knowledge will encrease greatly by this meanes Gen. 18. 17 19. the Lord said Shall I hide any thing from Abraham No And hee gives this reason I know him that he will command his children and his household after him and they shall keepe the way of the Lord. If you teach your families God will teach you Well there are a sort of doltish hearers that will heare and seeme to be very attentive from yeeres end to yeeres end and be never a whit the wiser 2 Tim. 3. 7. The heavie judgement of God is upon many of them that is mentioned Math. 13. 14. And in them is fulfilled the Prophesie of Isay By hearing ye shall heare and shall not understand and that I-say 27. 11. It is a people of no understanding therefore he that made them shall not save them and he that formed them shall shew them no favour 4 You must heare the Word with affection and delight It is said of Gods people in the Primitive Church that they heard the Word gladly and of Christs hearers Mark 12. 37. they heard him gladly And it is noted for
a great signe of grace to heare the Word gladly Psal 119. 162. I rejoyce at thy Word as one that findeth great spoyles David had beene a souldier and ye know that they that have lyen at the siege of a Citie a long time and at the last take it will rejoyce exceedingly in the spoyle of it therefore he rejoyces in the Word as they that doe divide the spoyles And truly whereas common people complaine of the badnesse of their memories this would be a marvellous helpe to their memories if they would heare with delight therefore David sayth Psal 119. 16. I will delight my selfe in thy Statutes I will not forget thy Word This delight he meanes will strengthen our memories Now contrarie to this are a great number that heare without all delight and account it a great wearinesse Mal. 1. 13. and those the dullest houres that they spend in hearing Well the Lord hath threatned that the Word shall never doe us good unlesse that wee attend to it with love and delight 2 Thess 2. 10 11. Because they received not the love of the Truth that they might be saved therefore God shall send them strong delusions to beleeve Lyes A fearefull threatning much to be considered in these dayes For this is the reason that Popish trumperies and hellish delusions have such entertainment because God in his just judgement gives up those to such strong delusions that love not the strict Truth of the Word of God 5 You must heare the Word with application of it to your owne hearts and lives apply every truth to your selves for your owne use and comfort and terror and instruction as it is Iob 5. last Heare this and know it for thy selfe carry this truth home to thine owne heart And First there is no truth of God taught out of his Word but it concernes every one of Gods people and was intended for our use Rom. 15. 4. Whatsoever is written is written for our learning Secondly there is no truth can be taught to doe us good unlesse that wee apply it as no Plaister can doe the Patient good unlesse it be applyed no meat is able to doe us any good be it dressed never so curiously unlesse it be eaten and digested This comparison is applyed by the Prophet to this purpose Isa 55. 2. Hearken diligently unto me and eate ye that which is good unlesse we eate it it will doe us no good Thirdly the faithfull have been wont to apply all to themselves as every member of the body drawes nourishment from the stomacke to make it his owne to which the Apostle alludes Eph. 4. 16. So the Disciples of our Saviour did Math. 26. 21 22. When our Saviour had said that one of them should betray him they were exceeding sorrowfull and began every one of them to say unto him Lord is it I And surely the want of this application is one great cause that the Word profits not because they beleeve it not nor apply the Word unto themselves Heb. 4. 2. The Word preached did not profit them because it was not mixed with faith in them that heard it Now one principall worke of faith is to apply those things that are delivered in the Word But this the most hearers doe exceedingly faile in either not applying or mis-applying of the truth shifting off all upon others and taking little or nothing to themselves As wee have a notable example of this Rom. 1. ult compared with Rom. 2. 1. In the former place the Apostle speakes of some that knowing the judgement of God That those that doe such things are worthy of death yet not onely doe such things but take pleasure in those that doe them yet in the beginning of the next Chapter you find the same men judging and condemning of others yet thinking and perswading themselves that they being guiltie of the same sinnes shall escape the judgement of God Why but because they apply not to themselves but mis-apply to others the things they heare Many such hearers there are in these dayes which are very cunning in shifting off the threatnings of God against their owne Drunkennesse and Whoredome and Swearing c. yet very apt to pinne the same Word upon others Well these are not wise for themselves and all their hearing shall doe them no good Thus much of the duties required in hearing Now follow those duties that are required after hearing And these are chiefely thus 1 Wee must be very carefull to remember and keepe that which wee have heard Prov. 4. 4. My sonne let thine heart retaine my words and Vers 21. Keepe them in the midst of thine heart As a man that hath a Iewell will be carefull to locke it up in the safest Chest hee hath lest it should be stolne away Which is the very comparison of the Wise-man Prov. 6. 20 21. So Mary Luke 2. 51. kept all the sayings in her heart and David Psal 119. 11. hid the Commandements in his heart and hee gives the reason That hee might not sinne against the Lord. And the truth is that as meat that is eaten if it remaines not in the stomacke it will never doe us good so the best spirituall food that can be except it be retained by us will not profit us Luke 8. 15. The good Ground are they which with an honest and good heart having heard the Word keepe it c. Many there are that are very carelesse of this dutie They thinke they have discharged themselves abundantly if they heare the whole Sermon attentively as though there were nothing more required at their hands Like our Saviours hearers Math. 22. 22. When they heard him they marvelled and left him and went their way but wee never heare more of them So many heare desirously and with open and greedie eares but as wee say it goes in at one eare and out at another it stayes not for any after-use but a little present admiration Others heare and the Word smites them a little on their Consciences and wounds and one would thinke some good thing would be wrought upon them but they goe away and the motion dyes They are as men that are Sea-sicke whilest the Word humbles them and makes their Consciences to wamble within them but they are as whole as a Fish when as they are once landed at the Church doore Or like unto Mettals which are soft and plyable whilest they are in the fire so these are in the hearing but shortly they loose all the efficacie of the Word and become harder than before Well let us in the feare of God hearken diligently to the words of the Holy-Ghost Heb. 2. 1. That wee ought to give the more earnest heed to the things that wee have heard lest at any time wee should let them slip or runne out like riven Vessels Why what is the danger How shall wee escape if wee neglect so great Salvation 2 Wee must meditate and seriously thinke of that that wee have
