heart not that God might know but as Austin observes Tentat ut sciat id est ut scire nos faciat God trys to know that is to make us and others know what is in our hearts We are by nature as great strangers to our hearts as Hazael who when the Prophet told him He should burn Israels Cities with sire slay their young men with the sword dash the infants against the stones and rip up the women with child He abhors these cruelties with this strange question Is thy servant a dog that I should do this 2 King 8.12 Such barbarous cruelties seemed at this time too odious for Hazael but afterward the event proved the Prophesie true ch 13. We all as little know our hearts as Hazael or the depths of our own corruption 3. God alone melts and softens the heart Ezek. 11.19 he promiseth to take away the heart of stone and give a heart of flesh He that turns the flint into a fountain and fetches water out of the hard rock is only able to break a heart of stone and to make it a Hadadrimmon a very valley of tears 4. He comforts the heart Hos 2.14 after he hath brought his Church into the wilderness then he promiseth to speak to her heart such comfortable words as no man can speak When all other comforters like Job's prove miserable comforters indeed then God saith I even I am he that comforteth thee c. This is Gods propriety Isa 57.15 He alone revives the spirit of the contrite c. 5. He new-makes the heart As there is no mending of a crackt Bell but it must be new cast So 't is with a corrupt heart it must be new made or there 's nothing done God begins as it were a new Creation when he converts a Soul So prays the penitent Psalmist Psal 45.10 Create in me a new heart O Lord. Q. 4. The next thing is to shew why God opens the heart A. In short It is to possess it and to dwell in it God hath two Houses to dwell in the upper house is heaven the lower house is the hearts of believers Isa 57.15 Thus saith the high and excellent one that inhabiteth eternity whose name is the holy one I dwell in the high and holy place with him also that is of an humble spirit We may here stand and wonder that he whose nature is Majesty whose place is Immensity whose time is Eternity whose life is Sanctity whose power is Omnipotency whose work is Mercy whose wrath is Justice and whose throne is Sublimity should yet delight to dwell in a poor humble and broken heart Trap in loc When Solomon had built that famous Temple for the worship of God he admires the infinite condescention of God in stooping so low as to have communion with sinful men 1 King 8.27 Is it true indeed saith he that God will dwell in the earth Lo God yet hath more intimate converse with poor believers he indeed dwelleth not in Temples made with hands no the hearts of his people are Temples of the Holy Ghost and of these he says indeed here will I dwell for ever Obj. There is one objection against this conclusion and 't is this It seems that man hath power to open his own heart why else doth Christ Jesus bid the Church to open in Cant. 5.2 Open to me my sister c. And in Rev. 3.20 If any man open I will enter Ans I shall answer in the words of Peter Martyr Dicimur aperire quatenus id Deus in nobis facit nam is facit ut aperiamus We are said to open in that God makes us to open for he works all our works for us and crowns them in us Certum est nos facere quod facimus sed Deus facit ut faciamus 'T is true man must not be idle but active in this great work as afterwards we shall shew but God evermore works somewhat in the Soul and leaves some impression by his Spirit in the heart which stirs up an endeavour to seek after him and to open to him In that 5th of Cant. the Church confesseth Christs fingers were first in the door before her heart was affectioned toward him Thus no man can come to Christ unless the Father draw him Vse 1. And is it thus that it is Gods work to open mans heart It teaches then to abhor the execrable and blasphemous invention of Free-will whereby the Arminian brood take the Crown from Gods head and set it on the Creatures robbing God of the glory of his own grace who is both Alpha and Omega the Author and Finisher of the work of grace in his redeemed Neither will it help them to grant only that God hath a hand in renewing us as a Moral Agent by propounding only the goodness of Christ and Grace and perswading us only by rational Arguments to imbrace it for a Moral Agent works no real effect but God works something in us the Church found some mirrh which Christ left behind him dropping from his fingers before she opened to her beloved Cant. 5.5 The Apostle therefore resolves all into the mighty power of God even that power whereby he railed his Son Christ from the grave Eph. 1.20 where he prays that his Ephesians may know what the exceeding greatness of his power is toward them that believe according to the working of his mighty power which he wrought in Christ when he raised him up from the grave Now did God only perswade Christ to rise out of the grave no but he put forth his almighty power for the effecting thereof for could the Soul of Christ which for a while was separated from his body be brought again to that body but by the Almighty power of God well the same power is exerted in raising a Soul dead in sin to the life of Grace that was exerted in raising Christ Jesus himself from the grave The case may be thus exemplified for as the Marigold opens her leaves to the Sun yet the Sun first shines on it and warms it with its beams 't is so with us we open willingly our hearts to God but God first warms our hearts with the sun-beams of his Grace for without him we can do nothing Vse 2. It serves for ever to humble us to consider that natural wretchedness wherein we were born The doors of our hearts are all shut by nature against God and Christ fenced and fortified with strong corruptions attd sinful resolutions to resist God and his dear Son We read Joh. 20.19 When Christ first appear'd to his Disciples after his Resurrection he came when the doors were shut Such is our case when first he comes to visit and awaken poor lost Sinners there 's no room nor entrance for him till he make way for himself by his own Almighty power This for ever should abase us in our greatest attainments of Grace to consider and remember what we were by nature 'T is storied of Willigis a poor
