Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	believe_v	faith_n	revelation_n	2,202	5	9.5251	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A88578	A Christians duty and safety in evill times Delivered in severall sermons, upon four texts of scripture, viz. Christ's prayer the saints support, on Iohn 17 15[.] A divine ballance to weigh all doctrines by, on 1 Thes.5. 21[.] A Christians great enquiry, on Acts 16.30, 31[.] A description of true blessedness, on Luke 11. 28[.] By that faithfull messenger of Jesus Christ, Mr Christopher Love, late minister of Laurence-jury, London. Whereunto is annexed The saints rest, or Their happy sleep in death. As it was delivered in a sermon at Aldermanbury, London. Aug. 24. 1651. By Edmund Calalmy. B. D.	Love, Christopher, 1618-1651.; Calamy, Edumnd, 1600-1666. Saints rest.	1653 (1653)	Wing L3147; Thomason E1434_3-4; ESTC R209589	82,542	242

they are gone out into the whole World Therefore try the Spirits whether they be of God try before ye trust before ye beleive Thirdly 3 Reason False Doctrines are published very craftily trie all Doctrines that you hear preached because false Doctrines and Heresies come from the publishers of them very slily and craftily into the minds of men There is not more legerdemain shewed by a cunning juggler then by these false Teachers they are subtile cunning to pervert the minds of men As the Apostle shewes Ephes 4.14 Ephe. 4.14 That we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro and carryed about with every wind of Doctrin by the stight of men and cunning craftinesse whereby they lie in wait to deceive The word in the Greek is very emphatical 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by mens cogging of a die It is a word borrowed from cheating gamesters that can throw with a die what way they please These Teachers can as easily convey errors into the minds of men as a cunning gamster can cheat with a die We have had many such sly and subtile convayances or else the truths of God could never have been perverted amongs us as they are It is Observable Rev. 9.8 That the locusts that came out of the East Rev. 9.8 had their faces like the faces of women Interpreters expound them to be Iesuites and factors for Rome they had womens faces insinuating and allureing countenances invea gleing enticeing and bewitching of men with their follies Of such the Apostle speaks Rom. 16.18 For they that are such Ro. 16.18 serve not our Lord Iesus Christ but their own bellies and by good words and fair speches deceive the hearts of the simple Even as a foul faced whore painteth her face so do they their damnable errors with eloquent insinuations sometimes they tickle itching ears with such eloquent Notions as may make them admired And sometimes they suggest high priveledges unspeakable advantages by what they deliver As the Devil did to our first parents ye shall be like unto Gods Error must have good words to varnish it over and fair speeches plausible eloquent and accute deliveries By good words they deceive the hearts of the simple And 2 Pet. 2.1 the Apostle sets forth their flynesse in bringing in damnable Heresies 2 Pet. 2.1 Had Peter lived in our age he would have been accounted a bitter man to call them Heresies yea and damnable Heresies but they were privily brought in and saith he many shall follow their pernicious waies and through covetousnesse shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you with feigned words this must be done under the specious pretence of Truth new Light they will mix some gold with their copper some truths with their falsehoods Sunt mala mista bonis sunt bona mista malis they will sweeten their baits that they may take the sooner For if Error was nakedly brought in there is scarce a man would embrace it it would appear in such an ugly shape and therefore it is that they cloath it with a semblance of truth and piety Fourthly 4. Reason There is an aptness in our nature to be turned aside unto error You should try all Doctrines that you heare before you beleive them because through the credulity that is in us men of the most sollidest judgments are apt to be led away with novelties and deceived with error we are by nature like the sand in the Sea Est natura hominum novitatis avida moved with every wave like reeds shaken with every puff of winde A notable text you have for this 2. Cor. 11.3 But I fear lest by any means as the serpent beguiled Eve through her subtilty so your mindes should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ The Devil would not make use of a dotish soo lish creature but a subtil Serpent to beguile Eve in makeing her to eat of the forbidden fruit Now saith the Apostle I am affraid lest the Devil by his subtile temptation should pervert your minds from the truth of the Gospel