Quest, Why is a godly man a lover of the Word?

Answ. 1. Because of the excellency of the Word.

1. The word written is our pillar of fire to guide¹⁰ us: It shows us what Rocks we are to avoid; it is the card by which we sail to the new Hierusalem.

2. The word is a Spiritual Optick Glass, through which we may see our own hearts: The Glass of Nature which the Heathen had, discovered spots in their Conversation, but this Glass discovers spots in the Imagination; that Glass discovered the spots of their unrighteousness, this discovers the spots of our righteousness, Rom. 7. 9. When the Commandment came, sin revived, and I died: when the word came as a Glass, all my opinion of self-righteousness died.

3. The word of God is a Soveraign comfort in distress; while we follow this Cloud, the Rock follows us, Psal. 119. 50. This is my comfort in my affliction, for thy word hath quickned me. Christ is the Fountain of Living water, the word is the Golden Pipe through which it runs: what can revive at the hour of death, but the Word of (Phil. 2. 16) Life.

4. A godly man loves the word, because of the efficacy it hath had upon him, this day-star hath risen in his¹¹ heart, and usher’d […]n the Sun of Righteousness.

5. A godly man loves the Word Preached; which is a Commentary upon the word written: The Scriptures are the Soveraign oyls and balsoms, the preaching of the word is the powring of them out: The Scriptures are the precious spices, the preaching of the word is the beating of these spices, which causeth a wonderful fragrancy and delight. The word preached is the Rod of Gods strength, Psal. 110. 2. and the breath of his lips, Isa. 11. 4. What was once said of the City Thebes, that it was built by the sound of Amphius his Harp, is much more true of Soul-Conversion, it is built by the sound of the Gospel Harp; therefore the preaching of the Word is called, the power of God to Salvation, 1 Cor. 1. 24. By this, Christ is said, (now) to speak to us from Heaven, Heb. 12. 5. This Ministery of the word is to be preferred before the Ministry of Angels.

A godly man loves the word preached, partly from the good he hath found by it; he hath felt the dew fall with this Manna; and partly because of Gods Institution, the Lord hath appointed this Ordinance to save him; the Kings Image makes the Coyn go currant; the stamp of Divine Authority upon the word preached, makes it an Engine conducible to mens Salvation.

Use. (Vse) Let us try by this Character, whether we are godly: Are we lovers of the word?

1. Do we love the word written? What sums of money did the Martyrs give for a few leaves of the Bible? Do we make the word our familiar? As Moses had often the Rod of God in his hand, so should we have the Book of God in our hand: when we want direction, do we consult with this sacred Oracle? when we find corruptions strong, do we make use of this Sword of the Spirit to hew them down? when we are disconsolate, do we go to this Aqua vitae bottle for comfort? then we are lovers of the word! But alas, how can they say they love the Scriptures, who are seldome conversant in them? their eyes begin to be sore when they look upon a Bible: The two Testaments are hung by, like rusty Armour, which is seldome or never made use of: The Lord wrote the Law with his own finger, but though God took pains to write, men will not take pains to read; they had rather look upon a pair of Cards, then upon a Bible.

2. Do we love the word preached? Do we prize it in our judgements? Do we receive it into our hearts? Do we fear the loss of the word preached, more than the loss of peace and trading? Is it the removal of the Ark that troubles us?

Again, do we attend the Word with Reverential Devotion? when the Judge is giving his Charge upon the Bench all attend, when the word is preached, the great God is giving us his Charge, do we listen to it as to a matter of life and death? this is a good sign we love the word.

Again, do we love the Sanctity of the word? Psal. 119. 140. The word preached is to beat down sin, and advance holiness: Do we love it for its spirituality and purity? Many love the word preached only for its eloquence and notion; they come to a Sermon as to a Musick-lecture, Ezek. 33. 31. or as to a garden to pick flowers, but not to have their lusts subdued, or their hearts bettered: These are like a foolish woman which paints her face· but neglects her health.

Again, do we love the convictions of the word? Do we love the word when it comes home to our Conscience, and shoots its arrows of reproof at our sins? ‘Tis the Ministers duty sometimes to reprove: He that can give smooth words in the Pulpit, but knows not how to reprove, is like a sword with a fine hilt, without an edge, Titus 2. 15. Rebuke them sharply: Dip the nail in oyl, reprove in love, but strike the nail home. Now Christian, when the word toucheth upon thy sin, and saith, Thou art the man, dost thou love the reproof? Canst thou bless God that the sword of the Spirit hath divided between thee and thy lusts? This is indeed a sign of grace, and shows thou art a lover of the word.

A corrupt heart loves the comforts of the word, but not the reproofs, Amos 5. 10. They hate him that rebuketh in the gate. —Igne micant oculi— Like venomous creatures, that upon the least touch spit poyson, Act. 7. 54. When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and gnashed upon him with their teeth. When Stephen touched them to the quick, they were mad, and could not endure¹² it.

Quest. How shall we know that we love the reproofs of the word?

Ans. 1. When we desire to sit under an heart-searching Ministry; who cares for Physick that will not work? A godly man chuseth not to sit under such a Ministry as will not work upon his Conscience.

2. When we pray that the word may meet with our sins; if there be any traiterous lust got into our heart, we would have it found out, and Execution done upon it; we would not have sin covered, but cured: we can open our breast to the bullet of the word, and say, Lord smite this sin.

3. When we are thankful for a reproof, Psa. 141. 5. Let the righteous smite me, it shall be a kindness, and let him reprove me, it shall be an excellent oyl which shall not break my¹³ head.

David was glad of a reproof. Suppose a man were in the mouth of a Lyon, and another should shoot the Lyon and save the man, would not he be thankful? So, when we are in the mouth of sin, as of a Lyon, and the Minister by a reproof shoots this sin to death, shall not we be thankful? A gracious soul rejoyceth when the sharp Lance of the word hath let out his Imposthume; he wears a reproof as a Jewel on his ear, Pro. 30. 12. As an ear-ring of gold, so is a reprover on an obedient ear. To conclude, ‘tis convincing preaching must do the soul good; a nipping reproof prepares for comfort, as a nipping frost prepares for the sweet flowers of spring.

Footnotes

1. 9 Character. ↩

2. […]. Chrys. Psa. 48. ↩

3. […]. Chrysost. ↩

4. Biblia etiam adolescens semper secum circumtu[…]it, avideque legit in templo & alibi. Melch. Adam in vit. Melancth. ↩

5. Euseb. lib. 8. c. 3. ↩

6. Verbum Dei alexipharmacum. ↩

7. Potius ruat caelum quam pereat una mica veritatis. Luther. ↩

8. […] vocat. Zenoph. ↩

9. Wolfius lect memorabil. Centur. 16. ↩

10. […]. Clem. A[…]lexandrin. ↩

11. […]. Chrysost. ↩

12. Quales quaeso illi sunt, qui verbi redargutiones accipere nolunt, sed contra, obstinati murmurant, & Ministros verbi Caelestis ob id odio prosequuntur? Nimirum non sunt vasa contrita, sed serrea ac lapidea; & ô utinam malleo legis, hae petrae se concuti Paterentur, sed quia quotidie in duricie sua pergunt, & diabolo se regendos in solidum tradunt, idem Dei malleus tandem in inferni barathrum eos percussione horrenda deturbabit. Glassii ex eg. p. 4. in Johan. ↩

13. Sermo vulnerans dolorem affert sed salutarem. Mollerus. ↩