living man but by conjunction betwixt God and the soule God is to the soule as the soule is to the body he puts life into it and is conjoyned to it by his word when it is thus received The Word comming as from God wee doe that which is commanded us because God will have us doe it and then wee doe it simply and sincerely so that God accepts it Wee receive it as the word of God it breeds life within us when we receive it with faith with full Assurance then it comes from God then it comes in power and in the holy Ghost and makes us become followers of Christ 1 Thess. 1.5 when we receive the Word of God it workes effectually in us 1 Thess. 2.13 when we receive it as from God with full assurance it begetteth life in us To live is to have sence and motion to be acting the receiving of the word with full assurance makes us active the beleeving of it sets men on worke 2 Chron. 25.5.6 10. When as Amasiah beleeved that God would not be with him unlesse hee sent away the Israelites then he sent them away and not before Caleb and Iosuah did beleeve therefore they followed God constantly Abraham offered up his sonne Isaack because he beleeved God that he could give him another sonne or raise him out of ashes againe Let a man be perswaded that such a thing will hurt him or that such a thing will doe him good he doth the one and leaves the other Receive therefore the Word with full assurance consider what is delivered if it be the Word or no consider that it which yee heare is eyther the Word or not the Word it belongs to me or not Men take things overly and are not rooted and grounded in faith and that makes them heare unprofitably See then if your particular actions agree with the Word so yee shall be rooted in faith this makes the Word a Word of life The third rule and meanes to heare with profit is that which is set downe of the fourth ground in the parable of the seed in the eight of Luke the 15. verse that is to receive the Word with honest and good hearts having heard the Word to keepe it and to bring forth fruite with patience Heare the Word with honest hearts this is done when as a man is resolved to practise whatsoever God will reveale when he hath no reservations or exceptions to himselfe when hee is resolved to practise what he heares with an humble heart being humbled wee will doe this and not before The fourth ground was humbled men will not heare this because they are proud now pride is an evill disposition in the creature whereby it exalts its selfe above its measure There is this fault in men they will picke and chuse in the wayes of God The last ground will onely part with all for Christ. Act. 9. When as Paul was humbled hee then cried out Lord what wilt thou have me to doe I will doe or suffer any thing for thee and he was as good as his word So Act. 2.32 the Iewes being humbled cried out Men and brethren what shall wee doe wee will doe any thing to bee saved So Act. 16.30 The jaylor being humbled demanded of Paul what he should doe to be saved when as a man is thus disposed God will teach him Psal. 25. God teacheth the humble his wayes man himselfe will doe so if he see one willing to learne he will teach him The secrets of the Lord are revealed to those that feare fearâ— him to those that stand in awe of him and dare doe nothing against him hee reveales his peculiar truths in a peculiar manner to men those things that are effectuall to their salvation bring therefore humble hearts ready to obey But you will say we doe obey and practise what we doe heare I answer that yee may be deceived as they in the fift of Deut. they said they would obey but God saw that there was another heart in them than what they said therefore God said O that there were such an heart in them that they would feare me and keepe my commandements alwayes that it might goe well with them and their children for ever So Iohanan and the other Captaines Ier. 42.20 desires Ieremia to goe to God to know his will and they would doe whatsoever he should say whether it were good or evill But Ieremiah tels them that they did but dissemble in their hearts he knew they would not do it Looke to this in the acts and the effects what have you done when the Word crosseth you in your aymes estates names friends if you have disobeyed it then Eze. 14.4 the word is made a stumbling blocke and your iniquities before your face and the Lord will answer you according to the multitude of your Idols God will answer such men according to their comming as they come with false hearts they shall be dealt withall accordingly Come then with hearts resolved to practise whatsoever is spoken and desire God to make it effectuall to savation The fourth meanes to heare the Word and the voyce of Christ profitably is to lay up what you heare let it abide with you and continew with you This rule is prescribed by Christ himselfe Ioh. 15.7 If yee abide in me and my words abide in you yee shall aske what yee will and it shall be done unto you When yee attend to the Word if yee are affected with it but for the time it is nothing except it continue with you it