Sermon 13

1 John 5:13. That you may believe on the name of the Son of God.

Now we come to speak of the other end of the Apostle's writing of these epistles, and that is, that you may believe on the name of the Son of God.

Doctrine. It is a holy end of the holy scriptures that believers may believe.

John, when he writes the Gospel, he speaks as well to believers, as to others, but chiefly to believers (John 20:31). These things are written that you may believe. Say not what is this, but to make the work that is already wrought, for though faith and believing be wrought in the hearts of God's people, yet such as do believe, had need to be helped to believe more and better (Romans 1:17). It is not only the power of God to work faith in such as believe, but to lead them on from faith to faith, from one measure of faith to another, and the Gospel is revealed from heaven for that end, that such as believe not might be brought on to believe. And such as do believe, may be carried on in believing; such as are faithful, had need be yet more faithful; you read also (Philippians 1:25), I shall abide with you, for your furtherance and joy of faith, such a furtherance as is for the increasing and augmentation of your faith, so that there is not only faith but increase and growth of faith too. As furthered by the Gospel (1 Thessalonians 3:10), that I might supply the defects of your faith, to supply what is wanting in your faith, there is not any of the servants of God, no not those that receive the word with much joy in the Holy Spirit, in much affliction and tribulation, no not those that give good pledges and evidences of their grace, as (1 Thessalonians 1:4-7), yet there is something wanting or lacking in your faith, not any, no not the most exemplary Christians, verse 7, but there is something wanting in their faith, and therefore to this end he desires to come to them, as verse 10, he is pressed exceedingly night and day, stirred up to that duty, with much vehemency and in earnestness of spirit desires exceedingly to see your faith, and to perfect what is wanting in it. A marvelous thing, that the best Christians should yet have something wanting in their faith, so that this is not a needless work he undertakes, in writing to them that believe on Christ, that yet they may believe better.

Quest. Now what is that which they had need grow to?

Answ. First, they had need to grow to the belief of some further principles of God's truth, some further articles of faith, which yet they know not: some have need to grow in the object of their faith, to believe more than they yet do believe. Some of the apostles did not believe the resurrection of Christ, Thomas said, he would not believe, unless he might see and feel (John 20:25). He was wanting in the belief of one article of faith, the resurrection of the dead, and (1 Corinthians 15) the whole church was wanting in this and in many other articles of their Christian faith; they doubted not but that their bodies should rise, but they wanted that before. And the Thessalonians, they wanted this in their faith, they could not tell what to make of the long delay of the second coming of Christ; they did expect a sudden coming, and therefore many of them were troubled in their minds, so as that they neglected their callings, and minded not their outward business in the world, expecting a sudden dissolution of all. And therefore the Apostle supplies what was wanting in their faith, by acquainting them further of the counsel of God, that Christ must not come to judgment, till Antichrist have first come, with all deceitfulness, and lying wonders, and till the church have made an apostasy. And the Galatians, they were ignorant of the doctrine of justification, for supply of which, and satisfying them therein, that whole Epistle is spent; so in all other churches the apostles labored to supply what was wanting in the object of their faith.

Secondly, there is something wanting in their approvedness of the habit of faith, something wanting in the gift and grace of faith. The Apostle prays for the Colossians, that as they have received Christ they would so walk, and that they might be rooted and established in him. Many of them were not so rooted and established in Christ as they stood in need to be, not able to exclude and banish those doubts, and fears, and cares of spirit, that sometimes accompany believers, even those that believe already on the name of Christ, yet there is something wanting in the root of their faith. For look as you see it is with a plant, that is grafted into a stock, it does not forthwith take root, but a little matter will soon unsettle it; so is it in this case, a man may in some measure be implanted into Christ, and yet for a time be marvelously unsettled, and far off from that rootedness which God looks our faith should grow to, and so in a building, it at the first framing may be so green, as that yet it is not settled upon the foundation, but it would have a time to be dried and withered, that it may stand the firmer on the foundation without shrinking, and be more fit for a man's dwelling. So is it sometimes with the faith of a Christian man, he may be knit to Christ, and may have a place in Christ, but his mortar may yet be green, and may be easily shaken with wind and weather of temptation, and not be yet rooted and established; there may want such holy confidence, and assured persuasion of fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ, as we had need to be lifted up to a further increase of faith, which this Epistle, and such other doctrines as these be, are wont to work in them.

