(4.) And it is more 2^>'oportionable to our weakness to have men that speak out of experience from themselves that preach the gospel, that they have felt the comfort of themselves. It works the more upon us. Therefore, those that first preached the gospel, they were such as had felt the sweet- ness of it themselves fii'st. St Paul, a great sinner out of the church, and St Peter in the church, he fell, after he was in the state of grace ; that these great apostles might shew to all people that there is no ground of despair, if we humble ourselves. If they be sins out of the chm-ch, if they be sins against the first table, as Paul he was ' a blasphemer ;' or against the second, he was * a persecutor ;' yet he found mercy notwithstanding, and for this end he found mercy, he saith, that he ' might teach the mercy of God to others, that he might be an example of the mercy of God to others, 1 Tim. i. 16. And so, if we relapse and fall, let none despair. Peter, a great teacher in the church, an apostle, see how foully he fell ! Now, when men subject to the ' same infirmities ' shall discover the mercy of God out of the book of God, it works the more upon us.
It is good for us to have a right esteem of the ordinances of God, because the profane heart of man doth think it a needless matter.
Quest. Some are ready to say, Cannot I as well read privately at home ?
Ans. Yes. But the use of private exercises, with contempt of the pubHc, they have a curse upon them instead of a blessing. It is with such men as with those that gathered manna when they should not ; it stank. Hath God set up an ordinance for nothing, for us to despise ? Is not he wiser to know what is good for us better than we do for ourselves ? God accom- panies his ordinance with the presence of his blessed Spirit. The truth read at home hath an efiicacy, but the truth unfolded hath more efficacy. As we say of milk warmed, it is fitter for nourishment, and the rain from heaven hath a fatness with it, and a special influence more than other standing waters ; so there is not that life and operation and blessing that accom- panies other means that doth preaching, being the ordinary means where it may be had.
508 THE FOUNTAIN OPENED.
Olij. Ay, but this ordinance of God, ' preachinr,',' it is only for the laying tlio foundation of a church ; it is not for a church when it is built. Then other helps, as prayer and the like, without this, may suflice.
.•i».s. Those that have such conceits, they make themselves wiser than the Spirit of God ; in St Paul, wo see in Eph. iv. 8, serj. Christ, ' w^hen ho ascended on hij,'h, ho led captivity captive, ho f^ave gifts to men, some apostles, <Bome propliets, some evangelists, for the edifying and building up of the church.' So that this ordinance it is necessary for building up still, and for the knitting of the members of Christ together still. Therefore, that is a vain excuse.
Ol>j. Oh, but what need much, less would servo the turn. Alts. Thus people grow to contemn and despise this heavenly manna. But those that are acquainted with their own infirmities, they think it a happiness to have plenty ; for naturally wo are dull, we are forgetful, we are unmindful. Though we know, we do not remember ; and though we remember, yet we do not mind things. We are naturally weak, and there- fore we need all spiritual supports and helps that may be, to keep the vessel of our souls in pcqijetual good case. The more we hear and know, the fitter we are for doing and suU'ering ; our souls .are fitter for communion with God for all passages, both of life and death. Therefore we cannot have too much care this way.
Oh let us therefore choose Mary's part, ' the better part,' that will never depart from us ; and take heed of profane conceits in this kind. It is to the prejudice of our souls. We must know, that whensoever God sets up an ordinance, he accompanies it with a special blessing. And we ai'e not so much to consider men in it, but consider the ordinance, which is his ; and being his, there is a special blessing goes with the dispensation of the word, by the ministry.
Obj. Others object, they know it well enough ; and therefore they need not to be taught.
Ans. The word of God preached, it is not altogether to teach us, but, the Spirit going with it, to work grace, necessary to ' strengthen us in the inward man,' 2 Cor. iv. 16. And those that say they know it enough, deceive themselves. They know it not. Religion is a mystery, and can it be learned at the first ? There is no mystery but it requires many years to learn. If it be but a handicraft, men are six or seven years learning it. And is religion, and the mysteries and depths of it, learned so soon, think we ? There is a mystery in every gi-ace, in repentance, in faith, in patience, that no man knows, but those that have the graces [and] what belongs to those graces. Religion consists not in some parts and abilities to speak and conceive of these things ; and yet that is hardly learned, be- ing contrary to our nature, having no seeds of these things. Even the outside of religion, that is the preparative to the inward ; there is somewhat to do to bring our hearts to these things. But, then, religion itself is a deep mystery ; it requires a great deal of learning.