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
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
6.53 Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man and drinks his blood you have no life in you Carnal reason knew not how to understand this Mysterie and therefore presently suggests this incredulous question how can this man give us his flesh to eat and what a sad effect followed on this mistake we read v. 66. From that time many of his disciples went back and walked no more with Jesus 3. There must be a faithful retaining or remembrance of it our memories are false and slippery like hour-glasses no sooner filled at one end but they run out at the other riven and chinky vessels that leake out the Water of life strive we all we can to make them Treasuries of Divine Truth and lay up the Word of God in them as in a store-house Thy word have I hid in my heart saith the Psalmist that I might not sin against thee To promote this Work we should do as a man that hath hid a treasure he goes often and sees whether it be safe so should we often turn in upon our memories and ask them as Christ the disciples do you not remember the five Loaves c. and the rather because we have a dangerous and subtile enemy who watches where we keep our treasures and unless we watch it narrowly will steal it from us 4. We must entertain it with love 2 Thes 2.10 Because they received not the truth in the Love thereof therefore God shall give them up to suffer strong delusions want of Love to the Word is the first step to Apostacy See a Soul seasoned with this Grace of Love in Jeremy Chap. 15.16 Thy words were found and I did eat them and they were unto me the joy and rejoycing of my heart God makes his appear to the Conscience of the experienced Christian Mic. 2.7 Are not my words good to him that walketh uprightly Yes Lord so good that the Soul that tastes and digests them confesses they are sweeter than hony or the hony-comb If the mysteries of the Gospel are so sweet and sacred that the Angels themselves desire to pry into them how dearly then should dust and ashes love them Oh that we could say as the Psalmist How do I love thy Law all the day long is my study in it 5. The Word must be heard with Faith every hearer is not a profitable hearer As hearing distinguishes Professours from the Profane so believing distinguisheth the upright from hypocrites Heb. 4.2 The word preached did not profit them that heard it because it was not mixt with faith and again 'T is the Power of God to salvation but to them that do believe Rom. 1.16 Though it be true that without the Word there can be no Faith for Faith cometh by hearing yet withal without Faith the Word hath no power As the Brasen Serpent was of no use to them that did not look on it so 't is in this case Look therefore unto me and be you saved when we come to hear we should all think that we hear God speaking to us as he did to Ezekiel Son of man eat that thou findest Ezek. 3.1 Faith is the life of the Soul As there heat in a dead-mans mouth never doth good no more doth the Word in a faithless hearer 'T is Faith that makes every part thereof powerful and effectual its precepts to direct us its threatnings to terrifie us its promises to comfort us Take but one instance in Jonah 3.5 we read that the men of Nineveh believed God 1 upon hearing Jonah his sermon and then they proclaimed a fast and put on sackcloth Faith is that living womb into which when the seed of the Word falls it becomes a fruitful mother of all spiritual Graces 6. Lastly to a saving attention there is required a universal obedience and a hearty resignation of our selves This was the Apostles Crown and Joy that his Romans had obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine that they had received Rom. 6.17 and this is Gods end in giving you his Word that it should bring every thought into the Obedience of Christ 2 Cor. 10.5 We should take heed of hearing with uncircumcised ears and stubborn hearts The sence of Gods mercy in revealing his Will and the Conscience of our duty to obey it should make us so ready to every thing that he commands that a little child should lead us Isa 11.6 Vse 1. Hence first is condemned that visible listlessness and supine negligence that many discover in this duty of hearing Can we chuse but tremble to hear that curse that is threatned against every one that doth Gods work negligently Isa 48.10 and yet alas how many of us hear as if we did not hear and mind no more the word of life than if we were hearing art Idle tale The Church hath ever been pestered with such professors God complains of them Ezek. 33.32 Son of man this People come and sit before thee as my People use to do c. Oh hear once more and tremble at that dreadful sentence which Christ breathed against incredulous and refractory hearers in Joh. 12.48 He that refuseth me and heareth not my words hath one that judgeth even the word that I have spoken the same shall judg him Sure it will be a double damnation to be condemned by the Gospel yet thus it will be if it be not the saviour of life to life it will be the Saviour of death to death And what greater equity than this do not such judg themselves