before Kings They must bear a part with Zachary though once dumb yet as soon as his tongue was loosed cried out Blessed be the Lord God of Israel who hath visited and redeemed his people Luk. 1.68 And so much of the Author of Lydia's Conversion or that great work of God in opening Lydia's heart next let us consider the means whereby'twas wrought she attended to the things which Paul spake What this attention of Lydia was is worth inquiry 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The word here translated attention signifies properly to give heed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 scil animum to apply the heart or mind to a thing In the New Testament the word is used in a double relation 1st To things hurtful 2ly To things usefal 1. To things hurtful in Mat. 7.15 Beware of false Prophets 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. The same word that is used here that is take heed that you avoid them lest you are insnared by them 2. The word is used in relation to things useful as in Act. 8.6 The people gave heed to the things that Philip spake 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. the same word that is used here so Lydia attended or gave heed or applied her heart to the things spoken by Paul This heedful hearing is opposed to all manner of slighting opposing or turning away our ears from hearing the Word such hearers we read of Acts 13.45 The Jews filled with envy spake against the things spoken by Paul contradicting and railing on them And such were those bidden guests that were invited to the Wedding that made light of it Mat. 22.4 5. Well then there was both an attention of the ear and an intention of the mind and heart in this hearing of Lydia And this being the sense it offers us these three Conclusions D. 1. That the preaching of the Word is the ordinary means of converting souls D. 2. That a serious firm and fixt applying our hearts and minds to the Word of God is required by God of them that hear it D. 3. That such an attention can never be given to the Word preached but by a special work of Grace Lydia might have heard Paul preach but she had never heard them if God had not first opened her heart D. 1. That the preaching of the Word is the ordinary means of converting Souls 'T is true the power of God is unlimited and not bound to means God could have taught the Eunuch without Philip he could have converted Paul without Ananias instructed Cornelius without Peter and have opened Lydia's heart without Paul But the Ministry of the Word is that means which the wisdom of God hath chosen and sanctified for this great work This is the sum of the Apostles Climax Rom. 10.14 How shall they call on him on whom they have not believed and how shall they believe on him of whom they have not heard and how shall they hear without a Preacher And at last determines the Question with this conclusion That faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God To prevent any curious questions why 't is this The Apostle resolved all into the good pleasure of God 1 Cor. 1.21 For seeing the world by wisdom knew not God it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that do believe Q. But some may wonder how so weak a means should work so great effects A. All is from the Spirit of Christ for 't is the office of Christ not only to open the will of his Father and to reveal the mysteries of Salvation which he doth by his Prophetical Office but also to be present when the Word is preached and by his Spirit to teach the heart inwardly what it is taught outwardly by the Word And now also he exercises his Kingly Office in making his enemies become his subjects here he lays us at his feet whilest his Word like a sword pierces our hearts making us throw down our arms those weapons of sin wherewith we have opposed him here Christ gets a glorious and yet an easie conquest for against his power there is none stands Assoon as they hear they shall obey Psal 18.44 Now that the efficacy of the Word depends on the operation of the Spirit is evident from Act. 2. before those Converts were pricked at the heart c. we read that the Spirit fell on them like a mighty rushing wind v. 2. cease then to wonder when we see such mighty effects wrought by the Gospel sith 't is not we that speak but the Spirit of our Father which speaketh in us Mat. 10.20 Vse 1. Wo then to all opposers and contemners of Preaching and Preachers Alas who are those that are now accounted the troublers of Israel but such as are guilty of Elijah's crime that indeed are zealous for the Lord God of host c. who deny themselves to oppose that torrent of sin and corruption that like another deluge is like to over-run the Nation and for this they must be fed with Michajah's hard Commons even with bread and water of affliction Another generation of prophane and profligate Professors swarm every where in the World who nauseate this Heavenly Manna and contemn sound Doctrine because 't is common Ah we live in a Gospel-glutted-Age wherein wickedness and wantonness are the best requital wherewith we requite the Lord for his choicest Mercies Thus with Jeshurun we are grown fat and kick Oh that a people so choicely taught and instructed from Heaven should at last scorn the counsels of their Heavenly Father That our Religion should be lost in Atheism and that the preaching of Christ crucified should become a reproach among us There is one Scripture that I would fasten on your thoughts to prevent this sin in some which deserves to be repented in others so Heb. 2.2 3. If the Word spoken by Angels was stedfast and every Transgression deserved a just recompence of reward how shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation Our guilt and ingratitude increaseth with our injoymeats view the comparison in a few particulars 1. We have a more excellent Ministry than they under the Law Angels were Ministers of the Law but Christ of the Gospel now the threatnings of Angels if despised were severely punished and shall not the threatnings of the Son of God For that God who in former Ages spake unto us by his Prophets hath in these last times spoken to us by his own Son Heb. 1.2 Well let us hear Christ arguing himself from this very Topick The Queen of the South shall rise in judgment against the men of this generation for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon and behold a greater than Solomon is here And again the men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment c. Mat. 12.41 42. Oh what will be our case who set not so high a price on Christ as that Queen did on Solomon when Christ and his Gospel come home