Gods fatherly corrections and chastisements fruitlesse and unprofitable to him which in Gods children should ever worke amendment and comfort 2 When the true Christian lookes about him in the World and sees the wicked spreading themselves like greene Bay-trees in worldly plentie and pleasures Sathan here thrusts in and labours to cast into his minde a consideration of his owne worth and that how in respect of the wicked he farre more and rather deserves the fruition and enjoyment of the creatures and benefits and comforts of this life because all wicked men are but usurpers and intruders himselfe being a true owner by the right of Christ Iesus Lord of the whole Earth And that whereas he stands for the glory service causes and children of God the wicked labour for nothing more than the disgrace and ruine of goodnesse and the upholding and enlargement of the Kingdome of Sathan From such conceits as these mixed with spirituall hee easily drawes him on to fretting and repining at the prosperitie of the wicked men and puts him into one of Davids fits and pangs Psal 73. 12. Loe sayth hee these are the wicked yet prosper they alway and encrease in riches Certainely I have cleansed my heart in vaine and washed my hands in innocencie Or at least brings him to question with God as it is Ier. 12. O Lord if I dispute with thee thou art righteous yet let mee talke with thee of thy Iudgements Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper Why are all they in wealth that rebelliously transgresse Thou hast planted them and they have taken root they grow and bring forth fruit 3 When the Christian doth presently feele or after call to minde Gods great mercies gracious preventions strange protection wonderfull deliverances against expectation and beyond hope vouchsafed unto him in his direction and conduction towards the glory that is to be revealed then doth Sathan busily blow the Bellowes of his corrupt nature with the poysonous breath of his hellish malice that so hee may puffe him up with spirituall Pride and exalt him out of measure 4 When he beholds and observes some sudden destruction or fearefull judgement to overtake and seize upon his enemies Sathan may secretly sollicite him out of a spice of spirituall Pride to applaud and please himselfe in the ruine and miserie of his adversarie which besides the tainture of impietie tastes deepely also of inhumanitie and is quite crosse and contrarie to the practice and protestation of holy Iob Chap. 31. In that Chapter hee imprecates and invocates upon himselfe many fearefull Curses if hee hath done so or so Let mine arme saith he fall from my shoulder-blade and let mine arme be broken from the bones if I have done such and such things And after followes If I rejoyced at his destruction that hated me or was moved to joy when evill came upon him or if I have suffered my mouth to speake evill of him or to utter Curses against him 5 When the Christian is sadly and heavily musing upon his many troubles and distresses which many times come thicke and three-fold upon him as fast and boisterously as one wave overtakes another so that he findes one vexation to be still a step unto another Sathan then hee puts in and seeing the season advantageous for his feats and insinuations workes what he can to make him take on and out of a proud conceit of better deservings to be wearie of waiting the Lords leisure and out of the anguishes and agonies of his heart to wish and desire death especially to be rid and freed from those crosses and calamities which unworthily haunt and persecute his innocencie Holy Iob was strongly assayled with this temptation Chap. 3. when hee cryed and said Let the day perish wherein I was borne and the night when it was said there is a man-child conceived c. And so was the Prophet Ionah Chap. 4. Therefore now saith he O Lord take I beseech thee my life from me for it is better for me to die than to live 6 Sometimes when the Christian is crossed and disappointed in his expectation God wisely and sweetly diverting moderating and disposing all things to his owne glory and to the true good of his children though they doe not presently see and acknowledge it Sathan steps in and by the secret and insensible poyson of privie Pride labours to suggest unto him that he is prejudiced and disgraced that so by his inward fretting hee may make it plainely appeare that hee preferres his owne particular credit before the glory of God Thus was Ionas tempted in Chap. 4. Fearefull destruction was denounced by him from God against the Ninivites They put on sackcloth humbled themselves and repented God stayes his hand forbeares his Iudgements which were proclaymed by Ionah Therefore sayth the Text that displeased Ionah exceedingly and hee was angrie and hee prayed unto the Lord and said c. When hee begins to observe and admire himselfe for some speciall acceptation in Christian companie for his abilities to pray conferre discover temptations and the Devils depths to presse an holy precisenesse and mortifying points c. Oh then too often a wide gap is opened in his deceitfull heart for the Devils wild-fire of spirituall Pride So that many times an humble silent soule doth quickly out-strip such an one doting dangerously upon his present perfections in the substantialls of Christianitie Thus and many moe wayes doth Sathan labour by privie Pride to weaken the power of Grace and efficacie of the Word to staine and disgrace the best Graces and godliest actions to grieve the good Spirit and coole their first Love even in Gods children after that by the helpe of God they have struggled through other temptations and obtained much spirituall peace and Christian perfection in the doctrine of salvation and wayes of godlinesse Before I passe from this point I would propose some remedies against this swelling spirituall maladie of privie Pride and some soveraigne considerations to keepe downe the Christian heart and to preserve it in the sweet and peacefull state of a gracious humilitie First then let every Christian when hee first feeles any over-weening conceit or proud perswasion of his owne worth and spirituall graces stealing into his heart lift up the eyes of his minde in a divine meditation unto those brightest and purest eyes of God Almightie which are ten thousand times brighter than the Sunne and purer than puritie it selfe so that they see the least and secretest infirmitie in its true and native foulenesse and before them our best righteousnesse is as a menstruous clout If he soundly and sincerely entertaine this consideration it will so humble him and keepe him under that he will rather be affrighted and surprized with feare and terror for his many frailties and infirmities than be lifted up with a conceit of his graces and spirituall endowments When hee begins once proudly and