unworthy everlasting life that leave their hearts behind them when they come to hear it doth not that malefactor deserve to dye when his pardon is sent him freely that has it read as if he were a-sleep These messengers that were sent by Benhadad to make peace with Ahab when distressed by him will rise in judgment against such drousy hearers We read the men took diligent heed if they could catch any word of him that they might take hold of for their hope and they did so for when they arrested him thus Thy servant Benhadad saith I pray thee let me live the King of Israel answered is he yet alive he is my brother and they took hold of that word and ecchoed it back to him saying thy brother Benhadad Vse 2. Attend then as Lydia did that you may be saved as Lydia was whatsoever you do saith the Preacher do it with all thy might Eccles 9.10 Judg of the importance of the duty by the earnest injunction of the great God of heaven settle it in your hearts Luk. 21.14 and why for the water of life will run out or run besides us if we do not hear with a holy heedfulness Heb. 2.1 Wherefore we ought to give diligent heed to the things which we have heard lest at any time we let them slip The Greek Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies either to run besides as water that flows besides a place or else it signifies to run thorough a thing as
water thorow a sieve well the word preached if it be not heedfully heard will never stay in us but be lost and run out This is damage sufficient a loss that is irreparable none indeed like this loss when we receive the Grace of God in vain For directions I shall refer you to what hath bin already said a word or two by way of motive 1. To incourage us to this heedful hearing of the Word consider that it is a complexive duty a duty which is so acceptable to God that under it are comprehended all duties of Religion Isa 55.3 Hear and your Souls shall live life and death enter in the same way As death entered into the world by the ear by our first Parents listning to that old Manslaier so God hath ordained that life should enter by the same door The dead shall hear the voice of the son of God and they that hear shall live Joh. 5.25 Oh you that love heaven love hearing too 2. The most eminent Saints of God have ever bin observed to be the most diligent and attentive hearers Luk 4.20 We read while Christ Jesus war preaching the eyes of all his hearers were fastned on him a good way not only to prevent distractions but also to raise our affections our hearts are wily and will give us the slip It is our wisdom by all ways imaginable to ingage our hearts in hearing and lay bonds upon them to hold them to such an attention as becomes us 'T is storied of Englands second Josiah that peerless Prince Edward the sixth that he usually stood at sermon and took notice all the while he was a-hearing 3. Consider that we never read of more bitter complaints from God than when he complained of heartless hearers in Psal 81.13 O that my People would have hearkned to me c. but my People would not hear my voice and Israel would none of me and in Psal 95.10 Forty years long was I grieved with this generation and said It is a People that err in heart for they have not known my ways they knew but not practically their ears were uncircumcised and their hearts unsanctified O fearful judgment to have ears that we should not hear c. Thus God punishes one sin with another Rom 11.8 who can read without astonishment Jer. 7. from the 13. v. to the 17. I arose up early and spake unto you but you would not hear therefore I will do unto you as unto Shilo c. Read it thorow I forbear the application desiring if ever you remembered a lesson you would remember this and never give your Teachers cause to complain Oh we have laboured in vain and spent our strength for nothing 4. Lastly To close all carry with you St. James caution be not forgetfull hearers of the Word but doers also he hears aright saith one that doth not contradict his hearing by his life otherwise you will be as a man that sees his face in a glass and turns away and forgets what manner of man he was O wash off those spots which this glass discovers so hear the Word of Christ that you may conform to the will of Christ Lydia's attention was the first step to Salvation Hear as she did and you will be happy as she was So much Briefly of this Work of Grace which God wrought in opening the heart of Lydia Reader let me carry thee one step farther and shew thee Gods end in this Work or why he thus opens the heart And that is that himself may enter and dwell in it Ephes 3.17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts Ephes 3.17 the former part of the Verse That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith THese words are part of a zealous prayer which the Apostle puts up to God in the behalf of his dear Ephesians The prayer begins in the 14th ver where we find Paul upon his knees begging Grace for them of the Father of Mercies For this cause I bow my knees to the Father of mercies c. The blessings that he begs for them are especially two 1. He begs the gift of spiritual strength that as they had begun well and laid a good