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
LYDIA'S Heart Opened OR DIVINE MERCY Magnified in the Conversion of a Sinner BY THE GOSPEL Being the sum of several SERMONS Preached lately by James Strong M. A. and Minister of the Gospel Nullum est peccatum quod si non fecerim tu fecisti si abstinuerim tu jussisti quod tibi crediderim gratiam tu infundisti August Lib. Soliloquiorum Cap. 15. Jesus the Author and finisher of our faith Heb. 12.2 That no flesh should glory in his presence But let him that glorieth glory in the Lord 1 Cor. 1. ult LONDON Printed by A. M. for Edward Brewster at the Crane in Pauls-Church-Yard 1675. To the Religious Mrs. Mary Speke of Whitelackington the Author wisheth a confluence of Spiritual blessings in our dear Lord Jesus MADAM THese few notes following were preacht but with an ordinary intention but thorow Divine mercy both with your self and others found more than ordinary reception so oftimes I have observed when there is least of mans strength there is most of Gods Many have been too wise and too mighty to do Gods work but never any too foolish or too weak that have been imployed by him The Word is that spiritual sword wherewith God wounds the hearts of his enemies but as Scanderbeg's Sword could do nothing without Scanderbeg's Arm no more can this sword unless it be weilded by the arm of Omnipotency The reason why men do not believe our report is because the arm of the Lord is not revealed Isa 53.1 Sure I have reason to hope that that day when we discoursed of Gods opening Lydia's there were many other hearts opened also My Notes which were desired by your self and several others I could not so easily do by transcribing them as by publishing them And though Truth need no Apology yet I must tell the world that this had been as like to have slept in darkness as many other Exercises have had not the more than ordinary success wherewith God attended it in preaching provoked me to this service Ministers are by Christ called spiritual Fishers a busie imployment full of toyl and danger sith the place of fishing is not a shallow stream but a raging and tumultuous sea in which after we have tired our selves and spent our strength nothing so breaks our hearts as this that we labour all night and catch nothing But Oh if at last we cast out the Net and inclose a multitude 't is no wonder we are not able to bear our own joy being astonished as Peter Luk. 5.9 Madam excuse my boldness in prefixing your Name to this small Manual And indeed I had not had confidence but that I presume you have with that other Mary sate too long at Christs feet to be ashamed of Christs Truth What inward comforts soever God hath given you by your constant and diligent attendance on his Worship give God the glory a dram of that sweetness that flows from the upper springs will allay the bitterness of those Mara-like waters wherewith God drenches his dearest Servants For our part whom God hath intrusted with the Mysteries of the Gospel though we are on every side opprest yet 't is mercy we are not supprest under all other hardships we have yet cause to bless God who hath not taken the Word of Truth utterly out of our mouth He never well understood what the calling of a Minister was that thinks strange of any suffering in the service of Christ It would well become a Ministers mouth what Pompey once replied to the Mariners who disswaded him from sailing in a storm when he was imployed for bringing provision to Rome under a strait Siege 'T is necessary that Rome be relieved but 't is not necessary that we should live Sure 't is necessary that Christs sheep be fed but 't is not necessary that we should live The subject of these few Papers is of incomparable weight The more I know my own heart and its deceits the more jealous I am of others Oh what a wily enemy do we carry in our own bosoms How many treacherous reaches hath it to ruin our Immortal souls Simon Magus seemed zealously to desire the Spirit and would have bought it at a great price but this poysoned his Religion that his heart was not right in the sight of God Ah what faint and frigid services do we bring before God while we serve him with our mouths and honour him with our lips but remove our heart far from him 'T is true till the heart be renewed God will have none of it but when once 't is renewed it makes every thing else to be accepted 'T is the same to all other services that Benjamin was to his Brethren and there is no seeing Gods face without it Oh how sad were it if at last we should spoil all our services and sufferings by doing good duties with bad hearts For preventing which danger we have cause to bless God for the labours of many egregious servants of his who have left the Church a rich treasury of instructions into which if by casting my mite I may in any measure serve the Lord Jesus and his People 't is more than sufficient recompence to him who subscribes himself Yours in the service of the Gospel J. S. Act. 16.14 And a certain woman named Lydia a seller of Purple of the City of Thyatira which worshipped God heard us whose heart the Lord opened that she attended to the things which Paul spake AS in the Evangelists we have 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Christi the Records of the Acts of Christ while he was conversant on the Earth so in this Book we have 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Apostolorum the Acts of the Apostles In which History we have a lively representation of the state of the Church while she was young and in her Gradle her increase and growth what was the Doctrine of the Apostles with what holy boldness they preached Christ in the midst of a thousand troubles and torments here we may read what was the fruit of the Gospel and how it got growth in the world in despight of all opposition as also what is the difference between true Doctrine and false with what malice and subtilty false Apostles oppose the true what rest and breathings God gave his Church and never was wanting for her protection and preservation This History by the consent of all bears date from the Ascension of Christ unto the first year of Paul's coming to Rome which was the space of twenty-three years in which we have a clear proof of the exact performance of all the Promises Christ made his Apostles as of sending them his Spirit induing them with power from on high the calling of the Gentiles c. But not to carry you back further than is needful we read ver 9. of this Chapter that Paul by the Ministry of an Angel is called to Macedonia A Vision appeared to Paul in the night there stood a man of Macedonia and prayed him saying Come
