the Father draw him g Joh 6. 44 2 To the second Person where the Apostle calleth Jesus the Author and finisher of our faith h Heb 12. 2. 3 To the third Person where the Apostle reckoneth Faith amongst the fruits of the Spirit i Gal. 5. 22 Secondly God works faith God in mercy workes faith of his meere good will So saith our blessed Saviour it is so Father because thy good pleasure was such k Mat. 11. 26. Now the end at which God aymed in working Gods ends in working faith this grace is two-fold First The setting forth of his owne glory Secondly The salvation of mankinde and therfore Saint Peter calleth salvation the end of our faith Now the Knowledge of this will First Humble us in letting of us see that it is not in our power that Faith is not hereditary God beginneth it and increaseth it and finisheth it The Apostles prayed Lord increase our faith l Luke 17. Now the meanes to get this Faith is double 1 Outward Meanes to get faith 2 Inward First Outward 1 Outward The Word The outward meanes is the Word hereupon saith the Apostle how shall they beleeve in him of whom they have not heard Rom. 10 14. and thereupon thus concludeth Faith commeth by hearing and hearing by the Word preached n Rom. 10 8. And hereupon it is called the Word of Faith o Eph. 1. 13 and Paul saith of the Ephesians that they beleeved after they heard the Gospell and finely saith S. Chrysostome Acc enditur S. Chrysoâ—t fldei lampas igne Divini verbi the Lampe of our Faith is lighted by the fire of the Divine Word And this Faith is wrought in us both by reading and preaching of the Word and both are commended and ordained of God The Word a meanes p Deut. 3. 9. 1. For reading God himselfe commandeth it P and by reading S. Augustine was converted for hee confesseth of himselfe that being inclined to the heresie of the Manichees he heard a voyce saying Tolle lege take up and reade meaning the Booke of God which hee presently did and so by reading was converted for surely the reading of the Word is a meanes appointed of God to the begetting of faith and raising up the kingdom of God in the hearts of men so that to say that bare reading is bare feeding and a thing unable to worke faith in us is to avouch a great untruth Secondly For the Word The especiall meanes ordinary is preaching preached This is the especiall ordinary meanes and the most powerfull usuall meanes this is that which the Scripture layeth downe how shall they beleeve in him of whom they have not heard how shall they heare without a preacher q Rom. 10. 14. and againe it pleased God by preaching to save r Gal. 3. 1. reading is profitable but preaching doth profit more than reading doth Spice when it is whole smelleth sweetly but when it is broken and bruised by the hand of the Apothecary it smelleth a great deale more so is the Word read of us or to us sweet as the hony and bringeth the light of life to many but if the spirituall Apothecary breake it and bruise it cut it and divide it as the Lord hath appointed by preaching then reacheth the savor of such heavenly sweet to many moe in a fuller measure by reason of the blessing God giveth unto it The Eunuch read but he understood not but when Philip preached unto him the sweet brake out to his lasting good Å¿ Acts 8. Secondly the meanes is The inward meanes for faith the Spirit of God inward whereby faith is wrought in us and this is the blessed Spirit of God which softneth and openeth our hearts and maketh them as good ground that when the seed of the Word is cast into them it taketh deepe rooting and bringeth forth the blessed fruit of faith The Apostle saith that his preaching was in demonstration of the Spirit that their faith might 1 Cor. 2 4. 5 be in the power of God and the preaching of the Gospell is tearmed a ministration of the Spirit u 2 Cor. 3. yea hee useth this phrase the Spirit of faith w 2 Cor. 8 15. because that faith is wrought inwardly by the spirit Thus yee see that faith is wrought inwardly in us by the spirit outwardly by the Word Now to propound a question and answer it Quaes How the Gospell How the Gospell works faith works faith Resp When the Gospell is preached First That commands us to beleeve in Christ and promises salvation and when wee come to heare the Spirit of God moves us for to heare and hee opens our hearts as hee did the heart of Lydia Secondly Vpon diligent hearing the Lord inlightens the minde to conceive and understand the way of salvation Thirdly Vpon this inlightning the great God perswades us to beleeve x Act. 15. 7 1 Cor. 3. 