foundation by believing in Christ so they might be constant in holding out that profession against all the enemies and oppositions which they met with and were like to turn them out of the way of righteousness Thus he prays ver the 16. That he would give you according to the riches of his glory to be strengthened with might by the spirit in the inner man Those that are wholly under the power of corruption are not so much troubled with persecution and temptation Satan like a Pyrate seldom sets upon a soul unless like a Ship it be laden with the merchandise of Grace This was the case with these Ephesians By Pauls preaching they had begun well building on that rock of Ages and venturing their Immortal Souls on Christ and his Righteousness But Paul now being in prison false Teachers were among them vexing the Church and were like to turn them from the way of truth God had smitten the shepherd and the sheep were like to be scattered Now then is a time to press the duty of perseverance that as they had begun well so they might so run that they might obtain 2. He begs that soveraign means that was only able to confirm and strengthen them in the Service of Christ and that is Christ himself That Christ may dwell in your hearts by Faith I shall a little explain the words That Christ that is whole Christ in both his natures God and Man May dwell that is spiritually possess live and work In your hearts that is in the inner man consisting of the Understanding Will and Affections which are the principal and chief place of Christs residence the fort Royal or Castle which Christ chuseth and above all delights in By faith that is as the means and instrument whereby we receive and entertain him There are as many Doctrines offer themselves to us as there are words in this Scripture And we might note first Doct. 1. That the heart is the place of Christs residence Doct. 2. Christ is no stranger to Believers but an in-dweller with them Doct. 3. That Faith makes a union between Christ and the Soul But I shall wave prolixity and bring my Discourse into a narrower model casting all into this one Conclusion Doct. That no blessing whatsoever on this side heaven can be imagined that we should more desire than this That Christ should dwell in our hearts by Faith We find the Apostles affections all in a flame and he burns with zeal to promote the happiness of his dear Ephesians he bends his knees and casts himself down at Gods feet and among all blessings in Heaven and Earth he can find none better to beg for his young Converts than this What the strength of his affections was to them you may see Chap. 1.16 where we read that
to the sick-man Mat. 9.2 â—on be of good cheer thy sins be forgiven thee Christ can speak such Words as never man spake the Words which he speaks are Spirit and life 'T is storied of a Peer of this Kingdom that he dyed with joy of an unexpected pardon how great then is the joy that possesseth a Soul that receives a pardon from God! Such pardoned ones are bid to be glad and shout for joy Psal 32.11 And all others flatly forbid to meddle with this joy Hos 9.1 Rejoyce not O Israel for joy as other People for thou hast gone a-whoring from thy God 3. The sweetness and closness of that intimacy which we have with Christ by vertue of his dwelling in us appears by this that we have all things common with Christ Christ calls nothing his own that may do us good all lour fresh Springs are in him if we are Christs all is ours Paul Apollo Cephas life and death c. All Christ's offices and efficacies his life death blood merit Spirit all his advantage to us yea death it self is gain to believers Phil. 1.21 For me to live is Christ and to dye is gain The Church keeps all her choice presents for Christ Cant. 7. vlt. And Christ bestows all his rarities on his Church 3. Christ dwelling in us implies his abiding or continual residing in us in Isa the 57.15 God is said to inhabit eternity 1 who only is eternal wherever Christ dwells he takes up his residence for ever he saith this is my rest for ever here will I dwell c. Though men may be weary of their dwelling how-ever accommodated both for necessity and delight yet Christ is never That 's the promise he makes his People 1 Kings 6.13 I will dwell among the children of Israel and will not forsake my People Israel 5. Christs dwelling in us implies his preservation of us every man is bound to repair and preserve his own house where he dwells so is Christ Christ's dwelling doth not look like the house of the sluggard that drops thorow no what-ever storms beat on it it stands and is impregnable That 's remarkable in Psal 6.7.2.3 At Salem is his Tabernacle and his dwelling at Sion There brake he the arrows of the bow c. That place is sure of safetie and protection where God dwells as on the contrary Gods departing makes way for destruction We read that the Heathens have placed their Security in the presence of their idol-Gods Tacitus reports of the Tyrians when they were besieged by Alexander bound Hercules with a golden chain that he should not depart And the Romans were wont by some verses to call off the Tutelary gods out of the Cities which they did besiege God hath bound