This shewes that there was an aptnesse in their nature to be turned aside unto error And moreover even the most holy and most understanding in the mysteries of God are but in part enlightened wee see through a glasse 1 Cor. 13.12 darkly 1 Cor. 13.12 And though they would not willingly missend you yet through the remain der of ignorance and corruption that is in them it is possible that they may take error for truth therefore no mans piety or learning should so far blind us as to beleive whatsoever he speaks without bringing of it unto the Touchstone of the Word for we must not build our faith on humane but on divine authority we must imitate the noble Beraeans and daily search the Scriptures whether those Doctrines that we heare bee indeed the truth of God They were commended for this Acts 17 1● Acts 17.11 O Beloved Take nothing upon trust upon the Authority of the preacher weigh all things in the Ballance of the Sanctuary You must do with the Doctrins you hear as you doe with gold a man wil not take gold without weighing of it O there is as much falsehood in opinions as in mettals therefore weigh all things It is not what this man sayes be he Cephas or Apollo be he never so emminent for Learning and Religion But what God saies in the Scripture for the Scriptures are the Rule of Faith Quod de Scripturis sacris authoritatem non habet eadam facilitate contemnitur quae probatur and whatsoever is not according to this Rule reject it as the drosse of mans corrupt brains and doe not receive it as the gold of Gods pure Word Now it may be said you have given divers Reasons why we should not beleive such Doctrins as we hear before we have tried them But what Rules and Directions can you give how such a weak ignorant Christian as I am should bee able to try and judge of such Doctrines as I hear bic labor hoc opus But I shall endeavour both in general and in perticular to give Answer to this great Quaerie And I hope it will bee of great use unto us in these erring times wherein false Teachers and false Doctrines doe so much abound First ● General Rule 〈◊〉 the ●●●ipture 〈◊〉 the ●●andard 〈◊〉 which 〈…〉 all ●●ctrines take this general rule Be sure you make the Word of God to bee the Scandard by which you try and prove all Doctrines that you heare and if there bee any thing preached although it should be by an Angell from Heaven that is not according to the Word of God beleive it not This is the Prophets direction Esay 8.20 To the Law 〈◊〉 8.20 and to the Testimony if they speak not according to this Word it is because there is no Light in them By the Law and Testimonie wee are to understand the

presumptuous confidence Paul saith Beleive and be Saved Faith and Repentane must bee joyned together to let you know that that Repentance which is not joined with Faith is but a legal sorrow Therefore one saith beleive the other saith repent to shew that ye must joyn both together Had only this answer bin given Beleive and be saved Men would then have said that it is but a short cut to Heaven it is but beleiving Peter saith Repent and bee Saved to shew that both must come into the Christians practise that Faith and Repentance must goe hand in hand together if ye do expect Salvation Now this I note the rather because there are some men that are all for beleiving on Jesus Christ and not at all for repentance and mourning for sin These make Peters answer to bee no answer at all Then there are others that are all for repentance they are troubled in spirit and distressed in mind they wish their heads were water and their eyes a fountain of tears they think by their sorrow for sin to make an attonement with God but they do not at all rest on Jesus Christ by faith Now these men make Pauls answer to be no answer at all But remember you must Repent and be Saved with Peter and you must Beleive and be Saved with Paul But I shall only breifly speak to the answer which Paul and Silas here give Doctrin And from thence observe That it is the duty of all those that expect Salvation to beleive in Iesus Christ But me thinks I hear some say If this be so surely then Salvation may be had on very easy terms for do not all beleive on Jesus Christ God forbid that any should be so wicked as not to beleive on their Saviour I answer Indeed there are many that have a kinde of beleife an historical notional common dead faith such a faith as Simon Magus had as the stony ground had as the Devils have who beleive and tremble This faith a man may have and goe to Hell But there are few in the World who have a lively precious unfained faith which the Scripture doth indeed account beleiving in Christ which whosoever hath shall never perish but have everlasting life Few there are that are willing to receive Christ as he is tendred in the Gospel to receive Christ as a King to rule