Ver. 3. the 17th Chapter of St.' J O H N: 2 7 Chrift, that he grew in Knowledg 5 we do not read, that he grew in Grace 5 he re- ceived the Spirit without meafure, and nothing could be added to the perfe&ion of his Innocence; yet it is Paid, Lake 2. 40. The Child grew5 and Pity: 5z. Defies increafid in Wifdom, and in Stature, and in favour with God and Man. The Godhead made out it felf to him by degrees. Oh let us increafe ! It is notable, that Mofes his firft Requeft to God, was, Tell me thy Name, and afterward, Phew me thy Glory, a more full nianife- ftatiop of God. We fhould not always keep to our Milk, our Infant- Notions and Apprehenfions, but go on to a greater Increafe 5 it much advanceth your Spiritual Life, and will be an advantage to your Eternal Life. They have the higheft Vilons of God hereafter, that know molt of him here upon Earth ; they are Vellels of a larger ca- pacity 5 and though all be perfe(t, yet with a difference. Now for Means and Diretions, take thefe ; r. Wait upon the preaching of the Word. God appointed it, and hath given Gifts to the Church for this end and purpofe. We fhould quicken one another. Ifa. a. 3. Come, and let us go up to the Houfe of the Lord, and he will teach us his Ways. God's Grace is given in his own way. When Men negle& and defpife God's folemn Inftituti- ons, they either grow brutifh or fanatical, as we fee by daily experience. Light, as well as Flame, is kept in by the breath of Preaching. By long attention, you grow skilful in the Word of 1Lighteoufnefs. Men that defpife the Word, may be more full of Crotchets and Curiofities, but that Light is Darknefs. It is difputed, which is the fènfe of Learning, Hearing, or Seeing.? By the Eye we fee things, but murk, by reafon of innate Ignorance, be taught how to judg of them. 2. You muff read the Word with diligence; That is every Man's Work, that hath a Soul to be faved. They that bury themfelves in other Books, will not have filch lively Impreffions. Pfal. a. 2. His delight is in the Law of the Lord, and in his Law doth he meditate day and night ; that mutt be our Exercife, not Play-Books, Stories, and idle Sonnets. How many Sacrilegious Hours do many fpend this way ? Cafte delieie mese Ant fcriptur,e tax. Aug. Nay, good Books fhould not keep from the Scriptures. Lu- ther in Gen. cap. 19. faith, Ego odi libres mens, F fops opto ese interim, ne morentn,. !ac- res, & abducant a !ethane ipf ur feripturæ. We fhould go to the Fountain. 2 Tim. 3. /5. ,4nd that from a Child than haft known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wife unto Salvation. We put a difparagemenr upon- the Word, when we favour and re- lifh Humane Writings, though never fo good and excellent, better than the Word of God it felf. This is the handing Rule, by which all Do (trines mull be confirmed 5 and you do not know what tweet, frefh, and favory Thoughts the Spirit of God may fair up in your own Minds ; for Word- reprefentations are not fo taking, as our own inward Thoughts and Difcoutks t there, like a draught of Wine from the Tap, are more frefh and lively. It is neceffary, as I fail before, to wait upon Preaching, to hear what others can fay out of the Scriptures; but it is good to read too, that we may preach to our £elves. Every Man is fitteft to commune with his own Heart ; and that Convidion which doth immediately arife out of the Word, is more prevalent. A Man can be angry with any Preacher but Conscience. In another, when a Matter is expreffed to our Cafe, we are aptto fufpeEt the mixture of Paffion and private Aims ; but read thy Pelf; and what thoughts are flirted up upon thy reading, will be molt advantagious to thee. Befides, thofe that are ftudious of the Word, have this fenfible advantage, that they have the Ptomifes, the Do krines, the Examples of the Word more familiar and ready with them upon all Cafes. It is faid of one, that he was a living Bible, and a walking Library, p,íg,NU?' i e1ss(, >r pasares abantaity, fuch a Chriftian is a walking Concordance. And whereas other Chriftians are weak, unfetled in Comfort or Opinion, thefe have always Scriptures ready. And let me tell you, in the whole Work of Grace, you will find no Weapon fo effeûual, as the Sword of the Spirit, as Scriptures readily and feafonably urged. Therefore no diligence here is too much ; if you would not be barren and faplefs in Difcourfe with others, if you would not be weak and comfortlefs in your felt, read the Scriptures, that you may bring fie fcriptuns eft upon every Temptation, and urge the folid grounds of ourCom- fort. I fpeak the more in fo plain a Point, becaufe I would make Men more confciiona- ble, both in their Clofets and Families, in this Point, that they may not only have re- courfe to learned Helps, and Books of an humane Original, but to the Word it felE Dddd The
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