4 Fourthly After this God inclines the heart to be affected with the goodnes of the things promised which is salvation and to hunger and thirst after righteousnesse Fifthly The Lord perswades the heart to trust in the Lord Jesus for salvation Now as this knowledge serves to humble us so it will bring us to this knowledge that faith is not common this confutes the Atheists confuted Atheists that think and say so all of them say that they beleeve but faith is a gift yea a most rare gift of God God sent his Patriarchs in the ancientest age of the world and could finde no faith he sent his Prophets in a latter generation and could finde no faith last of all he sent his owne Sonne a man approved of God and approved his doctrine with miracles and signes following and could finde no faith and when the Sonne of man shall come shall he finde faith on the earth y Luk. 18. 8 We reade but of two beleevers in the hoste of Israell a Num. 14. But of eight in all the old world b 1 Pet. 3. 20. But of one family that beleeved in all Asia c 2 Tim. 1. 26. But of a hundred and twentie in all Christs time d Act. 1. 15 But of a few in all Sardis e Rev. 3. 4. Caro sanguis non dant fidem sed Pater in Coelis Flesh and blood give not faith but the Father in heaven Many boast of faith but if they have any it is the Divels faith Nay many beleeve not so much as the Divell doth but say with the foole non est Deus non est Daemon non est infernus non est Coelum there is no God no Divell no hell no heaven And in that some few beleeve it is by grace not by nature Secondly it is said in the description wrought in the heart of a sinner and this must not bee understood indefinitly of any sinner or every sinner for First
by faith by hearing the Word preached ſ Rom. 10. 17. Fifthly Meditate wee must that as the rayne doth not fall upon the earth in vaine t Heb 6. 7 so this divine dew these drops of the Word the Sermons we heare wee are the better for them or the worse for the word of God if it be not the savour of life unto us it will bee the savour of death it is a two-edged sword with one edge it cuts away all sinne from the good with the other all excuse from the bad Sixthly Meditate wee must that the Word wee heare shall Judge us at the great day The second helpe to be used is 2 Meanes is Prayer Prayer to Almighty God that he would be pleased to blesse us in hearing Wee have all of us eyes and eares by nature but in regard of these Divine things they are shut Hence it is that our blessed Saviour saith in the Gospell Let him that hath eares to heare heare It is an excellent thing to have a seeing eye and a hearing eare therfore David prayed open thou my eyes that I may see the wondrous things contained in thy Law u Psal 119. 18. I it is the Lord that opened the heart of Lydia w Act. 16. 14. Now pray we also must for our Ministers that the Lord would bee pleased to assist them in speaking that hee would give unto them the dore of utterance the more the Minister is assisted the greater will our benefit be We are carefull to pray for the Pilate on the Sea for if he miscarry wee lose our lives for the Physitian that he mistake not the disease wee pray for Kings and Princes that under them we may live a quiet and a peaceable life in all godlinesse and honesty x 1 Tim ◠2. and shall we not pray for our Teachers And thus much for that that is required before we heare some thing there is required when wee heare What is required in the act of hearing in the act of hearing There are many things required as First Reverence and this 1 Reverence either inward or outward the reverence of the soule and body the inward reverence may bee seene in Cornelius y Acts. 10. 33. we are all said he here present before God to heare all things that are commanded thee of GOD with all inward reverence the outward reverence you may see in the eight of Nehemia where the people all stood up and lift up their hands and bowed their heads and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground a Nehe. 8. 3. 4 5 6 7. Secondly Attention Heare we must and hearken b Isa 1. 2. Wee must hearken what the Lord our God will speake not a word but we must heare c Psa 85. 8. Judgment as well as mercy but here is the misery whilest GOD hath the eare the Divell hath the heart The third duty is submission 3 Submission A yeelding and captivating of our judgements thereunto and that this may bee the better done we must search the Scriptures whether the things wee heare bee warranted Thus did the men of Berea they searched the Scriptures whether the things were so d Acts 17. 11. Wee must not beleeve every spirit but trie the spirits whether they are of God e John 1. 4. 