himself to us by a Covenant better than a golden chain that he will never leave us nor forsake us Q. 3. The third Query is how Christ dwells in the heart by faith A. The answer is this 'T is the office of Faith to receive Christ Jesus Christ knocks by his Word and Spirit and Faith makes haste to open and let him in it gives Christ the free and full possession of the Soul and delivers up all into his hand and to his use For can two walk together unless they are agreed We read in Gen. 30.6 When Lot and Abraham had multiplied their substance they could not dwell together and there was strife between their herdsmen Christ and we could never have dwelt together had there been any strife between us there is no agreement between Christ and Belial But when Christ comes and dwells in us he comes like Noah's Dove he brings us news of peace purchased by the blood of his Cross The Psalmist admires the happiness of such as dwell together in unity though but natural brethren Psal 133.1 Behold how good and pleasant a thing it is c. How good then and pleasant must it be for Christ and us to dwell together This is our happiness Christ says of every believing soul as of Sion This is my rest for ever here will I dwell c. Psal 132.14 Res 2. Such in whom Christ dwells shall never lose their interest in God by sin or backsliding for Christ himself will be a continual spring or fountain of life and grace within us Joh. 4.14 The water that I shall give you shall be in you a well of living water Can we ever die with thirst when we have a fountain within us no fear of forfeiting our title to that great and glorious inheritance if Christ be in us he will keep both it for us and us for it he will preserve us by his grace unto his heavenly Kingdom 2 Tim. 4.18 Res 3. If Christ dwell in us he will defend and protect us from all dangers death and hell have nothing to do where Christ the Lord of life dwells When Lazarus was dead his sister told Christ Lord if thou hadst been here my brother had not died Joh. 11.21 Christs presence is his peoples security from hat second death Satan may bring up his black Legions and storm the Castle but shall never take it Hear ye whose hearts are habitations for the Lord Christ what your Redeemer saith Joh. 14.30 The Prince of this world cometh and hath nothing in me that is in me mystical neither id head nor members Res 4. If Christ dwell in us we shall never want either counsel or comfort his Spirit shall supply us with both If we want counsel we shall hear a voice behind us saying this is the way walk in it He whose name is Counsellor hath not his name for nothing in our greatest perplexities this great Counsellor will advise and direct us for he is made of God to be wisdom to his redeemed Again if we want comfort he 'l revive the drooping spirits of his contrite ones Isa 57.15 The Church out of her experience cries but that his mouth is as sweet things Cant. 5.16 And the words that he speaks are as life to despondent and dying souls Reas 5. But one thing more Christ will never leave his dwelling till he bring us to a dwelling-place with himself in glory This was purchased to us by his death and prepared for us by his Ascension Joh. 14.2 I go to prepare a place for you No sooner shall these earthly houses be dissolved but Christ is presently ready to receive us into everlasting habitations Vse 1. The Application follows and let the first Use be of Information And 1. It discovers the vain delusion of all hypocrites and formalists who admit Christ into their mouths but shut him out of their hearts this was the Religion of the Pharisees whose falsity in matters of Gods Worship Christ Jesus reprehends Mat. 15.8 Well did Isaias prophesie of you saying this people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth and honoureth me with their lips but have removed their hearts far from me 'T is sad when Christ is neer in our mouths but far
of Spiritual ravishment to every Soul that has given Christ Jesus entertainment Wise Solomon admired both Gods mercy and his Peoples happiness at once upon this very reason 2 Chron. 6.18 Is it true indeed that God will dwell with man on earth what infinite Majesty fall in love with misery God dwell with man heaven and earth meet in one Person ye righteous let it not deject you that your excellency is not conspicuous in the Worlds eye The Churches beauty is within and herein she is like her beloved Christ himself to outward appearance was but a root out of a dry ground no form or comeliness was in him therefore he was despised and rejected of men Your life is a hidden life like in this to the Ark that without was covered with skins sullied and weather-beaten with storms and tempests but within was stored with gold and rich rarities God seeth not as man seeth there 's a time at hand when God will turn your in-side out and though now you ly among the pots yet shall ye be covered with silver-Wings and your feathers like gold Vse 4. Lastly Be exorted to the Apostles Prayer to add your own practise This is the one thing necessary with what holy zeal and diligence should we do this work and drive this great design how restless should we be in this pursuit to get Christ to dwell in us Q. But how A. I shall only Answer this query and conclude And here several things must be done both for the getting Christ into the heart and the keeping of him there 1. The heart must be prepared for ChristW Mal. 2.1 The Prophet speaking of John Baptist saith that he should prepare the way for him And Isa speaking of the same Messenger adds Every mountain shall he brought low and every vally be filled up and every crooked thing shall be made plain Isa 43.4 All this must be done as a preparation for Christ As where Princes are expected the highways are cleered and all passages are facilitated that they may pass both with ease and honour so we must prepare for Christ Jesus 1. Mountains must be brought low that is the lofty heart must be abased and every high thought must stoop and be made subject to the scepter of Christ we must be vile in our own eyes learn to abhor out selves with Job loath our own sins and our own righteousness also and count it dung and loss to win Christ Christ designs his own Glory in condescending to dwell with sinful men and Christ's Glory and the creature's cannot be set up together 2 Vallies must be filled some hearts are too low for Christ they mind earthly things and therefore are unfit for the receiving of so glorious a guest Lift up therefore your heads O ye gates and then the King of Glory shall come in Psal 24. as the Church is described in Rev. 12. with the moon under her feet and then she is cloathed with the Sun and hath a Crown of twelve Stars on her head so must every member of the Church trample upon all earthly and sublunary vanities and set our hearts on heaven where our true Treasure is It were a disparagement to divine blessings should they be bestowed on them that prize nothing but earthly trifles such pearls do not use to be cast before swine 3. Crooked things must be made straight we must have no crooked aimes nor close designs in the Service of God The sons of Jacob must be all like their Father plain-hearted men our studies strength time and state must be all dedicated to the Lord Such as turn aside to crooked ways the Lord threatens to lead them out with the workers of iniquity Psal 125.5 4. Lastly rough ways must be made plain the oyle of Grace must supple the rough and rugged temper of our Spirits 'T is said of Nabal he was so churlish a man could not speak to him such hearts are not fit for Christ Christ by Grace sweetens the Temper of out Souls takes off that fierceness and austerity that is in them by nature The Lion and the Lamb ly down together and there 's nothing shall destroy or hurt in all his holy mountain If we would have Christ dwell in our hearts we must keep our hearts pure for a nasty lodging is lothsome to him With what care do we keep our Temples cleansing them continually that there be no filth found in them These Spiritual Temples must never be sullied with sin nor defiled with iniquity This is the condition upon which Christ promises to dwell in us 2 Cor. 6.17 Touch no unclean thing and then I will dwell in you 3. Take heed of grieving the Spirit of God by resisting it's motions or crossing the sweet and saving operations thereof There 's a sad Scripture in Mat. 12.44 When the unclean Spirit is cast out and returneth c. He brings with him seven other Spirits worse than himself and they enter in and dwell there Oh deal courteously with Christ offend your own Souls rather than offend him study we must to comply with his commands and carry our selves so exactly that in nothing we grieve his Spirit nor make him weary of his habitation 4. Lastly sith Christ dwells in the heart by Faith labour to prize this precious Grace for the procuring of which these several rules should 1. Acquaint your selves with your own hearts and you will find such a stock of infidelity in them as may for ever confound us Though God who is faithfulness it self hath infinitely stoopt to lost man and for his security hath ratified the Covenant by his Word his Oath and Seals yet alas there is in us all by nature a heart of unbelief Heb. 3.12 So that upon experience we shall find we are no more able by nature to believe the Gospel than to obey the Law Alas we fear no more than we feel and believe no more than we see when we come to seize on Christ and take hold of the promise Oh with what a faint and trembling hand do we receive them 2. Labour to see the rare excellency and efficacy of Faith what is it but a Christians life while he is below without it we cannot move one foot heaven ward whatsoever is not of Faith is sin This is that which brings in Christ into the Soul it makes us one with Christ now and the union that is made by Faith between Christ and the Soul now shall never be dissolved till we enjoy him in glory For the end of our Faith is the Salvation of our souls 1 Pet. 1.9 3. Bind your selves to a constant and conscionable attendance to the Word and Ordinances of God For Faith comes by hearing Rom. 10.17 As death first entered by this door so doth life hear and your Soul shall live this is that Manna on which we must live till we come to Canaan As Gideons Fleece was wet when the ground about it was dry so God usually waters the Souls