into Macedonia and help us Where by the way we may note that Ministers how meanly soever esteemed in the world are those by whom God helps his perishing people This title the Apostle owns a helper of his peoples joy 2 Cor. 1.24 Those that cannot help themselves sometimes can yet help others poor themselves yet make many rich Luther boldly told the Prince of Saxony Scire te velim c. I would have your Highness know you have more need of my Prayers than I have of your Protection Well now it appears indeed that Christ by his death hath pulled down the wall of partition between Jew and Gentile and that God hath put no difference between us and them for what was Macedonia at this time when Paul was called to preach Christ there but a mass and mixture of Ignorance and Atheism as we and other Gentiles were without God without Christ and without hope Eph 2.12 Being come to Macedonia he begun to preach at Philippi ver 12. and his encouragements at first were but mean for his auditory were only a few poor Women ver 13. Gualter on the place excellently notes how God exercises the faith and constancy of his Servants Paulus vocatus per Angelum putaret aliquis omnes ei obviam venturas c. Paul was called by an Angel who would not have thought that the whole Country would have flocked to hear such a Preacher But alas Paul's hopes fail him not one man came to hear the great Apostle only a few poor Women and among these God singles out one and marks her up for mercy v. 16. A certain woman named Lydia c. We have here then the History of Lydia's Conversion and here again we have 1. The Apostle preaching 2. A weak Woman hearing 3. The great God blessing the Sermon Or we hare 1. The person convetted who is several ways described 1. By her Name to confirm the truth of the story Lydia 2. By her Sex a Woman that Sex by which sin entered into the world 3. By her imployment a seller of Purple a trade as one observes serving not so much for necessity as for pride 4. By the place of her abode a stranger one of Thyatira a City of Lydia all these difficulties God breaks thorough humane improbabilities are no prejudice to Omnipotency Though we are by nature like the Prodigal are run into a far Country yet our Heavenly Father can easily bring us home 5. She 's described by her Religion she was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Worshipper of God A Gentile she was yet some dark notions she had of God which she got either by the light of nature or by tradition from her fore-fathers or some familiar acquaintance with the Jews such another as Cornelius was Act. 10. But whatever dark apprehensions she had of God yet she fell far short of a Christian for till the heart be made good ground and purified by Faith 't is impossible it can bear good fruit 2ly We have the means of her Conversion 1. Paul Preaches 2. Lydia heard the Word 3. God makes the Word effectual he opens her heart 'T is this latter part of the verse that I design for the subject of my discourse viz. the means of Lydia's Conversion God opened the heart of Lydia c. The first thing that I shall note is this Doct. 1. That 't is Gods work to open mans heart God may and doth use inferiour means to knock but none can open but himself Gods word in Scripture is called a hammer Jer. 23.29 With this God beats and knocks at the door of our hearts but no heart opens unless it be held in the hand of his own Spirit hence is that complaint of the Prophet Isa 53.1 Lord who hath believed our report and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed No wonder that men believe not the report of the Gospel whilst God doth not put forth or make bare his own arm But for methods sake in prosecuting the Conclusion I shall observe this order 1. I shall shew what 's meant by the heart 2. What 't is to open the heart 3. I shall prove that 't is Gods work to open the heart 4. Shew why God opens the heart 5. Answer an Objection 6. Lastly come to Application 1. Then let us enquire what is meant by the heart and here to pass by the various significations of the Word in Scripture by heart here we are to understand the rational Soul with the faculties and affections which are therein for as the heart is the fountain of Natural life so 't is of Spiritual This is the womb wherein Christ is first formed see Rom. 10.10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness sc Here faith is seated here it s born and breaths its first breath Act. 8.37 Philip to the Eunuch If thou believest with all thine heart thou maist be baptized There is no less in that zealous Prayer of the Apostle for his Ephesians chap. 3.17 where he is upon his knees to the God of Heaven that Christ may dwell in their hearts by faith 3. Let us inquire what 't is to open the heart In short to open the heart is to convert a soul or to turn a sinner from the power of darkness unto God The word in the Original that is here used signifies properly to open a door Now our hearts in Scripture as they are usually called doors so by nature they are all shut and that under three several locks and God in our Conversion opens them all There is one lock or bar of ignorance and this is Gods first work to open our understanding by nature we are very darkness it self Ephes 5.8 Like that poor man born spiritually blind thick cataracts there are upon all our eyes unless God touch them with the hand of his Grace and say Ephphata be opened Now as the first creature that God made in the first Creation was Light Gen. 1. so 't is in the new Creation he commands light to shine out of darkness Oh the gross and rude notions and apprehensions that we have by nature of the most fundamental Truths or the Gospel How hardly are we perswaded that by nature we are in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity tell a poor sinner that he is the servant of sin he 'l reply as the Jews he was never in bondage to any man How hardly were the Disciples themselves perswaded that Christs Kingdom was any other than an earthly Kingdom With what difficulty were they brought to believe that their Lord and Master was risen nor had they at last had not Christ himself opened their understandings that they might understand the Scriptures Luk. 24.45 O rich mercy O Divine work The Preacher tells us 'T is a good thing for the eyes to see the light What a mercy is it then when Christ opens blind eyes to see the wonderful things contained in his Law Ps 119.18 2. The second
