water thorow a sieve well the word preached if it be not heedfully heard will never stay in us but be lost and run out This is damage sufficient a loss that is irreparable none indeed like this loss when we receive the Grace of God in vain For directions I shall refer you to what hath bin already said a word or two by way of motive 1. To incourage us to this heedful hearing of the Word consider that it is a complexive duty a duty which is so acceptable to God that under it are comprehended all duties of Religion Isa 55.3 Hear and your Souls shall live life and death enter in the same way As death entered into the world by the ear by our first Parents listning to that old Manslaier so God hath ordained that life should enter by the same door The dead shall hear the voice of the son of God and they that hear shall live Joh. 5.25 Oh you that love heaven love hearing too 2. The most eminent Saints of God have ever bin observed to be the most diligent and attentive hearers Luk 4.20 We read while Christ Jesus war preaching the eyes of all his hearers were fastned on him a good way not only to prevent distractions but also to raise our affections our hearts are wily and will give us the slip It is our wisdom by all ways imaginable to ingage our hearts in hearing and lay bonds upon them to hold them to such an attention as becomes us 'T is storied of Englands second Josiah that peerless Prince Edward the sixth that he usually stood at sermon and took notice all the while he was a-hearing 3. Consider that we never read of more bitter complaints from God than when he complained of heartless hearers in Psal 81.13 O that my People would have hearkned to me c. but my People would not hear my voice and Israel would none of me and in Psal 95.10 Forty years long was I grieved with this generation and said It is a People that err in heart for they have not known my ways they knew but not practically their ears were uncircumcised and their hearts unsanctified O fearful judgment to have ears that we should not hear c. Thus God punishes one sin with another Rom 11.8 who can read without astonishment Jer. 7. from the 13. v. to the 17. I arose up early and spake unto you but you would not hear therefore I will do unto you as unto Shilo c. Read it thorow I forbear the application desiring if ever you remembered a lesson you would remember this and never give your Teachers cause to complain Oh we have laboured in vain and spent our strength for nothing 4. Lastly To close all carry with you St. James caution be not forgetfull hearers of the Word but doers also he hears aright saith one that doth not contradict his hearing by his life otherwise you will be as a man that sees his face in a glass and turns away and forgets what manner of man he was O wash off those spots which this glass discovers so hear the Word of Christ that you may conform to the will of Christ Lydia's attention was the first step to Salvation Hear as she did and you will be happy as she was So much Briefly of this Work of Grace which God wrought in opening the heart of Lydia Reader let me carry thee one step farther and shew thee Gods end in this Work or why he thus opens the heart And that is that himself may enter and dwell in it Ephes 3.17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts Ephes 3.17 the former part of the Verse That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith THese words are part of a zealous prayer which the Apostle puts up to God in the behalf of his dear Ephesians The prayer begins in the 14th ver where we find Paul upon his knees begging Grace for them of the Father of Mercies For this cause I bow my knees to the Father of mercies c. The blessings that he begs for them are especially two 1. He begs the gift of spiritual strength that as they had begun well and laid a good foundation by believing in Christ so they might be constant in holding out that profession against all the enemies and oppositions which they met with and were like to turn them out of the way of righteousness Thus he prays ver the 16. That he would give you according to the riches of his glory to be strengthened with might by the spirit in the inner man Those that are wholly under the power of corruption are not so much troubled with persecution and temptation Satan like a Pyrate seldom sets upon a soul unless like a Ship it be laden with the merchandise of Grace This was the case with these Ephesians By Pauls preaching they had begun well building on that rock of Ages and venturing their Immortal Souls on Christ and his Righteousness But Paul now being in prison false Teachers were among them vexing the Church and were like to turn them from the way of truth God had smitten the shepherd and the sheep were like to be scattered Now then is a time to press the duty of perseverance that as they had begun