Of the Means of Grace
.^ promise to be applied in every ordinance*
With joy shall you draw wdter out of the wells of sal vation’.”*»
Now in that it is said, out of the ‘wells of salvation and not ‘well,^ I think we ought to apply it to every ordinance of God, so as we are to use them with a comfortable persuasion that we shall receive abundance of grace from them. As the Lord promiseth we shall draw waters from out of them* we shall not only use them, but draw from them with joy.
Therefore when we pray, meditate, hear, confer, fast, in every dutjf apply this promise, and you shall find him faithful which promiseth.
2 Cor. vi, 16- 17, 18. b isa. zii| 3.
When thou prayesL
Apply these promises for the strengthen*
ing of thy faith, and for thy hearing, — “Ask,
and it shall be given you; seek, and yo»
shall find; knock, and it shall be opened
unto you.*.
“Pray to thy Father which seeth. m secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.**
“And all things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.«^
“W hatsoever ye shall a»k in ray name I
will do it.*
“Ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy
may be full.*
“Ask whate will, and it shall be done
unto you.^
“Before they call, I will answer; an* while they are yet speaking, I will hear.*
“Thou shalt make thy prayers unto him,, and he shall hear theef and if th»u seek him, he will be found.”^ -
When thou medkatest.
•^Mercy and truth shall be to theia that devise good.’
<^The loving kindness o£ the Lord en* dureth for ever, to them which think upoa his commandments to. do them.l
Mat fii n *^Mat. id. 6^ «Mat. xxi,. 22- John xiv, 13,. 14.. Joha xvi. 24» ^Joli» xf 7. flsalxY, 24. kJolp xxii* 2?. i’FroT.xiy 22. jP9alHiciii»17»ia.
“Ttiiiik on these things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, and the God of peace shall be with jou.”«
Jf thou desirest mercy, or the truth ol God, to be for thy good, or the loving-kindness of the Lord to be for ever towards thee, and that God which brings peace with him to be with thee; then meditate on good things and with such a meditation as may stir thee up to practice, and then all these promises shall surelj be performed to thee. And because meditation is a hard duty, therefore encourage thyself to it by the benefit it brings; and being a way of God, he will give thee his Spirit to cause thee to walk in it.
In meditating, confering, and reading God’s
word
“Let not this book of the law depart out of thy mouth, but meditate therein day and night, that thou may est observe to do according to all that IS written therein; for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous and then thou shall have good success.”^
In reading of the word, if thou understandest not.
*’I will pour out my Spirit unto you, t will make known my words to you.
Phil, iv, 8,9. b Josh* i, 8. cprpy. i, 23.
‘’It gives sabtiUy to the simple, to the young man knowleage and discretion.*
‘The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the ejes.’^^
If thou canst not confer
When thou canst not speak in conference to edification, but feelest thy heart shut up, apply, “He that believeth on me, out of bis belly shall flow rivers of living waters.*^
^*^The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom.^i
^’A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth.
*^The tongue of the stammerer shall be ready to speak plainly/
‘’The dumb man’s tongue shall 8ing.”ff
When thou art with the people of Grod, that thou mayest receive gCK)d from them, and do them good, apply, “He that walketk with wise men, ahall be wise,^ His fruit shall be meat, and his leaves medicine.”^
If thou findest thy soul stand in need of wisdom, keep company with the people of God, who are the only wise people, and then thou hast the only sure promises of the Lord, thou shalt be wise. If thoa hungerest after good, resort to the rite-
«Prov. 1,4. tp Psalm xix, 8. eJobn vii, 38.
d Prov. X, 31. •ProT. xii» 14. Isa. ipudi, 4
9 ISA, xxzv. 6. bProv. xiii, 20. Prov. zii, 14 Joba vii, 33. Ezek. xlvii, 12.
end, and thou shalt be satisfied with good things.
IF thou feel thyself dead ^PP^Jt “Out of hiiii shall flow rivers of water of /i/e,” for th J qaickening. If thy soul lpe faint or sick, app]y,«”His iruit shall be meat, and his leaves medicine.’’ Let all this good which is gotten by their fellowship, cause thee to denght in tnem; and take heed of forsaking the fellowship of the saints.
“When thou goest into company, apply these promises to thyself, that thou may est be so to others; and hinder not thyself by unbelief.
fThen thou art to go to the assemhlies, to particqpate in the ordinances*
. ‘’In places where I record my name, I will come to thee and bless thee. »’’ If thou wantest die Lord or his blessing, go to his house, ana thou shalt find him. “They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thine house, and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures; for with thee is the fountain of life, and in thy light shall we see light We shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thine holy temple.^
*^The Lord God is a sun and shield; tho
fixed. 21, 24. bPsalxn xxxvi, 8, 9. ePMbn
htv, 4.
