and some are carried away with a worldly spirit, they are Martha like cumbering themselves with much business, involving themselves so deep in the world, that they can find little leisure to wait upon God, their worldly business over-rules their religion: if you give way to these lusts, conclude upon it that you will not thrive in faith: you must be content with a little faith, that give way to a slighty spirit in waiting upon God: you never knew an eminent believer that was not a great prizer of Ordinances, in this way there is hope that Faith will increase, therefore diligently attend them: Particularly:
1. Read the Word of God diligently: it is very useful to this end, to read the writings of faithful and experienced men, such books are of great use for the understanding of the Scripture: but there is a peculiar usefulness in the Word of God it self, because that is without error and mistake, it is given ⟨p. 337⟩by inspiration from God, 2 Tim. 3.16. in other mens writings you have the judgment of men, and many times their judgments are according to the Word of God, and cleared up from thence, but in the Scripture you have the testimony of God himself: there is a divine authority in the Scripture: the Scripture is the sentence of God, a message from God: it is clothed with divine Majesty: the Word of God has a power over the conscience: there is secret virtue in it to stir up Faith: there is a majesty and commanding authority in the Scripture: yea the Scripture is sanctified by God to work upon the hearts of men, Joh. 20.31. these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God: there is a special advantage in it, to hear God speaking in his own language.
2. Frequently attend the preaching of the Word: that which God makes use of especially for the begetting of Faith, is very proper for the nourishing of it, Rom. 10.17. Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing, by the Word of God: this is an ordinance as well as the reading of the Word: and there is a special usefulness in it several ways, the life and zeal that is in the delivery is of special use, and a great means to affect the heart: in the preaching of the Word, counsels and encouragements are directed more particularly unto them; and that by those that God has set over them, that must give an account of their souls, Act. 20.28.
and some are carried away with a worldly spirit, they are Martha like cumbring themselves with much buisiness, involving themselves so deep in the world, that they can find little leasure to wait upon God, their worldly buisiness over-rules their religion: if you give way to these lusts, conclude upon it that you will not thrive in faith: you must be content with a little faith, that give way to a slighty spirit in waiting upon God: you never knew an eminent believer that was not a great prizer of Ordinances, in this way there is hope that Faith will increase, therefore diligently attend them: Particularly:
1. Read the Word of God diligently: it is very useful to this end, to read the writings of faithful and experienced men, such books are of great use for the understanding of the Scripture: but there is a peculiar usefulness in the Word of God it self, because that is without error and mistake, it is given ⟨p. 337⟩by inspiration from God, 2 Tim. 3.16. in other mens writings you have the judgment of men, and many times their judgments are according to the Word of God, and cleard up from thence, but in the Scripture you have the testimony of God himself: there is a divine authority in the Scripture: the Scripture is the sentence of God, a message from God: it is cloathed with divine Majesty: the Word of God has a power over the conscience: there is secret vertue in it to stir up Faith: there is a majesty and commanding authority in the Scripture: yea the Scripture is sanctified by God to work upon the hearts of men, Joh. 20.31. these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God: there is a special advantage in it, to hear God speaking in his own language.
2. Frequently attend the preaching of the Word: that which God makes use of especially for the begeting of Faith, is very proper for the nourishing of it, Rom. 10.17. Faith commeth by hearing, and hearing, by the Word of God: this is an ordinance as well as the reading of the Word: and there is a special usefulness in it several ways, the life and zeal that is in the delivery is of special use, and a great means to affect the heart: in the preaching of the Word, counsels and encouragements are directed more partiticularly unto them; and that by those that God has set over them, that must give an account of their souls, Act. 20.28.
