2. Secondly, Ministers, ivhen they come to preach, mzist pray that God ivoidd take aiuay the veil from the peoples ears and hearts ; and people lohen they come, let them pray that God ivould open their hearts, and not come in the strength of their own wit, knowing that God openeth and shutteth : none can open or shut till he doth it.
3. In the third place, we may observe that God in mercy ivill do this for us. He will open our hearts. He will reveal, though not every particuhxr truth, yet all necessary truths, according to our estates. Some stand in need of more than others : as ministers ought to have more than people ; and governors are to have a larger spirit than other inferiors : 3'et all shall have sufficient.
Therefore for our necessities let us go to God. He hath promised to lead us ; and with David prav, * Lord, open thou mine eyes, that I may see the wonders of thy law,' Ps. cxix. 18. He hath promised to anoint
118 EXPOSITION OF
our ej'cs with cjc-salvc ; and it is his office to guide us ; he is our prophet to instruct us.
4. In the next place, ohserve that if any man helovg to God, he must at one time or other he thus minded as Paid ivas : to hate all things as vain ; to strive on to perfection ; to make conscience of the least offences ; yea, of idle thoughts and words ; of loose, wanton behaviour ; to know he is not perfect enough, vigilant enough ; to look how far he is short of that pitch of perfection he ought to attain unto ; not to content himself that he hath out- gone others. These things they shall know either here, in time of trial and temptation, or at the hour of death, when no man ever repented of his good- ness or forwardness in religion, nor of his care or constancy in good courses. And therefore let us be stirred up to be of the same mind now ; and if any man shall think with himself, because God will reveal this, therefore he will neglect means, and stay till God inspires this mind into him, let such take heed : if they love goodness, they will set about it presently ; but if they quench the good motions of God's Spirit, God will take his Spirit from^such. Beg that God would now change thee, for thou art not master of thy thoughts. If we now put off God till we die, it is just with God to sutfer us to forget ourselves. Let us be well aflfccted for the pre- sent ; and though we see not so clearly as we should do, let us attend the means ; and though we cannot grow in I'eligion, yet let us not think it a shame, but allow and uphold such courses, else is our estate desperate.
Observe further this speech, as it is a discovery of a moderate spirit in the apostle. There are some graces that seem in show to cross one another, as zeal and moderation, but they do not. For zeal, when it meets with a fit subject for moderation, can be moderate. Paul condemns not, but hopes ; and it is an example for our imitation. Love bears all and hopes all. While God suffers, why should not we suffer ? Christ's Spirit will not break the bruised reed, in whomsoever it is. God hath a time for such as •we condemn, even as he had a time for us, and therefore we must %ise all means, waiting if at any time God will give us repentance, 2 Tim. ii. 25. Ministers must not be harsh with weak Christians. It is God's work to bow affections, and not man's. And secondl}', when we have used all the means we can, ive must depend on God's proridence ; and therefore we are to fetch grounds of toleration and patience towards others from God's love and wisdom, who reveals the seed sometimes long after.
The papists they check us for want of means to reduce men into unity, and to compound controversies. They brag of the pope's power this way ; but it is but a brag. For why do they not conclude their own ?
They are far more happy than the church was in Christ's time : he says, ' Offences must come,' Mat. xviii. 7. Paul sees there * must be errors,' 1 Cor. xi. 19. He could not compose all. God must reveal it in his time. But how do they compose differences ? By excommunication, imprison- ment, and death ; and this by the censure of an ignorant man perhaps, which is brutish and unfit for the church of God. For our part we want no means ; but the effect or success we must leave to God. We are not to force men tyrannically to our opinions in lesser matters, but leave them to God's time of revelation.
And lastly. As this hope of revelation is promised, so are we to expect it and loaitfor it ; 'for to him that hath, more shall be given,' Mark iv. 24. And therefore let them that have beginnings of grace be comforted to walk on ; and for those that are not entered, let them not be discouraged. God will reveal. But upon what condition it follows.