Lord will gire grace and glory, and no good thing will he withhold, a
Those that he planted in the house of the Lord, shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall bring forth fruit in their old age; they shall be fat ioid flourishing.^
<^The Lord shall bless thee out of Zion.« In this mountain shall the Lord of hostd make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined. <*”
Therefore when his ordinances are corrupted with men’s inventions, then thou mayest press him with this promise; that he will give us wine refined and putyied, even his purest ordinances, most comfort* able to Our hearts, as wine is.
And when there is little nourishment, because their gifts are weak, urge him with this, that he hath promised to mahe us afevat of fax things full of marrow; for I take this promise to be meant of the churches after Christ, ver. 7. “And he will destroy’ in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations.”
Thy sins that are too strong for thee, — bring them to the Lord in his ordinances, and he will destroy them; though diou
PflBlm lxxxiv, 11. b psahn xcii, 13, 14. c Pnf cxxviii, 5. d Isa. xzy,
. 8cem to be covered with them, and they f spread as a vail upon thee, yet believe his promises and all things shail be possible unto thee.
“I will make them joyful in mine house of prayer, their sacrifices shall be accepted at mine altar. •” God will both give to them, and accept from them their sacrifices, as pleasing to him. * Believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.^
“A wise Tr.an will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsel”.<^
Hear and receive my sayings, and the years of thy life shall be many; when thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.<i Unto you that hear, shall be roor& given.”
^’Incline your ears and come unto me; hear, and your souls shall live; and I will make bu everlasting covenant with yoa, even the sure mercies of David. My word shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I send it. Therefore ye shall go forth with joy, and be led forth with peace; the mountains and the hills shall break. forth before you into singing, and the trees of the field shall clap their hands; instead of the thorn, shall
come up the fir-treej and instead of the brier, shall come up the myrtle-tree. *” — This force shall the word have in thine heart, for planting’ of grace and destroying of sin.
^’They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine; the scent thereof shall be as the vine in Lebanon.*’**
If thou wottldest return, apply this, “He shall return.” If thou art decayed, APP|j this, “They shall revive as th? porn.” If thou wouldest flourish in grace, apply, ‘♦They shall flourish as the vine.” If tnoa wouldest be a sweet-smelling savour in all places, apply, “The scent thereof shall be as the vine of Lebanon.”
Seeing all these good things come from the powerful ordinances of the Lord, let us give him no rest till he bestow these blessings upon us. When the pastor of the people pronoun ceth the blessing, apply this promise, “I will bless thee,”«.
WotddtBt thou eniay the ordinances of CM^ and a bieesing tqnm them?
“I will satiate the souls of the priests with fatness, and mj people shall be satisfied with goodness.^
Isa* Ir, 3, 11, 23, 13. Hos. ziv, 7* NoS’ vi^27’« ‘Jer. xzs, 14.
•*I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understatiding.^
^’And I will make them, and the places round about my hill, a blessing; and i will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing. And the tree of the field shall yield her increase, and the earth shall yield her fruit.”^
These promises are both for pastor and people; the pastor shall be able to teach with knowledge and nnderstaridingj his soul shall be replenished with/a^9i^9»^* nis teaching shall be as a seasonable shower of bleasing, that shall make the people fruitful.
The people - must apply these promises, that God would give tneui able teachers; and that they may find their ministry blessed unto them, according to these promises; that they may be fed with knowledge and understanding, that they may be satisfied with goodness, and that their teaching may be seasonable showers of blessing to make theii fruitful; as it is promised that the trees shall yield their fntit. How much are God’s ordinances to be desired, by which he doth convey so many blessings unto his people! Let us give him no rest till he lurnish Jerusalem with her ordinances and officers.
•Jer. illS. l^J&zek. xxxiv» 26» 27.
If thou enjoyesi gr«ce, or means of grace, and f Barest the losing of them*
*’Upon all the ^ory shajl be a defence. And there shall be a tabernacle of a shadow in the day-time from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from the storm and from the rain.*
“I the Lord do keep it, I will water it every moment; lest any hurt it, 1 will keep it night and day.^
“His place of defence shall be the muni- i tion of rocks; bread shall be given him, his waters shall be sure.”®
Hast thou any glorious grace, or means of grace? Arm thyself with the power of God, in his promises; for the devil will use all his forces and subtil ty to deprive thee of them. Hast thou a glorious minister, and pure ordinancie? Do glorious graces begin to spring in thine heart, and thou seest no means to defend them? Apply, “Upon all thy glory he shall be a defence: his defence shall be a munition of rocks V
Seest thou a heart of sin in thyself, or the rage of the wicked, thatcauseth thee to fear the loss of them? Apply, “There shall be a covering for a shadow in the day from the heat.” Doth the devil raise up storma» or outward persecutions? Apply, *’7%e defence and covering shall be a place of realsa. ir. 5> 6. bisa. Xxzvii* 3. aaa. xzxiii, 1& fiiTe, and covert For the storm and for the raiD.*^
Fearest thou the subtilties of thine enemies; that, unawares when thou thinkest not on them they will surprise’ thee, and steal thy blessing from thee? Apply ‘*Itbe Lord will keep it night and day.^^ If thou fearest 6od will not coniimie thus to thee, applj, “I will water U every moment;^^ not one moment but be will be adding and nourishing; ‘’bread shall be give a him, and hisr waters shall be sui:^^”
^henthou’ art banished from Gods ordinances and dtsirest to return.
