Ò2 ofIneffectual Hearing the Word. fuch an impreffion of the word upon him, as thatthereby heenlarged] the heart; Open thy mouth wide,& I will fill it. 4. AChriftian may have the everlatling efficacy of the word and voice of Godpreferved in a fpirit of thank- fulnelfe and love to the. Lord, for thole joys, and good that it finds by the word fome times. When it feels that the fweer and favour ofthe word is gone, a fpirit of thank- fulneffT and love to the word that doth remain ; The Lord he preferves the efficacyof the word in this way-. Ffal- i f 9. 7. Ifhall, faith David, thenpraife thee with up. yightneJf"e of heart, when Ifhall have learned thy righteous judgements. The Lord he may teach his . people his righteous judgements ; and the favour and feeling, and ftrength of them to their feeling may he gone, and yet'it is preferved in a fpirit of thankfulncffe and praife, that ever the Lord fhould Phew it fuch mercy. when the Spirit is gone,the fpirit of love and thankfulneffe remains. As now a man bath heard the word, the Lord he hnth e. feauaIly wrought onhim, and changed his heart, and drawn him to himtelf; a Chriftian it may be he may lofe thofe forrows and humiliations, and the remembranceof thofe things ;yct there rernaineth to his dying day this Spi- rit, he bleflèth God , and wondereth at God, that ever he fhould make the word eífeduall; that he fhould leave fo many thoufa,ds in the world , and raft his skirt over him, and fay to him, Live'; this do's remain fill. Brethren, the Lord do's foruo imes let light into a mans mind to difcover his fin : now this light it do's not fenfi- bly overcome the pcwer of fin : But now the f: ul blef- feth God for that wordwhich hath convinced it; had i' never leery my fm, faith the foul, I fhould never a fought for power againft; ir, and pardon ofit; and this continues now, and cannot but continue; here is the efficacy of the word, the word of Gods grace ; though the flower of it be gone, yet there is an eternal pówer of the word; that the foul can fay, It bath, come to me , and helped me a- gainft thefe fins ; and the foul wonders at the Lord, it fhouldbe fo much as it is. _ So again,.a Chriftian he finds marvellous refrefhings and affedtion whiles he is a hea- ting ; when he is gone away, he finds not the fame, but hebleffeth God for thofe affe&ions he finds, and there remains an eternal' efficacyof the word. 5. The eternal l efficacy of the word , it maybe and is preferved, by nourifhing, increafing and reftoring the now :.J.... . _. _....
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