4. If we would have the word written effectual to salvation, we must delight in it as our spiritual cordial, Jer. xv. 16., " Thy words were found, and I did eat them, and the word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of my heart." All true solid comfort is fetched out of the word. The word (as Chrysostom saith) is a spiritual garden ; and the promises arethefragrantflowersor spices in this garden. How should we delight to walk among these beds of spices ? Is it not a comfort in all dubious perplexed cases, to have a counsellor to advise us? Ps. cxix. 24., " Thy testimonies are my counsellors." Is it not a comfort to find our evidences for heaven ? And where should we find them but in the word ? 1 Thess. i. 4, 5. The word written is a sovereign elixir, or com- fort in an hour of distress, Ps. cxix. 50., " This is my comfort in my affliction, for thy word hath quickened me." It can turn all our "• water into wine," How should we take a great complacency and delight in the word ? They only who come to the word with delight, go from it with success.
5. If we would have the scripture effec- tual and saving, we must be sure, AAhen we have read the word, to hide it in our hearts, Ps. cxix. 11., " Thy word have I hid in my heart." The word, locked up in the heart, is a preservative against sin. Why did Davi<l hide the word in his heart ? In the next words, " That I might not sin against
THE WORD READ AND PREACHED, HOW EFFECTUAL.
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thee." As one would carry an antidote a- bout him when lie comes near a ])Iace in- fected, so David carried tlie word in his heart as a sacred antidote to preserve him from the infection of sin. When the sap is hid in the root, it makes the branches fruitful ; when the seed is hid in the ground, then the corn springs up ; so, when the word is hid in the heart, then it brings forth good fruit.
6. If we would have the word written effectual, let us labour not only to have the light of the word in our heads, but the power of the word in our hearts. Let us endeavour to have the word copied out, and written a second time in our hearts, Ps. xxxvii. 31., " The law of God is in his heart." The word saith, " Be clothed with humility," 1 Pet. v. 5. : let us be low and humble in our own eyes. The word calls for sanctity : Let us labour to partake of the divine nature, and to have something conceived in us which is of the Holy Ghost, 2 Pet. i. 4. When the word is thus copied out into our hearts, and we are changed into the similitude of it, now the word writ- ten is made effectual to us, and becomes a savour of life.
7. et ult. When we read tlie holy scrip- tures let us look up to God for a blessing ; beg the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, that we may see the " deep things of God,"
1 Cor. ii. 10. Pray to God, that the same Spirit that wrote the scripture would ena- ble us to understand it. Pray that God would give us that " savour of knowledge,"
2 Cor. ii. 14., that we may relish a sweet- ness in the word we read. David tasted it " sweeter than the honey-comb," Ps. xix. 10. Let us pray that God would not only give us his word as a rule of holiness, but his grace as a principle of holiness.
2d Branch of the 2d Question. How may ive so hear the word^ that it may be ef- fictual and saving to our souls ?
Alls. 1 Give great attention to the word preached ; let nothing p.'iss without taking special notice of it, Luke xix. 48., " All the people were very attentive to hear him," they hung upon his lips. Acts xvi. 14., " Lydia a seller of purple, which worshi|)- ped God, heard us, whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended to the things