belief: 1 Thes. ii. 13, 'For this cause also we thank God without
ceasing, because when ye received the word of God, which ye heard of
us, ye received it not as the word of men, but (as it is in truth) the
word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.'
Serious consideration : Deut. xxxii. 46, ' Set your hearts unto all the
words I testify among you this day ; ' Luke ix. 44, ' Let these sayings
sink down into your ears.' Close application : Job v. 27, ' Lo 1 this it
is, we have searched it out ; know thou it for thy good.' Now these
three acts of the soul have each of them a distinct and proper ground ;
sound belief worketh upon the clearness and certainty of the things
asserted ; serious consideration on the greatness and importance of
them ; close application on their pertinency and suitableness to us ;
see all in one place, 1 Tim. i. 15, ' This is a faithful saying, and
worthy of all acceptation, that Jesus Christ came into the world to
save sinners, of whom I am chief.' These are all necessary to make
any truth operative. We are not affected with what we believe not ;
therefore, to awaken diligence, the truth of things is pleaded : 2 Peter
i. 5, 10, 16, 'And besides this, giving all diligence, add to your faith
virtue, and to virtue knowledge,' &c. ; ' Wherefore the rather, brethren,
give all diligence to make your calling and election sure,' &c. ; ' For
if ye do these things, ye shall never fall ; for we have not followed
cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power
and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.' So for consideration : Heb.
iii. 1, 'Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling,
consider the apostle and high priest of our profession, Jesus Christ.'
820 SERMONS UPOX ROMANS VIII. [SeR. XLI.
The weightiest things lie by, and are as if they were not ; sleepy reason is as none, and the most important truths work not till con- sideration make them lively. So for application, what concerneth us not is passed over ; unless we hear things with a care to ap[ily them, we shall never make use of them : Eph. i. 13, ' After ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation.' It is not enough to know the gospel to be a doctrine of salvation to others ; but we must look upon it as a doctrine that bringeth salvation to our own doors, and leaveth it upon our choice. A plaster doth not heal at a distance, till it be applied to the sore ; truths are too remote till we set the edge and point of them to our own hearts. Now this question in the text relateth to all three.
1. It challengeth our faith — ' What shall we say to these things ? ' Do we believe them, and assent to them as certain verities? The apostle doth in effect demand what we can reply or say to these things. The unbelieving, dark, and doubtful heart of man hath many things to say against divine truths ; let God say what he will, the heart is ready to gainsay it; yet it is good to press ourselves thoroughly with the light and evidence of truths, to compel the heart to bring forth its objections and scruples. If any mind to contradict, have we any solid arguments to oppose ? Truth wanteth its efficacy when it is received with a half conviction ; and doubts smothered breed atheism, irreligion, and gross negligence. Certainly tlie weighty truths of Christianity are so clear, that the heart of man hath little or nothing to say against them ; therefore follow it to a full conviction. Doth any scruple yet remain in our minds ? It is good thoroughly to sift things, that they may appear in their proper lustre and evidence : John xi. 26, ' Believest thou this ? ' Pose your hearts.
2. This question doth excite consideration or meditation. We should not pass by comfortable and important truths with a few glancing and running thoughts ; it is one part of the work of grace to hold our hearts upon them : Acts xvi. 14, ' Whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended to the things that were spoken.' Otherwise, in seeing we see not, and in hearing we hear not, when we see and hear things in a crowd of other thoughts ; as when you tell a man of a business, whose mind is taken up about other things. No, your minds must dwell upon these things till you are affected with them ; a full survey of the object showeth us the worth of it. ' What shall we say to these things ? ' that is, what can be said more for our comfort and satisfaction ? or what do we desire more ? How should we be satisfied ■with this felicity and love of the ever-blessed God to his people ?
3. It awakeneth application to ourselves, that we may make use of these things for our own good. Application is twofold, direct or reflexive ; and the question may be explained with respect to both.