The Godly Man's Picture

Again, do we love the Sanctity of the word? Psal. 119. 140. The word preached is to beat down sin, and advance holiness: Do we love it for its spirituality and purity? Many love the word preached only for its eloquence and notion; they come to a Sermon as to a Music-lecture, Ezek. 33. 31. or as to a garden to pick flowers, but not to have their lusts subdued, or their hearts bettered: These are like a foolish woman which paints her face▪ but neglects her health.

Again, do we love the Sanctity of the word? Psal. 119. 140. The word preached is to beat down sin, and advance holiness: Do we love it for its spirituality and purity? Many love the word preached only for its eloquence and notion; they come to a Sermon as to a Musick-lecture, Ezek. 33. 31. or as to a garden to pick flowers, but not to have their lusts subdued, or their hearts bettered: These are like a foolish woman which paints her face▪ but neglects her health.

Again, do we love the convictions of the word? Do we love the word when it comes home to our Conscience, and shoots its arrows of reproof at our sins? 'Tis the Ministers duty sometimes to reprove: He that can give smooth words in the Pulpit, but knows not how to reprove, is like a sword with a fine hilt, without an edge, Titus 2. 15. Rebuke them sharply: Dip the nail in oil, reprove ⟨p. 87⟩in love, but strike the nail home. Now Christian, when the word toucheth upon thy sin, and saith, Thou art the man, dost thou love the reproof? Canst thou bless God that the sword of the Spirit hath divided between thee and thy lusts? This is indeed a sign of grace, and shows thou art a lover of the word.