1. If the things delivered bee the Word of God wee are bound to beleeve them and submit our selves unto them The next duty is Feare Whilst we heare there must be a holy awe feare 4 Feare in the affections to him will I looke that is of an humble spirit and that trembles at my Words f Isa 66. 2. Serve the Lord with feare saith the Psalmist and rejoyce with trembling g Psal 2. 11 If the Lyon roare all the beasts of the Forrest tremble JESVS CHRIST is the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah hee it is that speakes unto us let us therfore feare hee is a Lion and a Lambe a Lion to those that will not tremble a Lambe to those that will The last duty is cheerefull Cheerefull alacrity Alacrity Which quickens the languishing stomacks of our soules that wee loath not the Word this Alacrity you shall finde in the people in the eight of Nehemia who were attentive and cheerefully attentive from morning untill mid-day g Nehe. 8. 3. This also may be seene in the people that followed CHRIST and continued with him three dayes Here was their alacrity but alas wee are not tied to follow CHRIST three dayes together but one day in seven and that not in the desart but in the Temple and what doe wee wee sleepe and talke and looke about us and oftentimes are gone before Sermon bee ended If one should bring Commendation from a great friend wee would never bee weary of hearing him speake but the Minister may speake againe and againe from the Lord JESVS CHRIST the cheife friend and how coldly are wee affected this argues that wee love others more then CHRIST earthly things more then Heavenly whereas if there were this alacrity in us wee would love the Word above all things then Gold fine Gold it would bee sweeter to our mouthes then the Hony and the hony Combe Thus much for the second meanes to come to the true knowledge of God The third followes Conference But how is this neglected Conference some are ashamed like those who had rather die then tell the Physitian of their Disease others hate it and had rather doe any thing then confer whereas the Scripture calls upon us to exhort one another dayly whilest it is called to day h Heb. 3 13. Two are better then one if one fall the other may helpe him up if one bee ignorant another may instruct him two eyes are better then one looke into the booke of God you shall finde this commanded the word shall be in thy heart and thou shalt teach them and shalt talke of them i Deut. 6. 6. 7. This is made a marke of those that feare the Lord that they spake one unto another and it is said that the Lord heard them I and there was a Booke of remembrance k Mala. 16. 17. The last meanes to come to the true knowledge of God is Prayer earnest Prayer For what is all without Prayer this to reade the Word in private to heare it publikly preached to confer nothing without Prayer this is that that fetcheth a blessing all other meanes must bee helped out by this this is therefore placed in the last place that wee may see all the rest without it will doe no good And know we must that all our Prayers must bee sent up to God in the Mediation of CHRIST Nam quid dulcius quà m genitorem Aug. in nomine unigeniti Pray in the name of Christ invocare What is sweeter than to call upon the Father in the name of his onely begotten Sonne And
For Christ to be a memoriall of his death First end is in regard of Christ Second end is in regard of us First the end in regard of Christ is For to be a memoriall of his death w 1 Cor. 11. 25. Secondly the ends in respect of For us to be 1 Signe 2 Seale 3 Meanes us are three First To be a signe and that to represent Secondly To be a seale and that to confirme Thirdly To be a means and that to conveigh Jesus Christ unto us with all his benefits And thus much for the generall and speciall knowledge that every Receiver must examine himselfe of Now come wee to the second thing to be examined and that is faith for every man receiveth so much as he beleeveth he receiveth Gold is a precious thing and therefore men dig deep into the mine to find it and labour much in the fire to purifie and refine it saving Faith is a precious thing so Saint Peter calls it x 2 Pet. 1. 1. Faith must bee examined Therefore every Christian ought by examination to dig into their hearts to find it and by the Word as by fire to trie whether it bee a saving faith or no. This is that that puts life into us I the life of God for till then our cogitation is darkned and wee are strangers from the life of God hee that beleeveth in him shall not be condemned but he that beleeveth not is condemned already y Ioh. 3. 18 because he beleeveth not A Tree liveth not without moysture nor a Bird without aire nor a Fish without water nor a Salamander without fire so the soule liveth not without faith the just doth live by his faith a Hab. 2. This is the Spirit and Soule of the inward man wee have a name to live yet are we dead if wee want faith I live by faith in the Sonne of God saith the Apostle b Gal. 2. 