(2.) It is of great use to increase our loye to the word, for the ex- cellency and worth of the word is found experimentally by belieyers, so that their loye and estimation of it is more fixed and settled upon their hearts, so that they purpose to make use of it always for their comfort and direction ; it is a great encouragement when formerly they haye found comfort and life thereby. The apostle, to settle the Galatians that began to wayer, that were apt to be oyercome by their Judaizing brethren, to settle them in loye to the gospel, he puts them to the question, Gal. iii. 2, ' This only would I learn of you, Eeceiyed ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith ? ' The Spirit of regeneration, with all his comforts and graces, is not conyeyed to you by the doctrine of the law, but the doctrine of the gospel. As if he had said. Stick to that doctrine where you haye been quickened, comforted, reyiyed, and your hearts settled, for God hath owned that doctrine. He appeals to their own conscience, and to their own known experience, that they should not quit the doctrine of faith, but prize and keep close to it ; for surely that which hath been a means of be- getting grace in our souls should be highly prized by us. If God hath wrought grace, and any comfort and peace, stick there, and own God there, and be not easily moyed from thence. Another apostle reasons, James i. 18, 19, ' God hath begotten us by the word of truth, where- fore be swift to hear ; ' that is. Oh ! do not neglect hearing ; take heed of forsaking or neglecting the word, for then you go against your own known experience. You know here you had your life, quickening, comfort, strength, and will you be turned ofi" from this ? — for many times a seducer may turn off a belieyer from the word which hath giyen him his first knowledge of Christ.
There are three causes which carry saints to the word and other ordinances — yiz., necessity, natural appetite and inward inclination, and experience. Necessity ; they cannot live without the word. Natural
438 SERMONS UPON PSALM cxix. [Ser. XCVIII.
appetite and inward inclination ; they have hearts suited to this work ; the Spirit, which wrought in the heart, hath put a nature in them suitable to the work. And experience ; they have found benefit by it. These are the three grand causes of respect to the word, and they are all implied or expressed in that, 1 Peter ii. 2, ' As new-born babes desire the sincere milk of the word,' there is natural appetite for the word ; we have them come as new-born babes. And there is necessity ; you cannot live, nor keep, nor increase what you have, unless you keep to the word. And there is experience ; if so be you have tasted, you have had powerful impressions and quickenings by this word. We should engage our hearts upon experience, the comfort, life and light that we have had by the word of God.
Our own spiritual estate will sooner be discerned by these experiences, the comfort and quickening received from the word, in the way of duty ; for ' experience worketh hope,' Rom. v. 4. If your experiences be observed and regarded, this works a hopeful dependence upon God for everlasting glory ; your evidences will be more ready, and sooner come to hand. The motions of our souls are various, and, through corruption, very confused and dark ; and this is that which makes it so difficult upon actual search to discern how it stands between us and God ; it is for want of observation. But now, if there be constant observation of what passeth between us and God, how he hath quickened, comforted, and owned us in our attendance upon him, and what he hath done to bring on our souls in the way of life, these will make up an evidence, and will abundantly conduce to the quickening and comforting of our hearts.
Use 1. For information. It shows us —
1. The reason why so many neglect and contemn God's word ; because they never got benefit by it, they find no life in it, therefore no delight in it. Those that are quickened acknowledge the mercy and improve it ; they esteem the word, and have a greater conscience of their duty. It is not enough to find truth in truth, not to be able to contradict it, but you must find life ; then we will prize and esteem it, when it hath been lively in its operations to our souls.
2. It shows the reason why so many forget the word, because they are not quickened. You would remember it by a good token if there were a powerful impression left upon your souls ; and the reason is, because you do not meditate upon it, that you may receive this lively influence of the Spirit : for a sermon would not be foigotten, if it had left any lively impression upon your souls.
3. If we want quickening we must go to God for it ; and God works powerfully by the influence of his grace, and so he quickens us by his Spirit ; and he works morally by the word, both by the promises and threatenings thereof : and so, if you would be quickened, you must use the means, attend upon reading and preaching, and meditating upon the word. As he works powerfully with respect to himself, so morally by reasonings.