IN this Chapter obſerue the preparation to Chriſts Miniſtery; the execution thereof; and the confirmation of the truth taught, by Myracles done, whereſoeuer hee became.

The preparation was by a fierce and violent temptation with which he was aſſaulted, as it may appeare to ſuch as read the Chapter to the 14 verſe: the execution of his Miniſtery may be ſeene from thence to the 33. and the miracles hee did in the remainder of this Chapter, to the end thereof.

Theſe words of the Euangeliſt which I haue read, doe concerne the execution of his glorious Miniſtery; in which conſider:

1. The Country where he began to preach, Galile, his owne Country where hee had leaſt eſteeme, Verſe 14.24.

2. Next, the places in that Country, the two chiefe Townes, Nazareth & Capernaum, verſ. 16.31.

3. Alſo in thoſe Cities, what place he made choiſe of, not priuate houſes, as Conuenticlers, nor the ſtreetes, as fanaticall perſons are accuſtomed, but the chiefe place of concourſe, to thoſe excellent ends, the Synagogues, Verſe 16.28.

4. Adde hereunto, the Time when: euen that ſet time which the Law enioyned, on which the people vſually met, on the Sabbaoth dayes, hee moſt vſually preached, Verſe 16.31.

5. Beſides theſe, wee haue the manner of his Preaching: He ſtood vp for to read, and hauing receiued the Booke, and read what hee would, he cloſed it, deliuered it to the Miniſter, and ſate downe and Preached, Verſe 16.17.20.

6. Moreouer, the matter of his Sermon was an explication of the Prophecie of Iſaiah, with an application to the preſent times, Verſe 18.21.

7. Laſtly, the effects that followed vpon his Preaching, to take them in the ſame order (the Euangeliſt layes them downe) are theſe and ſuch like:

1. Divulgation. There went a fame of him throughout all the region round about, Verſe 14.

2. Glorification. He was glorified of all, Verſe 15.

3. Attention. The eyes of all were faſtened vpon him, Verſe 20.

4. Approbation. All bare him witneſſe that his words were gratious, Verſe 22.

5. Admiration. They all wondered, at his ſo gracious words, Verſe 22.

6. Indignation. There were of the chiefe of them filled with wrath, and roſe vp and thruſt him out of the City, and bringing him to the brow of the hill whereon the City was built, they would haue caſt him downe headlong, but that paſſing through the midſt of them, he went his way, Verſe 28.29.30.

7. Stupefaction. They were aſtoniſhed at his doctrine.

The reaſon of all theſe is contained in the words which I haue choſen for my Text;

For his Word was with power.

As if the Euangeliſt ſhould ſay in more words: you may thinke it ſtrange that Preaching ſhould produce ſuch effects; but if you conſider the cauſe, you may be eaſily ſatisfied: Seeing ſo great was the difference betweene his Preaching and others of that time, that whereas they moued nothing at all, got no fame, wan no glory to their Miniſtery, procured neither approbation, admiration, nor ſo much as attention to the Word by their Preaching: ſeeing their Preaching was cold, without any life, as if one told a dreame: Hee became famous, glorious, and moſt admirable; hee ſpake with authority, & his Preaching was ſo liuely, and became ſo effectuall to all, in one kinde or other, that hee vexed the very ſoules of wicked men that heard him; and aſtoniſhed all that attended his Miniſtery.

For his Word was with power.

In theſe words there may be obſerued 1. The Connexion. 2. The Propoſition.

The Connexion in the Cauſall (For,) which ſheweth it to be the reaſon which the Euangeliſt giues of the manifold effects which Chriſts Preaching produced:

The Propoſition it ſelfe is affirmatiue, in which may be conſidered, 1. The Subiect: His Word. 2. The Predicate: was with power.

To ſet vpon the Connexion or the Cauſall, and to conſider theſe words with their relation to the former part of the Chapter: this Doctrine will thence ariſe.

Doct. Where the word is powerfully Preached, it is effectuall in one kinde or other, to ſuch as doe heare it. or, The word powerfully Preached, is effectuall to the hearers in one kinde or other. This truth needes no other footing then this of our Euangeliſt: He tels vs that the true cauſe of the ſpreading of Chriſts fame, and the high eſteeme hee procured in the hearts of ſome hearers, as alſo of the wrath and rage of others was this, he Preached with authoritie: His word was with power. So we may ſee alſo when the Lord Ieſus had ended that Sermon on the Mount, the people were aſtoniſhed at his Doctrine,Mat. 7.28.29. for his word was with power, and not as the Scribes.