selfe-conceitedly to gaze upon that little sparke of holinesse hee findes in himselfe let him presently turne backe the edge and eye of this dangerous speculation upon the infinite puritie and endlesse perfection of God Almightie before whom the Cherubins and Seraphins the Crowne of Gods workemanship and the glory of creatures doe hide and cover their faces as not able to behold and endure the perfect brightnesse of his most pure and undefiled Majestie In whose sight the unstained splendour of the Heavens and the glorious beautie of the Starres are uncleane and foule darkenesse and deformitie The Sunne the fairest Body in the World made all of beautie and brightnesse if it were put neere unto that unaccessible and incomprehensible Light which encompasseth the Lord of Heaven it would vanish away as a darkesome Moat and Lumpe of Vanitie Nay in respect of God those divine and heavenly creatures the blessed Angels pure and immateriall spirits are chargeable with folly and vanitie Behold he found no stedfastnesse in his Saints yea the Heavens are not cleare in his sight How much more is man abominable and filthie which drinketh iniquitie like water Iob 15. 15 16. What art thou then wretched man that carriest about thee a Body of death Shall not his excellencie make thee afraid and his feare fall upon thee Behold saith Iob he will give no light unto the Moone and the Starres are uncleane in his sight How much more man a Worme even the sonne of a man which is but a Worme Behold he found no stedfastnesse in his servants and laid folly upon his Angels How much more in them that dwell in Houses of Clay whose foundation is in the Dust which shall be destroyed before the Moth These considerations are able to confound and cast downe below the Earth and Dust the greatest admirer and applauder of himselfe for his graces good actions and spirituall perfections When the Christian is tempted to a proud conceit of his spirituall sufficiencies let him compare himselfe with other Saints of God which perhaps having beene lesse sinners than himselfe in the time of their unregeneration and having lesse meanes parts occasions and encouragements to glorifie God yet excell him in zeale sanctification and the service of God Paul that great Doctor of the Gentiles and glorious Angell upon Earth for all his spirituall blessings and incomparable graces cryes out Rom. 7. 24. Oh wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death David a man after Gods owne heart and a speciall royall Mirror for varietie of spirituall excellencies is so farre from being proud of his graces that hee is every where complaining of the burthen of his sinnes spirituall povertie and want and the miseries of his soule There is no health in my flesh saith he because of thy displeasure neither is there any rest in my bones by reason of my sinne for my wickednesses are gone over my head and are like a sore burthen too heavie for me to beare For his reputation in the World he tells us that he was a Worme and no man a very scorne of men and out-cast of the people In all times the best Christians have ever beene most sensible of the weight of their sinnes and corruption of their nature and from thence entertained a lowly conceit of themselves Where there is the greatest measure of sanctification there is ever the greatest humilitie If those then that be indeed in the highest favour with God lesser sinners than our selves and most sanctified be of an humble and lowly minde of a meeke and quiet spirit which is before God a thing much set by 1 Pet. 3. 4. let us take heed how we be proud of those graces which if we looke for Gods blessing upon them and comfort from them must bring forth in us humilitie and thankefulnesse Let him compare and examine and measure himselfe his wayes and workes by the Law of God and hee shall there finde much matter of humiliation repentance feare and trembling with continuall supply in abundance ministred unto him so that there shall be no roome left for any proud and over-weening conceit of any good thing in him That elect Vessell and great Apostle after he was regenerate for the unregenerate feele no such strife found such a vast and wide distance betweene the Law and his owne affections and best workes that for horror thereof he cryed out Oh miserable man that I am What spirituall good then is there in any of us miserable wretches wherein we should glory Let our best workes be as glorious as we can imagine let them be performed with never so great integritie and resolution cover them with grace derive them from the Holy-Ghost dippe and dye them deepe in the bloud of Christ put upon them all the rich attire and Papall magnificence with which the Church of Rome hath invested them yet to the purest eyes of God and in the cleare Crystall of his undefiled Law they appeare to be foule and spotted impure and like a menstruous clout The measuring then of our selves by the Law and Word of God is a notable meanes to keepe us in humilitie and to make us worke out our salvation with feare and trembling Let him consider what a foule and wretched what a damned and an accursed creature hee had beene had not his gracious God out of the unsearchable depth of his infinite goodnesse and mercie singled him out to be his servant upon Earth and a Saint in Heaven It was onely Gods free mercie that before all eternitie by the great Decree of his eternall election marked him out for Heaven and endlesse joyes from amidst the huge masse of all mankind It was the same that after caused him to send his owne and onely Sonne out of his owne Bosome and height of Majesty that with his dearest and precious bloud hee might redeeme his Soule from the snares of Hell into which hee was fallen by Adams fall which in due time by the inward speciall and effectuall power of his unspotted Spirit called him into his Kingdome of Grace washed him justified and sanctified him in the Name of the Lord Iesus Else otherwise had not these everlasting and unconceivable Blessings beene cast upon him by Gods free meere mercie without all cause or motive from man or any other created thing out of his infinite Selfe his case had beene unspeakably wofull For he should have lived in this Vale of Teares without God without Grace without Comfort without Conscience in Sinne in Darkenesse in Prophanenesse in all Spirituall Miseries And after the closure and period of these few and evill dayes he should have beene endlessely divided and abandoned from the joyes and comforts of Gods presence inchained without all redemption to despaire and horror and the hatefull fellowship of the Devill and his Angels and that which is the extremitie and upshot of all hellish miserie hee
should have had the fierce and horrible wrath and vengeance of God poured in full measure upon his body and soule which would have fed upon them as fire doth upon Pitch and Brimstone for ever and ever Out of these considerations mee thinkes a man should rather with humilitie and thankefulnesse admire and magnifie the mercies of God that hee is not alreadie a Fire-brand in Hell than any wayes be puffed up with any worthinesse in himselfe or dote upon his owne nothingnesse When a Christian is tempted to spirituall Pride let him deepely and thorowly weigh with himselfe what fearefull inconveniences and discomforts will ensue if hee give way to such temptations For so many follow in the course of Gods just judgement upon spirituall Vanitie and Pride dullnesse and deadnesse of heart a restraint of the influence of the Spirit a diminution and lessening or a slumber and cessation of the operations of grace a cooling of zeale and falling from the first Love Or when hee sees us so presumptuously to trust to our strength and stay our selves with our owne staffe he may quite give us over in some great temptation to some grosse sinne so that we may take the foile in the Conflict And then if wee once be over-taken with the old sweet sinne of our unregeneration or be ensnared with some new notorious transgression wee must of necessitie to our great discomfort enter againe the agonies of Soule anguish of Conscience and horror of Hell wee must enter combate againe with all the powers of Darkenesse wee must have our regeneration regenerated our new-birth new-borne and the precious bloud of the Sonne of God as it were shed for us againe Wee turne thereby Gods favourable countenance from us and the hearts and affections of true Christians wee put againe a sting into our owne Consciences and weapons into the hands of Sathan to vexe wound and torment us wee barre and bereave our selves of Gods gracious protection of the guard of Angels of peace of Conscience of joy in the Holy-Ghost of boldnesse in our wayes of reconciliation in the creatures and of all the comforts of godlinesse As a man tenders the preservation of his Soule from all these spirituall miseries let him take heed of entertaining a proud and over-weening conceit of his owne graces gifts or good actions Let him consider that the more spirituall gifts and graces he hath received from the free mercie of God the more will be required at his hands Me thinkes this should coole and allay any swelling conceit or proud perswasion that may arise in the heart and not suffer a man to play with them and dote upon them or give him any leisure with an over-weening and selfe-conceited flatterie to gaze upon them or to applaud and admire them in himselfe as though they were his owne but rather with all vigilancie and solicitousnesse with all care and good Conscience to occupie and imploy them for his Masters greatest advantage There is no gift or good thing in any man either of Nature or Grace of body or minde of wealth or honour of reputation or authoritie in the World but he must give shortly a strict and exact account of the usage and imployment of it before the impartiall and uncorrupted Tribunall of Heaven And the more excellent his gifts and endowments have beene in any kind he shall in proportion be answerable and countable for the more If the Lord hath enlightened heated and inspired any one with much saving knowledge with a great measure of zeale with a high Christian courage and resolution he lookes and expects for great gaine of glory unto himselfe many spoyles and conquests over his enemies a blazing and exemplarie brightnesse in holinesse of life much beautie and lustre to the Church much good and comfort unto Christians For much is required of them to whom much is committed Let a man then not labour to make himselfe glorious by those graces which are none of his owne but how by glorifying God with them in humilitie faithfulnesse and sinceritie and by improving and making the best of them for the Owners advantage hee may make a comfortable account at that great Day Thus farre I have proposed unto you some Motives to quicken and stirre you up to a conscionable and constant hearing and understanding of the holy Word of God and acquainted you with many sleights lets and temptations which Sathan usually casts in our way to hinder us therein Now in a third place I will lay downe unto you certaine rules directions and instructions for your right holy and conscionable carriage behaviour and importment in and about the hearing of Gods Word That the holy Word of God may be unto you the Word of Grace the savour of Life unto Life of power unto sanctification and salvation you must looke carefully and conscionably unto your preparation before you come unto your carriage while you are there and unto your behaviour afterward First for Preparation I am perswaded the want and neglect of a due and profitable preparation is the cause that thousands receive no benefit or blessing by the Word of Life but that the Sermons they heare are registred as in a Table of Remembrance before God as so many witnesses against them for their more fearefull confusion and greater condemnation at the Day of Accounts 1 For hence it is that to many it is the savour of death unto death because before they come they doe not addresse and prepare themselves for so glorious a Presence and royall Embassage from the King of Heaven though they heare it with their outward eares yet it hardens their hearts makes them inwardly more peevish grumbling stubborne rebellious and refractarie to the power thereof and prepares and ripens them for more heavie vengeance It is of it selfe the Word of Grace Salvation and Life a blessed preservative against Sinne and Death Damnation and Hell but by accident if men doe not reverence it tremble at it and submit themselves to the power of it it is a strong Hammer and Iron Scepter to harden their hearts more and more like an Anvile or Adamant and at length to breake them in pieces like a Potters Vessell Though in it selfe it be a saving and wholesome Medicine yet men of a rebellious and stubborne humour and temper turne it into Poyson 2 To some this holy Word by reason of unpreparednesse is but as the water spilt upon the ground and the breath of the Minister scattered in the Aire If you call them to an account after Sermon how they have profited they are as wordlesse and witlesse and indeed as gracelesse in repetition as if they had beene deafe asleepe in a trance or starke dead all the while 3 Others by their rash and prophane rushing into the House of God without all premeditation reverence or regard of that holy businesse they goe about become hearers onely of forme and custome for fashion and companie It