will not profit you you must doe as Mary did shee layed up all the sayings that shee heard of Christ and pondered them in her heart Luke 2.51 The Disciples often questioned of Christ which proves that they pondered his words in their hearts So the nobles of Berea they searched the Scripture so Iacob he noted the saying of Ioseph and laid it up yee doe not heare thus if you doe but lend your eares for the time if yee worke it not upon your affections yee profit not The reason why there is so much preaching and so little profit is for want of this There are two kinds of ill hearers the first are such as heare as Swine and trample all they heare under feete the second such as heare as Dogs snarling at the doctrine if yee offend in eyther of these yee heare amisse Of all the foure grounds that was worst which received not the Word When men heare the Word there is more than a naturall forgetfulnesse in them the Divell helpes it Iam. 1.23.29 He that heares the Word and recals it not or practiseth it not is like one that beholdeth his face in a glasse for hee beholdeth himselfe and goeth away and straight way forgetteth what manner of man he was yee must recall it before yee can practise it else yee will be like to those that behold their face in a glasse and wipe not away their spots Be not therefore
forgetfull hearers and for this first recall and repeate what yee have heard when yee are gone Secondly practise it afterwards there is a blessing promised to mindfull hearers there is a curse denounced against those that are forgetfull Ioh. 13.15 If yee know these things happy are yee if you doe them but there is a curse for you if you doe not profit God will make you to heare and will not give you his Spirit Regard to prize the word if yee will not be forgetfull Rom. 1.28 those that did not like to reteine God in their knowledge those that did heare the Word and not regard it God gave them up to a reprobate sence to an Injudiciousnesse to doe those things that were not convenient not being able to profit by it The ancient Fathers much professed the repetition of Sermons and one of them used this similitude A man that comes into a pleasant garden he will not content himselfe with the present sent onely but he will carry some of the flowers home with him So in a cold day a man will not be content to heate himselfe at another mans fire but he will carry some fire home with him to keepe him hot at home So doe yee when yee come to heare the Word carry home some flowers of it with you carry some fire home with you to heate and warme your hearts God regards not flashes and moods and such negligence in performing of holy duties as will not warme their hearts Men are like a Sive in the water it is full whiles it is in the water but being taken out of it it hath nothing it is not the hearing of the Word of God or the doing of it negligently that will profit if yee heare it onely pro forma and negligently it doth then no good but it brings Gods curse upon you Gods curse is on many they grow not in knowledge or grace for want of diligence wherefore in the 2 Pet. 3.17 the Apostle bids us beware least being led away with the error of the wicked we fall from our owne stedfastnesse to prevent this grow in grace and for this purpose grow in knowledge for then yee grow in grace The fift meanes to heare profitably is to prize the Word and the voyce of Christ speaking to the heart pray earnestly for it that yee may seeke it earnestly at Gods hands beseech him to speake to your hearts your hearing is nothing without this it is the great sheapheard of the flocke that must feede you It is his Spirit that must teach you Therefore when as you come to heare pray earnestly to God to speake unto you by his Spirit It is the Spirit that quickneth Ioh. 6.63 the Word is spirituall and wee are carnall therefore wee must pray for the Spirit to helpe us for to heare the Spirit is not bestowed without prayer Actes 1.14.15 God promised to give his Spirit to his Apostles yet they continued long in prayers ere he gave it them Luk. 11.13 God gives not his Spirit but to such as aske it to such as continue praying asking and knocking David prayes to God to open his eyes that he might see the wonders of his Law Men may heare the Word yet God opens not their eyes without seeking to him God speakes unto you by his Ministers Paul and Apollos are yours wee are the Ministers of God for your sakes for your service if God open the dore of utterance it is not for our sakes but yours that you might seeke the Wâ—ord at our mouthes and beleeve Acts 14.1 a 〈◊〉 company of Iewes and Gentiles beleeved by hâ—â—â—ing the Word preached and receiving of it The world receives not the Spirit because they seeke it not Iohn 14.17 We in preaching can doe nothing it is the Spirit that must doe it 2 Cor. 3.18 wee can shew you the Image of God but it is nothing to you if yee be not transformed into the same image from glory to glory and it is the Spirit that must thus transforme you Conclude therefore with God in prayer let not him deny you one word from him is more