1. That one duty and necessary practice of Gods children, is to hide the word in their hearts. See it confirmed by a Scripture or two. Josh. 1. 8. This book of the Law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and night. Job 22. 22. Receive I pray thee the Law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thy heart. By the Law is meant the whole word of God. Lay up his words, as we would do choice things, that they may not be lost or embezzled; and lay them up as Treasure to be used upon all occasions. In the heart; let them not swim in the brain or memory only, but let the heart be affected with it. Col. 3. 16. Let the word of God dwell in you richly. Be so diligent in the study of the Scripture, that it may become familiar with us, by frequent hearing, reading, meditating, conferring about it. As a stranger, let it not stand at the door; but receive it into an inner room; be as familiar as those that dwell with you. God complaineth of his people, Hos. 8. 12. I have written to them the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing. To be strangers to the word of God, and little conversant in it, is a great evil. What is it to hide the word in our hearts? 1. To understand it, to get a competent knowledge of it; we take in things into the soul by the understanding, Prov. 2. 10. When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul. There is first an entrance by knowledge. 2. When it is assented unto by faith. The word is settled in the heart by faith, otherwise it soon vanisheth, Heb. 4. 2. The word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. 3. When it is kindly entertained, Joh. 8. 37. Christ complains, Ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. [Greek or Hebrew]. Men are so possessed with lust and prejudice, that there is no room for Christs word; though it break in upon the heart with evidence and power, yet it is not entertained there, but cast out again as an unwelcome guest. 4. When it is deeply rooted. Many men have flashes for a time, their affections may be much aloft, and they may have great fits and elevations of joy and delight, but no sound grace. Joh. 5. 35. Ye rejoiced in his light for a season. But now the word must be settled into a standing-affection, if we would have comfort and profit by it.
1. That one duty and necessary practice of Gods children, is to hide the word in their hearts. See it confirmed by a Scripture or two. Josh. 1. 8. This book of the Law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and night. Job 22. 22. Receive I pray thee the Law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thy heart. By the Law is meant the whole word of God. Lay up his words, as we would do choice things, that they may not be lost or embezled; and lay them up as Treasure to be used upon all occasions. In the heart; let them not swim in the brain or memory only, but let the heart be affected with it. Col. 3. 16. Let the word of God dwell in you richly. Be so diligent in the study of the Scripture, that it may become familiar with us, by frequent hearing, reading, meditating, conferring about it. As a stranger, let it not stand at the dore; but receive it into an inner room; be as familiar as those that dwell with you. God complaineth of his people, Hos. 8. 12. I have written to them the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing. To be strangers to the word of God, and little conversant in it, is a great evil. What is it to hide the word in our hearts? 1. To understand it, to get a competent knowledg of it; we take in things into the soul by the understanding, Prov. 2. 10. When wisdom entreth into thine heart, and knowledg is pleasant unto thy soul. There is first an entrance by knowledg. 2. When it is assented unto by faith. The word is setled in the heart by faith, otherwise it soon vanisheth, Heb. 4. 2. The word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. 3. When it is kindly entertain'd, Joh. 8. 37. Christ complains, Ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉. Men are so possessed with lust and prejudice, that there is no room for Christs word; though it break in upon the heart with evidence and power, yet it is not entertained there, but cast out again as an unwelcome guest. 4. When it is deeply rooted. Many men have flashes for a time, their affections may be much aloft, and they may have great fits and elevations of joy and delight, but no sound grace.
