Doct. 1. One duty and necessary practice of Gods children, is to hide the word in their hearts. Doct. 2. That in hiding the word in our hearts, there must be a right end; Our knowledg of it, and delight in it, must be directed to practice.
1. That one duty and necessary practice of Gods children, is to hide the word in their hearts. See it confirmed by a Scripture or two. Josh. 1. 8. This book of the Law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and night. Job 22. 22. Receive I pray thee the Law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thy heart. By the Law is meant the whole word of God. Lay up his words, as we would do choice things, that they may not be lost or embezled; and lay them up as Treasure to be used upon all occasions. In the heart; let them not swim in the brain or memory only, but let the heart be affected with it. Col. 3. 16. Let the word of God dwell in you richly. Be so diligent in the study of the Scripture, that it may become fami∣liar with us, by frequent hearing, reading, meditating, conferring about it. As a stranger, let it not stand at the dore; but receive it into an inner room; be as familiar as those that dwell with you. God complaineth of his people, Hos. 8. 12. I have written to them the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing. To be strangers to the word of God, and little conversant in it, is a great evil. What is it to hide the word in our hearts? 1. To understand it, to get a competent knowledg of it; we take in things into the soul by the understanding, Prov. 2. 10. When wisdom entreth into thine heart, and knowledg is pleasant unto thy soul. There is first an entrance by knowledg. 2. When it is assented unto by faith. The word is setled in the heart by faith, otherwise it soon vanisheth, Heb. 4. 2. The word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. 3. When it is kindly enter∣tain'd, Joh. 8. 37. Christ complains, Ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Men are so possessed with lust and prejudice, that there is no room for Christs word; though it break in upon the heart with evidence and power, yet it is not entertained there, but cast out again as an unwelcome guest. 4. When it is deeply rooted. Many men have flashes for a time, their affections may be much aloft, and they may have great fits and eleva∣tions of joy and delight, but no sound grace. Joh. 5. 35. Ye rejoyced in his light for a season. But now the word must be setled into a standing-affection, if we would have comfort and pro∣fit by it. We read of the ingrafted word, Iames 1. 21. There is a word bearing fruit, and a word ingrafted. Till there be the root of the matter in us, in vain do we expect fruit.
The Reasons why this is one duty and practice of the Saints to hide the word in their hearts, are two.
Reas. 1. First, That we may have it ready for our use. We lay up Principles, that we may lay them out upon all occasions. Man hath an ingestive and an egestive faculty; when it is hid in the heart, it will be ready to break out in the tongue and practice, and be forth-coming to direct us in every duty and exigency. When persons run to the Market for every penny∣worth, it doth not become good housekeepers. To be to seek of comforts when we should use them, or to run to a book, is not so comfortable as to hide it in the heart. As Christ saith, A good Scribe which is instructed unto the Kingdom of heaven, bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old, Mat. 13. 52. He hath not only this years growth, but the last years gathering (for so is the allusion made); he hath not only from hand to mouth, but a good stock by him. So should a Christian have not only knowledg from hand to mouth, but a good stock and trea∣sure in his heart; which is a very great advantage in these seven things.
1. It will prevent vain thoughts. What's the reason evil is so ready and present with us? be∣cause our stock of knowledg is so small. A man that hath a pocket fuller of brass farthings than pieces of silver, will more readily draw out farthings than shillings, his stock is greater; so vain thoughts will be more ready with us, unless the word dwell richly in our hearts. Mat. 12. 35. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. The workings of our spirits are as our treasure