370 The Godlyare WaftedaludSahl ifùd. S E c r. VIII. Rea/' la 3 be opened, &c. No Lyon /had be there, &c. Ifa. 5, I1:. 13t Inßead of thebryar Jhallcome up the mirtle tree. Let us obferve the grounds why the grace of Converfion is fometimes vouchfafed to thefe incurable men , in all humane apprehenfions , fuch as Manajfeth, Paul, MaryMagdalen, with many others : And Pink, It is todemonßrate the power of theWord of God, animated and inlivened by thefpirit, above all Hinman Eloquence, or Moral Philofophy ; wherein men have much labored to make men better; but thofe endeavors did prove like the waffling of a brick, which did not cleanfe, but more defile. The Scripture doth often take notice of this peculiar Orel of Gods word , that by it Wearé forewarnedfromfîn,Pfal. r 9. thePimple receive underilanding, Pfal no. By it we are begotten again, r Pet. i. That is the [word whichentereth into theferret thoughts, and imaginations of mens hearts , That captivateth and beateth down all the ßrongholds offin andSatan,and difpoffeileth Satanout of hizßrongeft Caßles : Now this fiery vertueof the word preached, is never more manifefted, then when it meets with fach moyft, green wood, filch indifpofed materials, as grofs, prophane men are. TheApoftle calls the word preached, The power ofCoda falvation, r Cora. when the Grecians, men of parts and learning, judged it foolifhnefs ; and thefame Apoftle faith, Be came not in theinrifing words of hu. mane eloquence , left the power of ChriftAmid be obfcured, a Corinthians z, 4. When thereforeby the Simple, plain and pure demonflration of Divine truths, and of Gods Word , you fee the hearts and confciences of flagitious, men awakened; you fee them changed into holy', godly, heavenly men, of pro- phane, foul and ungodly. What glorious praife Both hereby redound to the word preached ? This is like Davide little flone, flung into the head of great Goliah. If menof wifdom, eloquence, ingenuity, and excellent Morality, if thefe onely were themen converted ? it would quickly be thought that it was Tomeexcellency in them, rather then the power of Gods wordwithout; but in thefe grofs livers it cannot be attributed to any thing in the world, but the word preached : Defpife not therefore the plain and powerful preaching of Gods word; for that is the muftard-feed, which though little in quantity, is inoperation mighty: You fee twelve men indued with ability to preach this, did quickly leaven this whole world. Secondly, Godmakes his grace to come to inchgreat 'innersfometimes, that his tender mercies and compafonsmay be made the moreillußriour: As it was Chrills piety to cure that cripple, that lay thirty years by the pools fide, and had no man tohelp him; fo thefe finners thatarebound in rongerchains then others, whom the Devil detaineth in furet chains then others, its a greater at of piety and grace to refcue them : Thus Paul being fenfible of himfelf, as the greateft of all (inners, how paflionately doth he break out to admire the mercy and grace of God to him : So that when we fee a wretched obflinate finner, who careth for nothing, fearethnothing, is not able to pitty himfelf, converted and inlighcned bythe grace ofGod ; hereare tender bowels, God pittiethhimmore then man doth himfelf. As I-lierons laid of the poor dumb man that cannot Speak or beg for an alms, Maxime regar, doom non poteß rogare, The more un- able he is to fpeak, the more he doth fpeak, moving compaflion and piety. Thus a wicked man, who is indeed dumb fpiritually, cannot (peak, cannotpray, cannot utter any one word in his behalf, is thereby an objeth of pitty with God, becaufe fo miserable: If then you ask, Why are Inchmens eyes opened ? whydo loch menunderftand what they didnot? Chrift in mercy hath Paidun- to them, sArifeandwalk. Thirdly, Grace converts fometimes notorious firmer!, to confound the pride and fwelling thoughts of felfrighteous men. There are a generation of men,Whofevoays areclean theirowneyes,Prov.r6.a. menwho julkifiethemfelves, blefingGod they are not likeother men; now when the grace of God comes andworketb upon
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=