[1.] Direct application : as when we infer and bind our duty upon ourselves, from such principles as are laid down ; so, ' What shall we say to these things?' that is, what use shall we make of them? Christianity is not a matter of speculation only, but of practice ; there- fore, when we hear the truth of it enforced, we must commune with ourselves, What doth this call for at our hands, but serious diligence? 2 Peter iii. 11, ' Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved.
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what manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation and godliness?' The truths of the gospel are not propounded that we may talli at a higher rate than others do, but to live at a higher rate. If I should be negligent, indifferent, careless, what will become of me?
[2.] Keflexive application is when we consider our state and course, and judge of it by such general truths as are propounded to us. Direct application is by way of practical inference ; reflexive, by way of discovery ; and to this sense may this question be interpreted, ' What shall we say to these things ? ' Doth heart and practice agree with them? Do I live answerable to these comforts and privileges? What, am I one called and sanctified, and one that continueth with patience in well-doing upon the hope of eternal life ? 2 Cor. xiii. 5, ' Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye are reprobates ? ' If Christ be formed in his people, is he formed in me ? Thus things must be brought home to the heart, and laid to the conscience, if we would make a profitable use of them.
Use. Is to awaken this self-communing ; to make our assent more strong, our consideration more deep and serious, and our application, either by way of inference or discovery, more close and pungent. Do we assent ? Is this a truth to be lightly passed over ? If this be true, what must I do ? or what have 1 done ? Now this you should do upon these occasions —
1. When you are tempted to unbelief. There are some points which are remote from sense, and cross the desires and lusts of sensual men, and we either deny them, or doubt of them, or our hearts are full of prejudice against them; and also the devil doth inject thoughts of blasphemy, or doubts about the world to come, into the hearts of people ; especially in those that take religion upon trust, or are secretly false to that religion they have received upon some evidence. Now, to prevent all this, it is good 'to commune with ourselves, that we may be well settled in the truth; therefore see with what evidence the great things of the other world are represented unto us in the word of God, and what a just title they have to our firmest belief. Faith will not be settled without serious thoughts, and it soon withereth there where it hath not much depth of earth. Mat. xiii. 5, 6 ; no thoughts in the highway ground, slight thoughts in the stony ground. Faith is a child of light, and given upon certain grounds : Luke i. 4, ' That thou mightest know the certainty of those things wherein thou hast been instructed ; ' and Acts xvii. 11, 12, ' They searched the scriptures whether those things were so ; ' therefore many of them believed. But presumption and slight credulity is a child of darkness, the fruit of ignorance and incogitancy ; therefore it is good in those truths that need it most to ask, What say we to these things ?
2. When you are in danger of [dulness, deadness, and neglect of Christ and his salvation, so that your hearts need quickening and exciting to duty. Sometimes a coldness in holy things, and a sluggish- ness creepeth on the best, and you may find you begin to grow care- less and customary ; the conscience becometh sleepy, the heart dead, the affections cold. A lively inculcation is then necessary ; you must rouse up yourselves by putting questions to your hearts : Heb. ii. 3,
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'How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?' both by way of assent : Is it not true that there is a heaven and a hell ? and, Is the gospel a fable ? — and by way of consideration : What trifles and paltry vanities do you neglect Christ for?— and application, by way of inference : Must not I work out my own salvation with fear and trembling? — by way of discovery: Is this a flight from wrath to come, and a pursuit after eternal life? — that, serving God instantly day and night, we may attain to the blessed hope ; that, giving diligence, we may be found of him in peace.
3. When strong lusts tempt you to sin in some scandalous and unworthy manner, what will ye do to relieve yourselves, but by such kind of questions ? Gen. xxxix. 9, ' How shall I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?' Rom. vi. 21, 'What fruit have you in those things whereof you are now ashamed?' And your hearts should rise in indignation against the temptation or carnal motion. Shall I lose my fatness to rule over the trees? If of profit: Mat. xvi. 26, ' What is a man profited if he shall gain the world, and lose his own soul ? ' If of pleasure, What ! lose the birthright for one morsel of meat ?