Fourthly, effectual knowledge that is bred by the voice of the Son of God, makes men approve and justify the ways of God, makes them to relish them: this follows the other; when men have tried them they approve them, Joh. 6.63. The Spirit quickens, the word profiteth nothing; the words then that I speak, they are Spirit and life. Christ having spoken, that his body was meat indeed; many were offended at it: then he said, The Spirit doth quicken, that is, ye accept not my words, because ye have not the Spirit, ye have but flesh, that is a common knowledge; my words are spiritual, and you are carnal, therefore they do not relish you. These words are otherwise interpreted by some: that is, these materials profit nothing without the Spirit; but the other is undoubtedly the meaning, for so it is through the Scripture: the Spirit profits, that is, saving knowledge wrought by the Spirit: men not having it, do not approve it. It cannot be otherwise; where the voice of Christ doth sound effectually, there they justify this: Wisdom is justified of her children, Luk. 7.35. Rom. 10.15. How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the Gospel of ⟨p. 105⟩peace? that is, they see such beauty in the ways of God, that they are beautiful to them, they are vile to others. The Scripture often toucheth this, that when as there is but a common knowledge, men relish not the word, Rom. 8. they taste not the word: the spiritual part of the word crossing them, is bitter to them. 2 Cor. 2.15. The word is compared to a sweet savour; to many it is not so, to some it is the savour of death to death: it is a savour diffused through the house, they abhor it, and being guilty of death it leads them to death: In others it is the savour of life; that is, they smell a sweetness in it, it brings them to life, to heaven; the word being powerfully taught, there comes a savour: some smell sweetness in it, others otherwise. Luk. 2.35. When Christ shall come, the hearts of many shall be opened, to approve or disapprove him: therefore he is the fall and rising of many: so when he came, some said he was a good man, others that he was a devil: some said that the Apostles were good, some that they were bad: See how ye approve the word in its self, and as it is expressed in mens lives.
Fourthly, effectuall knowledge that is bred by the voyce of the Sonne of God, makes men approve and justifie the wayes of God, makes them to relish them: this followes the other; when men have tryed them they approve them, Ioh. 6.63. The Spirit quickens, the word profiteth nothing; the words then that I speake, they are Spirit and life. Christ having spoken, that his body was meate indeed; many were offended at it: then hee said, The Spirit doth quicken, that is, yee accept not my words, because yee have not the Spirit, yee have but flesh, that is a common knowledge; my words are spirituall, and you are carnall, therefore they doe not relish you. These words are otherwise interpreted by some: that is, these materials profit nothing without the Spirit; but the other is undoubtedly the meaning, for so it is through the Scripture: the Spirit profits, that is, saving knowledge wrought by the Spirit: men not having it, doe not approve it. It cannot be otherwise; where the voyce of Christ doth sound effectually, there they justifie this: Wisedome is justified of her children, Luk. 7.35. Rom. 10.15. How beautifull are the feete of them that preach the Gospel of ⟨p. 105⟩peace? that is, they see such beauty in the wayes of God, that they are beautifull to them, they are vile to others. The Scripture often toucheth this, that when as there is but a common knowledge, men relish not the word, Rom. 8. they tast not the word: the spirituall part of the word crossing them, is bitter to them. 2 Cor. 2.15. The word is compared to a sweet savour; to many it is not so, to some it is the savour of death to death: it is a savour diffused through the house, they abhorre it, and being guilty of death it leades them to death: In others it is the savour of life; that is, they smell a sweetnesse in it, it brings them to life, to heaven; the word being powerfully taught, there comes a savour: some smell sweetnesse in it, others otherwise. Luk. 2.35. When Christ shall come, the hearts of many shall be opened, to approve or disapprove him: therefore he is the fall and rising of many: so when he came, some said he was a good man, others that he was a divell: some said that the Apostles were good, some that they were bad: See how yee approve the word in its selfe, and as it is expressed in mens lives.