bar or bolt that by nature is upon our hearts is stubbornness this sticks to our wills man by nature is a way ward and a self-will'd creature our wills are imbondaged to sin and though we have a will to destory our selves yet we have none to save our selves Corrupt minds know no other law but their own lusts and of these they cry out as Israel of their Idols Strangers have we loved and strangers will we follow Jer. 2.25 When Christ comes and knocks at our hearts corruption presently rises to oppose him we will not have this man to reign over us Luk. 19.14 But God comes with his key and opens this door also he makes us of an unwilling to be a willing people Psal 110.3 This God doth not by violence and compulsion but in a sweet and a gracious way he perswades Japheth to dwell in the Tents of Shem Gen. 9.27 God reasons us out of our rebellion making use of that excellent gift of reason wherewith he hath adorned his creature And thus debates the case with him What reason have you to forsake me who am a fountain of living water for broken cisterns that will hold no water Why will you die O house of Israel When all was well between God and you was it not better with you than now Turn you turn you therefore from your evil ways Thus God treats man as a reasonable creature and takes the hint of his own gifts wherewith he bath endowed his creature 3. There 's one lock or bolt more which God opens and that is the Affections Man by mature cannot delight in God nor love him but when God woes in earnest he wins our hearts and engages all our affections to himself so that we love nothing but God or for God for when once the Will is won all is won For the Will among other perfections of the Soul hath the dominion over all the other faculties and affections when therefore it hath fixt the desires or some good that is proportionable to the wideness of the heart it useth its liberty for the choosing of such means as are most proper for the attaining of that good and imploys all the inseriour faculties for the execution of these means In short as soon as the Soul becomes ravisht with the apprehension of that infinite goodness that is in God it 's earnestly drawn out to desire union with him and participation of his glory So that now God is the adequate object of all our love joy and desire and that this is no other but Gods work see Deut. 30.6 The Lord thy God will circumcise thy heart and the heart of thy seed to love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul c. But this is more directly our next work 3. The third thing proposed is to prove that 't is Gods work to open mans heart He that made the heart can only open it men may knock but there 's none can open and enter but God alone We read in the Acts when the Exorcists undertook to cast out unclean spirits the Devils answered Jesus we know and Paul we know but who are ye Act. 19.15 'T is so here longer than God owns his messengers and stands by them Sin and Satan tell us God he knows and Jesus he knows but who are you A lively abridgment of Gods dealing with his people in this case we have in Cant. 5. where Christ comes wooes his Church and lays her open ver 2. but see what silly and sinful excuses she makes to put off Christ ver 3. I have put off my coat how shall I put it on But Christ had a purpose to enter and therefore we read ver 4. He put in his hand by the hole of the door and then her heart was affectioned toward him What is this hand or finger of Christ but the efficacy of his Spirit whereby he puts back the boult or unlocks the door of her heart before she could come and entertain him Christ first bores and digs thorough the heart and makes a passage for himself to enter and then comes in and takes possession The arguments for proof follow of which the first is this Res 1. Our hearts by nature are all possest by Satan and strongly fortified against God and Christ whence Christ thus frames his argument That the strong man armed keeps the house till a stronger than he comes and bind him Mat. 12.29 Satan hath the possession and will not leave his hold until he be over-powered so much that Scripture imports Col. 1.13 Who hath delivered us from the powers of darkness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hath delivered us by force so strong are his chains that nothing can break them but the hand of Omnipotency but Oh here is the happiness of Christ's redeemed that stronger is he that is in them than he that is in the world Thanks be to God who hath made us conquerors thorough our Lord Jesus Christ I Joh. 4.4 Res 2. If God come into the heart he enters the right way he doth not climb up the walls nor creep in at the windows such an entrance is not for the honour of the King of Saints and therefore he bids us open the everlasting doors c. Psal 24. as when a King enters a City the gates are set wide open or thrown off their hinges to congratulate the Kings coming and ta shew their joyful entertaining of their lawful Soveraign such an entrance is Christs God makes no forcible entry doth not break the house or enter against his peoples will no he sweetly subdues us as he that opens with a key now none but God hath a key to open those doors Rev. 3.7 The Angel to the Church of Philadelphia c. Thus saith he that hath the key of David which openeth and no man shutteth 'T is wonderful to see the strongest hold and most impregnable castle that from outward force is free and invincible yet 't is but the turning of a key that presently opens it and gives entrance without blood or blows so 't is here God oyls the lock and turns the key and the Soul opens Res 3. All heart-work in order to Salvation if it be effectual is ascribed to God Take a few Instances 1. God searches the heart Jer. 17.10 I the Lord search the heart and try the reins he only knows it that made it even he whose eyes are like a flame of fire that pierce to the bottom of hell The wiles and wickedness the depths and deceits of this member are so many that the Prophet cried out Who can know them Jer. 17.9 Who none but an Omniscient God before whose eyes all things are naked and bare 2. God opens our hearts to our selves so much as we know of them savingly Deut. 8.2 God minds Israel of the tedious and tiresom travel of theirs thorow the Wilderness forty years which was to humble them and prove them to know what was in their