them as well as a Jesus to save them Few that are willing to receive a naked Christ Christ with his Crosse as well as Christ with his Crown Few that are as ready to give up themselves to Christ for Sanctification as to take Christ for justification Most people love the Preistly office of Christ to purchase Salvation for them but they doe not love the Kingly office of Christ to conquer Corruption in them they would be willing to have Christ receive them into Heaven but they are not willing to receive Christ into their hearts In the day of their callamitie when they lie upon their sick beds and the terrours of death take hold upon them then none but Christ none but Christ But in the day of their prosperity when the World smiles upon them and Riches Health surrounds them then Christ is disesteemed by them they see no beauty in him why they should desire him For there is no wicked man in the World will take Christ upon Gospel tearms in the time of his health and outward prosperity And moreover most people think that it is the easiest matter in the World for to beleive that it is but Beleiving that it is in their power to beleive at any time when they will and that they can beleive time enough when they lie upon their Death-beds Not considering God puts forth the same almighty power when he workes faith in the soul as he did when hee raised up Jesus Christ from the dead as the Apostle shewes 1 Ephe. 19.20 Eph. 1.19.20 And what is the exceeding greatnesse of his power to us-ward who beleive according to the working of his mighty power which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead It is as impossible for a man by his own power to make himselfe to beleive as to create a world or give a being to himselfe And here consider that every assent unto the Word is not beleiving Bellarmine indeed saith that beleiving is only a bare assent to the Word but if saving faith did only consist in a bare assent to Scripture truth then there would bee multitudes of beleevers in the World but such beleivers God will never own 2 Consider that Faith is not a presumptuous confidence the nature of Faith doth consist in this It is a grace of God wrought in the heart of an humbled sinner What Saving ●aith ●● who doth discern his sins to be enough to Damn him and all his own Righteousnesse to bee too little to Save him therefore he goeth out of himselfe and rests and relies wholly on the Righteousnesse of Iesus Christ expecting Salvation only by him Now should wee take a Survay of all the sons of men where should we finde them that do thus beleive on Jesus Christ How few are there in the World that feele their sins pressing fore upon them that see all their Righteousnesse and Religious performances to be things of no vallue in point of justification that finde in their souls longing desires after Jesus Christ that they may bee found in Christ not having their own righteousnesse that roul their burdened souls upon Jesus Christ resolving that if they perish there they will perish Certainly Beloved should men try their hearts by this description of Faith there would be found but few beleivers in the World Vse Now for a word of Application And first from the Enquirie that the poor man makes Sirs what must I doe to be Saved Inference 1 Hence learn to take heed that you doe not make Enquiry after toyes and trifles and in the mean time neglect the great matters of Eternal Life It was a sordid spirit in that King Sardanapalus who would bee Spining and Carding amongst the women when hee should have bin Ruling and Governing his Kingdome There are many men that are of this base and ignoble temper they spend their time their strength and labour in base and sordid imployments and in the mean time neglect the great and important affaires of an heavenly Kingdom Inference 2d A second Inference is this If so be there are but few in the World that make Enquirie how to be saved Then hence wee may conclude that there are but few in the World that shall bee saved There are many in the World that never came so far as with that morall yong man spoken of in Math. 19. to ask this Question Math. 19 what good thing shall I doe that I may inherit eternall Life that never with the Jaylor enquired What must I doe to be saved Oh beloved if the most of the World doe never make

