3. We will shew the poiverful xvork of the word in some branches of it.
(1.) That there is an excellency of jwwer that enables a man against his mvn corruptions, against temptations from Satan, from the trorld, sometimes from God himself in a icay of trial. But this ordinance having God's Spirit accompanying it, enables a man against corruption, the most bosom corrup- tions, against all temptations whatsoever. It makes a man do that which * For notice and list of these persecutions of. Vol. I. page 384. — G.
802 COMMENTARY ON
is clean conlrnry to his nature. It will turn Jordan back, to make of Mary, a li^'lit woman, a blessed woman ; to make of Paul a persecutor, Paul a preacher, to be able to subdue corruptions when they rise, that great persons lie under, to subdue their carnal wills. We see great persons are led by their wills, and countenanced by him that rules their wills, the evil spirit, and so they run rushing on, the devil joining with them, to destruc- tion. The Christian having the power of the word and Spirit crossing hi^ will, he is able to deny himself ; and what an excellent power is that ! Is it not an excellent power ? Now the word giveth us strength and comfort against temptations to sin and for sin ; and whether they come from Satan or from God, shewing himself an enemy. The word teacheth how to oppose God himself, when he personates an enemy, as sometimes he doth. A poor Christian then can say. Lord, remember thy promise. Thou seemest to be naine enemy, and ' writest bitter things against me ;' but I believe not thou art an enemy, thou hast made rich promises, and remember them, Lord, wherein thou hast caused me to trust, Ps. cxix. 49. God is content to be bound by his word ; and is not that powerful that can bind God him- self, when we can sue him by his bond ? Thou seemest to be mine enemy, but I will not away, I will lie at thy feet till I hear comfortable news from heaven.
For temptations on the right hand, allurements and promises, and on the left, as threats and afflictions and the like, the word sets other matters before us than these ; and the word enables us to all kind of duty. A man that is tongne-tied, it enables him to call on God ; and a man that hath naturally nothing to speak that is good, it enables him to speak a word of comfort to others ; it enableth him to every duty that God calls him to, to trust him, and to love him above all ; it enables him to live well and to die well, to perform all duties God requires. The word with the Spirit enables us to manage all in a spiritual manner.
(2.) And so for bearinf/ afffictions, how doth the psalmist speak in the Old Test[ameut] ? The word will direct and comfort for the carrying on of our souls in troubles of all sorts ; as David, ' I had perished in mine affliction, if it had not been for thy word,' Ps. cxix. 92. No affliction can befall us but we have grand comforts to support us in it, when God hath promised his gracious assistance, that he will not fail us nor forsake us, when the sting is taken out by him that hath sanctified all atHictions in his own person, that as our crosses increase, so our comforts and consolation shall increase. And the afflictions of this world are not worthy the excellency that shall be revealed.
Then no wonder there is that strength in the word that it enables us to duties of our calling, public and private ; it enables us to bear afflictions. And therefore the apostle may well say, ' That the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.'
(3.) And so to enjoy all thbujs that God giveth in a right manner. The word with the Spirit teacheth how to use the world as if not, to enjoy it as helps in our pilgrimage and way to heaven, that they be not snares to us, as they be to carnal men, who perish in these things, as wasps on gally- pots.
They are drow'ned in riches, and drowmed in pleasures, but the word and the Spirit directs the children of God to use these things in an holy and sanctified manner, and to taste them as they ought, which no man can do but they that have the word engrafted by the Spirit in their hearts.
And there is a great reason ; for what doth this word oppose ? Doth it
2 CORINTHIANS CHAP. IV, \Y.n. 7. SG3
not oppose greater things than the world hath? What is all preferment here to heaven ? And what is all discouragement of tyrants to hell ? If any one saw the joys of heaven, would not he forsake ten thousand worlds rather than lose it ? If a man saw with his eyes hell opened to swallow him up if he did not alter his courses, would not he leave his courses ? Now, the Lord saith, it is true that these things shall be. Let a power go with the word, and is it a wonder that he will leave his sinful courses rather than have a curse ? It is no wonder that ]\Ioses should leave ' the pleasures of a court, that saw him that was invisible,' Heb. xi. 26 ; and that Paul, that was lift up to the ' third heaven,' and saw things that could not be uttered, 2 Cor. xii. 4, regarded not the threats of all tyrants, for he saw the riglit difference of things, he saw things in their right colours. So if the Lord lets us see spiritual things and earthly things in their colours, one will appear to be realities indeed, and other to be nothing but vanity. It is for want of faith and power accompanying the ordinance of God, to persuade ourselves that these things be as they are, and as we shall un- doubtedly find them another day. And therefore it is no wonder the gospel findeth such power, where it is received and obeyed, because of the vast difference of conditions.