mans son the son of a Wheeler afterward Bishop of Mentz when he was advanced to the honour of that Bishoprick to suppress that pride which the greatness of his place exposed him to that he caused several Wheels to be hung up about his Chamber with this inscription Memento Willigis unde eras Remember Willigis from whence thou art Oh that we could look back to the rock from whence we were hewnl c. we should find that we are but the sinful slime of rebellious Parents loyns Thus God pricks that swelling tumor of pride in Israel to which she was subject by her advancement and bids her remember that a poor Syrian ready to perish was her father Deut. 26.5 Whatever honours or excellencies we have received by Christ yet the Apostle tells us 't is our duty to remember that by nature we were children of wrath even as others Eph. 2.3 Here 's a holy art to make the elder brother Corruption to serve the younger Grace a serious remembrance of our natural vileness may keep the soul humble in our greatest attainments Vse 3. It informs us of the piercing power of Gods Word however weak and contemptible in the eyes of carnal reason It s sound is heard in the ear but its force is felt in the heart Paul preaches and Felix trembles Peters Sermon prickt the Jews to the heart Act. 2.37 This was the fruit of Christs dealing with his Church Cant. 5.4 as soon as she felt his hand in the hole of the door her very heart was affectioned toward him justly therefore 't is called a sharp two-edged sword c. Heb. 4.12 Elisha had his sword as well as Jehu And God hews his enemies by his Prophets and slays them by the words of their mouth This sword is like Saul's it never returns empty if it doth not destroy our sins it will destroy our souls Vse 4. It cautions us against a mistake When we hear that 't is Gods work to open mans heart we are apt to conclude that God expect nothing from us Take we heed we do not thus abuse the grace of the Gospel God delights to improve his own gifts he hath endowed man with the gift of Reason and saves him as a Reasonable Creature And therefore though all means of Grace have their virtue and efficacy from God and he alone is the principal cause and author of our Salvation Yet God expects when he perswades that we consent when he wooes by his Word that we yield lest striving with our Maker we provoke him to deal with us as he did with the old World when for their contumacy and impenitency he resolved that his Spirit should no longer strive with man Gen. 6.3 Vse 5. The next Use therefore shall be of Counsel or rather Command in the name of the great God of Heaven and Earth that when God by his Word calls to us from Heaven and bids us open that with a holy readiness we open those everlasting doors To provoke you to which duty I shall add these Considerations Arg. 1. So long as our hearts are shut against God we our selves are shut out of all comfortable communion with God God delights in none but where he is entertained mark that Scripture Rev. 3.20 If any man hear my voice and open the door I will come in to him and sup with him I 'le feast that man with my Presence my Grace my Comforts this man only shall know indeed what is that plenty rarity and variety which is in that feast of fat things that I have made in my holy mountain To such I will make known my self I 'le take them into my imbraces feed and feast them with my Promises they shall see my face and know by experience what 't is to have fellowship with the Father and with his Son Now pray consider could you be content to live a few years in the World and to hear only what a blessed thing it is to enjoy the love of God and the light of his Countenance the sweet and soul-ravishing Comforts of his spirit and yet to live and die and go to your graves and never know nor taste any of this spiritual sweetness this must be your case if your hearts be not opened Arg. 2. Consider that God yet offers to open your hearts though we perhaps have stopt our ears thousands of times yet he once more stands at the door and knocks and cries open open And I make my appeal to your own Consciences if there be any life or tenderness in them whether you find not God striving to come in while by the hammer of his Word he knocks and begs you by his Messenger to give your hearts to him Is not God at this instant convincing some that he is a lost perishing creature in himself is he not shewing you the incomparable excellency of Christ and his al-sufficiency to save Sinners Oh how think you to escape if you neglect so great Salvation you have heard of that fearful resolution of God against the impenitent old World when by the preaching of Noah a hundred years together God had perswaded them to repent yet all to no purpose what says God at last My spirit shall not alway strive with man Oh when God strives with us in mercy and we strive with God by impenitency 't is sad Wo to him that thus strives with his maker Well whatsoever was written aforetime was written for our instruction If we will not take example from the old world that is past be sure we shall make example to the new World that is to come Isa 45.9 Arg. 3. Consider to whom 't is we are to open why 't is to Christ Open to me my sister c. an Emphatick word and as Ezekiel's Wheels were full of eyes so is this word full of motives To me that am thy Saviour thy King thy Priest thy Prophet thy Bridegroom thy Beloved thy Brother Ah who would not open to such a one As Laban said to Abrahams servant Come in thou blessed of the Lord why standest thou without Gen. 24.31 so should we say when he comes to our door yea as Lot pressed the two Angels greatly when they seemed strange and overcame them with his importunity that they came in Gen. 19.3 so should we Arg. 4. Consider Gods end in opening of the heart 't is to dwell there God dwelleth not in Temples made with hands but as he hath chosen Heaven for his glorious Presence so he hath chosen the heart for his gracious Presence Isa 57.16 Neither will God come in empty he brings Salvation and all other blessings with him thus Christ told Zacheus Luk. 19.9 This day is salvation come to thy house There 's nothing lost by entertaining this guest where he comes his reward is with him if Obed Edom's house were blessed for entertaining Gods Ark how blessed is that heart that opens and entertains God himself 2. But some may object that Believers have opened already and
