96 . SERMONS upon Serm. i 1. Let me prefs you w receive the Word, to receive Chrift. I. Receive the Word, give it a kind entertainment. There is an At of Confedera- tion; meditate upon it reticently, that Truth may not float in the Underftanding, but fink into the Heart. Luke 9.44Let thefe fayings fink down into your Heart'. Be- lieve it : the Truth is a Soveraign Remedy 5 but there wanteth one Ingredient to make it work, and that is Faith. Heb. 4.2. The Word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with Faith in them that heard it. There is an At of the Will and Affe &ions, which is called, a receiving the Truth in Love, 2 Theft 2. 10. Make room for it, that Carnal Affe &ions.may not vomit and throw it up again. Chrift complaineth that his Word had no place in them, John 8. 37. is ywehi s h v, like a queafy Stomach poffeffed with Choler, that calls up all that is taken into it. 1 Cor. 2. 14..,? natural Man re- ceiveth not the things of the Spirit of God. Let it lodg, and quietly exercife a foveraign command over the Soul. 2. Receive Chrift in the Word. In a Contra &, there is not only a receiving a Bond, but by virtue of the Bond, an Inheritance conveyed to us : So you mutt not only re- ceive the Word, we are.not Caved by giving credit to any Maxim of Religion, Fides non ell ¡Pipes axiomati. Not they that law the Ark 5 many faw it, and (Coifed.; but they that were in it, were faved from drowning. When a Man is ready to perifh in the Floods, it is not enough to fee Land, but we mutt reach it, ftand upon it, if we would be fare. It is not a naked Contemplation, but a real Implantation into Chrift. Now if you will know it, whatever was in Chrift in the Hiftory, mutt be in you in the Myftery. You are Adopted Sons, 1 John 3. t. Chrift mutt be formed and conceived in you, Gal. 4.19. You mutt fuffer, and be crucified to the World and Sin, Rocs. 6. 6. You mutt be buried and raifed up again, Col. 2.12. All is to be done in a fpiri- tual manner. I fpeak not this to turn all Scripture into an Allegory, but every Aft of Chrift hath fome Spiritual Accomodation. So much for there two ads or parts of Faith, They have known Cutely, and have re- ceived thy Word. Before I go off from this Claufe, there are two or three Obfervations to be railed, cfpecially if we compare this Verle with John 16.27, 28, 29, 30, 3t. For the Father himfelfloveth you, becaufe ye have loved me,and believed that I came forth from God. I came forth from the Father, and am come into the World : again, 1 leave the World, and go to the Father. His Difciples faid unto him, Lo, WOW fpeakefl thou plainly, and fpeakefl no Proverb. Now are we fore that thou knowefì all things, and needefl not that any Mau fhould ask thee : by this we believe that thou camefl forth from God. Jefw anfwered them, Do ye now believe t? From whence I obferve, That this was but a late Acknow- ledgment. Verf. 3o. Now we are fore, and by this we believe, that thou cameo forth from God. And prefently, within an hour, Chrift commendeth it to his Father, They have known furey, and have believed. a. Obferve 5 How ready Chrifl is to take notice of the Good that it wrought in no 5 He watcheth for an occafton to commend us to God. Satan and his Inftruments, they watch for our halting. Jer. 20. to. 41_ my Familiars watched for my halting, peraci- venture he will be inticed. Let us watch, fay they, we may have Matter againft him. The Devil is a Spy, that Beth upon the catch, that he may frame an Accufation againft you before God. A Dog doth not wait for a Bit from his Matter's Trencher, more than he doth for a paffionate Word, Come evil Getture and Pra &ice, whereof to ac- cure us 5 fo his Infiruments watch to defame you in theWorld. But now Jefus Chrift looketh after Matter of Praile and Commendation. Now we know verily and believe,and Chrift prelently telleth his Father of it. Oh what an encouragement fhould this be, to . prefs us to grow in Knowledg, and to abound in every good Work ! you furnish your Interceffor with matter of Pralle, and give your Advocate an Advantage againft your Acculer. Chrift watcheth for a good Alion, as the Devil doth for a Bad : He is a fwift Witnefi, not only againft his Adverfaries, but for his People. Mal. 3. 5. I will come near to you in Judgment, and I will be a fwift Witnefs againft the Sorcerers, &c. He cometh to convince them fooner than they are aware, none of their Sins are un- known ;o him, and they are brought in Court before they dream of it. And the Godlyhave a Witnefs in Heaven too. So, Job 16. 20. Behold, my Witne fi is in Hea- ven, and my Record is on High. And he is a fwift Witnefs; we reap the Fruit of many
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=