20 Our care therefore must bee with Saint Paul that we be found having the righteousnesse of Christ by faith c Phil 3. 9. for there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ d Rom. 8. 1. It concernes all men to know that untill they bee beleevers they belong not to God for as the Eagle refuseth her birds till they can mount and soare to the Sunne and as the Raven acknowledgeth not her young ones till they be black so God rejecteth mē and receiveth none till they beleeve none are the sonnes of God but the faithfull the rest are bastards I confesse there be degrees in Degrees in Faith Faith The first is a rudiment Deg. 1 or entrance which our blessed Saviour calleth Smoking flax e Mat. 12. 20. The second is a weake faith him that is weak in faith Deg. 2 saith S. Paul receive unto you f Rom. 14 1. The third is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 assurance Deg. 3 of Faith such a Faith was in Abraham who above hope beleeved under hope g Rom. 4. 18. But no Faith is abominable and may easily be discerned from a weake Faith as a sick man may bee knowne from a dead so a weake Faith from no Faith Even a desire of Faith is a token of Faith for Gods Spirit worketh that but no Faith is accursed he that beleeveth not is condemned already A desire of Faith a token of Faith Faith is Gods Gate whereby God enters into our soule the light that found the lost groate the purifier of the heart the conqueror in the race the pole-starre for the Sayler the life of the soule and by Faith CHRIST dwells in our harts O helpe us Lord wee beleeve O helpe our unbeleefe hee must beleeve that comes to Gods Table and as is our Faith so is our blessing Now this Faith that brings a blessing the holy Ghost adorneth it with many Epithetes he calleth it First Rich Faith h 1 Pet. 1. Secondly Holy Faith i Jud. 20. Thirdly strong Faith k 1 Pet. 5. 8. Fourthly Saving Faith l 2 Eph. 8. Fiftly Pure Faith m Acts 15. 9. Sixtly Precious Faith n 1 Pet. 1. 7. So that if either we regard Riches Strength Holinesse Salvation Purity let us looke to Faith which hath all graces in it as Paradise had all fruites in it as lapis Jndicus hath all cures in it Let us see some reasons Reasons why Faith must bee examined why every receaver must examine his faith 1. Because without this tryall Rea. 1 any Faith may be taken for a saving Faith a false Faith for a true an historicall Faith for a justifying If every Faith were a saving Faith then were it sufficient unto salvation to have some for in having some we must be accounted to have the saving Faith But every Faith is not a saving Faith therefore it stands us in hand to examine How shall a man know whether his Faith bee a Quast saving Faith or no. A saving Faith may bee How to know a saving faith Resp thus known First A saving Faith will save those that have it they are kept through the power of God unto salvation o 2 Eph. 8. But every Faith will not save them that have it for if this could bee then the Divells would bee saved who beleeve and tremble p James 2 19 but S. Jude tells us that they are reserved in chaynes in darknesse q Jud 6. Secondly A saving faith never fayles those that have it I have prayed saith our blessed Saviour that thy Faith may never fayle thee r Lu. 22. 23. Now there is a temporary Faith in some who beleeve for a time and if temptation come they fall away and none that fall away finally can be saved because it is impossible that they should be renued againe by Repentance ſ Heb 6. 4. 5 6. Thirdly A saving Faith is a lively Faith it makes those that have it live the life of grace t Gal. 3. 11. Saint James tells us of a dead Faith u James 2. 20 26. Why we must examine our Faith because els a man shall be in the number Reas 2 of those that have not a saving Faith neither ever shall have a saving Faith and yet shall presume that hath a saving Faith If that every man and woman that comes into the World should bee sure to have a saving Faith wrought in them before they died then were this examination needlesse because though they had it not at one time yet they might have it at another but this cannot be First The Apostle tells us that all men have not Faith w 2 Thess 3. 2. And no wonder for all men have not that that is inferiour to a saving Faith and more common then a saving Faith an historicall Faith or beliefe of the Gospell x 1 Cor. 1. 23. Secondly All men have not a saving Faith because very few have it so it is said when the Sonne of man