then a thousand from us God fastning his Word upon your hearts it changeth you without him we preach in vayne The sixt meanes to heare profitably is to come with vacuity of minde free from all things that hinder else we sow but amongst thornes Ier. 4.4 we speak to men prepossessed the seed fals on fallow ground we speake to men whose hearts are full of lust they have a noyse of businesse within them and so they heare us not because their hearts are fore possessed The arrowes head being in the wound it is in vaine to lay plaisters upon it therefore Iam. 1.24 when as wee came to heare the Word we are commanded to lay aside all superfluity of naughtinesse and to receive with meeknesse the ingrafted word which is able to save our soules Doe in hearing the Word as men doe in grafting cut off all superfluous branches come with empty minds attend to the matters of grace Men who have full stomacks God feeds not He feeds the hungry others are sent empty away they are alwayes hearing but never profiting I should speake now to Ministers and people to Ministers that they speake in the voyce of Christ that they speake as he did not in wisedome of words but in the evidence of the Spirit To the people that they must heare them by whom Christ speakes those who have livings to bestow ought to bestow them on such as speake the words of Christ they that want his voyce ought to procure such Now if ye will not be at cost for a good Minister it is a signe you loâ—e your profit above Christ. Those that dwell where Christs voyce is not let them remove for they sit in darkenesse and in the shaddow of death Esay 9.2 If your dwelling be pleasant if you have bitter waters or no waters at all you will remove Have not your dwellings then where the water of life is not If the voyce of Christ be the onely meanes to beget life let men come to it It is a great fault men come not to this voyce hee thaâ— came not to the Sacrament must be cut off What shall be done to him that comes not to the Word Want of the Word preached is a great misery therefore David complaineth much of his case when he was not able to come to the Word O that I am constrained to dwel in Mesech and to have my habitation amongst the tents of Keder The daily sacrifice being taken away it was the greatest desolation that could be and can men live there with comfort where the Word is wanting Is it a duty to come to heare the Word or it is Arbitrary to come or not to come if it be arbitrary then yee performe but a will-worship when yee heare it if a duty then yee must heare it constantly and enquire where it is to be had But you have excuses To this I answer see how yee can excuse your selves to God How angry was Christ with those that came not to the marriage that is principally meant of comming to heare the Gospell It is a despysing of God and his ordinances not to come it is a contempt which brings sorth a curse which brings a judgement that is like the sinne Those that despise you despise me saith Christ the word is the power of God to salvation there is no salvation without faith and there is no faith but by hearing Faith comes by hearing He that heares not you heares not me saith Christ. Therefore if you heare not this voyce of the Sonne of God take heed lest he heare not you at last FINIS Doct. 1. Ob. Answ. The kinds of Spirituall death The Symptomes of true death Ob. Answ. Ob. Answ. The degrees of Spirituall death Object Answ. 1. Answ. 2. Ob. Ans. Ob. Ans. Ob. Answ. Ob. Ans. Ob. An. Ob. Answ. Vse 1. Quest. Answ. The characters of those that are spiritually dead Quest. Ans. The markes and signes of those who are spiritually dead Object Answ. Objest Answ. Object Ans. Vse 2. Vse 3. Vse 4. * The Sacrament is administred twice every Terme and sometimes thrice Doct. 2. Quest. Ans. Quest. Answ. Esay 53. Quest. Answ. Object Ans. Vse Vse 2. Quest. Answer Vse 3. Signes of spirituall life Object Answ. Object Answ. Object Answ. Object Answ. Luke 15.13 to 20. Iohn 3.7.8 The meanes to get this spirituall life Object Answ. Object Answ. Object Answ. Object 3. Answ. Object 1 Cor. 15 45. to 50. Ioh. 1.16.17 Iohn 15.1 2 3 4. 1 Sam. 10.10 11 12. Heb. 13.20 Ioh 11.43.44 Quest. Answ. Matth. 11.15 Doct. 3. Gen. 9.27 Reasons of the point Ioh. 5.21 Rom. 9.15 Gen. 1.3 1 King 19 19.20 Quest. Ans. Gen. 1.1 Ioh. 1.1 Mark 16.15.16 Gen. 5.24 Ioh. 10. â— Gen. 3. Object Answ. Object Answ. Vse 1. Iohn 10.3.4 2 Cor. 4.3.4 Act. 17.30 The means how to heare profitablie Object Answ. Ob. Aâ—s
