order that it stands in. First, It may be brought in after all the rest, to let us know how necessary the graces of God's Spirit are to our right using of the word. There is nothing more abused than the word, and why, but becavise men come to it with unsound and unsanctified hearts ? The heretic quotes it to prove his false doctrine, and dares be so impudent as to cite it to appear for him. But how is it possible they should father their monstrous births on the pure, chaste word of God ? Surely it is because they come to the word, and converse with it, but bi-ing not the girdle of sincerity with them, and being imgirt, are iinblest. God leaves them justly to miss of truth, because they are not sincere in their inquiry after it. The brat is got upon their own hearts, by the father of lies, and they come to the word only to witness to it. Another reads the word, and is more hardened in his lusts than he was before. He sees some there canonized for saints by the Spirit of God, the history of whose lives is, notwithstanding, blotted with some foul falls, possibly into those very sins in which he lies wallowing, and therefore is bold to put himself into the saints' calendar. And why so impudent? Truly, because he comes to the word with an unholy heart, and wants the breastplate of righteousness to de- fend him from the dint of so dangerous a temjjtation. Another, for want of faith to give existence to the ti'uth of the threatening in his conscience, runs boldly upon the point of this sword, and dares the God of heaven to sti-ike him with it. Thus we find those wretches, mentioned by the prophet, playing with this edge-tool, ' Where is the word of the Lord? let it come now,' Jer. xvii. 15 : as if they had said, mockingly. Thou scarest us with strange bugbears; judgments that, in the name of God, thou threatenest are coming on us. When will they come ? We would fain see them. Is God's sword rusty, that he is so long getting it out of the scabbard ? And the despairing soul, for want of a helmet of hope, deals little better with the promise, than the presumptuous sinner with the threatening. Instead of lifting it up to defend him against the fears of his guilty conscience, he falls upon the point of it, and destroys his own soul. Well, therefore, may the apostle first put on the other pieces, and then deliver this sword to them to use for their good, A sword in a madman's hand, and the word of God in wicked men's mouths, are used much alike, to hurt only themselves and their best fi-iends with. Secondly, It may be com- mended, after all the rest, to let us know that the Christian, when advanced to the highest attainments of grace possible in this life, is not above the use of the word, nay, cannot be safe without it. When girded with sincerity, his plate of righteousness on his breast, shield of faith in his hand, and helmet of hope covering his head, his salvation is out of doubt to him at present ; yet even then he must take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. This is not a book to be read by the lowest class in Christ's school only, but be- coming the highest scholars, who seem most fit for a removal to heaven's aca- demy. It is not only of use to make a Christian by conversion, but to make him perfect also, 2Tim. iii. 15. It is like the architect's rule and line, as ne- cessary to lay the top-stone of the building at the end of his life, as the founda- tion at his conversion. They, therefore, are likely to prove foolish builders, that throw away their line before the house be finished.
I now come to take up the weapon in the text, — ' And the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:' in which words observe these three parts : — First, The weapon itself, that is, ' the Avord of God.' Secondly, The metaphor in which it is sheathed — ' the sword,' with the person whose it is — 'the Spirit.' Thirdly, An exhortation to make use of this weapon, — 'And the sword,' &c. ; that is, take this with all the other before-named pieces. So that to whom he directs the former pieces, he gives the sword of the word to use. Now those, you shall find, are persons of all ranks and relations, hus- bands and wives, parents and children, masters and servants ; he would have none be without this sword any more than without the girdle, helmet, and the rest. Though this I know will not please the papists, who woidd have this sword of the word, like that of Goliath, laid up out of their reach, in the priests' keeping.
AND THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT.
CHAPTER 11.
WHAT IS HERE MEANT BY THE WORD OF GOD.
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