“The ransomed, of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with songs, and everlast* ihg joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and- gladness and’Borxow and sighing »hall fly away.*’
•*A:iid I wiil, bring you to Zion.^ If any of thine be dHven out to the outmost part»^ of heaven, from, thence will the Lord thy God gather thee,- audi from, thence will h&^ fetch thee.c;
**BtjHold r even r- will both search my sheep? and< seek them out. As a shepherd’ seeketh out his flbck, in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered, so will i seel& out my sheep,, and’ dbliver them out
Isa;. xxxt 10;- Jer. iii>. 141 <?Deut. ixx. 4.
15^ of all places where they have been seatteped in the cloudy and dark day. And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the coantries and will bring them to their own land, and feed then upon the mountains of Israel, by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country, I will feed them m a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their lolil be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel. I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saitfa the iiord God. I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away; and bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick. »”
If thou mournest for Ood*s ordinances, apply, ‘’Thou 3hait not only return to Zion but return withjay and sorrow shall fly away.” If thou art but one amongst many which desire it, and fearest thou shalt be left amon them, apply, ^*I will take you one of a city, and two of a tribe. *»- ‘Though thou art but one of a city that returneth to the Lord, he will bring thee to Zion from all (he rest.
If thou art far removed from all means, and that the Lord hath done it for thy sin, apply, <*Though thou wert cast into the
Ezefe. zxxiv, 11, 13, 13, 14» 15, 16. b Jer. iii, 14, outmost part of heaven, thence will the Lord gather thee, and from thence will he take thee; he will deliver them from all places where they have been scattered in tike cloudy and dark ^av, and will feed thm in good pastures, and mil bring them to rest.^^
When thou ait banished from Godshouse
*<I will be unto them as a little sanctuary in the country s where they shall come,* He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom; and shall gently lead those that are with young>
In thy banishment, at those hours when thy soul was wont to be refreshed in the sanctuary of God on the sabbath, and at other times when thou findest thyself to stand in need either of defence or nourishment, apply, ^’/ will be a sanctuary unto you. He shall feed his flock as a. shepherd.”
**If in this time thou feelest thyself very weak, apply, **He shall gather his lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom; and guide them with young:’^ they cannot mis* carry that are shut up m the bodom of God; nor fear, who iLre guided by him. Therefore, though we be ever so weak in ourselves, yet here is our comfort, — we arc safe in our God. O happy people, saved by the Lordt tn
HHen mcked aheplurda are over ns <^Thtis saith the Lord God, behold, I am against £he shcphei*ds, and £ ill require mjr ifock at their hands and case them to cease from feeding the flock. Neither shall the shepherds feed themselTes anj more; for I will deliver mj flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them. Because je have thrust with side and with shoulder, and pushed all the diseased with your horns, till ye have scattered them a-Droad: therefore will I save my flock, and they shall no more be a, prey; and I wilt cause the wild beasts to cease out of the land.”
When the shepherds feed themselves, and are ready to devour us, apply, The shepherds ahall not feed themselves any more; / will deliver m sheep from their mouths, they shall no more devour them..”
When, through their greatness and our weakness, they push us so with their horns, that we are scattered, both shepherd from people, and one from another ^PP^7» will help my sheep and they shall no more be spoiled; I will cause the wild beasts to cease out of the land.’^
fVhm thwough wicked shherd, thoumtt come to great misery.
*4 Will seetthat which was lost, and bring «&^ nsLva 10» 21, 22> 2^.
irs
aain tot which was driven away; and will bind up that which was broken, and will dtrenthen that which was sick.* Though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more; but thine eyes shall see thy teachers.”^
When through evil shepherds thou art come to such ian estate, as thou feelest thy-^ «elf to have lost God and goodness, and art driven away from things that might help thee, apply, ♦*lw«7/5ee/: that which was loat I will bring again that which was drinen awayJ^
W hen thou art even broken with misery and grown very weak, apply, **I will bind up that which was broken and strength that which was weak.’’
“When thy teachers, who should help thee in this estate, are forced to fly and hide thetnselves, for the fear of the %vicked shepherd’s, apply, “Thy teachers shall not be removed into a oomer any more, but thine eyes shall gee thy teachers.”
When thou setteet thyself to fan.
••If thou fast in secret, thy Father which -seeth in secret will reward thee openly .<^
**Draw nigh unto God, and he will draw nieh unto you. Humble yourselves in the sitof the Lord, and he snail lift you up.’^<>
Ezek. xxxiv, 16. b Isa. xxx, ?0. e Mat vi; 18,
«iJ«ae9iv^8;iO.