5.6 In Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing nor uncircumcision but faith which worketh by love with Gal. 6.15 In Christ Iesus neither Circumcision availes any thing neither uncircumcision but a new creature all not proceeding from a new heart and from faith which worketh by love is nothing this is the roote of all when all our actions come from faith which workes by love else though they are never so pretious they are but dead works It is no matter whether yee pray or not whether yee recive the Sacrament keepe the Sabbaths or not they helpe not a jot unlesse they come from the principle of life a new creature Secondly consider the manner of their working they will bee done with quicknesse and vivacity Men do them as living actions with all propensnesse and readinesse with much connaturalnesse with much fervency and zeale when they are done in a perfunctory manner they are dead workes Thirdly yee may know them by their end looke yee to Christ doe yee all in sincerity to him or no or to your selves if yee doe then they are gracious workes and proceed from grace they are living actions and not dead they issue from a right principle ayming at God and not at your selves Hosea 10.1 Israel is an empty vine he bringeth forth fruite to himselfe If you bring forth â—ruits to your selves and not to God yee are but empty Vines God accepts you not Fourthly this life is discovered by your behaviour to the meanes of life when they are brought unto you when there is no sound or no voyce there is no distinction twixt a deafe and a hearing man so where there is no light there is no difference twixt a seeing man a blind but the light differs them So when as the light of the Gospel shines then men are tryed In times of ignorance God regards not men so much but now in time of the Gospel see if it be powerfull and whether you set your selves about holy duties Matth. 3.10 Now is the Axe laid to the roote of the tree that is since Iohns comming there is a distinguishment twixt living and dead trees A tree is not discovered to bee dead till it wither no man will cut downe a tree in winter because he knowes not then whether it be dead or no the Spring distinguisheth the dead and living trees in the winter they are all alike The Spring is the powerfull preaching of the word if men spring not then if they come not in they are dead Those whose education hath beene good those who live under a powerfull Ministry now is the Axe laid to the roote of the tree with them it is a signe they are dead if they profit not by it Fiftly yee may know whether yee have this life by the food it is fed with severall lives are fed with severall foode Now the food of this new life of grace is double first the word secondly good workes First the word 1 Pet. 2.25 As new borne babes desire the sincere milke of the word that yee may grow thereby if so bee that you have tasted that the Lord is gracious that is if yee are alive as you professe your selves to bee you shall know it by your behaviour to that which doth nourish your life First yee will long after the word as the child doth after the Teate If the child be hungry neyther apples nor rattles nor any thing else can quiet him but the Teate So nothing can quiet these but the word Others may have excuses they will have none Eyther they will live where the word is or they will bring it home to them they will bring themselves to it or it to them Secondly they desire the sincere milke of the word many things may be mingled with the word that doe please the wit yet those who live the life of grace desire the sincere word the pure word without any mixture Thirdly they desire it that they may grow thereby many desire it to know it onely if ye desire it as new borne babes it will make you better better many heare but as men having an Atrophy in their bodies they grow not no fruite comes thereby Fourthly they taste a sweetnesse in the word above others the second ground received the word with joy and Herod heard Iohn Baptist with gladnesse but where there is true grace they goe farther they delight in the word it is sweeter to them than the hony few can say so in good earnest that the pure word is sweeter to them than Hony or the Hony Combe Iob hee esteemed the word more than his appointed food Iob. 23.12 The second food of this life is good workes Ioh. 4.32.33.34 is the place out of which I collect this where Christ being asked of his Disciples to eate said that hee had other meate that they knew not of then said they hath any man brought him ought to eate Hee saith unto them My meate is to doe the will of him that sent me and to finish his worke Doe you good workes with such a desire as men eate and drinke doe you hunger and thirst after them desiring for to doe them Then yee are alive Hypocrites may doe much but it is not their meate and drinke to doe it examine therefore your selves by these signes whether you are alive or dead This is the preaching of the law to shew you the narrow differences of life and death The first step to life is to know that yee are in a state of death the Law must goe before the Gospel Iohn Baptest before Christ yee must bee brought to their case in the 2 Act. 37. who were pricked at the hearts yee must bee brought unto the case of the Iaylor and of Paul to the case of the Prodigall that you may know your estate then yee come home Our end is to preach life and comfort to you not damnation Rom. 15.4 All Scripture is written for our comfort now there are many things in the Scripture that tend to discomfort and terrors yet their end is comfort as Physicke is sharpe for the time yet the end is health Wee desire not to exclude any but to bring you in whilst you have time the market is then hard to make when yee lye on your death beds labour to know it in time your death is a time of spending not of getting it was too late for the foolish Virgins to buy oyle when they were to attend the bride-groome We desire not to affright you with false feares but to admonish you that you be not deceived I finde this sentence Be not deceived prefixed before many places of Scripture where Gods judgement are denounced as 1 Cor. 6.9 Be not deceived neither fornicators Idolaters Adulterers c. shall inherit the kingdome of God and Eph. 5.6 Be not deceived with vaine words for because of these things commeth the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience to shew that men are apt to deceive themselves
