Anx. Tlic word of God is said to work effectually, when it hath that good effect iij>on us for which it was aj)pointed of God; namely, when the word works powerful illumination, and thorough reformation ; Acts xxvi. 18., "To open their eyes, and turn lliem from the power of Satan to God." The * opening their eyes,' denotes illumina- tion ; and, ' turning them from Satan to God,' denotes reformation.
Quest. 2. ///>?/• in the word to be read and heard that it mai/ become effectual to salva- tion ?
This question consists of two branches.
1. Hoiv wail the irord be read effectually f
First, I shall begin with the first branch of the question, ' How is the woid to be read that it may become effectual to salva- tion ?'
Ann. That we may so read the Avord, that it may conduce effectually to our salvation,
1. Let us have a reverent esteem of e- very part of canonical scripture : Ps. xix. 10., "More to be desired are they than gold." Value this book of God above all other books. It is a golden ejnstle, indited by the Holy Ghost, sent us from heaven. More particularly to raise our esteem, (1.) The scripture is a spiritual glass to dress our souls by ; it shews us more than we
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THE WORD READ AND PREACHED HOW EFFECTUAL.
can see by the light of a naturjil conscience; that may discover gross sins, but the ghiss of the Avord sliews us heart-sins, vain thoughts, unbeliof, &c. And it not only sliews us our spots, but washcth them a- way. (2.) The scripture is a magazine out of which we may fetch our spiritual artil- lery to fight against Satan. When the de- vil tempted our Saviour, he fetched armour and weapons from scripture, " it is written," Mat. iv. 4, 7. (3.) The holy scripture is a panacea, or universal medicine for the soul ; it gives a recipe to cure deadness of heart, Ps. cxix. 50. Pride, 1 Pet. v. 5. Infideli- ty, John iii. 36. It is a physic garden, where we may gather an herb or antidote to expel the poison of sin. The leaves of scripture, like the leaves of the tree of life, are for the " healing of the nations," Rev. xxii 2. And may not this cause a reve- rent esteem of the word ?
2. If we would have the word written effectual to our souls, let us peruse it with 'intcnsenessof mind :' John v. 39., " Search the scriptures." The Greek word [erynate] signifies to search as for a ' vein of silver.' The Beroans, Acts xvii. 11., "searched the scriptures daily." The word [anakrimovtcs'] signifies to make a curious and critical search. And Apollos was mighty in tiie scriptures, Acts xviii. 24. Some gallop o- ver a chapter in haste and get no good by it : if we would have the word effectual and saving, we must mind and observe eve- ry passage of scripture. And that we may be diligent in the perusal of scripture, con- sider,
First, T!ie word written is norma cidtiif;, — the rule and platform by which we are to s(juare our lives ; it contains in it all things needful to salvation, Ps. xix. 7., what duties we are to do, what sins we are to avoid, (iod gave Moses a pattern how he would have the tabernacle made; and he was to go exactly according to the pat- tern, Exod. \xv. 9. The word is the j)at- tern (Jod hath given us in writing for mo- delling our lives; therefore, how careful should we be in the pursuing and looking over this pattern ?
Secondly, The written word, as it is our pattern, so it will be our judge, John xii. 4-8., " The word that I have spoken, the
same shall judge him in the last day." We read of the opening of the books. Rev. xx. 12. This is one book God will open, the book of the Scripture, and will judge men out of it. He will say, Have you lived ac- cording to the rule of this word ? The word hath a double work, to teach, and to judge.
3. If we would have the word written effectual, we must bring faith to the read- ing of it, — believe it to be the word of the eternal Jehovah. The word written comes with authority, — it shews its commission from heaven, " Thus saith the Lord." It is of divine inspiration, 2 Tim. iii. 16. The oracles of scripture must be surer to us than a voice from heaven, 1 Pet. i. 18. Unbe- lief enervates the virtue of scripture, and renders it ineffectual. First men question the truth of the scripture, and then fall away from it.