This may be ſeene in the Preaching of all the Prophets, and Apoſtles; to inſtance in a few of them: Eliah, Iam. 5.17. a man ſubiect to the like paſſions as we are, what powerfull effects attended his Preaching? Witneſſe his preuailing ſo farre to the conuiction of his hearers,1 King. 19.40. as that they obeyed his word in the ſlaughter of all the Prophets of Baal.

2 King.And Elizeus or Eliſha became as it were guide of Kingdomes, by the power of this Word,Ion. 3. as his Hiſtory ſhewes: yea, Ionas himſelfe preuailed with great Niniueh, ſo farre as to bring the King, his Nobles, and all the City to true repentance.

That Voyce of a Cryer in the Wilderneſſe,Mat. 3. drew all to his Baptiſme; yea, conuicted Souldiers,Luke 3. Publicans, and People, in great multitudes.

The Apoſtle Peter drew three thouſand to the Church at one Sermon; and fiue thouſand at another;Acts 1.41. & 4.3. and at another Sermon of his,Acts 5.21.35. the Senate were cut at the heart, by the power of his Word.

And Paul ſubdued whole Regions to the Faith,Acts 13. & 14, &c. by his powerfull Preaching; and conuinced Gainſayers of all ſorts, to the enraging of ſome againſt his perſon.

Reaſon. 1 The reaſon is, becauſe otherwiſe it could not appeare to be as it is, a powerfull Word;Rom. 1.16. it muſt loſe its denomination, and ceaſe to be a word of power:1 Cor. 1.18. whereas it is the power of God, to the ſaluation of the beleeuers, and the condemnation of vnbeleeuers.

Reaſon. 2 Adde this alſo, that it ſhould elſe returne in vaine, and void of the chiefe end for which it was ſent. Whereas we know, that as the raine commeth down, and the ſnow from Heauen, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud; that it may giue ſeed to the Sower, and bread to the Eater: ſo ſaith the Lord, ſhall my Word be, Iſai. 55.10.11. that goeth forth out of my mouth, it ſhall not returne vnto mee void; but it ſhall accompliſh that which I pleaſe, and it ſhall proſper in the thing whereunto I ſent it. And the holy Apoſtle Paul, tels vs plainely in the perſon of all holy Miniſters:2 Cor. 2.15.16. We are vnto God a ſweet ſauour in Chriſt, in them that are ſaued, and in them that periſh: to the one we are the ſauour of death vnto death; and to the other, the ſauour of life vnto life.

Reaſon. 3 Beſides theſe, Antichriſts miniſtery produceth powerfull effects: therefore Chriſts Miniſtery muſt be farre more powerfu l,2 Theſ 2.8.9. and produce more manifeſt effects where it is exerciſed.

Reaſon. 4 Laſtly, the maine or chiefe practiſe of preaching, is to wreſtle and fight-with, yea, to ouercome all oppoſition, as it is expreſſed in the miſſion of Ieremy, that powerfull Prophet, where God ſaith to him: See, Ier. 1.10. I haue ſet thee ouer the Nations, and ouer the Kingdomes, to root out, and to pull downe, and to deſtroy, and throw downe, to build, and to plant.

Obiect. But ſome obiecting againſt this, may ſay: True it is, that all theſe may ſerue to proue that Preaching was powerfull in the dayes of the Prophets, Chriſt, and his Apoſtles, but what is that to our dayes? We may not looke for ſuch power in Preaching.

Anſwere. And why not at this day, the like power in Preaching?