us by his Spirit that is the cheefest in knowledge have not seene with their eyes or heard with their eares but those that heare the voyce of the Sonne of God have an experimental knowledge which others have not This experimentall saving knowledge hath triall 1 Ioh. 2.13 I write unto you fathers because you have knowne him that was from the beginning expound this with the 33. of Ezekiell 33. When this commeth to passe then shall yee know that a Prophet hath beene amongst you that is when I shall doe this they shall know experimentally that there was a Prophet amongst them 1 Ioh. 5.49 wee know that we are of God that is wee know it experimentally they can say of this as it is said in the 1 of Ioh. 1.1 That which we have heard that which we have seene with our eyes that which wee have looked upon and our hands have handled of the words of life declare we unto you David takes it as peculiar to himselfe Psal. 9.10 They that know thy name will trust in thee for thou Lord hast not forsaken them that seeke thee that is they that experimentally know thee will trust in thee for thou never faylest them that trust thee they know it by experience 1 Pet. 2.3 Desire the sincere milke of the word that you may grow thereby if yee have tasted that the Lord is gracious We find in the Saints a longing after God they desire him which others doe not thus did David moreover they have assurance of salvation which others have not and this assurance comes from hence optima demonstratio est a sensibus the best demonstration is from sence as he that feeles the fire hot knowes it best tasting breeds longing assurance from experience breeds certainty Fourthly effectuall knowledge that is bred by the voyce of the Sonne of God makes men approve and justifie the wayes of God makes them to relish them this followes the other when men have tryed them they approve them Ioh. 6.63 The Spirit quickens the word profiteth nothing the words then that I speake they are Spirit and life Christ having spoken that his body was meate indeed many were offended at it then hee said The Spirit doth quicken that is yee accept not my words because yee have not the Spirit yee have but flesh that is a common knowledge my words are spirituall and you are carnall therefore they doe not relish you These words are otherwise interpreted by some that is these materials profit nothing without the Spirit but the other is undoubtedly the meaning for so it is through the Scripture the Spirit profits that is saving knowledge wrought by the Spirit men not having it doe not approve it It cannot be otherwise where the voyce of Christ doth sound effectually there they justifie this Wisedome is justified of her children Luk. 7.35 Rom. 10.15 How beautifull are the feete of them that preach the Gospel of peace that is they see such beauty in the wayes of God that they are beautifull to them they are vile to others The Scripture often toucheth this that when as there is but a common knowledge men relish not the word Rom. 8. they tast not the word the spirituall part of the word crossing them is bitter to them 2 Cor. 2.15 The word is compared to a sweet savour to many it is not so to some it is the savour of death to death it is a savour diffused through the house they abhorre it and being guilty of death it leades them to death In others it is the savour of life that is they smell a sweetnesse in it it brings them to life to heaven the word being powerfully taught there comes a savour some smell sweetnesse in it others otherwise Luk. 2.35 When Christ shall come the hearts of many shall be opened to approve or disapprove him therefore he is the fall and rising of many so when he came some said he was a good man others that he was a divell some said that the Apostles were good some that they were bad See how yee approve the word in its selfe and as it is expressed in mens lives Fiftly if it bee a right knowledge it breeds holy affections the other doth not this followes the other If men justifie the Word then they affect it It s a generall rule that all full perswasions draw on affections let it bee but a perswasion in habit it stirres as the habit is 1 Thes. 1.6 My word was to you not in word but in power because it did worke in you joy in the holy Ghost Ier. 23.29 comparing the word of true and false Prophets together