examined 29. Generall speciall Knowledge 29. Knowledge concerning God 30. Knowledge concerning Gods nature 30. There is a God 31. God is glorious in nature 33. Jncorporeall 33. Eternall 33. Incomprehensible 34. Immutable 34. Omnipotent 34. Omniscient 35. The summe of the second Sermon THe necessity of this generall Knowledge 3â— The fruits of it 38. God is three in persons 40. One in essence 41. God to be loved alone and above all 42. No other to bee called upon but the Lord. 42. One mediator to be used to him 42. Our knowledge is to be examined concerning Gods Works 43. Gods Worke of Creation 43. The world had a beginning 43. God made it 46. All things had one principle 46. God onely can Create 48. The Creatures to be considered 48. God to be praised 48. All things were made of nothing 49. Gods Power is to be admired 49. God to bee trusted unto 49. All things were made by the Word of God 50. All things were made good 50. God made all things freely 52. All things were made successively 52 Knowledge must bee examined concerning the Providence of God 53. God knowes and takes notice of all things 54. God upholds governes and disposes of all things 55. Gods providence reacheth to all things even the smallest 56. Of all Creatures God takes most care of man 58. God provides great things for man 59. God provides temporall things 61. God provides spirituall 61. God a royall Bridegroome 62. A royall feast-maker 63. A royall generall 63. God provides comforts 63. God provides graces 63. 64. Cleansing 64. Hearing 64. Quickning 64. Directing 65. Protecting 65. Saving 65. God watcheth over us and ours 65. God preserves us from dangers 66. God preserves us in dangers 6. God preserves us by dangers 67. God orders and disposes of all things and all acts for mans good 67. Naturall things shall worke for mans good 68. Artificiall things 68. Necessary things 69. Contingent things 69. Realland imaginary 70. All acts shall be for mans good 70. It is God that doth whatsoever he will 72. Knowledge must be examined concerning our selves 73. Rule of Knowledge concerning God 74 The Rule is the Word of God 74. It s infallible 75. Vnchangeable 75. Vndoubted 75. The summe of the Third Sermon Meanes of knowledge 80. The word must be read and meditated on 81. We must reade wisely 85. Reade with reverence 85. Order is required in reading 85. Judgement requisite 86. Meanes of knowledge the word publickly preached 87. We must heare wisely 88. What must be done before hearing 88. Le ts must be removed and helps used 89. 90. 91. 93. Reverence is required in the act of hearing 95 Attention required 96. Submission 96. Feare 97. Cheerefull alacrity 98. Conference a meanes of knowledge 101. Prayer a meanes 102. Prayer must be sent to God in the mediation of Christ 103. Pray with feare 103. Our gesture in prayer must be reverent 104. Prayer must be fervent 104. We must pray alwayes 104. Pray in the spirit 105. Motives to knowledge 108. The excellency of it 108. It doth good to us 109. It will make us doe good to others 110. It is the end of our being to know God 110. Knowledge must be examined concerning our state of innocency 111. God made man after his Jmage 111 What this consisted in 112 The time when man was made 112 The place man was put in 112 The manner of making him 112 The necessity of this knowledge 113 Mans fall 115 The summe of the Fourth Sermon KNowledge must bee examined concerning the Curse due to man by reason of his fall 121 What the Curse is in this life 121 What it is in the end of this life 123 What it is after this life is ended 123 What this knowledge will bring Christians unto 127 What the Lords Supper is 131 Why it is so called 131 The cause of it 132 The outward signe of it 133 Why he tooke bread 134 Why wine 135 The Cup not to be denied 137 The actions of the Minister represent the actions of God 138 The actions of the Receiver represent the actions of the soule and inward man 140 The inward thing signified 141 The end why it was instituted 141 Faith must bee examined 143 Degrees in faith 145 A desire of faith a token of faith 146 Reasons why faith must be examined 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155. Objections answered 155 156 157 The summe of the Fifth Sermon FAith described 162 God workes it 163 God works it of his meere good will 166 Gods end in working faith 166 What the knowledge of this will bring us unto 167 Meanes to get this faith 167 The Word a meanes 168 The Word read 168 The especiall meanes ordinary is preaching 169 The inward meanes the Spirit of God 171 How the Gospell works faith 172 Repentance must be examined 178 179 What it is 180 Repentance act 181 Repentance turnes wholly 182 Continually 183 Repentance time 184 True Repentance lookes at God 185 At man 186 At others 187 Aâ— sinne 188 What this knowledge workes 189 Motives to repent 192 Dangers of delay 193 The summe of the sixth Sermon DIfficulties 203 Doubts 204 Repentance tearmes 205 The object of Repentance all sin 206. 