Iſa. 59.1.Is Gods hand ſhortned? or his power weakened? Is not Ieſus Chriſt the ſame yeſterday, Heb. 13. • . to day, and for euer? Hath hee not promiſed to be with his Seruants in preaching to the end of the World?Mat. 28.20. and that with the aſſiſtance of all power in Heauen and in Earth? Is not the Holy Ghoſt the power of God,Luke 1.35. in Chriſts Miniſters at this day? Doth not the Euangeliſt Iohn record a promiſe that is laſting,Ioh. 14.12. where it is written; Whoſoeuer beleeueth on Chriſt Ieſus, the workes that Chriſt did, ſhall ſuch a beleeuer doe: yea, greater workes then thoſe hee did in the dayes of his fleſh? Is there not as much neede of like power in the preaching of the Word now, as there was then? yea, and more, ſeeing wee haue no miracles to confirme the Word? Haue we not Diuels, and damned Atheiſts to oppoſe, and contemne the Word at this day? Are there not ſuch of whom it may be ſaid, as of Elimas the Sorcerer; That they are full of all ſubtilty, Act. 13.10. and all miſchiefe, children of the Diuell, enemies of all righteouſneſſe, which ceaſe not to peruert the right wayes of God?

Are not Miniſters at this day as Fathers to beget? Mothers to trauaile-with, and bring forth? Nurſes to nouriſh? Watchmen to warne? Souldiers to fight for? and Stewards to giue euery man his portion of meate in due ſeaſon? Yea, is not one Miniſter ſometimes a Father, a Mother, a Nurſe, a Watchman, a Souldier, and a Steward at one and the ſame inſtant; and doth not all this require great power?

Are there not blinde men at this day that want ſight? lame that want ſtrength? Lepers that need clenſing? ſicke that want health? ſtrayers that muſt be ſought out? ſuch as are fallen, to be raiſed up? dumbe, deafe, and dead men, to be made to ſpeak, heare, and come out of their graues? And doe not ſuch workes require great power? If it were but to make a man that is dumbe, deafe, and blinde, to vnderſtand, it were a matter of great difficulty, and requires great power; but to raiſe vp a dead man, that hath long ſlept the ſleepe of death, will any cold dreamer awake ſuch a ſleeper? No verily: It muſt be ſuch whoſe Miniſtery is attended with power.

And that there is required wonderfull power at this day, conſider further, that wee haue not onely dead men to raiſe, blinde men to make to ſee, wounded to heale, ſicke to recouer, impriſoned to ſet free, ſtrayers to ſeeke out, lambes to tender, ſheepe to feede, babes to whom wee giue milke, and ſtronger to whom ſtrong meate is belonging: but we haue Sorcerers to withſtand, Beares and Lyons to combate with; Philiſtines to whom wee muſt goe, ſonnes of Anake to conquer: yea, moreouer wee may haue Ahabs to ſpeake vnto: Nebuchadnezzars to reſiſt: Hamans to contend with: Herods to reproue. We may haue Pharaohs to march after vs: Zedekiahs to diſgrace vs publikely: Sanballats to oppoſe, and mocke vs: Iudaſſes to betray vs: Demaſſes to forſake vs: Halting people to comber vs: Alexanders to withſtand our words: Corahs to raiſe forces againſt vs: Scribes and Phariſes to entrap vs: High Prieſts to ſcorne vs: Pilates to condemne vs: Multitudes to ſlander vs, and the truth we teach: And if it ſhould ſo come to paſſe, as it hath befallen ourWicliffe. Huſſe. Luther. brethren, is not here ſtill a worke of great power? ſhould we ſhrinke in ſuch ſtraights? Adde hereunto that the Word is the ſame for euer: yea, the words of God are as nayles,Eccleſ. 12.11. which being well driuen, doe hold with power; as goades to prouoke and ſtirre vp:Hoſea 6.5. axes to hew and ſquare; as fire to burne and torment:Ier. 23.29. as an hammer to breake the rockes; as arrowes that wound; a ſword that diuides:Pſal. 45.5. yea, a ſharpe ſword with two edges,Heb. 4.12. to diuide betweene the ſoule and the ſpirit, the ioynts and the marrow: And ſo the Word is at this day, quicke and powerfull.

So that you now ſee that obiection anſwered: namely, it is affirmed; That Preaching is alwayes powerfull, whether wee reſpect Gods power, vnchangeable: Chriſts promiſe, of the aſſiſtance of all power in heauen and in earth; the powerfull worke of the Miniſtery, in reſpect of their charge, of the power of the word it ſelfe, that cannot be abated: yea, that by how much the elder the world waxeth, and the riper in ſinne, and by how much the more all miracles are granted to be now ceaſed, by ſo much the more power muſt of neceſſity appeare,2 Cor. 12. ſeeing Gods power is manifeſt in the greateſt weakeneſſe: And where ſinne moſt abounds, Gods grace in powerfull Preaching, aboundeth much more in ſuch as are called.