Word of God which is his Testimonie and if any speak otherwise then according to Gods Word it is a cleare and evident signe that there is no Light nor Truth in them I give you this direction because there are multitudes of vaine people in these our daies who wave the written Word of God and run to Inspirations and Revelations to try Doctrines by which are no certain Rules and so by this means they entertain satanical delusions and not heavenly inspirations But I would desire such seriously to mind this one Text of Scripture 2 Pet. 1.18 19. It is in 2 Pet. 1.18 19. And this voyce which came from Heaven we heard when we were with him in the holy mount wee have also a more sure word of Prophesy The written Word of God is more sure in regard of us then if wee should heare a voyce from Heaven And that is the reason that when Dives desired that some extraordinarie course might be taken Luke 16. to prevent his brethrens coming to Hell and therefore desired that Lazarus might bee sent from the grave to forewarne them and then he thought they would beleive Abraham sends him to Moses and the Prophets and saith If they will not hear them neither would they be perswaded though one should rise from the dead If wee should hear a voyce in the aire we must not beleive that voice but we must beleive what we finde on record in the Word of God Deut 29 ult Deut. 29 ult Secret things belong unto the Lord our God but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our Children for ever that we may do all the words of this Law This I mention to shew you that men that pretend so much to Revelations and leave the written Word of God are in the ready way to run into Satanical delusions and grosse mistakes A second general Direction about trying such Doctrines as you heare is this 2 Generall Rule Rather maintain than dispure clear principles of truth viz. Clear principles of Truth must rather be maintained then disputed It is a rule in Philosophy that principles against principles are not to bee disputed and this Rule holds good in Divinity we must not dispute such principles as these viz. whether Christ be the Son of God Or the Scripture the Word of God The Resurrection of the body The Salvation of Saints the Damnation of Sinners Iudgment to come or Life everlasting Such fundamental principles as these are to be maintained but not disputed Thirdly maintain no opinion stifly until you have tryed it throughly 3 Generall Rule Maintaine no opiniuntill you have tryed it Such is the instability of mens minds in this erronious age that one Sermon many times shall more pervert them from the Truths of the Gospell then twenty Sermons shall settle them again Object But it will be further said such as are both learned and godly doe differ in many things one aserts this to be a truth another that to be a truth now how shall such a poor creature as I am judge whether such Doctrines be Truth or no Answer For answer hereunto As I have in the general directed you so I shall now more particularly give you some Rules and Directions by which you are to try all Doctrines that you hear Rule 1 First whatsoever the Word of God doth expresly hold forth to be beleived and received or whatsoever doth necessarily flow from Scripture by a natural and genuine consequence though it be not to be found in Scripture totidem verbis in open and expresse words or whatsoever doth agree with the genuine fence of any one place of Scripture although it may seem not to agree with the litteral fence of another place of Scripture or whatsoever Doctrine is agreeable to the end intent and scope of the Scripture This Doctrine is sound and to be embraced But on the contrary that Doctrine which is not to be found in Scripture which is not bottomed upon the Scripture which cannot be drawn rationally from the Scripture by a necessary consequence but is built upon the Traditions Inventions of men which ads to the Word or detracts from the Word which doth wrest and pervert the Scripture or strain it to mens corrupt opinions or whatsoever Doctrine will not abide the tryall of the Word will not abide the Light That Doctrine is false and to be abhorred Rule 2 Secondly whatsoever Doctrine doth advance the grace of God in Christ and debaseth man that putts the crown of glory upon Gods Free grace that Doctrine is sound But on the contrary that Doctrine which debaseth the grace of God in Christ and advanceth the corrupt Will of man and which sets Free-will against Free grace that Doctrine is unsound Rule 3 Thirdly whatsoever Doctrine doth advance the Will of God as well as the Grace of God which shewes what God would have us to doe as well as what he hath promised to doe for us that Doctrine is a true Doctrine But on the contrary that Doctrine which cries up the Free grace of God and in the mean time gives liberty to men to live as they list which doth make the Will of God for obedience and the Grace of God for salvation to be contrary one to the other that Doctrine is a false Doctrine Rule 4 Fourthly that Doctrine which advanceth all the Attributes of God the Justice of God as well as the Mercy of God the Holinesse of God as well as the Grace of God and approves of and commends all those wayes and paths which God hath set out in Scripture for us to walk in which teaches us Faith Repentance