Doct. 2. 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. We must not study the Word meerly out of curiosity, that we may know what is said there; as men will pry into Civil Art and Discipline; so the Athenians flocked about Paul, Act. 17. 18, 19, 20, 21. so for novelty sake, men may have an affection and a delight in the Word, Ioh. 5. 35. Ye rejoiced in his light for a season. There are certain Adulterous affections we have to the Word when it is new and fresh, but when it grows stale we loath it. This af∣fection to the Word is soon spent.
2. We must not hide the Word in our heart meerly that we may be able to teach others, that we may make a gainful trade of it. Alas a man may teach others, and be himself a cast-away. Look as in coyning of money, an iron-stamp may impress the character and print upon a piece of gold and silver; so God may use the gifts and knowledg of some men to beget faith in o∣thers, and perish themselves: Mat. 7. 21. We haue prophesied in thy name, yet depart from me I know you not.
3. This must not be our end neither, not meerly for delight: Largeness of knowledg brings a content with it, as it is an addition to our perfection. Truth is the object of our un∣derstanding, and may please an unsanctified mind, not meerly out of subserviency to some base and inferiour ends, that we may get esteem in the world, or the repute of knowing per∣sons, but as it is an elevation of the understanding. Every delight in truth is not a delight in God. There is a natural oblectation we have in the contemplation of any sublime truth; this is meerly a delight in the work of our own faculties, when the affections are terminated in bare knowledg; as it is a high and mysterious truth; as it is a delectation to the under∣standing.
4. We are not meerly to study the Word for the comfortableness of it, and the suitable∣ness to the Conscience. As man is a reasonable creature he will delight in knowledg; and as he hath a Conscience presageous of death and judgment to come, he may delight in the comfort of it. Many search out Promises, that do not affect precepts. The stony-ground seemed to have a joy, they may delight in the comfortable part of Religion, but this joy comes to no∣thing; this gladsome forward spring is no sure Prognostication of a plentiful harvest. Then do we receive the word a right when we look to the holy part, and mortifie our natural desires and affections. Many deal with the word as Great men do with fleshly companions, are willing to entertain them at their Tables to hear their Discourse, because of the pleasantness of their mirth; but to enter into bonds for them, and discharge them from debt, or better their fortunes, that they will not do: So many will give Christ and the Word, and the com∣fortable part of it entertainment; but they are loth to take the duty of the Gospel upon themselves. Therefore it is not enough to study the word meerly that we may cherish our own