Queſt. Now ſome may demand what are the effects of powerfull Preaching, and how may they be diſcerned?

Anſwere. For anſwere hereunto: know, that the powerfull effects of Preaching are manifold: and they may be conſidered, 1. Either Generally: 2. Or Particularly.

If wee conſider them Generally, they may be theſe, or ſuch like:

1 Spreading. 1. Firſt, a growing or ſpreading power: as may appeare by ſome ſimilitudes to which it is compared, as that of Ezechiel, Ezech. 17. • 2.23. where he expreſſeth it by a tender twig, cut off from the high Cedar, and planted on an high and eminent mountaine, which bringeth forth boughes, and beares fruit, and becomes a goodly Cedar, that vnder it may dwell all fowle of euery wing, euen in the ſhadow of it.Mat. 13.30 31. Or that where the Lord Ieſus compares it to a graine of Muſtard-ſeede, which is the leaſt of all ſeeds, and yet being ſowen, groweth vp, and becommeth a tree.Act. 19.10. And it is expreſly ſaid of the Word, that it grew powerfully in the Apoſtles dayes:Verſe 14. So in this Chapter, the ſame of Chriſts Preaching was ſpread abroad, throughout all the Region round about.Col. 1.6. And the Apoſtle Paul tels vs, that it was in his time ſpread ouer all the world, and ſo you haue the growing, increaſing, or ſpreading power of the word.

Secondly,2 Drawing. the word powerfully Preached hath a drawing power. And it may be well ſaid of powerfull Preachers, they draw more after them with their tongues, then Hercules could driue before him with his club: It will draw all men to it, we may ſee it, in the power and efficacie of Iohn Baptiſts word:Mat. 3.5.7. who knew nothing, but the Doctrine, and Baptiſme of Repentance: Yet all the Regions flocked after him, and came to his Preaching. And when his Diſciples told him that all men came to Chriſt, as they had formerly to him: he anſwereth, that a man can receiue nothing except it be giuen him from aboue: Ioh. 3.26. As if he ſhould haue ſaid: Chriſt hath this power of drawing men after him,Ioh. 12.32. from aboue: and ſaith further, that the power of Chriſt in that thing muſt increaſe, and his power decreaſe: and addeth yet further, that therein is his ioy fulfilled.Verſe 42. And in this Chapter is this confirmed by that, when Chriſt went into a deſart place, all the people were drawne thither alſo: yea, his word was ſo powerfull, that it drew them by multitudes,Ioh. 6.14 22.24.25. ouer Sea, vnto him: ſo that they would haue made him a King, for the word hath a drawing power.

3 Searching. Thirdly, the Word powerfully preached, hath a ſearching power: it can enter into the diſcerning of the inward parts.Heb. 4.12.13. It diſcerneth the ſecret thoughts, and intents of the heart; All things are open and naked to the eyes of it. 1 Cor. 14.25. It findes out mens purpoſes, layes open their moſt ſecret intents, yea, reueales the very depths of Sathan: It can goe into heauen, and ſhew vs what treaſures are therein ſtore, it can dig into hell, and diſcouer the torments, prepared for impenitent and rebellious perſons; and ſo you haue the ſearching power.

Fourthly,4 Deuiding it hath a deuiding power: by which it ſeuers one thing from another. It pierceth euen to the deuiding aſunder of the ſoule,Heb. 4.12. and the ſpirit, and the ioynts, and the marrow. See this alſo where the Lord ſaith in this regard: I am not come to ſend peace but a ſword.Mat. 10.34 35. I am come to deuide betweene the Father, and the Sonne, the Daughter, and the Mother: the Daughter in law, and the Mother in law. As it is expreſſed in ſo many words, by another Euangeliſt thus. Suppoſe yee that I am come to ſend peace on the earth. I tell you nay, but rather deuiſion:Luke 12.35 for from henceforth there ſhall be fiue, in one houſe, deuided, three againſt two, and two againſt three. The Father ſhall be deuided againſt the Sonne, and the Sonne againſt the Father, the Mother againſt the Daughter, and the Daughter againſt the Mother, the Mother in law, againſt her Daughter in law, and the Daughter in law againſt her Mother in law. Yea, this word deuides between cleane and vncleane; holy and prophane; ſuch as ſweare, and ſuch as feare an oath; betweene righteouſneſſe, and vnrighteouſneſſe; light, and darkeneſſe: true worſhip and Idolatry; betweene Chriſt and Antichriſt. So that the word hath a deuiding power.