well so they might so run that they might obtain 2. He begs that soveraign means that was only able to confirm and strengthen them in the Service of Christ and that is Christ himself That Christ may dwell in your hearts by Faith I shall a little explain the words That Christ that is whole Christ in both his natures God and Man May dwell that is spiritually possess live and work In your hearts that is in the inner man consisting of the Understanding Will and Affections which are the principal and chief place of Christs residence the fort Royal or Castle which Christ chuseth and above all delights in By faith that is as the means and instrument whereby we receive and entertain him There are as many Doctrines offer themselves to us as there are words in this Scripture And we might note first Doct. 1. That the heart is the place of Christs residence Doct. 2. Christ is no stranger to Believers but an in-dweller with them Doct. 3. That Faith makes a union between Christ and the Soul But I shall wave prolixity and bring my Discourse into a narrower model casting all into this one Conclusion Doct. That no blessing whatsoever on this side heaven can be imagined that we should more desire than this That Christ should dwell in our hearts by Faith We find the Apostles affections all in a flame and he burns with zeal to promote the happiness of his dear Ephesians he bends his knees and casts himself down at Gods feet and among all blessings in Heaven and Earth he can find none better to beg for his young Converts than this What the strength of his affections was to them you may see Chap. 1.16 where we read that
to the sick-man Mat. 9.2 â—on be of good cheer thy sins be forgiven thee Christ can speak such Words as never man spake the Words which he speaks are Spirit and life 'T is storied of a Peer of this Kingdom that he dyed with joy of an unexpected pardon how great then is the joy that possesseth a Soul that receives a pardon from God! Such pardoned ones are bid to be glad and shout for joy Psal 32.11 And all others flatly forbid to meddle with this joy Hos 9.1 Rejoyce not O Israel for joy as other People for thou hast gone a-whoring from thy God 3. The sweetness and closness of that intimacy which we have with Christ by vertue of his dwelling in us appears by this that we have all things common with Christ Christ calls nothing his own that may do us good all lour fresh Springs are in him if we are Christs all is ours Paul Apollo Cephas life and death c. All Christ's offices and efficacies his life death blood merit Spirit all his advantage to us yea death it self is gain to believers Phil. 1.21 For me to live is Christ and to dye is gain The Church keeps all her choice presents for Christ Cant. 7. vlt. And Christ bestows all his rarities on his Church 3. Christ dwelling in us implies his abiding or continual residing in us in Isa the 57.15 God is said to inhabit eternity 1 who only is eternal wherever Christ dwells he takes up his residence for ever he saith this is my rest for ever here will I dwell c. Though men may be weary of their dwelling how-ever accommodated both for necessity and delight yet Christ is never That 's the promise he makes his People 1 Kings 6.13 I will dwell among the children of Israel and will not forsake my People Israel 5. Christs dwelling in us implies his preservation of us every man is bound to repair and preserve his own house where he dwells so is Christ Christ's dwelling doth not look like the house of the sluggard that drops thorow no what-ever storms beat on it it stands and is impregnable That 's remarkable in Psal 6.7.2.3 At Salem is his Tabernacle and his dwelling at Sion There brake he the arrows of the bow c. That place is sure of safetie and protection where God dwells as on the contrary Gods departing makes way for destruction We read that the Heathens have placed their Security in the presence of their idol-Gods Tacitus reports of the Tyrians when they were besieged by Alexander bound Hercules with a golden chain that he should not depart And the Romans were wont by some verses to call off the Tutelary gods out of the Cities which they did besiege God hath bound himself to us by a Covenant better than a golden chain that he will never leave us nor forsake us Q. 3. The third Query is how Christ dwells in the heart by faith A. The answer is this 'T is the office of Faith to receive Christ Jesus Christ knocks by his Word and Spirit and Faith makes haste to open and let him in it gives Christ the free and full possession of the Soul and delivers up all into his hand and to his use For can two walk together unless they are agreed We read in Gen. 30.6 When Lot and Abraham had multiplied their substance they could not dwell together and there was strife between their herdsmen Christ and we could never have dwelt together had