Thirdly, it may be increased in the comfort of it, in the sense and feeling of it, for it may so fall out, that many a good soul may come to a large measure of a lively faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, as that they may cleave to him, and seek him early, and do and suffer anything for the name of Christ, and yet sometimes doubt, whether their faith be sound-hearted or no. In such a case he doubts whether his faith be true or no, he lacks the sense of his faith, for he believes not that he has faith. Now this faith of his had need to be increased in the sense and feeling of it, that he may plainly see the faith he has is no fancy, or presumption, or delusion, as he has very much suspected; but that he may see the faith he has is the faith of God's elect, he had need be built up in his faith more and more. Lord I believe, help my unbelief (Mark 9:40). He could not tell whether he might call his faith, faith or unbelief, he could not tell what to call it, he was willing to believe, but it was with so much difficulty, and so much weakness of faith, that he prays for the removal of his unbelief. So that in regard of the doubts that a man has many times of his own faith, he had need grow up in faith, that he may believe that he does believe, and this is that you read (Philippians 1:25): For the joy of your faith. This was something in which they were to be furthered, it was the joy and comfort of their faith; so to rise up in believing, as that they might have comfort in it, for so far as a man believes, and yet is doubtful of it, he has little comfort and joy in his faith, and therefore the Apostle would have them furthered in their joy, that their faith might be a joyful faith, such as where in they might have comfort, and might be joyful for that they had received faith.

And fourthly, faith had need be increased, in respect of the acts, the proper acts of faith, which are chiefly persuasion and trust upon the name of Christ, and those heavenly truths, in which the Lord Jesus Christ is revealed, and graciously dispensed to the hearts of his people, even these also had need to be marvelously enlarged in Christian men, above what at the first they do arise to. See them both put together: Peter when he walked upon the water he was fully persuaded, and did trust upon Christ for protection in a very doubtful and dangerous case, he did trust upon him (Matthew 14:30-31); but when the wind began to blow, and the storm to arise, then Peter's faith began to shrink, and his body to sink, and then he cries out, O Master, save me, else I perish. O you of little faith, says our Savior, to show you, that a man's faith had need be further increased, for you see our Savior rebukes him for his little faith; not only weak in the habit of it, but little in the proper act of it. He begins to shrink in his persuasion, and in his trust, and that was thought the littleness of his faith. And so the two disciples that went to Emmaus, they looked sadly to think of the death of Christ, and complain of it to Jesus, and when he asked them, why they looked so sadly, they tell him the cause, concerning the death of Christ, and say they, we trusted this had been he, that should have delivered Israel. O fools, and slow of heart (verses 21, 22, and 24), ought not Christ to have suffered these things? To show you, that there is even in God's own servants that are true believers, something to be supplied in the acts of their faith, their persuasion and trust is many times very much overwhelmed, so as that many times they call in question the main principles and foundations of their faith. We trusted this was he, but we are doubtful whether we be not deceived or no, God knows whether it was he or no; but we have just occasion of doubting, for they thought the Messiah should have lived forever, and now this is the third day since he was crucified, and we trusted this was he, but now he is dead, and has lain so long in the grave, and we are therefore doubtful whether this was he or no, and therefore in this regard faith had need be increased.

Fifthly, faith had need to grow, even that faith which accompanies salvation, by which we believe on the name of Christ, not only thus far as has been said, but had need to grow in the fruits of it, for many times though faith may have some strength and comfort, and put forth itself in some acts, yet notwithstanding it may sometimes fall out, and often does, that even the faith of God's people is much intercepted from putting forth itself, in those lively fruits of faith which redound to the praise and glory of God (Galatians 5:6). Faith works by love; now you know what you have heard of the love of God's people, that they may depart from their first love, yes so far depart from it, as that he may fall short of the performance of his first works of his faith and love together (Revelation 2:4-5). Faith at the first was more abundantly fruitful than now it is, and so their first love was more abundantly fruitful to good works, than now they are able to reach to, but in Revelation 2:19 it is said of the Thyatirans, their works was more at the last than they were at the first. It is a sign their faith was as much growing in fruitfulness as the other was decayed, so that something may be supplied to the faith of God's people, their faith and love, and the fruits thereof had need to be increased. So that this is not a vain end of John's writing to them that believe on his name, that they may believe, though they now believe, yet they had need to believe yet more, though it may seem to be a tautology, yet it is an evident truth.