Lord. Thou shalt forget thy miserie and remember it as waters that are past Thy happinesse and comfort shall be so entire and unmixed so absolute and overflowing that the very remembrance of former miseries and terrors shall be drowned and devoured in the excesse and excellencie of that even as the travels of a woman in her joyes for a new-borne sonne Or if it be that thy former discomforts sometimes steale into thy minde they shall not be able to rest or remaine there by reason of the predominancie of spirituall pleasures but glide away as swiftly as the head-long streame of the most hastie Torrent Thine age also shall appeare more cleare than the Noone-day thou shalt shine and be as the Morning The Morning is the very Crowne of Time and the beautie of the Day the Poets call it the Rosie-finger'd Morning When they labour to describe corporall Beautie to the life and set it out in the best perfection and freshest colours that the utmost power and highest straine of wit and art can possibly devise they take their Metaphors and amplifications from the ruddinesse and brightnesse of the Morning And yet thou shalt be as faire as the Morning with all Divine Graces spirituall brightnesse and beautie of thy Soule nay a Soule set thicke with spirituall Graces is farre more faire than the Firmament with all those Eyes of Gold and fairest Lampes that shine from it Neither shalt thou be onely as the Morning but as the Morning Sunne thou shalt rise higher and higher in degrees of holinesse and strength of Grace untill thou commest to the highest point of perfection in this Heaven upon Earth the Kingdome of Grace And after thou hast finished thy course and left behind thee the comfortable heat of thy gracious zeale much Light from thy good example and the sweet influence of thy holy life upon thy death-bed thou shalt sett with the sweetest and brightest beames of all heavenly comfort into the immeasurable Ocean of endlesse joyes Thou shalt be bold because there is hope and thou shalt digge Pits and shalt lye downe safely Thou shalt be assured of Heaven and a Crowne of Glory hereafter that thou shalt walke through this Valley of Miserie like a Lyon nor Devill nor man nor beast nor any creature shall affright or amaze thee Cast thine eyes supernaturally enabled and enlarged with the Light of Faith from East to West into the bottome of Hell and glory of Heaven and thou shalt clearely see that all is thine by the purchase right and conquest of the Sonne of God The stones in the street shall be at league with thee the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee The creatures shall be all sworne to thy safetie the purest spirits the ministers of God shall be thy Guardians Saints and Angels are alreadie in thy sight Immortalitie hath lengthened thy dayes and the glory of God is before thee in a Glasse When thou doest take thy rest none shall make thee afraid yea many shall make suit unto thee When the darkenesse of the Night encompasseth thee thou shalt not be affrighted with terrors and apparitions when blacknesse and silence the habitation of feares and astonishment shall pitch round about thee thou shalt be lightsome with inward comfort when all thy Sences the scouts and watch-men for discovering dangers and preserving thy safetie shall be locked up his providence that neither slumbers nor sleepes shall tenderly and carefully watch over thee Whether thou die or live whether thou sleepe or wake thou art the Lords And therefore when thou sleepest thou shalt not be afraid and when thou sleepest thy sleepe shall be sweet Thou shalt not feare for any sudden feare neither for the destruction of the wicked when it commeth for the Lord shall be for thy assurance and shall keepe thy foot from being caught Yea many shall make suit unto thee Thou shalt be so encompassed with the blessings of God so protected from above so high in Gods favour that many will come for shadow and shelter unto thee they will looke for reliefe and comfort under the shadow of thy wings thy power and authoritie shall be a refuge and repose for oppressed and disgraced innocencie All these blessings and a thousand moe are built upon a through preparation of the heart as upon the first foundation stone Preparation is the very first step to all these degrees and height of happinesse But on the contrarie part if a man neglect preparing his heart praying unto God forsaking his sinnes reforming his family let him looke for nothing but Curses and Plagues But the eyes of the wicked saith Iob shall faile and their refuge shall perish and their hope shall be sorrow of minde They thinke their formall and customarie service of God will serve the turne and thereupon with great greedinesse and confidence expect and looke for the salvation of their soules after this life but they shall waile and gaze untill their eyes sinke into their holes and yet shall never be able to taste of true comfort They may crie untill their tongues cleave to the roofe of their mouth with the foolish Virgins Lord Lord open unto us Math. 25. but the Gate of everlasting happinesse shall for ever be shut against them They may struggle and strive by the strength of their good meanings and formall Christianitie to enter in at the strait Gate but shall never be able Their refuge shall perish They have stayed themselves upon broken staves of Reed and â—ow they will runne into their hands and hearts too unto their vexation and horror And their hope shall be sorrow of minde Their end shall be despaire and horrible confusion I have stayed long upon the motives and inducements to preparation before we come to the hearing of the Word or undergoe any sacred bâ—sinesse and upon the necessitie blessings and benefits of so holy a dutie The reason is I would gladly stirre you up and my selfe too to a through and constant practise and performance of it and because the neglect and omission of it is the cause that the Ministerie of the Word is not onely fruitlesse and in vaine unto thousands but which is a fearefull thing the savour of death unto death unto them I come now to the speciall points considerable in preparation before wee present our selves in this place to the hearing of the Word This preparation is an holy action or exercise which by examination of our Consciences purgation of our hearts prayer unto God and private reading the Scriptures maketh our soules fit Vessels to receive and entertaine the spirituall Treasures of Grace and food of eternall Life offered and tendered unto us by the Ministerie of the Word that so they may be the more effectually and fruitfully wrought upon and happily subdued to the power and practice thereof In this preparation I consider and require especially these foure things first Examination