there been any strife between us there is no agreement between Christ and Belial But when Christ comes and dwells in us he comes like Noah's Dove he brings us news of peace purchased by the blood of his Cross The Psalmist admires the happiness of such as dwell together in unity though but natural brethren Psal 133.1 Behold how good and pleasant a thing it is c. How good then and pleasant must it be for Christ and us to dwell together This is our happiness Christ says of every believing soul as of Sion This is my rest for ever here will I dwell c. Psal 132.14 Res 2. Such in whom Christ dwells shall never lose their interest in God by sin or backsliding for Christ himself will be a continual spring or fountain of life and grace within us Joh. 4.14 The water that I shall give you shall be in you a well of living water Can we ever die with thirst when we have a fountain within us no fear of forfeiting our title to that great and glorious inheritance if Christ be in us he will keep both it for us and us for it he will preserve us by his grace unto his heavenly Kingdom 2 Tim. 4.18 Res 3. If Christ dwell in us he will defend and protect us from all dangers death and hell have nothing to do where Christ the Lord of life dwells When Lazarus was dead his sister told Christ Lord if thou hadst been here my brother had not died Joh. 11.21 Christs presence is his peoples security from hat second death Satan may bring up his black Legions and storm the Castle but shall never take it Hear ye whose hearts are habitations for the Lord Christ what your Redeemer saith Joh. 14.30 The Prince of this world cometh and hath nothing in me that is in me mystical neither id head nor members Res 4. If Christ dwell in us we shall never want either counsel or comfort his Spirit shall supply us with both If we want counsel we shall hear a voice behind us saying this is the way walk in it He whose name is Counsellor hath not his name for nothing in our greatest perplexities this great Counsellor will advise and direct us for he is made of God to be wisdom to his redeemed Again if we want comfort he 'l revive the drooping spirits of his contrite ones Isa 57.15 The Church out of her experience cries but that his mouth is as sweet things Cant. 5.16 And the words that he speaks are as life to despondent and dying souls Reas 5. But one thing more Christ will never leave his dwelling till he bring us to a dwelling-place with himself in glory This was purchased to us by his death and prepared for us by his Ascension Joh. 14.2 I go to prepare a place for you No sooner shall these earthly houses be dissolved but Christ is presently ready to receive us into everlasting habitations Vse 1. The Application follows and let the first Use be of Information And 1. It discovers the vain delusion of all hypocrites and formalists who admit Christ into their mouths but shut him out of their hearts this was the Religion of the Pharisees whose falsity in matters of Gods Worship Christ Jesus reprehends Mat. 15.8 Well did Isaias prophesie of you saying this people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth and honoureth me with their lips but have removed their hearts far from me 'T is sad when Christ is neer in our mouths but far
6.53 Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man and drinks his blood you have no life in you Carnal reason knew not how to understand this Mysterie and therefore presently suggests this incredulous question how can this man give us his flesh to eat and what a sad effect followed on this mistake we read v. 66. From that time many of his disciples went back and walked no more with Jesus 3. There must be a faithful retaining or remembrance of it our memories are false and slippery like hour-glasses no sooner filled at one end but they run out at the other riven and chinky vessels that leake out the Water of life strive we all we can to make them Treasuries of Divine Truth and lay up the Word of God in them as in a store-house Thy word have I hid in my heart saith the Psalmist that I might not sin against thee To promote this Work we should do as a man that hath hid a treasure he goes often and sees whether it be safe so should we often turn in upon our memories and ask them as Christ the disciples do you not remember the five Loaves c. and the rather because we have a dangerous and subtile enemy who watches where we keep our treasures and unless we watch it narrowly will steal it from us 4. We must entertain it with love 2 Thes 2.10 Because they received not the truth in the Love thereof therefore God shall give them up to suffer strong delusions want of Love to the Word is the first step to Apostacy See a Soul seasoned with this Grace of Love in Jeremy Chap. 15.16 Thy words were found and I did eat them and they were unto me the joy and rejoycing of my heart God