207. 208. 209 Not sufficient to abstaine from sinne outwardly 210 Not sufficient to lop and cut off some sinne 211 Reasons why Repentance sets it selfe against all sin 212 The penitent sinner sets himselfe against the sins of others 213 Sets against sin sincerely 214 True repentance turnes to all good 215 Repentance is the gift of God 217 God is the worker men the instruments 219 No man can repent when hee will 220 The glory of conversion must be ascribed to God 223 Meanes of grace not to be neglected 224 God must be served freely 227 The summe of the Seventh Sermon OBedience must bee examined 232 Obedience described 232 Obedience Rules 233 True obedience is universall 234 Man able to keep the Commandements 236 True obedience is cheerefull 237 Sincere 239 Inpreaching the heart must be looked to 241 Heare with the heart 242 Pray with it 242 Sing with it 242 Hypocrisie in the best 243 Hypocriticall obedience not regarded 244 Constrained sincerity nothing 246 True obedience is constant 247 Objections answered 248. 249 The godly performe good duties of conscience though not alway with the like cheerefulnesse 250 The godly goe on and persevere 251 The godly feare falling 252 The godly desire the continuance of meanes 252 Motives to obedience 253. 254. 255 Love must be examined 257 God commands Love 258 God loves us 258 Loves commodity 260 Love ingenders love 262 Love as strong as death 262 How God is to be loved 263 What it is to love God with the heart 263 God must be loved with all the heart 264 All owe this debt to God 263 Mans love to God cold and dead 263 Love stands in keeping the Commandements 264 An honourable thing to love God 266 Nothing can give rest to the soule out God 266 God is to be loved for himselfe 267 The summe of the Eighth Sermon REasons why love must be examined 274. 275 Kindes of Love 279. 280. 281 Our love must be Christian 283 Loves properties 287 Christ came to save sinners 309 Love is the fulfilling of the Law 291 Love is beneficiall 292 The estate of those that doe not love miserable 292 The selfe examiner must be a receiver 295 Often receiving no more then needs 298 Often receiving without profit a signe we are not good 300 To forbeare comming wil make men worse 301 It s one thing to have grace another thing to feele grace 301 Every man must with conscience submit to Gods Ordinance 301 No man was ever made better by not comming 301 It s a dangerous thing to limit God 301. 340 Imperfections must not hinder us 305 Feeling a want of grace with greife is grace 306 We Tempiation of Satan dangerous concerning the want of grace 307 Christ came to save sinners 309 The end of the Table
we may come to the knowledge of God is Reading and Meditating of the word in private Reading the Word an Gods word must bee read excellent meanes for knowledge This is the Rule of a Christians knowledge therefore must needs be a meanes true it is that there are many lets and impediments that hinder us as First The Divell Secondly The Papists Thirdly Parents who will not teach it their children hence it is that many children have so often said if my Parents had thought it so necessary they would have made us acquainted with it Fourthly Spenders of time in vaine bookes more than Scripture Fifthly Evill company many though they can reade yet they suffer evill comapny to draw them from it But many will say Ob. Ob. We cannot reade Ans Ans Thou mayst get others to reade unto thee hee that is blind will have another to leade him hee that is lame will have a crutch to helpe him Ob. I was neglected when I was young now I am old and it is too late Ans Though thy Parents or others neglected thee thou must not therefore neglect thy selfe and thou art not so old but thou mayst begin to learne Ob. Many can reade and will not Answ True it is too many therefore for such I will propound two things First The matter of the Scriptures heavenly mysteries Secondly the Author of the Scriptures the Lord himselfe who is blessed for evermore hee that is the fountaine of all knowledge Ob. Wee are great and have many imployments and have no time to spare Answ Was not David great a King yet did hee spend much time in the Scriptures Thy law is my delight it is my meditation continually Theodosius the Emperour could not take his fill of these in the day but when all were gone from him he would have his candle burning and reading the Word