Fathers I say I will suppose them to be as it were Gyants and wee Dwarfes Yet set a Dwarfe upon a Gyants shoulders and hee will see further and so might certainely wee but for Slouth Idlenesse Worldlinesse Ambition and other such base and vile degenerations of these later Times It may be further objected That there was more necessity of the Fathers frequent Preaching especially in those Primitive Times for more plentifull publishing and propagation of the Gospel c. and suppressing Heresies c. Passingly weake and untrue There is farre more need of much Preaching now than in former times For wee live in the last dayes wherein those perillous times are come upon us which Paul fore-tells 2 Tim. 3. 1. c. and wherein iniquitie abounds and the love of many waxeth cold c. Math. 24. 12. And at this day wee oppose the Hydra of all Heresies Poperie which opposeth even the whole Body of Christianitie Againe their Homilies are against Drunkennesse Pride Swearing Luxury Covetousnesse love of the World Vsury painted Faces false Haire Anger Envie Ambition c. All which sinnes and many more reigne and rage at this day with more hainousnesse and an higher hand than heretofore 2 A second meanes whereby the Word may dwell plentifully in us is by a constant and conscionable reading the Booke of God This Exercise is commanded to Kings and Captaines Deut. 17. 17 18 19. Iosh 1. 8. who may seeme most priviledged by their intanglement in many and weightie affaires Christ bids the Iewes Ioh. 5. 39. Search the Scriptures as the well-spring of eternall life The Holy-Ghost commends the Iewes of Berea as more noble than they of Thessalonica because they received the Word with all readinesse of minde and searched the Scriptures daily whether those things were so Act. 17. 11. See Deut. 6 7 8 9. See many Motives to this dutie before It is the Word of Salvation of Truth of Life of Reconciliation a Letter from Heaven a Treasurie of all excellent things it shall judge us it onely can heale a wounded Soule it containes all our evidence for Heaven and it is the object of divine Faith c. Nay and because the Papists have wickedly dammed up this Fountaine of Life from the common people heare the judgement and zeale of Antiquitie in pressing this dutie First heare Chrysostome Heare I pray you all yee Lay-men saith Chrysostome get yet Bibles a Medicine for your Soules c. You cast all upon our shoulders You ought onely to be instructed of us but your Wives and Children should be by you c. But now adayes your Children preferre divellish Songs and Dancings even as Cookes and Caters and leaders of Dances but none knowes any Psalme The same Chrysostome to stirre up men to diligent reading the Scriptures maketh good this assertion There is no affliction or miserie of body or soule but may receive a Medicine out of Gods Booke 1 A man heavie-hearted and of a sad spirit saith hee takes the Bible in his hand after hee hath met with that place Psal 42. 11. Why art thou cast downe O my soule and why art thou so disquieted within me hope thou in God c. he is refreshed 2 Another saith he is oppressed with extreme povertie beholds the wicked wallow in worldly wealth and flourish like a greene Bay-tree But after hee hath cast his eye upon that Psal 55. 22. Cast thy burthen upon the Lord and hee shall sustaine thee c. he is comforted 3 Another is hunted with calumnies and insidiations c. and no humane helpe will be had the Prophet saith hee doth teach him what to doe in these words They did speake against me but I prayed 4 Another is forsaken even of his friends and kinsmen and contemned of those who were most beholding to him Heare how the Prophet behaved himselfe in such a case Psal 38. 11. c. 13. c. He concludes thus Thou hast seene whensoever any calamitie doth oppresse a man how convenient an Antidote he may take from the Scriptures and all care of this life may be driven backe neither should we be grieved for any thing that falls out Therefore I beseech you that you would come hither and diligently attend to the reading of the holy Scriptures not onely when you come hither but even at home take the holy Bible into your hands and goe reape the profit that is in them with great earnestnesse Moreover what that sensible Bread doth to encrease bodily strength that Reading doth to the soule for it is spirituall nourishment and makes the soule vigorous c. But wee may adde to Chrysostomes Antidotes these 16. more 1 Art thou wearie of the wayes of vanitie and comming on with a grieved and sorrowfull heart for thy sinne to meet thy deare Redeemer and doth the conceit of the number and hainousnesse of thy transgressions crosse and confound thy hopes of being received to mercy Why then looke upon Paul he shed the bloud of the Saints with extraordinarie rage and furie Act. 9. 1. upon Manasseh a man of prodigious impietie 2 Chron. 33. 6. upon some of Peters hearers who crucified the Lord of Life Act. 2. 23. If these will not serve the turne looke upon Adam who cast away himselfe and undid all and was the cause that all that issued out of his loines unto the Worlds end fell into the damnation of Hell and yet all these upon repentance were received unto mercie And therefore if thou canst now heartily repent feare no former sinnes 2 Hast thou by the violence of Sathans temptations the slie enticements of thine owne sinfull nature and the cunning insinuations of thy former bosome-sinne beene fearefully overtaken with some scandalous fall since thou wast converted and gave thy Name unto Grace and upon illumination of thy conscience remorse and meditation of returne thou art ashamed to look Christ Iesus in the face because thou hast so shamed thy profession and thou art so troubled with horror and conceit that thy case is singular that thou canst find no ease to thine humbled and sorrowfull heart Why then looke upon David Peter c. transcendent instances that thou may not sinke into despaire 3 Art thou plunged into the perplexities and fearfull apprehensions of a spiritual desertion Art thou deprived of thy former comfortable feelings of Gods favorable countenance Hast thou no comfort in prayer c. Looke upon David Ps 77. 4 It may be upon thy Bed of Death when Sathan will make thy sinnes appeare farre more ugly and horrible to the eye of thy Conscience than ever hee did before and will perswade thee all he can that all thy holy services unto God and new obedience was quite marred with Pride Hypocrisie and by-respects I say it may be then thy heart will quite faile thee and thy conceit of Gods wrathfull and angry countenance for thy sinne may so oppresse and confound thy soule that thou mayest
