112 SERMONS upon Serm. 28, Salt by its Savour, the Sun by Light and Heat, and the like. Moral Principles, that are effectually operative, manifeft thkmfelves alto. Let us fee how the Cafe Ilandeth with the Scripture. It is called, Rom. t. 16. The Power of God unto Salvation ; and the preaching of the Crofì is to them which are faved, the Power of God, r Cor. I. r8: And r Cor. 2.4. My Speech and my Preaching was not with enticing words of Man's Wif- dam, bet in demanjiration of the Spirit and of Power. And, e Theft/.' e. 5. Our Gofpel came not unto you in Word only, but in Power, end in the Holy Ghofl, and in much *t- rance. It giveth a perfwafon of it fell by its being the Power of God, and the Rod of his Strength. Pfal. 1 to. 2. The Lord fhail fend the Rod of his Strength out of Sion. When the Egyptians law the Miracles that Mofis wrought, they confeffed the Power of God, that God was with him. Exod. 8. 19. Then the Magicians Paid to Pharaoh, This is the Finger of God. And when the Scripture evidenceth fo great a Power, it thews it fell to be of God, as in judging the Hearts of Men. Heb. 4. I a. The Word of God is quick and .powerful, and fbarper than any two-edged Sword, piercing even to the dividing afunder 4 f Soul and Spirit, and of the 7oints itnd Marrow, and it a D ferner of the Thoughts and Intents of the Heart. In convincing them of their evil Elate ; e Cor. 14. 25. ../Ind thus are the Secrets of the Heart made manifeft ; and fo falling dawn on his Face, he will worjhip God, and report, that God is in you of a Truth. In converting Sinners to God; James 1. 18. Of his own Will begat he us with the Word of Truth. In building up them that are fanl ified ; Ads 20.32..And now, Brethren, I commend you to God, and to the Word of his Grace, which is able to build you up; and to give you an Inheritance among them that are fanlbified. This is no fluggifh idle Power, that may be hid and.obfcured, but manifefts it Pelf by fenfible Effects; it is lively and operative, not only to change Men's Lives, but Hearts. Pfal. 19. 7,8. The Lai' of the Lord is pewit, converting the Soul: the Tefiimony of the Lord is fure, malting wife the Simple. The Statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the Heart : the Commandment of the Lord Is pure, enlightning the Eyes. This the Apoflle makes to be a fenfible proof of Chrifi (peaking in him. 2 Cor. 13.3. Since ye feek a proof of Chrifl fpeaking in me, which to you -ward is not weak, but is mighty in yeu. Objee7. But this is an Argument to thofe that have felt it ; How will it perfwade others ? ,/ínfm. e. It is an Argument to others alto, for this mighty Operation is fenfible to others, they may fee the change wrought in them, and wonder at it. t Pet. 4.4. Wherein they think it firange, that you run not with them to all excefr.of Riot. 2. There are publick Effects of the Polder of the Word, betides priváte Inftances Wherever the Word hath been, Satan vanifhed, where formerly he tyrannized, and his Deceits are of no more force : Oracles ceafed at Delphos, the Devils howled. Where the Gofpel is preached, there are lets Witchcrafts, and Diabolical Deh$lons : they are not fo frequent, where the Gofpel has had a free paffage. 3. Thole that have felt no experience of this Power, have a fecret fear of it. John 3. 20. Every one-that loth Evil, hateth the Light, neither cometh to the Light, left his Deeds flsáuld be reproved. Confcience is afraid of the Majefty of God Ihining forth in the Scriptures: Men dare not paule upon, and confider the Doctrine therein contained. Atheifm lieth in the Heart, the Seat of Delire. Pfal. 54. t. The Fool bath Paid in his Heart, There is no God. Men queftion the Word, becaufe they would not have it true. When Men give leave to Lulls, they are afraid the Word fhould prove true, and there- fore would rather accule the Word of Falfity, than their own Hearts; as Ahab was loth to hear Micaiah, becaufe he prophelied Evil. Strong Lulls make the Soul incre- dulous, they fear the Scriptures, and then queftion them. They know there is Power in them to aflonifh them ; and therefore as Malefactors delire to defiroy the Records and Evidences that are againft them; fo dowicked Men, they are Antifcripturilts in Affe- ction, rather than Opinion. Fifthly, By the Spirit's Teftithony. That it is fo is clear : r John 5.6. It is the Spi- rit that beareth mitnef, becaufe the Spirit is Truth. The Doctrine of the Gofpel is there called Spirit, becaufe he is the Author of it. 2 Pet. r. a i. For the Prophecy came not in old Time by the Will of alen, but Holy Men of God fpake as they were moved by the Holy Ghofi. Or becaufe the Spirit is Truth, therefore he is the Supreme Witnefs. He is of God's Privy Council ; I. Cor. 2. I a. For what Man knoweth the Things of a Man, jave the Spirit of Man, that is in him s' Even fo the Things of God knoweth no .7Ylan, but the Spirit
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