II. That this means becomes more certainly successful, or effectual. Certainly is to be understood in opposition to that which happens uncertainly and peradventure. Not as if every where that the Immortal Seed of the Word is sown, Conversion did certainly and always follow, it being but a subservient Instrument; some Seed meets with bad ground16; some reject the Counsel of God against themselves17; they put it from them, judging themselves unworthy of eternal Life18; i. e. by contradicting of the ⟨p. 216⟩Word, they do as evidently deprive themselves of eternal Life, as if the Judge did pass that Sentence upon the Bench. So what is the Savour of Life to others, becomes the Savour of Death to them19. The Rich-man, as he is brought in here, conceits after the mode of the Jews, seeking for Signs20, (which Christ gave check to, when by his accomplishment of the Prophecies, he had demonstrated himself to be the Messiah, and they would have him to be a Political or Temporal King21) that one rising miraculously from the dead, and preaching, would keep others from Hell. But Abraham, the Father of the Faithful, who knew what it was to repent and believe, and be converted, was of another persuasion: He bids hearken to the written word, read and preached; on which Faith and Repentance was to be grounded; God's Providential Works, how admirable soever, not being the Rule for Men to go by, but his Word: It being no good sense, that God's extraordinary actings should be our ordinary Rule. He that would not Plough or Sow till Manna be rained from Heaven, because it once did, may expect Bread till he starve; and so may he that looks to be fed with Ravens, as Elijah once was: Man may be most certainly assured from God's Word what his Mind is: God himself indeed doth principally make any means effectual, or successful; Paul's planting, and Apollo's watering comes to nothing without him, his influence and blessing22.) Augustine said right, Men may read and understand, behold and confess, not by the Law and Doctrine sounding outwardly, but by the inward and hidden, wonderful and ineffable power God, doth not only work Divine true Revelations, but also good Wills. Yet from the external preaching of the Word of God, as a means of his appointment, there is a Godly Sorrow, or a sorrowing after God wrought, which worketh repentance to Salvation23.
II. That this means becomes more certainly succesful, or effectual. Certainly is to be understood in opposition to that which happens uncertainly and peradventure. Not as if every where that the Immortal Seed of the Word is sown, Conversion did certainly and always follow, it being but a subservient Instrument; some Seed meets with bad ground16; some reject the Counsel of God against themselves17; they put it from them, judging themselves unworthy of eternal Life18; i. e. by contradicting of the ⟨p. 216⟩Word, they do as evidently deprive themselves of eternal Life, as if the Judge did pass that Sentence upon the Bench. So what is the Savour of Life to others, becomes the Savour of Death to them19. The Rich-man, as he is brought in here, conceits after the mode of the Jews, seeking for Signs20, (which Christ gave check to, when by his accomplishment of the Prophecies, he had demonstrated himself to be the Messiah, and they would have him to be a Political or Temporal King21) that one rising miraculously from the dead, and preaching, would keep others from Hell. But Abraham, the Father of the Faithful, who knew what it was to repent and believe, and be converted, was of another perswasion: He bids hearken to the written word, read and preached; on which Faith and Repentance was to be grounded; God's Providential Works, how admirable soever, not being the Rule for Men to go by, but his Word: It being no good sense, that God's extraordinary actings should be our ordinary Rule. He that would not Plow or Sow till Manna be rain'd from Heaven, because it once did, may expect Bread till he starve; and so may he that looks to be fed with Ravens, as Elias once was: Man may be most certainly assured from God's Word what his Mind is: God himself indeed doth principally make any means effectual, or successful; Paul's planting, and Apollo's watering comes to nothing without him, his influence and blessing22.) Augustine said right, Men may read and understand, behold and confess, not by the Law and Doctrin sounding outwardly, but by the inward and hidden, wonderful and ineffable power God, doth not only work Divine true Revelations, but also good Wills. Yet from the external preaching of the Word of God, as a means of his appointment, there is a Godly Sorrow, or a sorrowing after God wrought, which worketh repentance to Salvation
- 16Mat. 13.4, 5.
- 17Luke 7.30.
- 18Acts 13.46.
- 192 Cor. 2.16
- 20John 4.48. —6.30.
- 21Mat. 12.39.
- 221 Cor. 3.6, 7. De Gratia Christi, ch. 24.
- 232 Cor. 7.10, 11.