How hindered 84. How helped 175 176 B. Benefits of the Word 59 c. C. Catechising our families pressed in nine Reasons 228 c. Carnall Reason and corrupt affection defined 246 c. Caveats that wee may profit in hearing the Word 247 c. Carnall Objections against the Word 61 to 83 Charitie among Christians as much as among Papists 81 Christ suffers with his afflicted 121 Considerations sixteene for the usefulnesse of the Word 216 c. Conversion tried 89 Covetousnesse and the signes of it 96 Curses sixe of unprofitable hearing 190 c. Cursed is their condition that are not reformed by the Word in sixe particulars 199 D. Danger in absenting from the Word 58 Degrees in sinning 53 Devill steales away the Word 85 86. He hinders conversion 87. And a through reformation 88 c. He deales with men as Pharaoh with Moses 93 c. Dearenesse of things why greater now than formerly 82 Delight in the Word helpes memorie 179 Duties required before hearing 145 c. In hearing 173 c. After hearing 182 E. Effects of Pride 142 The End of our Creation 204 Examination when required 166 167 Examples for the practice of Preparation 155 c. F. False changes 88 89. How tried 102 Frequent preaching proved out of antiquitie 205 c. Feet what is meant by them 17 Finall falling from grace not granted 101. But partially and frequently 106. The good we get by falls 108 Fretting at afflictions 132. At the prosperitie of the wicked 133 G. Grace is of a growing nature 40 Godly men distinguished from Hypocrites by sixe markes 8 9 The Godly shine brighter after their falls 39 Gods Children but few 130 Gods Law not like mans 54 God is the cause of all affliction 113. His aime in afflicting his 117 Gods love to his exceedes the creatures 114 H. Hardnesse of heart and a helpe against it 52 53 Helpes to heare the Word understandingly 177 I. Ignorance like darkenesse 31. The danger of it p. 32. to 37. 46 47 Iudgements of Non-proficients by the Word 48 Iudgements for the contempt of it 201 c. Iudgements why rather to be expected in our time 80 K. Knowledge must be practicall 5. Fruits of divine Knowledge ibid. L. Learning humane onely will not save 19 20 Lets of not profiting by the Word p. 50. to 123 Life to be lost for God 12 Light what meant by it 16 Love to God and our neighbours tried 68 M. Many take more paines for Hell than some for Heaven p. 75. to 78 The Matter of the Word 43 Math. 10. 4. expounded 195 Good Meanings will not save 21 Meanes to quicken attention to the Word 175 Meditation requisite after hearing 184. The Benefits of it 185. Directions for it 227 228 Ministers Embassadours why 72 Ministers why they preach so seldome 209 Ministerie of the Word like the Wedding feast 57 The Miserie of the naturall estate 141 The More wee have the greater our account 143 Motives To walke by the rule of the Word p. 41. to 49. To prepare for hearing it 151. To profit by it 197 O. Obedience to the Word required 187 Opennesse of heart to receive the Word 172 P. Pathes what meant by them 18 Papists keepe the Word from the Laitie 28. Their Objections answered 29 Peace that the Gospel brings with it 70 Persecution to be endured for the Word 10 Perseverance how hindered by Sathan 100. How crowned by God 105 Popish Hospitalitie with its causes 81 Prayers and praises must be fervent and free 10 Prayer before the Word and for what 170 171 Preaching prefer'd before reading 211. More needfull now than formerly 213. It cannot be too much 62 c. Preservatives against sinne 107. Against spirituall Pride 136 c. Preparation requisite before hearing 145. Without it the Word hurts 145 c. The profit of it 158 c. What it is and what required in it 165 Pride may spring from Gods providence 132 c. Priviledges of the godly 124 Prophanenesse of Ministers no excuse for disobedience to the Word 73 Psalmes their contents and benefits 1 2 Purging of the heart before hearing from sinne and worldly cares 168 169 Q. Qualifications of the heart before hearing 152 R. Recusancie 51 Regeneration what 24 Reading the Word pressed 214. Objections against it answered 224 Remembring the Word a Dutie 182 Repetition and Conference another 185 186 227 S. Sathans Policie 106 Separatists condemned 126 127 Service of God how to be qualified 67 Sixe Sinnes follow unprofitable hearers 194 Sinne against the Holy-Ghost how committed 201 Singularitie what required and what not 128 Sleeping in the Church condemned 176 Sathans Sleights to hinder the Words worke 83 c. Spirituall Pride 123. How it ariseth 124 c. Sweet sinne what it is 55 T. Things required to the love of God and men 67 V. Vnderstanding of the Word required 177 Vowes to be payd 9 W. Wicked men hate the godly why 116 117 Wicked men band together against a powerfull Minister 239 c. Wisedome indeed how to be had 3 4 Fruits of worldly Wisedome 4. who is a wise man ibid. Worldly Wisedome will not save us 20 21. WORD The meaning of the Word 15 The Word our chiefest treasure 12 13. Our Light to Heaven 19 38 The literall Word without the spirituall meaning will not profit us 23 How men labour to blunt the edge of the Word 233 Struglings of a wicked heart to get the Word out being once got in 244 The Word workes Regeneration and Sanctification 24 25. It is lively and sharpe in three respects 26. It is a Love-letter from God 42. It shall judge us 45. It is not mans but Gods invention 50. It profits converted and unconverted 59. It must dwell in us plentifully and how 105 213 c. It fits every man in all occasions 215 c. Will-Worship hated by God 22 23 FINIS The Contents and the benefit of the Psalmes in generall Of the 119. in particular The Division of it Three Lessons to be learned thence Two things observable in the 13. Part. 1 How David became wiser than his enemies Doct. True wisdome to be had only from and in the Word The Reason Because other wisdome provides only for the body but this for the soulâ— 2 He sets downe the fruits of his knowledge 1 Pet. 1. 8. Doct. All our knowledge must be practicall Luke 12. 47. The foureteenth Part explaned 1 Vers 106. 2 Vers 107. 3 Vers 108. 4 Vers 109 110. 5 Vers 111 112. 1 Tim. 6. 16. Sixe markes to distinguish a godly man and an hypocrite 1 Vers 105. A godly man is guided by the Word in all his wayes A naturall man not at all Or in parâ— 2 Vers 106. He performes all his Vowes An unregenerate man doth not pay them Hos 6 4. 3 Vers 107. He patiently suffers persecution for the Word 2 Tim. 3. 12. The carnall Gospeller spareâ— himselfe Act. 14. 22. 4 Vers 108. He is
