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In these words we have a discovery —

1. Of men's utmost happiness — salvation.

2. Of the only means for the attaining of it — the gospel.

3. Of the special grace necessary in respect of this gospel — believing.

4. Of the particular faculty that is requisite for this end — the memory.

5. The relation, or influence, which this last hath upon all the rest.And this expressed —

(1)  By way of condition, "Ye are saved, if ye keep in memory."

(2)  By way of exception, "Unless ye have believed in vain." Note —

I. WHAT THE MEMORY IS. It is that faculty of the soul wherein are reserved the things we know. Its office, however, is —

1. To receive such things as are presented to it. Wherin it is fitly enough compared to soft wax, which is prepared to receive any impression made upon it.

2. To retain and preserve what is laid up therein. There is a little kingdom in the soul of man. The king, or rather viceroy, is the will, the privy council is the understanding, the judge is the conscience, and the great treasurer is the memory.

3. To recall or recover what was out of mind.

II. THE EXCELLENCE OF THIS FACULTY. The soul of man is a subject of wonder, and nothing more wonderful in it than the memory. It hath power to make things that are in themselves absent and past to be present. We may see the worth of this faculty by those that are deprived of the use of it, that can remember nobody, nor the last question that they did ask. All a man's past life would be lost if his memory were lost; so are the comforts of the soul lost so far as they are forgotten.

III. THE CORRUPTION OR DEPRAVATION OF THIS FACULTY. This stands —

1. In remembering those things which we should forget. As —

(1) Things unprofitable; like as if one should crowd waste-paper, rags, and broken pitchers into a cabinet, which should be stored with things of value.

(2) Things hurtful. To wit, injuries; these usually stick in the memory when better things slip out.

(3) Things sinful. We can remember a filthy story seven years when we do forget a saving sermon in seven hours. The depraved memory is herein fitly compared to a sieve that lets the good corn fall through and reserves only the chaff. Themistocles said to Simonides, when he offered to teach him the art of memory, "Rather," says he, "teach me the art of forgetfulness, for the things which I would not I remember, and cannot forget the things I would."

2. In forgetting those things which we should remember.

(1) Our Creator, and what He hath done especially for us (Ecclesiastes 12:1; Jeremiah 2:32). This is most inexcusable (Acts 17:27, 28). And then the great things which He hath done, to wit, in the works of creation and providence, especially for His Church, these we easily forget, but should remember (Psalm 77:11); and particularly what He hath done for us (Deuteronomy 8:2).

(2) Our Redeemer and what He hath suffered for us. Else He had never instituted the Lord's Supper on purpose to keep up the remembrance thereof.

(3) The truths of religion, especially the most weighty (2 Peter 1:12-15).

(4) The duties of religion (Exodus 20:8; Hebrews 13:2, 3, 16). All which, as they show our duty, so do they imply our defectiveness herein.

(5) Our sins (Ezekiel 36:31; Deuteronomy 9:7).

(6) Our vows and obligations to God.

(7) The Church of God (Psalm 137:5, 6).

(8) Our latter end (Isaiah 47:7; Lamentations 1:9).

IV. THE SANCTIFICATION OF THE MEMORY. Which is the restoring of this faculty to its former integrity and to its proper objects. This is done —

1. By purging the faculty. And so conversion is said to begin here (Psalm 22:27; Revelation 2:5).

2. By strengthening it. For as sin weakens, so grace strengthens, the faculty (John 14:26).

3. By reconciling it to good things, and setting it against evil (Psalm 119:16).

4. By filling it with good things (Matthew 12:35).

5. By fitting things laid up in memory for use and practice (Numbers 15:39, 40; Psalm 103:17, 18).

V. THE ORDINARY IMPEDIMENTS OF A GOOD MEMORY, OR THE CAUSES OF A BAD ONE.

1. A weak or dark understanding.

2. A carnal, careless heart. Such a heart can retain abundance of a play or a song, but of a chapter or sermon next to nothing, for everything keeps what is connatural to itself. Nay, a good man's memory in a remiss, negligent frame, quite differs from what it was in a religious frame.

3. A darling sin. Any bosom sin, as it fills and employs every faculty, so it debauches, monopolises, and disorders them all. Grace, though it rule every faculty, yet ruffles none; it composes the mind, and employs the memory in a rational manner.

4. Excess of worldly cares. The memory is but finite, though capacious, and a superabundance of worldly thoughts within must needs shoulder out better things that should be there.

5. Surfeiting and drunkenness. These disorder the brain and disable it from its functions (Proverbs 31:4, 5).

6. Violent passions.

7. A multitude of indigested notions. If a man have a stock of methodical and digested knowledge, it is admirable how much the memory will contain; but many read or hear too much for their capacities, they have not stowage for it (2 Timothy 3:7). He who rides post can never draw maps of the country.

VI. THE PROPER HELPS TO IT.

1. Natural.

(1) A sober diet. For if excesses in meat and drink do disturb the brain, temperate diet, together with a good air, is a certain help to the memory (Luke 21:34).

(2) A quiet mind. For if all passions that are violent weaken, then a sedate and quiet mind greatly strengthens, the memory.

2. Artificial or outward.

(1) The repetition of those things which we would remember (Deuteronomy 11:18, 19).

(2) Writing what we would remember (Deuteronomy 11:20).

(3) Custom, or using your memories. We say, "Use legs, and have legs"; and so, Use the memory, and thou wilt have a memory.

3. Spiritual.

(1) Repentance for forgetfulness.

(2) Bewail your forgetfulness.

(3) Prayer. For "every good gift and every perfect gift," whereof this is one, "is from above."(4) Diligent attention. If the mind wander in hearing the memory will be weak in remembering.

(5) Due estimation. The more we love and admire anything the better we remember it (Psalm 119:16).

(6) Serious meditation. When people read or hear, and presently plunge themselves in foreign business, then generally all is lost (James 1:24, 25; Psalm 119:11).

VII. And so I come to APPLICATION.

1. Magnify God for your memories.

2. Let ministers consult people's memories, and to that end observe some proper method in their books and sermons.

3. Labour to improve your memories.

4. Store your memories in the time of youth (Ecclesiastes 12:1). A new ship is free from leaks, but time and travel will batter it.

(R. Steele, A.M.)

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KJV: By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

WEB: by which also you are saved, if you hold firmly the word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.