Piety towards God and Charity towards man that Doctrine is sound and good But on the contrary whatsoever Doctrine doth rob God of his glory in any of his Attributes that makes God either unmercifull or unjust c. or that sleights any one of those waies that God hath chalked out in Scripture for us to walk in or that dis-joines the two Tables of God separating Pietie from Charitie acts of Righteousnesse from acts of Holinesse Let it pretend never so much Charity to men if it doth not acknowledge Pietie to God or if it pretend never so much Pietie to God if it directs not Charitie and Righteousnesse to men that Doctrine is false and corrupt Rule 5 Fiftly whatsoever Doctrine discovers the sinfulnesse of vain thoughts lustfull imaginations as well as sinfull practices that Doctrine is true But that Doctrine which requireth only outward reformation and reach eth not unto heart purification that Doctrine is unsound Rule 6 Sixthly that Doctrine which advanceth all Truth the directing Truth as well as the comforting Truth the commanding Truth as well as the promising Truth that advanceth both Law and Gospel that Doctrine is sound But on the contrary that Doctrine which is pleasing to the corrupt nature of man easie to flesh and blood that makes way for loosenesse and prophanesse

that Doctrine is unsound Rule 7 Seventhly whatsoever Doctrine doth necessarily tend to settle and compose a troubled Conscience by teaching us to bottom only upon the merits of Christ for salvation and not upon our own good works that Doctrine is sound But that Doctrine which leaves a distressed perplexed Conscience without any sound bottom to rest upon by teaching men to place the stresse of their salvation upon the mutable Will of man this is not only an uncomfortable but an unsound Doctrine Rule 8 Eightly that Doctrine that tends to the advancement of godlinesse in a mans Christian course which as the Apostle speakes Titus 1.1 acknowledgeth the truth which is after godlinesse which conduceth to the perfecting of holinesse that puts us on to diligent care to work out our salvation with feare and trembling that helps on the work of grace in the soul that tends to inform the judgement reform the heart and conform the life to the whol Will of God that Doctrine is true and good But on the contrary that Doctrine which tends to Licentiousnesse and Libertinism causing men to neglect the Ordinances of God and to grow weary of Congregationall Worship Family Worship and Closet Worship that turns the grace of God into Wantonnesse that magnifies the Death of Christ but destroyes the Life of Christ that sets up the Blood of Christ the Priestly Office of Christ but regards not the Commands of Christ the Kingly Office of Christ that makes men confident of Mercy but carelesse of Repentance that makes Christ mercifull but leaves them sinfull or at the best brings them but to a form of godlinesse without the power thereof that Doctrine is erronious and dangerous Truth ever advanceth godlinesse but erronious Doctrine is contrary thereunto 2 Tim. 2.16 2 Tim 2.16 Shun prophane and vayn bablings for they will encrease unto more ungodlinesse We finde in our dayes the fruit of vain bablings and Disputes to be the broaching of such damnable Opinions as these viz That a man must not mourn for sinne must not confesse sinne must not pray for pardon of sinne and thus three parts of Prayer are taken away So concerning the Decree of God that if they bee decreed to bee saved they shall bee saved let them live as they list and if they bee decreed to bee damned they shall bee damned let them doe what they can Whereas the Doctrine of Election and Reprobation should bee a spur to stir us up in pursuit after holinesse So concerning the Law of God that it is of no use to believers And many such like pernicious Doctrines are occasioned by vain Disputes all which tend to more ungodlinesse which is enough to prove them to be false for truth ever advanceth practical godlynesse in a mans Christian course Rule 9 Lastly Doctrines of truth will be true when they are tryed truth fears no tryal it is error that fears the light that creeps into houses and dares not appear in publique that seiseth upon silly women laden with corruption as the Apostle speaks 2 Tim. 3.6 but dares not encounter with a knowing Christian 2. Tim. 3.6 And therefore it is that the Turks doe forbid any man to dispute against their Alkoran And therfore it is that the Church of Rome will not suffer the common people to read the Bible but they must pin their Faith upon other mens sleeves and believe as the Church believes And thus they cause their Errors and Idolatries to bee swallowed down whereas were they brought into the light the weaknesse and sinfulnesse thereof would appear The sum of all is this When you heare any Doctrine