I beseech you, let us consider these things, and not be led away with a spirit of vanity and folly and error. So that there is a power, and an excellency of power, in the ministry ; and you that have open understand- ings in the history of the church, know how it hath powerfully wrought in all times.
Quest. How do you know the word to be the word ?
A)is. It carrieth proof and evidence in itself. It is an evidence that the fire is hot to him that feeleth it, and that the sun shineth to him that looks on it ; how much more doth the word, that carrieth its own character and stamp with it, to them that be God's people ; for it not only giveth light, but giveth that which is more than the sun can do. And that giveth light, but no eyes. The word giveth understanding to the simple, opens their eyes, Ps. cxix. 130 ; and a Christian can say, God hath not only shined upon me by the word, but hath wrought in my heart by it ; so that in it I will live, and in it I will die. So that they need not seek arguments, for the word itself is stronger than all framed arguments. It hath a character of divine truth stamped upon it, in the heart of every believer, that miugleth it with faith that it is the word, though all the world preach the contrary, and the ministers that teach it apostatize from it. I am sure I felt it, it warmed my heart, and converted me. And that is the best trial of the word to be the word, because of the efficacy felt in the heart.
That Spirit that makes the word eftectual, doth by that efficacy convince the soul that the word is the word. For the soul reasons thus : I have found this word casting me down, I have found this word lifting me up ; I have found this word warming my heart when it was cold and dead. I found it enlarging my heart in loving God and praising God. I have found the Spirit of God in the word casting down strongholds, and Satan out of me, and setting up his kingdom in me, and ruling me by his Spirit, that I cannot but do what was irksome to me before, and can abstain from that which was sweet to me before ; and all because I am convinced of another course than before. The soul that can say thus, if objections come, he defieth the motion. My soul hath felt the strength of the word taking root downwards, bringing forth fruit upwards, 2 Kings xix. 30, and shall I doubt it to be the word ? But to leave this.
8G4 COMMENTAKY ON
Application. I bcscccli you, if there bo such efficacy in the word, make a use of instruction of it, that we regard it more than we have done.
Use 1. And first of all, that we may make way for instruction, do but examine ourselves ichclher it be as a word of power to us, or any that have lived so long under the (josj)el ? The trial is very easy.
[1.] If it be a word of power to us, certainly it irill enable us to defend it, and maintain it in the worst times. St Paul saith, 1 Thes. i. 5, ' You received the word in much affliction.' If wo should live in places where holy things are disclaimed and abandoned with Ishmael's persecutions, that is, the persecutions of these times, scoffings and scornings, yet hearing divine things unfolded, we receive them, and entertain them, and that with joy and comfort, with an opposition to the poison of the times, it is a good sign that the power of the word hath caught every one of our hearts. But if every taunt of Ishmaol and poisonful spirits be regarded, when in times of poverty a little thing will discourage us and make us flinch, where is the power ? Alas ! whatsoever profession we make, we deny the power of it ; for if it did work upon us, we should receive it, in the midst of opposition, with joy and comfort.
(2.) The apostle saith in another place, * Eeceive the word, as the word of God,' 1 Thes. ii. 13. Now if a man receive divine truths, he will acknow- ledge that it is a word of power, and excellent power. What is it then to receive the word as the word ? To receive divine truths with a great deal of reverence, as blessed truths, that come from the bosom of God, and likewise with a great deal of subjection, submitting the soul to them. It is God's truth delivered by Jesus Christ in the ministers, and therefore I do receive it as God's truth, and submit my conscience to it. Though there be discovery of some rebellion, yet if I allow of no risings against the power of the word, it is a sign we have felt the power of the word, when we regard it as the word.
You see then some particular evidence how we may know if the word hath wrought upon us. . Add the particulars named before, by way of trial.