For the word of God is lively:] Ver. 12 Whatsoever he entreateth of in this place touching the efficacy of the word, tends to show that they shall not go unpunished if they despise it: as if he should say, when the Lord sends us his word, he speaks unto us in good earnest, to the end he may move all our inward senses: and therefore what power is there in the soul, which ought not to be touched to the quick? Now before we pass any further, we must see whether the Apostle speaks of the word in general, or whether he applies this to the faithful in particular. For it is certain (and we may see it clearly) that the word is not effectual indifferently and equally in all. For the virtue thereof manifests it self in the elect, that being humbled in the true acknowledgement of themselves, they should have their recourse to the grace of Christ: which cannot be done unless it pierce into the very depth of the heart. For hypocrisy, which hath many dark corners, and wonderful conveyances in the heart of man, must be cast out: neither is it enough that we feel some light prickings; but we must be pierced and gaged to the bottom, that so being overwhelmed with the feeling of eternal death, we may learn to die to our selves. In a word, we shall never be wholly renewed in the spirit of ⟨p. 78⟩our mind (which S. Paul notwithstanding commands, Eph. 4.23.) till our old man be slain by the stroke of this spiritual sword. And therefore in another place the same Apostle saith, that the faithful are sacrificed to God by the Gospel, Phil. 2.17. why? because they could not be brought under the obedience of God, unless their own will were brought to nothing: neither could they otherwise receive the light of Gods divine wisdom, unless the light of the flesh by wisdom were put out. As for the reprobates, no such thing can be perceived in them, for either they proudly contemn God speaking unto them, yea they spare not to deride him; or else they murmur against his doctrine, & obstinately kick and spurn against it. 1So that even as the word of God is an hammer, so have they also an heart as the anvil, driving the blows back again, be they never so mighty. And therefore it is unpossible the word of God should pierce so far in them, as to come to the division of the soul and of the spirit.
For the word of God is liuely:] Ver. 12 Whatsoeuer he intreateth of in this place touching the efficacie of the word, tends to shew that they shall not goe vnpunished if they despise it: as if he should say, when the Lord sends vs his word, he speakes vnto vs in good earnest, to the end he may mooue all our inward senses: and therefore what power is there in the soule, which ought not to be touched to the quicke? Now before we passe any further, we must see whether the Apostle speakes of the word in generall, or whether he applies this to the faithfull in particular. For it is certaine (and we may see it cleerely) that the word is not effectuall indifferently and equally in all. For the vertue thereof manifests it selfe in the elect, that being humbled in the true acknowledgment of themselues, they should haue their recourse to the grace of Christ: which cannot be done vnlesse it pierce into the very depth of the heart. For hypocrisie, which hath many darke corners, and wonderfull conueiances in the heart of man, must be cast out: neither is it enough that we feele some light prickings; but we must be pierced and gaged to the bottome, that so beeing ouerwhelmed with the feeling of eternall death, we may learne to die to our selues. In a word, wee shall neuer be wholy renued in the spirit of ⟨p. 78⟩our mind (which S. Paul notwithstanding commands, Eph. 4.23.) till our old man be slaine by the stroke of this spirituall sword. And therefore in another place the same Apostle saith, that the faithfull are sacrificed to God by the Gospel, Phil. 2.17. why? because they could not be brought vnder the obedience of God, vnlesse their owne will were brought to nothing: neither could they otherwise receiue the light of Gods diuine wisdome, vnlesse the light of the flesh by wisdome were put out. As for the reprobates, no such thing can be perceiued in them, for either they proudly contemne God speaking vnto them, yea they spare not to deride him; or else they murmure against his doctrine, & obstinately kicke and spurne against it. 1So that euen as the word of God is an hammer, so haue they also an heart as the anuill, driuing the blowes backe againe, be they neuer so mightie. And therefore it is vnpossible the word of God should pierce so farre in them, as to come to the diuision of the soule and of the spirit.
- 1The hearts of the reprobates compared to the Anvil.The hearts of the reprobates compared to the Anuill.