delivered compare it with the VVord of God and if you finde that it doth crosse any part of the old or new Testament believe it not for it is not Truth but Error These Rules and Directions for the trying of such Doctrines as you hear may be of great advantage unto you in these loose and erronious times if the Lord give you hearts to make a right improvement thereof Nay Conscience doth not tell mee of any thing delivered unto you repugnant unto the Scripture But trust nothing that I preach untill you have tried it and if you finde any thing disagreeable to the written Word of God reject it Prove all things hold fast that that which is good FINIS A CHRISTIANS great Enquiry Text. Acts 16.30 31. And said sirs what must I doe to be saved And they said beleive on the Lord Iesus Christ and thou shalt bee saved THis Text is propounded by way of interrogation the manner of its composure intimates that it is the Ebulition of a perplexed mind the Quere of a distempered and distressed soul and that about a businesse of the greatest moment in the World There are many critical curious and controversial Questions that men enquire after in these daies But this Question that the poor Jaylor here asked is a Question of the greatest concernment that ever can bee made by any man It was no lesse then this what he might doe to be saved The Question seems to be the expression of a man in great anguish and consternation of mind and truly the matter the Question is about is such as might trouble all the World As a grave Divine answered one that came unto him saying Sir I am troubled about my Salvation saith hee freind it is a businesse that might trouble all the World So here this poor man cries out to Paul and Silas what must I doe to be saved I shall not spend time about the Explication but shall dispatch what I have to say in a practical prosecution of these words Before I come to the points of Doctrin I intend to handle There are 3 concurrent circumstances about the words from whence 3 Observations will arise 1 From the consideration of the condition of the man that propounds this serious Question a Iaylor a calling in those times especially full of infamy because the followers of Christ were most of all in bonds when Oppressors and men of violence escaped free yet behold a Iaylor the object of pardoning mercy Hence Observe 1 Observation From the condition of the man that propounds this Question That men of the most despicable condition in the World may become the objects of Gods pardoning mercy Salvation is not impailed within the rank of the rich and honourable of the World but sometimes men of the lowest rank become the objects of Gods mercy Pardoning grace reacheth sometimes to the vildest and most notorious sinners in the World Christ came not to call the righteous Mark 2.17 but sinners to repentance 2. From the consideration of the occasion or manner of this Jaylors conversion for it is said In the night there was a great Earth-quake in the prison and the Keeper awakened out of his sleep and when he arose he saw all the prison doores open and thinking that all the prisoners had been gone hee was in great perplexity of minde

Devil out of a man that was dumb caused the fame of Christ to have great renown through many parts of the World And though for all this his enemies would not acknowledge the Divinity of Christ yet a certain young woman as may be gathered from the history came and lifted up her voice and said unto him Blessed is the womb that bare thee and the paps that thou hast sucked Now Christ instead of giving her thanks for applauding of him doth rather give her a rebuke a check and said I will tell thee who are blessed Rather blessed are they that bear the Word of God and keep it Thus you have the coherence of the words This speech of the woman was a proverbial speech amongst the Jews when any person did an acheivement that was praise worthy they would cry out and say Blessed is the womb that bare thee And from this proverbial speech I would note thus much Observa ∣ tion viz. That good children are a great prayse and blessing to their parents This woman could blesse the mother of Christ who bare such a son as he was Solomon saith A wise sonne maketh a glad father Pro. 15.20 And in many other places you read what great blessing Pro 15.20 and honour doth accrue to parents whom the Lord hath blessed with wise and godly children And on the contrary the Scrípture marks those parents with a brand of reproach that bring forth wicked children into the World children to encrease the number of the damned to fill Hell and to pollute the Earth therefore it is that you so often read in Scripture Pro 10.1.5 That a wicked child is a shame to his parents Pro. 10.1.5 Vse The Use is to teach you whom God hath blessed with good children to to be