Now then for further opening of this point, first to show you, that all which at this time has been said, may be one reason of the point why John writes thus to them, which is taken from the defects that are found in the faith of all believers, which it were fitting and necessary should be supplied.

Reason 2. It is taken from the marvellous power that is in this Epistle, and so in other Scriptures, to supply these defects that are thus wanting in our faith, whether in the object of it, or in whatever else; there is a marvellous power in the holy Scriptures to supply it all, and indeed the Scriptures are so carved out, and so dispensed, and when dispensed aright there is a mighty power in them to supply faith, and the defects of it in every believer. The Scriptures are mighty through God, whether preached or read, or heard, or conferred upon, or meditated upon; for to my remembrance, the Scriptures are sanctified of God to none other use but to one of these five; the Word of God is mighty, and mighty to this end, that believing in the Word, whether preached, or heard, or read, or examining what you have heard, or meditating, or conferring upon it, there is a mighty power in the holy Scriptures to supply the faith of God's people.

First, For Preaching, there is a mighty power in the Scriptures preached, for he writes these things that they may be preached, and to be read, and to make use of them in conference, and meditation, and in them all there is a mighty power. But first for preaching (Romans 1:16-17): The Gospel is the power of God to salvation, for therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith. By the Gospel of God preached, the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, to lead on believers to believe, and not to rest growing in believing, till they reach to salvation; it is the mighty power of God to salvation, to every one that believes, such a one, while he lives shall be of the thriving hand in faith. And when the Apostle prayed so earnestly, night and day to come again to the Thessalonians, does he not therein imply, though there may be a mighty power in the word read to increase faith where it is already wrought, yet his personal presence would help it much more, whether by conference or by preaching, and therefore he prays much to see them again. An evident argument, though the word read may be of much use to establish us; yet much more the personal presence, and conference and preaching of the Gospel of Christ, else that prayer of his had been something impertinent.

And so secondly, for conferring of the Scriptures, you know when the two disciples were doubtful whether that was the Christ or no (Luke 24:21), our Savior does not only reprove them for that doubtfulness, but he begins at Moses, and opened to them the things written in the Prophets, till in the end their hearts glowed and burned within them, and that was a furtherance of their faith, for then they presently ran to Jerusalem, and then they do not say, we trusted this was he, but they say, the Lord is risen indeed: In very truth without any further dissension, never distrusted it more, he is risen indeed, so that there is a mighty power in the word conferred upon, in private conference, and therefore they doubt no more of it. So that the word opened by way of conference made their hearts to burn within them, they do not call it preaching, but rather a private conference, an applying the Scripture to this point they stood in need to be instructed in, and they go away with full resolution, the Lord is risen indeed.

And you know the mighty power and use of the conference of Philip with the Eunuch; upon that conference, the Eunuch believed and was baptized (Acts 8:37). So that take the word preached, and there is a mighty power of God in it to lead a Christian man from faith to faith: And take the Gospel of God and confer about it, and it is a mighty power to increase faith, that believers may believe.

Thirdly, And so it is for the word read, another kind of dispensing this word, that is a special end of it, that by reading you might believe on the name of the Son of God, that is the next use of the Scripture, they which do read, shall by reading find their hearts confirmed, and established in the faith (John 20:30-31). There is a mighty power of God that accompanies the word of God read, to strengthen men in the faith, that such as believe already, may believe more, and be established in their persuasion of the truth of God.

Fourthly, If you shall examine the things that you have heard, that is another use of the Scriptures, an examination of what you hear; go home and consider whether the things that have been taught were true or no: whether agreeable to the holy Scriptures or no; for a preacher speaks not the express words of the Scripture, but comments and explications of the Scriptures, and therefore examine whether that which is delivered be agreeable to the Scriptures which are alleged to prove the doctrine. We must make use of the Scripture as a rule to measure all the sermon by that we hear, whether it be of just length and breadth of God's word or no, as the balance of the Sanctuary, the two testaments be, and when you weigh what is said, then you are confirmed and established in it.