To theſe may be added, the preuailing power of the word,5 Preuailing. in that it beareth downe all oppoſition. It will roote out, and throw downe; deſtroy and conſume: it will build, and plant. It will caſt out foule ſpirits, and conuict Coniurers, and make them bring forth their Bookes of curious arts, and burne them euen to the value of many thouſand pieces of ſiluer.Act. 19.19.20. So mightily will it grow, and preuaile where it is truely taught.

Vſe. 1 By theſe then, before we goe further, euen by theſe generall powers or effects of the word, may Miniſters examine the truth of their Miniſtery; euen at this day: Doth the word in thy mouth ſpreade it ſelfe into all the borders of the congregation? doth it enforce people, at leaſt to talke of thee by the walles? doth it draw them to Church, and gaine attention from them? Doſt thou perceiue that it ſearcheth their hearts, and layeth open their ſecret practiſes, or doth it ſet them at ods, and make a ſeparation between the godly, and vngodly; the righteous, and the wicked; the religious, and prophane? and doth it preuaile mightily, in the reſtraining of the rebellious, and reforming the diſorderly? Doſt thou finde all theſe, or any of theſe? then maiſt thou conclude with comfort, that Gods power doth attend thy preaching: and ſuch people as ſee theſe effects, may ſay that God is preſent in ſuch Preachers, of a truth.

Vſe. 2 By this ſuch are iuſtly reprehended, as doe ſtumble at theſe, and ſuch like of all other Preaching, they like that worſt, which ſpreads it ſelfe abroad; drawes people after it, gaines attention, ſearcheth out the very ſecret thoughts of the heart, and makes a ſeparation where it comes; preuailing mightily in the conuicting of ſome, the conuerting of others, the comforting of the godly, the diſcouery of the hypocrite, and prophane perſon. They cry downe ſuch Preachers, and ſet themſelues againſt ſuch Preaching with all their power: but this will appeare more plainely, when we come to the particular powers of the Word.

Vſe. 3 Let this then ſtirre vp all Gods people to thankfulneſſe, where ſuch a powerfull Miniſtery is enioyed. Doe you perceiue that your Miniſters ſame is ſpread farre and neere? doe the people of his Pariſh come to him, and flocke to his Miniſtery? Doe you find that his word comes home, and entreth into your boſomes, diueth into your hearts and conſciences, diſcouereth all your ſecret practiſes, and preuaileth more and more in theſe things? breake forth into the praiſes of God, and returne due thankes to his Maieſty, for his great mercy, in affording ſuch a Miniſtery, as hath ſo powerfull effects: Such a Miniſtery is vndoubtedly of God. For Chriſts Word is with power.

To come more particularly to ſhew the powers of the Word; we may conſider it, as it is common both to the Elect and reprobate, and as it may be peculiar to either of them.

The common powers which worke both in the Elect, and reprobate, are theſe:

1 Conuincing. Firſt, a conuincing power; when men are not onely made to ſee a difference betweene truth and errour: but alſo conuicted in their conſciences, that truth is truth, and error is error. This power in preaching, hath footing on a direct promiſe, to all ſuch as preach by the holy Spirit.Ioh. 16.8. They ſhall conuince the World of ſinne, of righteouſneſſe, and of iudgement.Acts 18.28 So Apollos a man mighty in the holy Scriptures, did powerfully preuaile to the conuiction of the gaine-ſaying Iewes; and that publikely ſhewing them that Ieſus was Chriſt. So it is written;1 Cor. 14.24. That if all Propheſie, that is, ſpeake the Word plainely with power: If an vnlearned man, or an vnbeleeuer be preſent, he is conuinced by ſuch powerfull preaching.