My word is as fire saith God and as the hammer that breaketh the stone it is the powerfull word of it stirres your affections Luke the last Christ speaking to the Disciples that went with him to Emmaus their hearts burned within them they were full of holy affections Consider if yee have those holy affections Holy affections in the Scripture are ascribed to this knowledge every where where men heare they know aright Psal. 112.1 Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord that delighteth greatly in his commandements Psal. 1.2 Blessed are they that delight in the Law of the Lord See whether there be holy affections in you Felix did tremble at the Word so the second ground received the Word with joy but not with holy joy But how shall we distinguish them I answer that if your joy bee holy joy afflictions will not put it out if your joy bee carnall joy persecution puts it out but joy in the holy Ghost is not put out by the contrary Sixtly that knowledge which is lively brings forth action it is powerfull in mens actions it is active and mighty in operation Heb. 4. It workes in mens hearts and lives mightily to overcome all contraries Esa. 6.10 Make the heart of this people fat make their eares heavy and shut their eyes least they see with their eyes and heare with their eares and understand with their hearts and convert and bee healed that is Let them have such a common knowledge as civill men and hypocrites have and no more least seeing aright they understand with their hearts and be converted and they bee healed Seeing with their eyes is meant seeing with this knowledge which if they see with their hearts will bee wrought on their hearts being wrought on they are converted then they are healed This followes on the other Let the affections be stirred they are the immediate principles of action what one affâ—cts hee doth these are tyed all on one string flashy affections flashy actions Ioh. 6.45 They shall all bee taught of God every man therefore that hath heard and learned of the Father commeth to mee that is every one that heareth this true voyce of the Sonne of God comes to mee that is they breed actions whereby they come to me See if your knowledge bee operative Iam. 1.22 distinguishing of hearers he saith
are three degrees of working this light by the Spirit First there is a stirring up of men to attend to the voyce of Christ many there are that heare yet attend not Act. 16.14 The holy Ghost opened the heart of Lydia to attend unto Pauls preaching We sow on fallow ground till the Spirit opens the heart to attend to the things that are spoken The second worke of the Spirit is to convince and perswade effectually and fully Ioh. 16.8 The Spirit shall convince the world of sinne that it it shall convince and perswade thorowly none can doe this but the Spirit It doth also farther perswade men that it is good for them to bee convinced and this is when the knowledge is full when as all the corners of the heart are answered and the minde resolves to practice Hypocrites and civill men are perswaded yet not fully therefore they never practise if that one objection of the heart bee unanswered yee never came to practise The last worke of the Spirit is to keepe this voyce on the heart that it vanish not Iames 1.21 The ingrafted word is that which is made able to save our soules and none else Men may attend for a flash but the Spirit must ingraft the Word into the heart which as a sprig ingrafted growes bigger and bigger and hath fruit from the sap other men having truthes not fastned on them they grow weaker and weaker To understand fully what this voyce of the Sonne of God is yee must know that there is a double voyce First an outward voyce of the word which all heare Secondly an inward voyce of the Spirit This I collect out of Esay 6.9 Goe to that people and tell them heare yee indeed but not understand see yee indeed but not perceive that is they shall have an outward hearing an outward knowledge but not an inward There is a common knowledge which all these have who live in the Church and there is a knowledge that is onely proper to the Saints which saves them The differences twixt these two knowledges that of hypocrites of them in sixth of the Hebrewes twixt common knowledge and effectuall knowledge that is wrought in the hearts of the elect are these First common knowledge is confused and generall this is distinct inward and particular that is the voyce of the Sonne of God speaking in the Ministry to all may breed a knowledge of truths in men yet they apply them not to their hearts and the turnings of them Heb. 4.11 The Word is sharper than a two edged Sword discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart piercing even to the deviding asunder the soule and spirit and of joynts and marrow that is that word of God that is lively indeed that voyce of God that is effectuall to salvation it is sharpe it strikes not in generall but enters the inward parts A staffe cannot enter the flesh it may bruise it but the voyce of Christ enters like a two edged Sword discerneth twixt morrall