Now this kind of making use of the Scriptures to examine what you hear, it is of special use to help forward the faith of such as do believe, indeed, (and which is more) it may bring on men to believe, which it may be never did believe before, mightily stirred before, but believed not, till they go home and searched the Scriptures, seeing that which is spoken to be fully agreeable to the Word of God, they have been brought on wonderfully to believe; famous is that of the Bereans (Acts 17:11-12), they heard the word, and what he spoke they received it gladly, they thought he spoke well, but they searched daily to see whether those things which were spoken were so or no, therefore see the blessing of God upon it (verse 12), many of them believed, they received the word with reverence and did not cavil at it, but heard it patiently, and when they came at home conferred about it; and when upon examination they saw it was according to the Scriptures of the holy Prophets, when they saw, that what Paul preached was suitable to Moses and the Prophets, the blessing of God was great upon them, for the number of them that believed was not a few, to show you that a man that has heard the word, and has been stirred with what he heard, if he shall go home and consider and weigh well, and see how one thing bears witness to another, so as that the word preached, opens the word written; and the word written, confirms the word preached, then though before he was doubtful, as sometimes a godly man's heart may fail him in applying the word to himself, as Jacob's heart failed and he believed not, yet when he considered it, and saw what tokens of love was sent him, and laid circumstances together, then his spirit revived. So a man hears much, and something pertinent to him, yet his heart may fail him, and may have much ado to gather any comfort out of it, but when he considers things more privately and searches the Scriptures, upon examination, many a man believes the word, which before he was doubtful of. Repetition and examination of the word, is marvelously blessed by God to this end, to help forward our faith, it is of good use both to begin, and to increase faith; sometimes to work it, where it was heretofore wanting, much more to increase it where it was begun before, and therefore as we were begotten by the immortal Word of God; so no Word of God, being dispensed in any ordinance of God, none of them but are of mighty use for the supplying our defects of faith, and to make us believe more.

Fifthly, the Word also meditated upon, when a man has heard it, and searched it, and believed it, read and conferred about it, or say none of these for the present, but whether these have gone before or no, for the present the very meditation of God's Word, which a man now takes into his mind as he is riding, or working; there is a mighty power in the Word, pondering upon it, and chewing of it, to make a man more rooted in it, more fruitful, and more comfortable in believing. This truth you see in (Psalm 1:1-3), when a man meditates upon the law of God day and night, he grows to more delight in it; one of these helps another, and what will be the fruit of it? He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of waters, planted and rooted, and well watered there, and he brings forth his fruit in due season, and whatever he does shall prosper; not as planted in a dry wilderness, but by the rivers of water, and that makes him not only well rooted, and grown tall, but it enables him to bring forth fruit in due season, and as for his leaf it withers not, neither summer's heat, nor winter's frosts makes it to fall, but he still holds his greenness, and his fruitfulness, and he grows in all the graces of God which tend to the praise, and glory of his grace, and this is by reason of his delighting, and meditating in the Word of God, and thus you see the point opened.