Secondly, powerfull preaching,2 Terrifying. hath a terrifying power. As when Herod heard onely of the birth of Chriſt, he was terrified,Mat. 2.1.2. and all Hieruſalem with him.Acts 24.25 And wicked Foelix hearing a powerfull Preacher onely reaſon in his preſence of righteouſneſſe, temperance, and iudgement to come; he trembled. And to ſuch hath God reſpect,Iſai 66.1. eſpecially as tremble at his Word: ſo that the word powerfully preached, workes trembling in both Elect, and reprobate.Hab. 3.16. For ſo Habacuck ſaith; I heard, and my belly trembled, my lippes quiuered at the voyce, and yet hee was an holy Prophet: and Moſes himſelfe at the promulgation of the Law,Heb. 11.21. was conſtrained to ſay; I exceedingly feare, and quake.

3 Humbling. Thirdly, the Word powerfully preached, hath an humbling power, both in elect and reprobate: as wee perceiue in that place before alleaged, for the conuicting power, that ſuch vnlearned and vnbeleeuing as heare ſuch preaching, fall downe on their faces, and worſhip God, and acknowledge that God is preſent in ſuch Preachers of a truth. And ſuch power was in Chriſts preaching in dayes of his fleſh,Mat. 8.29. Mat. 1.24. that it humbled many, euen Diuels, and wicked perſons, as well as others: that they came running, and kneeling downe,Mar. 10.17.18. yea, falling downe and confeſſing, that he was the Sonne of God, and a good man.1 King. 21.24. Ahab alſo humbled himſelfe for a little ſeaſon: And Cain was humbled by the power of this word, though Ahab too little,Gen. 4.14. and Caine ouer-much.

Fourthly,4 Reſtrayning. the word powerfully Preached, hath a reſtrayning power. It keepes the reprobate as the elect from breaking out into foule enormities, & doth reſtrayne them from groſſe ſinnes, as in the preſence of Moſes, Exo. 32.1.2.3 the people were reſtrayned from Idolatrie: which in his abſence, they committed with an high hand. And wee reade of a King of Iudah, euen Ioaſh, 2 Chro. 24.2. whole heart was not right, yet did hee that which was right in Gods fight, all the daies of Iehoiada the Prieſt. And experience doth teach vs, that where the word is moſt zealouſly preſſed, and powerfully vrged, ſuch places are farre more free from open impieties, then other places where it is not ſo.

5 Reforming. Ioh. 6.66.Furthermore, the word hath a reforming power; in both elect, and reprobates. As may appeare in thoſe beleeuers, that went backe from Chriſt: and eſpecially of Herod, that wicked man, of whom we read, that he feared Iohn the Baptiſt,Mar. 6.20. knowing that he was a iuſt, and an holy man, and obſerued him, and when hee heard, hee did many things, and heard him gladly.

6 Aſtoniſhing. Adde to theſe, that the word hath an aſtoniſhing power: by which it ſtupifies, and doth amaze, as well the reprobate, as the elect: as wee ſee in Simon Magus, Act. 13.8. of whom wee reade that hee beleeued, and when he was baptized, continued with Philip, and wondered. And we reade alſo of the Preaching of Chriſt, that the hearers were aſtoniſhed at his doctrine,Mark. 2.21 22. for hee taught as one that had power, and not as the Scribes.

Alſo the word powerfully Preached, is delightfull, 7 Delighting. as well to the wicked, as the godly: that it is delightfull to the godly, is without queſtion, it is the very ioy and reioycing of their hearts:Ier. 15.16. Pſal. 19.10. Ezech. 33.32. ſweeter to them then hony, and the hony-combe; but to the very wicked, Ezechiel tels vs, that ſuch whoſe hearts doe ſtill goe after their couetouſneſſe, yet his word was as pleaſant to them as a louely ſong, of one that hath a pleaſant voyce, and can play well on an inſtrument.Mar. 6.20. And of Herod wee reade that hee heard Iohn gladly:Mat. 13.10.21. Alſo we ſee it in that Parable of the ſtony ground; the application whereof is to reprobate hearers, that yet receiue the word with ioy.

Vſe. By theſe common powers of the word, we may perceiue how farre reprobates may goe in hearing, and what effects it worketh, euen in the damned, as in the ſaued: they may be conuicted, terrified, humbled in ſome meaſure, reſtrained, reformed, and delighted by the power of the word: ſo that ſuch as can goe no further, haue not ſet one foote in conuerſion beyond a very reprobate: How manifeſtly wretched then are all ſuch as neuer yet felt theſe powers in themſelues, but that theſe may alſo be ſeene, let vs come to the peculiar powers of the word, in elect and reprobate.

