Hence it is tlie character of .sincerity, to look to the way rather than tlie company. 'Tlie higlnvay of the upright is to depart from evil,' Prov. xvi. 1 7. He consults with the word, whether the way be good or evil : if he finds it evil, he will not enter into it to bear anotlier company; no, though he be a saint. Indeed, God suffers some to step awry, that he might prove others.^ Thus heresies come, 'that they who are approved may be made manifest,' 1 Cor. xi. 19: and Deut. xiii. 3, 'Thou shalt not hearken to the words of that prophet, for the Lord your God proveth 3^ou, to know whether ye love the Lord your God with all your heart.' Thus I have given a few instances by which you see how this sword of the word, as that in the cherub's hand, may be turned every way to preserve thee from venturing to sin \ipon any pretence whatever.
CHAPTER XXVII.
TWO DIRECTIONS MORE, HOW TO USE THE WORD FOR OUU DEFENCE AGAINST TEMPTATIONS TO SIN.
Thirdly, Hide the word in thy heart. This was David's preservative, Psa. cxix. 11, 'Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee.' It was not the Bible in his hand to read it, not the word on his tongue to speak of it, nor in his head to get a notional knowledge of it ; but the hiding it in his heart, that he found effectual against sin. It is not meat in the dish, but taken into the stomach, ihat nourisheth; not physic in the glass, but taken into the body, that purgeth. Now, heart in Scripture, though it be used for all the faculties of the soul, yet principally for the conscience and the affections.
Section I. — For the conscience. ' If our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things,' 1 John iii. 20. That is, if our con- science condemns us justly, our case is sad, because God knows of us more than we do of ourselves, and can charge us with many sins that conscience is not privy to. Thus, Christian, labour to hide the word in thy heart, that is, in thj' conscience ; let it there have a throne, and it will keep thee in a holy awe. First, Look upon the word as stamped witii Divine authority, the law which the great God gives thee, his poor creature, to walk by. This impressed on thy conscience would make thee tremble at the thought of a sin, which is the trai- tor's dagger that strikes at God himself, by the contempt it casts upon his law. And if some assassins, intending to stab a prince, have been so overawed with a few beams of majesty, shot from his mortal brow, that their hearts would not serve them to make the horrid attempt; how much more must the dread of the great God's majesty, darted from his word into the creatiu'e's conscience, deter him from practising any treason against his Maker ! ' Princes persecuted me without a cause, but my heart standeth in awe of thy word,' Psa. cxix. IGL As if he had said, I had rather incur their wrath for my holiness, than make thy word my enemy by my sin. Secondly, Look upon the word of God, as that law by which thou art to be judged at the great day. ' God will judge the secrets of all men, according to my gospel,' Rom. ii. 16. Then the book of thy conscience shall be opened, and compared with this, and accordingly will sen- tence of life or death be pronounced by Christ thy judge. Thou mayest know beforehand how it will go with thee at that day : if now thou canst not stand before the word as opened by a poor minister, what will you do when it is opened by Christ? Now thy conscience from the word condemns thee, but not finally ; for by timely repentance and faith, the sentence of this ])rivate court may be reversed, and the word which now binds thee over to death will acquit and justify tliee. But at that great day of assize there will be a final decision of thy cause. If then judgment goes against thee, thou art a lost man for ever. No reversing the sentence to be expected, not so much as a reprieve to stay the execution : but as the word goeth out of the Judge's mouth, the sinner's face is covered, to be immediately delivered into the tormentor's hands. And darest thou now, O man, bid any lust welcome, while thou secst the everlasting chains prepared, in which the word of God dooms to bind every siiuier? Canst thou read thy sentence, and yet like thj- sin that brings it inevitably upon thy head ?
2 R 2
0J2 AND THE SWOKD OF THE SPIRIT.