and though thou hast many imployments thou mayst spare some time to reade Ob. Many doe reade the Scriptures often and yet they know not God as they should Answ True they doe so and the fault is in themselves they reade not as they should reade Quest Where is the fault Answ They reade not wisely Quest What must bee done that wee may reade wisely Wee must reade wisely Answ To wise reading three things is required First Reverence Secondly Order Thirdly Judgement First there is required Reverence and that because 1 Reverence First of the matter heavenly indeed Secondly of the Author the most glorious God Secondly there is required Order and Method 2 Order because of the profit Whatsoever booke wee take in hand we must begin at the beginning of it and continue untill we come to the end of it so shall wee carry the summe and drift before us againe we must begin with the easiest and plainest books first Thirdly Judgment and 3 Iudgment discretion is required to wise reading and that in respect First Of the time All time is not to bee 1 Time for Reading spent this way wee have callings and these must be followed yet they that feare the Lord they will so divide the time as that once a day at least they will read the Word of God Secondly of the sense 2 Sense and meaning and meaning that so the sense and meaning of the holy Ghost may the better be understood Thirdly of the end and 3 The end of reading use of reading this will cause us to make the best use of our reading even turne reading into working The second meanes to bring us to the knowledge of God is the Wee must heare the word preached Word publikely preached the hearing of it for this end the Lord himselfe ordained it Now the Divell strives to keepe men off this way as the other he knowes that this brings ruine to his Kingdome Hence it is that so many cry out against preaching the Divell would not have this weapon to fight against him but for all the barking of the enemy the Ministers of God must cry aloud they must not spare they must lift up their voice like a trumpet n Isa 1. 85. Preach we must bee instant in season and out of season o 2 Tim. 4. 1. Quest Doe all that heare Sermons know God as they ought Answ They doe not and the fault is not in the word Wee must heare wisely but in them that heare the word they heare not wisely Quest What must wee doe to heare wisely Answ Two things must be looked unto First Something before we heare Secondly Something when we are hearing First Something must Wee must prepare before wee heare be done before wee heare now this is preparation and this consists First In removing lets and impediments that hinder from hearing Secondly In using helps and meanes that may further us It concernes every man Le ts to bee removed that would heare as hee ought to remove the lets that hinder from hearing as First Intemperance in eating and drinking and pampering of the body It is the Lords advise Take heed of surfeting and drunkennesse which oppresse the heart A full body hath oftentimes a fowle soule and the body at such a time is more apt to sleepe than to heare Secondly Pride and selfe-conceitednesse It is ordinary for men to say they know as much as the Preacher this is to be wise in their owne conceits and the Wise-man tells us those are fooles p Pro. 26. 12. Admit many know as much as the Minister yet so long as hee puts it not in practise they must still heare Thirdly Prejudice against the person of the teacher If we love not the person of the teacher wee will not relish his doctrine q 1 King 22. 8. Fourthly Prejudicate opinions The second thing to heare well is use of helpes and meanes that may further us in hearing the meanes is Vse of meanes to helpe our hearing First Meditation Secondly Prayer First meanes is meditation There is not any businesse 1 Meditation that we goe about but we wil premeditate before much more in this great matter meditation is to be used First Let us meditate of the place whither wee are to goe saying with Jacob how fearefull is this place it is no other than the house of God this is the gate of Heaven r Gen. 28 17 Secondly Meditate wee must of the person into whose presence wee are to go even the presence of the Lord of Hostes Thirdly Of the Word we are to heare into Gods presence we come to heare Gods Word Fourthly Of the great neede wee stand of the Word Our hearts are like parched and dry grounds barren of all good fruit naked and stripped of all beauty and therefore have need of the dew of Heaven to fall upon us we all stand guilty in Adam before God of eternall death and therefore have need of the Charter of Salvation to set us free and what is that but faith and how come wee