he ceased not to give thanks for them making mention of them always in his prayers Had Paul known any blessing better than this sure he whose heart was so set upon them would have begged it for them But further to prove the greatness of this inestimable blessing read 2 Cor. 6.16 where the Apostle enjoyns his Corinthians the highest pitch of holiness upon this ground For what agreement hath the temple of God with idols for ye are the temple of the living God as he hath said I will dwell in them and walk among them and I will be their God and they shall be my people In this Scripture we have a double argument to prove the greatness of this blessing 1 Christs dwelling in his people 1. The greatness of the duty that is urged from it v. 17. Come forth from among them and be ye separate c. Now for weighty services God usually furnishes his people with strongest arguments as is evident in Abraham's case Gen. 17.1 't was high service that God enjoyned him Walk before me and be thou perfect And high encouragements God gave him I am God all-sufficient c. Deus jubet juvat God's Commands carry strength with them whatever Abraham's weakness be yet this supports him that the everlasting arms are under him God is all-sufficient both for the work and reward 'T was hard work too on which God set Moses when he sent him with a commission to deliver Israel from Egypt and suitable encouragements God gives him God finds his heart low and raises it to a height suiting his service by working no less than three several Miracles to strengthen him his Rod is turned into a Serpent his hand is leprous and the river is turned into blood Exod. 4. 2. A second argument which this Scripture yields us to prove the greatness of this blessing is this That Christs dwelling in us is but a short abridgment of the Covenant of Grace for that 's presently added I will be your God and you shall be my people When we have summed up all those invaluable blessings that are treasured up in the Covenant we have all in a little viz. in Christ dwelling in us peace pardon grace glory all is virtually comprehended in this 2ly Again 't is the very blessing God promises the Saints in Heaven Rev. 21.3 where S. John saw the new Jerusalem coming down from God out of Heaven c. He heard a voice from heaven saying Behold the Tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people c. Christs dwelling in us is but Heaven aforehand or Heaven upon Earth if God dwell in us here by his Grace he will dwell with us in glory But for our more Methodical prosecution of the point I shall confine my self to this method 1. I shall explain it 2. Confirm and 3. Apply it For the Explication I shall do that by answering several Queries in which the sum of the Conclusion lies Q. 1. The first is what we are to understand by the heart A. Not to trouble our selves with the various acceptations of the word heart in Scripture many of which are impertinent to our purpose we are to understand by heart the Will and the Affections especially as in the former Discourse these are the spring out of which are the issues of life Prov. 4.22 and that good treasure mentioned Mat. 12.24 But a good man out of the good treasure of his heart c. Q. The next thing to be enquired is what we are to understand by Christs dwelling in us A. It 's a Metaphorical or figurative speech to shew that intimacy and holy acquaintance that is between Christ and Believers Christ is not in the heart as a stranger in an Inn where he tarries but a night but as a man dwelling in his own house where he lives and works and rules c. More particularly this dwelling of Christ implys these several things 1. It implys propriety Christ will never usurp where he hath no right no he never dwells but in his own his own he will never lose and more than his own he will never take All that the Father hath given me shall come to me Job 6.37 Satan shall never sit quiet for ever in a soul that belongs to Christ though the strong man armed keeps the house yet a stronger than himself will come and bind him not one of those that are heirs of the promises shall miscarry no I will ransom them from the Power of the grave I will redeem them from death Hos 13.14 4. Christ's dwelling in believers implies actual possession a man may have a just right or claim where yet he may not dwell Christ doth not content himself with a bare right to his redeemed but he takes actual possession of them he keeps house in theirs hearts Joh. 14.20 At that day you shall know that I am in my Father and you in me and I in you Furthermore Christ Jesus may be said to possess believers two ways 1. By assuming our nature When the Word was made flesh he dwelt among us Joh. 1.14 1 lived and conversed awhile with the sons of men yea he dwelt in us in as much as he was partaker of flesh and blood with us And as the fulness of the God-head dwelt in Christ so Christ too dwells in us 2. By communicating to us his Spirit The Spirit of Christ is the Fountain of all Grace and comfort and by this Spirit of Christ we have both union and communion with him Gal. 2.20 Christ liveth in me Christ is in us as a Principle of life and Grace active and operative he is not in the Soul as once he was in the ship asleep but always inciting quickening and enlivening his elect who would again becom dead in sin but he acts and excites his own Grace in them 3. Christs dwelling in us means the neerest intimacy that is imaginable 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so 't is in the original I will indwell in them 2 Cor. 6.16 As if Christ could never have communion enough with his People Now this sweet and saving intimacy will appear in those things 1. His People shall know his secrets Psal 25.14 The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him and he will shew them his Covenant The saints are all Gods secretaries when God intended that fearful overthrow of Sodom shall I hide from Abraham saies God the thing that I do No Abraham was his friend and as a bosom-friend He shall know his Councell such honour have all his saints 2. He will speak to their hearts Hos 2.14 When the hearts of Gods People are so overwhelmed with grief that men and Angels prove miserable comforters They may speak to the ear but cannot reach the heart then Christ alone doth this I even I am he that doth comfort thee c. Isa 51.12 Christ speaks such things as make our hearts leap Thus he spake