Use 1. First then, you may from here gather a sign of trial of your own faith, for if this be the Spirit of a godly teacher to draw on those that are believers to believe; it is a good sign, as of a faithful minister, so of a faithful hearer, when he desires to supply the defects of his own and others' faith. You see John, a faithful minister to those Christians to whom he writes, he when he had brought them on to believe, and found faith worked in their hearts, it was his care not there to leave them. He does not say as some would, well, there is now truth of grace in them, and truth of faith, such faith as accompanies salvation; and now he that begun this work in them will finish it, and so leave them; and you say, now you need take no further care about them, but now they will do well enough. No, this is not the spirit of a faithful minister of Jesus Christ, and it will be but uncomfortable to such ministers, as think now they may be left to the wide world, they will shift anywhere, but where we see any seeds of faith begun, we must be desirous to increase it in ourselves, and ours. The Apostles themselves pray, Lord increase our faith (Luke 17:5), and so they desire to increase other men's faith. We had need grow fast this way if we would have a true sign of a lively faith, true and lively faith always desires to grow in itself, and it would cause the like faith also to grow in others. And therefore as you see faithful ministers are thus desirous to grow themselves, and to cause others to grow, as Paul prays exceedingly night and day, to come to those whom he had taken pains with, that he might make a supply of what was wanting in their faith. And as faithful ministers must clothe themselves with this earnest desire, to be calling yet more and more upon believers, that such as do believe may believe yet more, and grow from faith to faith. Truly so godly Christians, look as ministers are desirous to grow in their own faith, and to help on others, so in Christians, it is a true sign of faith, not to content ourselves in truth of faith, but to desire earnestly after growth in faith. Had not they cause to pray that Paul might come among them again and help them? And therefore, doubtless this is that which every true believer has respect to, every faithful Christian prays for himself, Lord increase my faith, Lord help my unbelief. This is the prayer of every soul that comes to Christ, that though we have some measure of faith already, yet mixed with so much unfruitfulness, and unsettledness, and so many defects, that every Christian has cause to pray, Lord help my unbelief. Sometimes a man is hindered with offences, and they are to be avoided, in which a man will not be able to put forth love unless he have a strong faith. And that was the reason why the Apostles prayed so earnestly Lord increase our faith (Luke 17:5), for it was upon this occasion our Saviour had been exhorting them, how to carry themselves in respect of offences. If your brother trespass against you rebuke him, and if he repent forgive him, etc. Now they apprehended, it was a great work, they saw it was a great work to rebuke him, he had need have much faith before he can do that. But suppose upon that a man does humble himself, and repent, then for a man to forgive him, it requires a great faith to forgive a wrong, or an injury offered to us. But what if he come and offend me again, and again, seventy times seven times? Why if he does, and say it repents me, you shall forgive him. Now when they hear this, that a man must be so free-hearted in forgiving wrongs and injuries done to themselves, they had need have a strong love, and strong love stands in need of a strong faith. This shows you, that a man that shall have occasion to trade with his faith, and to live and walk by his faith, he shall have much need of the growth and increase of it, if it be but for the healing of offences. Many occasions and temptations may meet with us in the world, temptations from Satan, as well as from the world (1 John 2:14). And if a man have strong enemies, he will stand in need of a strong faith, to cut asunder all the fiery darts of the Devil (Ephesians 6:16). Above all take the shield of faith. There is no man willing to go to the field with weak armor, he would if he could have armor of proof, such as might repulse a weapon or a dart cast against him. So a Christian has to fight against many enemies. And a shield covers his whole body, and so differs from a buckler, that covers but one part, but a shield covers the whole man, stands upon the ground, and covers him all over. And now faith being such a shield, it is of mighty force, and is able to repulse all the fiery darts of the Devil, and all the rest of the enemies of their salvation, so that the servants of God, that know what use they have of their faith, they know they have need of the growth and increase of it.

And so again, in regard of their daily employments, the just man lives by his faith (Romans 1:17; Galatians 2:20). A man does nothing in a Christian and spiritual way but by his faith; now when faith must be the instrument to help us to work all our works spiritually, we had need to grow to some life and fruitfulness in faith, and if our faith is not fruitful, we shall make but hard work of our daily employments. How shall we depend upon God, and do all in the name of Christ, and do all in obedience to a commandment, and live by a promise, for God's presence and blessing in it? How shall a man do this if he does not have faith, indeed if he does not have some dexterity of faith? A weak faith will then slug it, when a man stands in most need to use it; and therefore that a man may be ready to show his faith upon every occasion, in prayer, in conference, in every thing both concerning this life and another, a man has need of a great deal of faith. And therefore this is an evident sign that a man's faith is well wrought — a sound and lively faith — if it is a growing faith. But if you hear men saying they thank God they have a strong faith, and they always believed on Christ, and fie upon them that do not — let me say, this is a presumption of faith, but is no faith; indeed, it is the badge of the want of faith. When therefore you see the Apostle writes to them that believe, that they may believe more certainly and more strongly, that is a true faith, and it will grow.

Use 2. It serves to reprove the most sacrilegious and uncharitable faith of the Papists, that take away these writings from the people. John writes this Epistle to the intent that believers may believe; you heard that the word dispensed in any ordinance is of mighty power to increase faith where it is begun, and to beget it where it is wanting. Take away reading of the Scriptures, and conference about them, and you take away all. And therefore it is an infidel practice to go about to take away the faith of God's elect. God sent us the Scriptures to the end that we might believe, and if this is the nature of faith — to desire that themselves and others might grow in faith — what are they but infidels in truth, who as much as in them lies lock up the Scriptures in a strange tongue, that the people may not understand what is read to them, and as much as in them lies drive the Bibles out of their houses? And it is heretical presumption for such and such men to use the Scriptures — this is infidelity, and most sacrilegious to God; and it is likewise uncharitable and injurious to the faith of God's people.

An evident argument of infidelity: how can you charge the wisdom of God with more folly and lightness? God sends his word to his servants, that they might be reading and hearing and conferring of it, and that by believing they might believe. These men, to cast an imputation of folly upon God, are afraid that God did not consider the danger of it — if believers should fall to reading, and poor tradesmen to conferring about the Scriptures, they are afraid they will be distempered with heresy and so trouble the whole Church. Do they not by so doing set the wisdom of God at nothing, and show themselves sacrilegious against the truth of God?