And firſt of the powers of the word Preached in the reprobate hearer, and they are either ſencible,Inſencible or inſencible:

The inſencible powers of the word Preached, in reprobates, is:1 Hardning that hardening power of the word, whereby their hearts are hardened, and their very conſciences ſeared,1 Tim. 4.2. as with an hot Iron: that whereas they had at firſt hearing, ſome ſence, they become by often conuiction, altogether ſenceleſſe: Of this power,Iſa. 6.9.10. God ſpeaketh to Iſaiah, whoſe miſſion ſeemeth to be chiefly to that end, as it appeareth where we reade it written, that God ſaith vnto him, goe tell this people, heare yee indeed, but vnderſtand not: and ſee yee indeed, but perceiue not? Make the heart of this people fat; and make their eares heauy, and ſhut their eyes. This the holy Apoſtle Paul applyeth to the vnbeleeuing Iewes, where he ſaith; Well ſpake the holy Ghoſt,Act. 28.25:26.27. by Eſayas the Prophet, vnto our Fathers, ſaying, Goe vnto this people and ſay; hearing you ſhall heare, and ſhall not vnderſtand; and ſeeing, you ſhall ſee; and ſhall not perceiue: For the heart of this people is waxed groſſe.Eph. 4.19. And the ſame Paul tels vs of ſome that are paſt feeling.

2 Deſtroying. Another power of the word, which is alſo inſencible, may be that deſtroying power: whereby the wicked are not onely more and more hardened, but haue all the faculties of the ſoule peruerted, and by degrees deſtroyed.2 Cor. 2.16 And that the word hath ſuch a deſtroying power, appeareth where it is called, the ſauour of death vnto death.Ier. 1.10. And Ieremies miſſion gaue him power to deſtroy and throw downe, as well as to build and plant. And the Apoſtle Paul tels the Corinthians, 2 Cor. 10.8 & 13.10. or the elect at Corinth, that hee vſed his power toward them to edification, and not to deſtruction: ſo that the word Preached, hath a deſtroying power.

The ſencible powers of the word,Sencible. in the very reprobate are either that tormenting power, or elſe that binding power.

And that ſuch a ſcorching or tormenting,1 Scorching. or cutting power of the word, is ſencibly apprehended by reprobates, we may perceiue in Ahab, who in that reſpect,1 King. 18.17. & 21.20. & 22.8. called Eliah the troubler of Iſrael, and hated Micaiah, another powerfull Preacher, for that hee vexed or tormented him, neuer Preaching good vnto him, but euill. And in Foelix, who was ſo vexed by Pauls reaſoning,Act. 24.25. that hee ſent him away And the Iewes who being conuicted,Act. 7.54.57. were cut at the heart by the Preaching of Steuen, and gnaſhed vpon him with their teeth: and ſtopping their eares, ranne vpon him, as they did on his Maſter, as hath beene ſhewed out of this Chapter:Verſe 28.29. And therefore it is compared to fire which ſcorcheth men with great heate, and cauſeth them to diſcouer themſelues by blaſphemies.Reu. 16.8.9.

2 Binding. Another ſencible power of the Word, is that binding power, by which wicked reprobates doe ſee themſelues bound hand and foote,Mat. 22.13. and caſt out of the Church, and Gods protection; that is, doe perceiue that they are ſeuered from the godly, and ſhut out of the inheritance of the Saints in light: and doe alſo perceiue that they haue no power any more to moue a foote towards that way, or an hand to that excellent worke. And this is done by the power of the holy ſpirit inIoh. 20.23. the word Preached.