exceeding thankful unto God for it is a greater blessing unto you then if God should fill your house with silver and gold And you whom God hath thus afflicted in suffering bad children to come out of your loyns oh mourn under the heavy hand of God that he hath made you instrumental to bring forth children into the World which shall encrease the number of the damned in Hell Thus much from the womans speech who said The words of the text opened Blessed is the womb that bare thee and the paps that gave thee suck But Christ said Rather blessed are they which bear the Word of God and keep it Christ said Rather blessed He doth not say that his mother was not blessed but that the woman might not too much dote on his mother to think that she was so greatly blessed onely for bearing him in her womb therefore he said I will tell thee who indeed is the blessed man and woman even they that bear the Word of God and keep it Christ would not give way to her applause but he gives her a milde and loving rebuke Hence observe Observation That you must take heed that you bee not tickled with pride when you heare your selves or yours commended Christ would give no way to the womans commendation She thought that the virgin Mary was the happiest woman in all the World yet Christ puts a Rather on them that make conscience of hearing the Word of God and keeping of it A beleiver hearing and obeying Jesus Christ is Rather blessed in so doing then the virgin Mary was mearly for bringing Christ into the World although it was the happiest birth that ever was brought forth Oh how should this bee a spur unto you to hear and to practise what you heare seeing that by so doing you are thus blessed Observation 1 Now I shall observe somthing from the manner or form of expression that Christ doth here use It is not said blessed are they which hear the Word of God for there are many sorts of hearers who come short of blessedness but blessed are they that hear the Word of God and Keep it that incorporate it into their souls and become transformed into the Image of it There are four forts of hearers spoken of Mat. 13. Mat. 13. and three of them fell short of blessednesse All hearers although it be the Word of God which they hear do not attain unto blessednesse It is not hearing but keeping and observing the Word of God which makes men blessed Observation 2 2. Observe again That it is not sayd Blessed are yee that believe although it be indeed a truth that all true beleivers are blessed yet it is not so said lest men should think that a naked beleiving is enough to make them blessed or lest they should think that they are above hearing praying or receiving which are the proud aspiring vanities of many in this age Observation 3 Neither is it said Blessed are ye that keep the Word of God in a disjunction from hearing but in a conjunction with hearing Blessed are yee that heare and keep Many men pretend to a great perfection of life and conversation in keeping what Christ commands but it is with a disjunction from hearing they leave off hearing the Word But those only are blessed in the esteem of Jesus Christ who hear and keep the Word of God Observation 4 Again it is not said Blessed shall ye be that hear and keep the Word of God but Blessed are yee To shew that ye shall not only be Blessed when ye come to Heaven but that yee are blessed in so doing whilst ye are here on earth Rom. 6.22 Rom. 6.22 But now being made free from sin and become servants unto God you have your fruit unto holinesse and the end everlasting life Thou hast thy fruit O man if thou art an holy man even before thou comest to everlasting Life Observation 5 Again it is not said only Blessed are ye if ye hear and keep But if ye hear the Word of God and keep it Thou maist heare men that preach damnable errors and keep them fast in thine heart but in this case thou art nearer a cursing then a blessing Men may bee followers of Sermons but if those Sermons which they hear and practice bee not agreeable to the Word of God be not grounded upon the Scriptures they are under a curse and not a blessing by what they beare Therefore the Holy-ghost here faith Blessed are they that hear the Word of God and keep it This should teach men how they hear whom they hear and what they hear that they hear nothing but the Word of God and then keep what they hear We read of Teachers who shall bring in Damnable Heresies and that many shall follow their pernicious wayes ● Pet. 2.1 2 3. 2 Pet. 2.1 2 3. But there were false Prophets also amongst the people even as there shall be false Teachers among you who privily shall bring in damnable Heresies even to deny the Lord that bought them and bring upon themselves swift destruction and many shall follow their pernicious wayes by reason of whom the way of Truth shall bee evil