Tumults and divisions disquietnesse and discontentment accompanies your preaching Answ There is good reason for it Luke 11. 21 22. Sathan hinders the Word So doe wicked men And a mâ—ns owne corruptions Ephes 6. 15. Luke 12. 49. Math. 10. 34. Luke 12. 51. Isa 42. 28. The Gospel is not the cause of troubles but mens corruptions Math. 13. 4 5 7 12. Object 7. The Word is brought to us by weak sometimes by wicked men Answ 1. It is Gods goodnesse to speake to us by men like to our selves Exod. 20. 19. 2 It is his love so to honour mankind as to make men his Embassadours 1 Tim. 4 16. The Ministers prophanenesse is no priviledge of disobedience to the Word Prov. 28. 9. Prov. 13. 13. Iohn 3. 36. Math. 23. 2 3. Mal. 2. 7. 2 Cor. 5. 21. See Ecclus. 37. 18. Luke 22. 43. Luke 10. 16. See Downamâ— C. H. pag. 362. Object 8. This course is wearisome Answ Many will not take such paines to goe to Heaven as others doe to goe to Hell Jam. 5. 3. Prov. 2. 18. Mat. 23. 15. 1 King 18. 28. Object 9. There was never good world since preaching came in Answ This hath alwayes beene the complaint of Idolaters * Marke that I befeech you for it is the very language of the Papists at this day * Apologetico Vid. Calv. in Ier. 330. Austin Epist 121. Luke 12. 47 48. Our Times deserve greater judgement than the former Times of ignorance for three reasons Iohn 3. 19 20. Popish Hospitality upon what grounds Simile Our times may compare with any for works of charity The reasons of the higher price of things now De Rep. lib. 6 cap. 2. Satans sleights to hinder the effectuall working of the Word He would keep them from the Word Or else hinder the power of it Hee keepes them from attending * In this depth he uses to fill our minds with barren melancholy or to make men post off reproofes and apply them Pharisoically all the while to others He fills our minds either with worldly or else with impertinent unseasonable thoughts 3 Some understand not what they heare In others Sathan steales it away immediately Simile Or the World steales away their hearts Mar. 4. 19. 4 He labours to keepe them from practising what they know I He would hinder their conversion sundry wayes See Yates pag. 173. 229. 2 Broad pag. 100. 5 He would have them rest in a partiall reformation and superficiall conversion Severall unsound changes In these cases Truth is the truest Touchstone to difference a true convert from all states of unregeneration See Gonge p. 130. Mark 6. 20. * See Hieron p. 158. Marbury in his Sermon at P. C. Dod upon the CoÌ„mandements p. 10. Dike p. 195. True Watch p. 61. Fruits of a true conversion Mark 6. 17. 2 King 5. 18. Math. 19. 22. Act. 5. Math. 13. 44. Simile Satan deales with men as Pharaoh did with the Israelites Exod. 8. 25. Vers 28. Cap. 10. 9. Vers 24. Exod. 14. 7. Iosephus See Broade pag. 141 c. Satan would condition with men in their conversion * Foure infallible marks of coveâ—ousnesse 1 Carking 2 Strained bowels to the necessities of the Saints or any truly poore 3 Too much businesse in the world 4 Injustice or using of injurious or indirect courses of getting wealth See Whaâ—â—ly pag. 30. Gard. of Spirit Flow. 2. part pag. G 4. * See Isa 25. 10. Sathan would hinder perseverance Math. 13. Math. 12. 43. 2 Pet. â— 20. Heb. 10. 29. Heb. 6. 4. Math. 16. 18. Difference betweene a false and saving change Gen. 19. 26. 2 Pet. 2. 21. Heb. 6. 4 6. Rom. 2. 5. 2. Cor. 13. 5. 2. Tim. 4. 7. Rev. 1. Rev. 21. 8 Hee strives if hee cannot make them to fall totally and finally that they may fall partially and as frequently as he can Sathans policie Preservatives against sinne whereby Gods children keepe themselves from grosse falls 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 * See Gouge p. 171 172. The good that they get by their falls Jude 23. 1 Thess 5. 22. He sends forth flouds of persecution and affliction after them Comfortable considerations against afflictions 1 From Gods Decree the example of the Saints and the Sonne of God himselfe Act. 14. 22. Act. 14. 22. Rom. 8. 18. 2 From the gracious effects of afflictions for our good They make us watchfull c. Humble c. To contemne the World To see further into the mysterie of godlinesse 3 Though Satan and his instruments be the instrument to afflict yet God is the principall Agent who will order all for their good Job 5. 6. a. 44. 15. Isa 54. 10. Ier. 31. 33. Isa 49. 16. Cant. 8. 6. Zach. 2. 8. Heb. 6. 18. Heb. 13. 5. 1 Cor. 1â— 13. * â—yptian Epist ad Anâ—eâ—an lib. 4. 2 Why the wicked hate and persecute the godly 1 1 Ioh. 3. 12. 1 Pet 4. 4. 2 * Jerome Gods aime in his childrens afflictions 4 Afflictions are no strange things The Saints have gone before us Heb. 11 36 37. Nay Christ himselfe Math. 20 23. Math. 10. 16. Psal 79. 4. 5 2. Cor. 4. 17. Afflictions are but short and they worke a weight of glory * As many times they are See David Psal 69. 1 2. Rev. 7. 17. 6 Christ doth suffer and sympathize with his children in affliction See Isa 63. 9. 2 Cor. 11. 23 c. Col. 1. 24. 2 Cor. 1. 5. 9 Satan hinders the working of the Word by spiritual Pride Spirituall Pride may arise in Gods children 1 From a consideration of their priviledges Priviledges of the godly 2 Pet. 1. 4. 1 Pet. 1. 4. 2 From their care to keepe themselves undefiled Against separation from our Church 1 2 3 4 5 Isa 8. 18. Psal 71. 7. 79. 4. 1 Cor. 4. 9. Gods children are but few 1 2 3 4 5 3 Sathan tempts to Pride by a distasting of a mans particular calling 4 From Gods providence Examples in particular 1 2 Psal 73. 12. Ier. 1â— 1 2. 3 4 Job 31. 22. 29. 5 Iob 3. 3. Ionah 4. 3. 6 5 Sathan makes men to pride themselves in their abilities and gifts Preservatives against spirituall Pride 1 Meditate upon Gods pure eyes Isa 64. 6. 2 Vpon Gods infinite perfection Isa 6. 2. Iob 25. 5. Iob 4. 18. Iob 25. 5 6. Iob 4. 18. 3 Compare thy selfe with other Christians Rom. 7. 24. Psal 38. 3. Psal 22. 6. 1 Pet. 3. 4. 4 Compare thy selfe with Gods holy Law Phil. 2. 12. 5 Consider what thou hadst beene if God had left thee to thy selfe 6 Consider the fearfull effects of Pride 7 The more a man hath the more he is accountable for Luke 12. 48. 1 Preparation required to profitable hearing For want of preparation the Word becomes to men 1 The savour of death unto death 2 As Seed in the high way ground 3 Men are made but onely formall by it 4 Some become scornets 5 Others are cold and dead-hearted Preparation requisite in