Vſe. By this we learne, not to thinke it ſtrange though ſome hearers waxe worſe & worſe, & become more hardhearted, and leſſe ſencible, either of mercies or iudgements, euen where the word is powerfully Preached;2 Theſ. 2.8. yea, become not onely benummed, that they euen fall aſleepe ordinarily at the Preaching of the ſame; but alſo (to ſuch as vnderſtand) become apparantly more ignorant and ſottiſh, more peruerſe, and peeuiſh: yea, are euen conſumed as it were to nothing by the Preaching thereof; that whereas they haue ſeemed to be pleaſed with a Sermon, and haue done ſome things gladly, and ſorborne other things which the word forbids: yea, beene much humbled with a kinde of trembling, and aſtoniſhment at the conuiction of their conſciences, now they are not ſtirred at all, nor delighted, nor yet at all doe admire it, but count it as a common thing, and by how much the more powerfull it is, by ſo much leſſe doe they regard it: yea, by ſo much more neglect it, & contemne it. Nor yet may wee wonder that they are filled with wrath, and rage at the Preachers of it: ſeeing they doe plainely ſee themſelues ſencibly bound, as it were hand and foote, and caſt out amongſt dogges, and ſwine: and alſo continually ſcorched, and vexed by the heate, and feruency of ſuch powerfull preaching. No wonder then if they cry downe ſuch Preaching, and get to themſelues heapes of teachers,2 Tim. 4.3.4. that if one pricke, another may pleaſe: You haue ſeene clearely, ſuch are the powers of the word truely taught, that it tormenteth, bindeth, hardneth; yea, deſtroyeth and conſumeth the very reprobates: and there is no other effect to be looked for in any ſuch, but theſe, to be trembled at in the naming of them.

Come wee now to the powers of the word Preached, in the very Elect, thoſe that are peculiar to them in a ſpeciall manner; and let vs take them either as they are manifeſted in their conuerſion, or confirmation.

And firſt in their conuerting: Conuerting power. and they are either that opening, pricking, bruſing, or that turning power of the word: and firſt of that opening power.

Firſt,1 Opening. the word hath an opening power, whereby it doth not onely open the eyes of the Elect, as it may of the reprobate,Numb. 24.16. as Balaams eyes were opened: but in a more cleare manner,Reuel. 3.18. are they made to ſee the myſteries of godlineſſe, then any reprobate, and to this end their hearts are opened with Lidia, Act. 16.14. that they not onely vnderſtand, but affect what they vnderſtand: and in this ſence it may be called the key of Dauid, Reu. 3.7. that openeth, and no man ſhutteth: that is, that ſo openeth that it can neuer be ſhut or cloſed any more;Mat. 13.11. and this is proper to the Elect.

2 Pricking. Secondly, the word Preached, hath a pricking power: by which it doth not onely ſomewhat trouble, but throughly wound the very heart of Gods people,Act. 1.37. as were thoſe Conuerts to whom Peter Preached, they were pricked in their hearts: therefore is it in this reſpect, compared euen to ſharpe arrowes,Pſal. 45.5. as hath beene ſhewed; it pierceth into the very ſoules of poore ſinners, and makes them ſencible of their tranſgreſſion,Heb. 4.12. and this is alſo proper to the Elect.

Thirdly,3 Bruiſing. the Word powerfully preached, hath the power of bruiſing, yea, of breaking to pieces the very Elect, as Ieremiah tels vs,Ier. 23.29. where hee compares it to an hammer, that breaketh rockes. So it breaketh their hard and ſtony hearts, and maketh them not onely ſeeme nothing in their owne eyes, but alſo maketh them the more capable of the new worke of regeneration,Ezech. 11.19. as Ezechiel ſpeakes, where God ſaith by him; I will take out your ſtony hearts, and giue you hearts of fleſh.

This is that renting of the heart, which God requireth:Ioel 2.13. and that broken heart, that he will not deſpiſe.Pſal. 51.17

Laſtly, the Word preached,1 Turning. hath alſo a turning power, by which it changeth mens mindes, and alſo altereth their affections. So it was ſaid of Iohn the Baptiſt, that hee ſhould goe before Chriſt,Luke 1.17. in the Spirit, and power of Elias, to turne the hearts of the Fathers to the Children, and the diſobedient to the wiſdome of the iuſt.Pſal. 19.7.1 So we reade, that it is one property of the Doctrine of God, to conuert the ſoule. And this power, the holy Apoſtle Paul ſpeakes of to the Theſſalonians, where he ſaith;1 Theſ. 1.5.9. Our Goſpell came not vnto you in word onely, but alſo in power: in that it turned them from Idols to ſerue the liuing and true God. And this was the end of his ſending,Acts 26.18 not onely to open mens eyes, but to turne them from darkeneſſe to light, from the power of Sathan to God: And ſo you haue the opening, pricking, bruiſing, and turning power of the Word, which appertaine to the conuerting of the Elect, and ſo may be ſaid to be proper to them onely.