But you will say, if there be such a conscience-shaking power in the word, how comes it to pass, that many notorious sinners sit so peaceably, and sleep so soundly under it? They read it at home, and hear it preached powerfully in public, yet are so far from feeling in their consciences, that they remain senseless and stupid ; yea, can laugh at the preacher, and shake off all the threatenings denounced, when the sermon is done. First, I answer, many sinners who seem so jocund in our eyes have not such merry lives as you think for. A book may be fairly bound and gilt, yet have sad stories written within it. Sinners will not tell us all the secret rebukes that conscience from the word gives them. If you will judge of Herod by the jollity of his feast, you may think he wanted no joy; but at another time we see that John's ghost walked in his conscience. And so doth the word haunt many a one, who to us appear to lay nothing to heart ; in the midst of their laughter their heart is sad ; you see the lightning in their face, but hear not the thunder that rumbles in their conscience. Secondly, It is enough that the word doth leave such an impression upon the conscience of any, though not of all, to prove its divinity ; one affirmative testimony speaketh louder for the proof of a thing than many negatives do to the contrary. The word is not a physical instrument, but moral, and works not by a virtue inherent in it, but power impressed on it by the Spirit of God that first indited it, and this power he putteth forth according to his o\yn good pleasure ; so that the same word sets one man a trembling, and leaves another (in the same seat, may be,) as little moved by it, as the pillar he leaneth on. Thus, as two at a mill, so at a sermon, one is taken, and the other left ; one is humbled, and another hardened : not from impotency in the word, butfreeness of God's dispensing it : his message shall do to whom it is sent, and none else. It is as a man strikes with a sword, back or edge, strong or weak, that makes it cut or not, gives a slight wound or deep. The word pierceth the conscience according to the Divine power that is impressed on it. The three men walked in the fire, and were not singed ; others were consumed as soon as they came within scent of it. Shall we say, that fire was not hot, because one was burnt, and the other not? Some their consciences do not so much as smell of the word, though the flames of the threatening fly about their ears ; others are set all on fire with the terrors of it. Thirdly. The senseless stupidity of some imder the stroke of the word is not to be imputed to its impotency, but to the just judgment of God, wherewith he plagueth them for sinning against the convictions thereof; for commonly they are of that sort, whose consciences are impenetrable, the withering curse of God having lighted upon them ; no wonder their judgments are darkened, and con- sciences seared. It was as great a manifestation of Christ's power (and his disciples judged it so) when with two or three words the fig-tree was blasted, as if he had caused it to spring and sprout when withered and dry. The power of God is as great in hardening Pharaoh's heart, as in melting Josiah's.
CHAPTER X.
THE COMFORTING PROPERTY OF THE WORD TO BLEEDING CONSCIENCES.
Thirdly, Its power to comfort and raise a dejected spirit. Conscience is God's prison in the creature's own bosom, from whence none can have his release, except by his warrant that made the mittimus, and committed him thither. Indeed he is a weak prince, that hath no prison to commit offenders into, but what another can break open. This, where God lays sinners in chains, is not such. 'A wounded spirit,' saith Solomon, ' who can bear?' Yea, and who can cure ? If any creature could, surely the devils were as able as any to do it : but we see they have not to this day found the way to shake off" those fetters which God keeps them in ; but lie roaring under the unspeakable torment of God's wrath : and they who cannot cure their own wounds, are likely to be but poor physicians to help others ; indeed, they acknowledge it beyond their skill and power: 'Wherefore dost thou ask of me,' said the devil to Said, ' seeing the Lord is departed from thee, and is become thy enemy?' 1 Sam. xxviii. 16. The distress of an afflicted conscience ariseth from the dismal sense of divine wrath for sin : now none can remove this, but he that can infallibly assure the soul of God's pardoning mercy ; and this lies so deep in God's heart, that God alone, who only knowcth his own thoughts, can be the messenger to bring the news ;
AND THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT. «;7'^