from our reins 2. Learn hence next That there is nothing lost by giving Christ entertainment No 't is the gain of a Christian as God blessed Obed-edom for entertaining the Ark so doth he much more bless Believers for entertaining his Son Christ What glorious guests had just Lot when he entertained two Angels a much more glorious guest hath every one that entertains Christ Jesus he brings Salvation with him and so salutes the heart that receives him as he did Zachens This day is salvation come to thy house 3. Learn next what a mystery or rather miracle there is in the actings of saving Faith in that it unites Christ and the soul and brings them to dwell together Wonder we may that though Christ in regard of his humane nature be in Heaven and we on Earth yet Faith easily narrows this wide distance and in an instant possesses the soul with its beloved Jesus As the soul by vertue of sight inlightned with the Sun doth joyn it self with the body of the Sun and touch it after a manner so the eye of Faith inlightned with the beams of the Spirit which come from the Sun of righteousness doth joyn and unite it self with Christ Jesus Vse 2. The next is a use of Trial. If it be so great a blessing to have Christ Jesus dwelling in our hearts it concerns us all to try whether he dwell in our hearts or no. Now the tokens of his presence or evidences of his co-habitation with us may be these 1. The heart in which Christ dwells is an humble heart Isa 57.15 Christ was a pattern of Humility himself Learn of me for I am meek and lowly of spirit And Christ delights to be no-where but in a heart that is like himself The richer the Ship is laden the more water it draws and the lower it sails so 't is here that heart that carries Christ is laden with more than a golden mine it carries him in whom are hid all spiritual treasures and all such souls sail low Abraham calls himself dust and ashes David a worm and no man great Paul the chiefest of sinners though every Saint that is his successor contend still for that title The most hard-hearted sinner so Mr. Bradford subscribed his Letter 2. The heart where Christ dwells is inflamed with the love of God In cold frozen spirits or hearts that are luke-warm like Laodicea Christ likes not to be as the Sun begets heat on inferiour bodies by shining on them so doth Christ the Sun of Righteousness when he ariseth on a soul though he find our hearts cold yet he makes them by his spiritual presence burn within us as it fared with them with whom he journeyed to Emaus Luk. 24.32 The soul burns with love and burns with desire to Christ Jesus that is once united to him Read Joh. 14.23 If any man love me he will keep my word and my Father will love him and we will come unto him and make our abode with him As when Christ comes he comes willing so where he comes he comes welcome Mary entertained Christ and she loved him much and this love discovered it self in spending that costly Oyntment on his sacred body There 's nothing too dear for Christ in his account where Christ dwells but such a one says with the Martyr He is glad he hath any thing to lose for Christ or with the Church whatever good thing he hath he keeps it only for him Cant. 7.13 2ly With love to our Brethren If we love one another God dwelleth in us 1 Joh. 4.12 God loves to be where love is One observes That where the Devil dwells all is in peace much more where God dwells who is the God of peace If then we find our hearts filled with malice and hatred toward our brethren we may confidently conclude God is not in this place the Lamb of God will never lie in a Lions den We read in Judg. 9.23 God sent an evil spirit between the house of Abijam and the men of Shechem a spirit of hatred enmity and division This is an evil Spirit from the Devil not from God where Satan dwells he sets all on fire not with fire that warms but consumes And when we give place to wrath we give place to the Devil Ephes 4.27 3. The heart wherein Christ dwells is a holy heart as no unholy thing shall for ever dwell with him so neither will Christ dwell with it The heart is a Temple 2 Cor. 6.16 Ye are the Temples of the holy Ghost now we know Temples are holy consecrated things That which is lawful to be done in another place is not lawful to be done in a Temple we read Mark 11.16 Christ would not suffer a vessel to be carried thorow the Temple Neither will he have the hearts of believers made a rode for sin no If any man defiles the Temple of God him will God destroy 1 Cor. 3.17 4. The heart where Christ dwells lives in a sweet subjection to Christ and his Laws His commands are not grievous but his yoke is easy and his burden light Christ dwells no-where but where he is acknowledged and serves as a King for God hath appointed him both for a Prince and a Saviour Act. 5.31 The Government is laid by God upon his shoulders and he makes every thought to stoop and come into subjection to himself Well then where men serve not the Lord but their lusts set up their corruptions and cry down Christ in such hearts Christ never dwells But a Soul possest by Christ sets Christ in the Throne and cryes up Christ as the Jews did Caesar We have no King but him 5. The heart in which Christ dwells is a tender heart Such as tremble at Gods Word Isa 57.15 A hard sensless heart is a dead heart And as the Angels to the Women that sought Christ in the sepulchre So we may say in this case Why seek ye the living among the dead Christ is a Spring and a Fountain of life to every believing Soul Because I live ye shall live also Now where there is life there is sense dead men nor fear any thing nor feel it but living men do both they feel the least guilt and fear the wrath and anger of God they are sensible of every miscarriage and their heart smites them on the commission of the least sin as David did when he cut off but the lap of Sauls garment Such a heart shews who is in it to wit that Christ dwells in 't such a heart we read was in good Josiah whose heart was so tender that he wept but at the reading of the Law 2 Kings 22.19 Vse 3. This should cheer the hearts of all believers what unspeakable comfort doth this bring to every one whose heart is a habitation for Christ Jesus how doth Christ honour you that when the World scorns you Christ crowns you when men shun you the Son of God dwells in you Surely this blessing affords matter