vertues and supernaturall things wrought by the Spirit it distinguisheth exactly twixt the rectitude and obliquity of mens hearts this is proper onely to the saving knowledge of the Word As nothing is hid from God but it is naked to his sight so it is to his word See if the word be distinct to you else you know nothing A man never knowes any thing till he knowes the Elements parts and grounds of it the voyce of the Sonne of God onely makes you know things thus particularly So in other things yee know not till you know particulars Aristotle saith a man is not a Physition that knowes things in generall in the grosse but hee that knowes them in particular This is not to be a Physition to know that such dry meates are good for a moyst stomacke unlesse he also know dry meates and the Symptomes of a moyst stomacke so it is in the knowledge of the Word To know what regeneration is is not enough except yee know the parts the kinds and signes of it To know that none are translated from death to life that love not the brethren is not enough except yee know the brethren and love them To know that hee that is in Christ hath crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts of it is nothing except yee know that yee your selves have crucified it This particular knowledge is it that makes manifest to a man the secrets of his owne heart 1 Cor. 14.25 that is the voyce of the Sonne of God discerneth the secrets of the heart to know things particularly that are in it The sheepe distinguish the voyce of the sheapheard from the voyce of a stranger when men come to heare they heare the voyce and distinguish not the sound because they want this particular knowledge Secondly this hearing of the voyce of the Sonne of God workes a quicke sence in the hearts of those that heare it that the outward voyce doth not and this followes the former Let knowledge be particular it workes quicke sence Heb. 4.11 it is called lively in operation now life consists in quicknesse and motion the voyce of Christ speaking effectually breeds quicknesse Sola individua agunt et sentiunt A knife in generall cuts nothing the particular knife cuts To know in generall you are sinners have corrupt natures offend in many things workes nothing it is the reflection on the particular lives that workes this makes men tremble Act. 2. Peter having told the Iewes that they had crucified Christ that pricked them at the heart As of sinnes so is it of comforts particular comforts worke If one can say I am thus and thus then comfort followes so particular threatnings make men sensible When God said to Adam Hast thou not eaten of the tree whereof I said thou shouldest not eate this made him feare The word doth breed a quicke sence they who have not this true voyce sounding to them Esay 6.9 in hearing they doe not heare and seeing they doe not see their hearts are fat their eares heavy and their eyes shut Rom. 11.8 God hath given them the spirit of slumber that is when as men heare this voyce in a common manner they are as a man in a slumber it stirres them not their hearts are fat that is they are sencelesse for fat is without sence The property of them that heare in an ineffectuall manner is this they have a spirit of slumber they are as one hearing a tale when as his mind is other where If the things propounded were naturall they would heare them well enough but they are spirituall therefore they are dull of hearing them Thirdly which followeth the second those that heare the voyce of the Sonne of God have experimentall knowledge the other is but speculative 1. Cor. 2.6.9 Wee preach wisedome to those that are perfect such wisedome as eye hath not seene eare hath not heard neither hath it entred into the heart of man but God reveileth it to
he curseth he takes not away their lives but their graces makes them wither in the inward man and so he comes to death Luk. 19. he that had ten Talents he that had most had more given him To practise a little is the way to get more The Talent is taken from him who did not use it and given to him that had most Talents There are two rewards for him that useth the Talent well First hee shall have more Secondly he shall be ruler over ten Cities he shall have comfort here and hereafter he shall have more comfort and grace See how he dealt with Nathaniel Iohn 1.50 Because he confessed Christ to be the Sonne of God and beleeved because Christ saw him under the Fig-tree which was but a small thing Christ tels him that he shall see greater things than these Ioh. 7.17 If any man will doe his will he shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God that is if yee practise according to your knowledge you shall know more it shall be confirmed to you Let men know and not practice then Rom. 1.21.21 Because when they knew God they glorifie him not as God neyther are thankfull therefore God gives them up to uncleannesse thorow the lusts of their owne hearts to dishonour their owne bodies betweene themselves and to worship Idols as he dealt with the Gentiles So in the 2 Thessa. 