sM THE WORD OF GOD COMPARED TO A HAMMER. Book lit quenched, and tho Sword thrown away, what Execution can be done upon this fpiri" tual Enemy? (12.) Confider, It is by the Help and Influence of the Holy Spirit thou mull: per– form all Duties of Religion, or they will never be accepted of God ; and how can that be done when the Spirit is quenched, and the Motions and Operations thereof ceafe? If the Word and Spirit be compared to Fire, let us blefs God for kindling this Fire in our Hearts and Nation, and pray that he would be pleafed to blow more and more upon it, that it may burn up all the Chaff and Drofs of our Corruptions, and inflame our Souls with a greater Degree of Love to God, and Zeal to Religion. And !et us take heed we do not quench the Spirit in others. Wicked Men would fain put this Fire quite out; what unwearied Attempts have they made from Time to, Time irr this and other Nations, to extinguifh the Light of the Word? Ungodly Pa– pifl:s cannot endure the Heat of this Fire, they are not more ready to kindle other Fires, to the fpoiling and impoveri01ing of the Kingdom, than they are to put out this: They will not fuffer it to burn in themfelves, fo they, as much as in them lies, endeavor to quench it in others; like thofe Men whom our Savior reprehended in the Days of his Flefh, who would not go into Heaven themfdves, nor fuffer them, who would go thither, to enter in. But in the lafl: Place, let them, and all other wicked Perfons, take heed how they' quench this divine Fire ; for if it burn not op their Sins and Corruptions, and kindle Grace and Holinefs in them, they mull: burn one Day in H ell: for either this Fire inufl: be fuffered to burn in them, or they be condemned to eternal Burning for quench– ing of it. THE WORD OF GOD COMPARED TO A HAMMER, Is not my Word like as a Fire, faith the Lord? and like a Hammer that breaketh the Rock in pieces.? Jer. xxiii. 29. JN thefe Words, the Word of God is compared to Fire, which we have already fpoken of. 2. As the Word is compared to Fire; fo likewife to a Hammer. 3· The Heart of a Sinner is compared to a Rock. We !hall here only fpeak of the Word asit is compared to a Hmnmer. S I M I LE. I. A Hammer is a fit Infl:rument to break Rocks, and beat Stones in pieces, &c, I!. A Hammer can do nothing of itfelf without the Hand that ufes it. Ill. According to the Strength, :belign and Wifdom of the Work– man, a Hammer cloth efl'dl: this or that, &c. IV. A Hammer is not only a fit Infl:rument to break Things in pieces withal!; but alfo to drive home Nails, &c. and to clench and fafl:en them alfo. PARALLEL I. THE Word of God is prepared by the Al– mighty, as a fit Means to break in pieces the fl:ony, and rocky Hearts of Sinners. !I. The Word of God cannot of itfelf break in pieces the Sinner's Heart : God mull: ufe it by the Hand of the Spirit, if ever it accomplifh that for which he fent it. J!l. So according to the Delign, Wifdom and Strength the Holy Ghofl: is pleafe(l to put fortl1 upon the Heart of a Sinner, is the Nature of the Work that is effeCted or accompliOJed thereby. IV. So the Word of God in the Hand of the Spirit is very ufeful to drive home and fafl:en, (1.) The Nails of ConviCtion; (2.) To drive home and fafl:en Precepts; (3.) To drive home and fafl:en Promifes. God is the great Majfer of Ajjemblies, who fajfens the Words of the Wife as Goads and Nails, given from one Shepherd, Ecc!ef. xii, sI. I N F E R E N C E S. 1: EXAMINE yourftlves: Have you experienced the Word to be like aH ammer? (1.) Have you been broken in pieces by it? Have you been under Grief and Trouble for your Sins ? 3 (z.) Are
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