Use 3. It may serve to exhort us all, since the Holy Spirit did write these things to the intent that you that believe on the name of the Son of God might believe.

First, to you that believe, and then to you that believe not. You that have been diligent in hearing and reading the word, be diligent in it still, and make it a point of your Christian practice, not to fail to read some part of it every day, unless you are necessarily hindered; or if you have been necessarily hindered by business from reading, yet be sure nothing hinders you from meditating upon it. The blessed man meditates on God's word every night and every day, and though he takes the shorter time to it, yet he must have some time for meditation upon the word — upon something he heard this day, or something he has sometimes read. And you shall find a mighty power in it to bear fruit, as if you were planted by the rivers of waters, for the Spirit of God breathing in the word, and your hearts sucking it up, and by meditating upon it, you grow in more knowledge in the object of your faith, in the rootedness in the sense, and in the acts and fruits of your faith — and this by hearing, and reading, and meditating. Read therefore — the King himself must do it daily, who has more business than any man (Deuteronomy 17:19). And if he does so, God will teach him the fear of his name; now if God will not excuse kings, much less private men, who have fewer affairs than kings have. And therefore be reading every day, and when you cannot read, be sure you meditate upon some part of God's Word, every day and every night.

As ever you desire to believe, use the means that you may believe, this being sanctified of God to that end, then be not you wanting to use it; and do not only so, but hear it likewise, and confer upon it, and search it daily whether it be true or no; use the means that God has sanctified his Word to be dispensed in, and by which he will bless it to his people, and then you shall find this: In believing you shall believe, you shall grow from faith to faith, and from sense to sense, and in the fruits of faith till you be perfect in Christ Jesus: be diligent in hearing God's Word, for it is the mighty power of God to salvation; and confer of it, there is a mighty power in the Word being conferred upon, take heed you neglect not occasions in this kind, and search the Scriptures, and examine what you hear, and you will find a mighty power in it to increase faith; Since therefore God has given you his Word, and shed abroad the water of his Spirit, to run through every line of the Scriptures, so that the more you shall read, and hear, confer, and meditate, and search the Scripture, the more you shall find the life of faith increased in you; and therefore you must not wonder if you see Christian men that neglect these duties, complain of the deadness of their hearts. Do you doubt in your persuasion, is your confidence mixed with much diffidence? Then ask your heart this question; Have you used the Scriptures for those ends God has appointed them, and have you been diligent in conferring about them, and searching of them, whether what is delivered be suitable to them or no, and meditated of them, and brought them home to your house, and compared them together, and meditated upon them day and night, and taken times to chew and digest them? If you had done thus, then you would have believed more assuredly; but if we be negligent in any of these kinds, then wonder not, if we take away bodily food, we take away bodily heat, take away the fuel that nourishes faith, and then it must needs grow weak and infirm. And therefore as you desire to grow in believing, be diligent in these duties, that you may believe on the name of Christ, and in believing may believe much more. And for you that do not believe savingly, whose faith will not put you in possession of eternal life, though this Scripture was not so much written for your use and benefit, as for them that already believe, yet since there is no means to come to faith but by the Word, be not you wanting, as ever you desire to come to that faith which accompanies salvation; be not wanting diligently to hear the Word of God, and confer about it with those that believe already, Faith comes by hearing (Romans 10:17) and it is the mighty power of God to salvation. Be glad of any opportunity to hear the Word, and wait at the posts of wisdom's gates (Proverbs 8:34-35) He that finds me finds life, the promise is very plain, waiting daily at my gates. Implying, that in hearing we shall find him, and in finding Christ we shall find life; be diligent therefore to hear, and when you have heard it go home, and search whether it be true or no; and if you have liberty be doing this often, be conferring about it, as you can have any opportunity; God has sanctified these ordinances to this end. Be diligent in inquiring after wisdom, after Christ in the Scripture; there is a treasure lies, dig for it and you shall have it, especially if with all these you join humble and hearty prayer to God for a blessing upon all these ordinances, for (1 Timothy 4:5) they are all sanctified by the Word, and Prayer, and (Proverbs 2:2-3) God would have you to use Prayer, entreat him to open your eyes and hearts, that you may believe and obey, and that no ordinance might be in vain to you, but might profit by them all, and might grow up in believing.