2.9 Because they received not the love of the truth because they heard much and did not imbrace it God gave them up to strong delusions to beleeve lyes See it by experience when as men play with their knowledge God gives them up to heresies The Spirit of God will not strive long with them God hath commanded us not to cast Pearles before Swine and will hee himselfe doe it Consider what yee doe in every doctrine of salvation that is preached to you yee eyther relish it or not yee obey it or disobey it yee taste it or disrelish it If yee taste it not it is a savour of death unto death that is it brings death and leads to hell if yee savour it aright it brings to heaven There is no true doctrine but the not obeying of it bringeth something to your damnation When the savour of Christs knowledge is made manifest nor receiving it yee reject it and it brings a curse Heb. 6.7.8 The earth which drinketh in the raine which commeth oft upon it and brings forth hearbes meete for him by whom it is dressed receiveth a blesssing of God but that which bringeth forth thornes and briers is rejected and is nigh unto cursing whose end is to be burned that is the word is as raine it makes hearbs and weeds to grow if hearbs grow God doth prosper it more if it fals upon rockes it withers more and more God doth curse it It is not in the knowledge of divinity as in other sciences in them yee may neglect a yeare or two and get it againe but it is not so in this yee will not be able to returne againe yee are neare a curse yee cannot redeeme it See what followes in the neglecting of the Word in the 2 Chron. 36.15.16 God sent his messengers rising up early c. because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place But they mocked the messengers of God and despised his Word and misused his Prophets untill the wrath of the Lord rose up against his people till there was no remedy Grace may stand with infirmities before they are revealed but being reveiled the light discerneth them If men refuse God indures it not Act. 17.30 The times of that ignorance God regarded not but now take heed the Gospel being reveiled God will beare no longer Before Iohn Baptist came the Axe was not laid to the roote of the tree but as soone as he came it was because then the Gospel was made knowne he revealed the truth When the truth is once revealed if men doe not then receive it God indures it not Heb. 3.13 To day if yee will heare my voyce harden not your hearts God will not stay longer than this day There is a day when it is we cannot prescribe after which God will not offer grace but commonly we see that men being of the age of discretion having the way shewed if they neglect it then they cōmonly perish God hath a secret time The Iewes had their day but because they accounted themselves unworthy of everlasting life Paul did turne from them to the Gentiles Act. 13.46 Saul had his day hee had common gifts and profited not therefore God forsooke him So Israel had their day but when they neglected it God bids Ieremiah not to pray for them Consider what you have heard of the Sacrament that yee may not absent your selves from it in the places wherein you are without weighty affaires which will excuse you before God so for the Sabbath you know it should bee kept because it is holy and if it be holy I would aske you this question whether it bee holy in whole or in part If all of it be holy it is not arbitrary it must be sequestred from common uses The vessels of the Sanctuary are said to be holy because they were not used but about holy things so the Temple is holy because it is a place set apart for Gods service so time is holy when it is bestowed on holy things holy thoughts holy duties consider that it is holy and that every part thereof is holy and then deny if you can that it is not to be sanctified Some men spend their time in idlenesse and gaming most in drunkennesse and disorder and not as they should Yee have heard of mortification yee have heard the doctrine of changing from death to life apply them and take heed how you heare yee that heard it negligently shall grow worse and worse The second meanes to heare profitably is that which is set downe in the 1 Thess. 2.13 that is to receive the Word not as the word of man but as the Word of God This makes the word of Christ effectuall to heare it as the Word of God that is consider whose word it is Consider the ground of it that it proceeds from God who is present God is there and we speake in his stead God spake to the Israelits in Mount Sinay and would have continued for any thing we know yet the people desired that Moyses should speake unto them Wee beseech you in the stead of Christ to be reconciled unto God This is of much moment to heare it as Gods Word morrall truths may build you up in morrall vertues and may be profitable to that purpose but they will not breed spirituall life that the Word onely doth being received as the Word of God Iohn 6.65 when as Christ demanded of the twelve whether they also would goe away Peter made this answer Lord whither shall we goe thou hast the words of eternall life A man is not a