Seeing the word without grace killeth, we must not content our selves with it, but seek to feel the work of the Spirit, peace of conscience, and reformation of life by the word. Let us then by a lively faith labour to apply Christ by the word, to lay hold on him and his righteousness, so that we can say, we live not, but Christ in us. But this word hath another action in the elect children of God, which though it be manifold, yet all tend to further and procure their salvation. The first work of it in these, is to wound deeply, and to kill the corruption of mans nature in his heart, with a deadly wound, that it never recover again. Yet though it wound a man, it killeth not the person, as in the wicked, but only the corruption of his heart, and quickeneth the person to Christ, killeth him in regard of rebellion and unbelief. We are sacrifices to be offered to God, therefore we must be killed, not in our bodies and souls, but in our corruptions, affections and rebellions. That we may be killed, the two edged sword of the Spirit is required, which giveth our corruption the deadly wound, and cutteth up the root. Since the second action after our conversion & change is this, the word of God must cut and pare the remnants of our corruption, by lessening and weakening of it daily. Joh. 15. As the husbandman cutteth, loppeth and pareth off all branches that bear no fruit: so the word of God cutteth and pareth away the remnants of corruptions in our hearts, that so our hearts may bring forth more fruit. Thirdly, the word of God serveth to keep his people and children in awe and subjection, and therefore Christ holdeth the sceptre of the word in his mouth, that though the wicked will not be kept in awe, yet his elect may tremble and fear at the lifting up of the same. Amongst men if many be fighting, let the Magistrate but hold up the sword of Justice, every man yieldeth and putteth his sword into his sheath: and shall not we much more cease from sin, and fear, when Christ the King of heaven and earth, holdeth out the sceptre of his word? And if any refuse to be subject, and to obey the Magistrate, he is counted a rebel: if men refuse to obey the sceptre of Christ, shall they not be so accounted?
Seeing the word without grace killeth, we must not content our selues with it, but seeke to feele the worke of the Spirit, peace of conscience, and reformation of life by the word. Let vs then by a liuely faith labour to apply Christ by the word, to lay hold on him and his righteousnesse, so that we can say, we liue not, but Christ in vs. But this word hath another action in the elect children of God, which though it be manifold, yet all tend to further and procure their saluation. The first work of it in these, is to wound deepely, and to kill the corruptio• of mans nature in his heart, with a deadly wound, that it neuer recouer againe. Yet though it wound a man, it killeth not the person, as in the wicked, but onely the corruption of his heart, and quickeneth the person to Christ, killeth him in regard of rebellion and vnbeleefe. We are sacrifices to be offered to God, therefore we must be killed, not in our bodies and soules, but in our corruptions, affections and rebellions. That we may be killed, the two edged sword of the Spirit is required, which giueth our corruption the deadly wound, and cutteth vp the root. Since the second action after our conuersion & change is this, the word of God must cut and pare the remnants of our corruption, by lessening and weakening of it daily. Ioh. 15. As the husbandman cutteth, loppeth and pareth off all branches that beare no fruite: so the word of God cutteth and pareth away the remnants of corruptions in our hearts, that so our hearts may bring foorth more fruite. Thirdly, the word of God serueth to keepe his people and children in awe and subiection, and therefore Christ holdeth the scepter of the word in his mouth, that though the wicked will not be kept in awe, yet his elect may tremble and feare at the lifting vp of the same. Amongst men if many be fighting, let the Magistrate but hold vp the sword of Iustice, euery man yeeldeth and putteth his sword into his sheath: and shall not we much more cease from sinne, and feare, when Christ the King of heauen and earth, holdeth out the scepter of his word? And if any refuse to be subiect, and to obey the Magistrate, he is counted a rebell: if men refuse to obey the scepter of Christ, shall they not be so accounted?