makes his appear to the Conscience of the experienced Christian Mic. 2.7 Are not my words good to him that walketh uprightly Yes Lord so good that the Soul that tastes and digests them confesses they are sweeter than hony or the hony-comb If the mysteries of the Gospel are so sweet and sacred that the Angels themselves desire to pry into them how dearly then should dust and ashes love them Oh that we could say as the Psalmist How do I love thy Law all the day long is my study in it 5. The Word must be heard with Faith every hearer is not a profitable hearer As hearing distinguishes Professours from the Profane so believing distinguisheth the upright from hypocrites Heb. 4.2 The word preached did not profit them that heard it because it was not mixt with faith and again 'T is the Power of God to salvation but to them that do believe Rom. 1.16 Though it be true that without the Word there can be no Faith for Faith cometh by hearing yet withal without Faith the Word hath no power As the Brasen Serpent was of no use to them that did not look on it so 't is in this case Look therefore unto me and be you saved when we come to hear we should all think that we hear God speaking to us as he did to Ezekiel Son of man eat that thou findest Ezek. 3.1 Faith is the life of the Soul As there heat in a dead-mans mouth never doth good no more doth the Word in a faithless hearer 'T is Faith that makes every part thereof powerful and effectual its precepts to direct us its threatnings to terrifie us its promises to comfort us Take but one instance in Jonah 3.5 we read that the men of Nineveh believed God 1 upon hearing Jonah his sermon and then they proclaimed a fast and put on sackcloth Faith is that living womb into which when the seed of the Word falls it becomes a fruitful mother of all spiritual Graces 6. Lastly to a saving attention there is required a universal obedience and a hearty resignation of our selves This was the Apostles Crown and Joy that his Romans had obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine that they had received Rom. 6.17 and this is Gods end in giving you his Word that it should bring every thought into the Obedience of Christ 2 Cor. 10.5 We should take heed of hearing with uncircumcised ears and stubborn hearts The sence of Gods mercy in revealing his Will and the Conscience of our duty to obey it should make us so ready to every thing that he commands that a little child should lead us Isa 11.6 Vse 1. Hence first is condemned that visible listlessness and supine negligence that many discover in this duty of hearing Can we chuse but tremble to hear that curse that is threatned against every one that doth Gods work negligently Isa 48.10 and yet alas how many of us hear as if we did not hear and mind no more the word of life than if we were hearing art Idle tale The Church hath ever been pestered with such professors God complains of them Ezek. 33.32 Son of man this People come and sit before thee as my People use to do c. Oh hear once more and tremble at that dreadful sentence which Christ breathed against incredulous and refractory hearers in Joh. 12.48 He that refuseth me and heareth not my words hath one that judgeth even the word that I have spoken the same shall judg him Sure it will be a double damnation to be condemned by the Gospel yet thus it will be if it be not the saviour of life to life it will be the Saviour of death to death And what greater equity than this do not such judg themselves unworthy everlasting life that leave their hearts behind them when they come to hear it doth not that malefactor deserve to dye when his pardon is sent him freely that has it read as if he were a-sleep These messengers that were sent by Benhadad to make peace with Ahab when distressed by him will rise in judgment against such drousy hearers We read the men took diligent heed if they could catch any word of him that they might take hold of for their hope and they did so for when they arrested him thus Thy servant Benhadad saith I pray thee let me live the King of Israel answered is he yet alive he is my brother and they took hold of that word and ecchoed it back to him saying thy brother Benhadad Vse 2. Attend then as Lydia did that you may be saved as Lydia was whatsoever you do saith the Preacher do it with all thy might Eccles 9.10 Judg of the importance of the duty by the earnest injunction of the great God of heaven settle it in your hearts Luk. 21.14 and why for the water of life will run out or run besides us if we do not hear with a holy heedfulness Heb. 2.1 Wherefore we ought to give diligent heed to the things which we have heard lest at any time we let them slip The Greek Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies either to run besides as water that flows besides a place or else it signifies to run thorough a thing as