The Handmaid to Private Devotion, Part 3
A preparation to the hearing of the word.
GOd in his infinite wisedome hath so disposed the meanes of our saluation, that the soueraigne Antidote against sinne, & death is conueyed into the soule through the same passage, whereby the deadly poyson first entered. Bern. serm. 2. de Penth. vt eadem v…a intraret antidotus q…a v… nenum intra uerat.Death stole in at the eare by suggestion of the euill spirit, and now life in the hearing of the word passeth in at the same gate of the soule, by the operation of the holy Spirit. Hast thou an eare (ô Christian by thy profession) for the diuell, and none for God? An eare to receiue poyson dropped in, and not to receiue the oyle of grace, and most pretious balsame of Gods word instilled by preaching? If thou art a sheepe of Christ, and belongest to his fold, shew his eare-marke: My sheepe heare my voyce. Heb. 10. 5.Where wee reade in the Psalme according to the Septuagint, and in the Epistle to the Hebrewes,Psal 40. 6. A body thou hast fitted or prepared me, it is in the originall according to the Hebrew, word for word, Mine eares hast thou opened; to teach vsus that God fits vsus and prepares vsus for his seruice, especially by boaring our eares with those goades and nailes that are fastened by the Maisters of the assemblies, and are giuen from one sheapheard: I socrates aduiseth Demonicus to employ all his leasure time in diligently hearing the penned Orations and speeches of eloquent Orators, and graue Counsellers. For so (saith hee) thou shalt get that with much ease which cost another man much paines. That which a diuine Orator, and heauenly Preacher hath beene many weekes (perhaps yeeres) in laying together, hee scattereth abroad in an hower. Obseruest thou not how the Manna which he gathereth graine by graine, or seede by seede hee deliuereth out to thee in whole Omers, yea and Ephaes too? Yea but thou art well stored with this heauenly prouision, and foode of Angels, thy library is like a rich Granarie, and why maist thou not then as well or better spend thy time, in perusing such writings then repairing to the Church perhaps a good way from thy house, to heare a man of meaner gifts then those were or are, whose works thou hast in the last and best editions by thee I perceiue by this obiection that thou hast heard much against hearing, heare now a little for it.
First, as a great Master of the Law was wont to say, that Courts of iustice must not Clash one against another: so it is most certaine that duties of piety ought not Clash, iustle, or any way crosse one the other. Priuate reading and publike hearing must both hauehave their places, seasons, and turnes. If thou art so straightned in time, or ouerlaid with businesse that thou canst not allow a fit time for both, let the priuate, voluntary alwaies giuegive place to the publike necessary duty. The cōmandements of God, & the Church wherein thou liuest ought to ouersway thy priuate opinion, fancie, or inclination; or perhaps diabolicall tentation. If thy Pastor be so strictly charged to preach vntounto thee, certainely thou art necessarily bound to heare him. For these duties are linked together. Hath priuate reading the like promises to publike hearing the Word? Or is it of like force and efficacie? Where thou canst name one that hath beene wonne to the Christian faith and true godlinesse by bare reading wee can produce many thousands that hauehave beene added to the Church by publike Sermons: yea sometimes at one Sermon. The holy Ghost in the day of Pentecost came with the sound. Acts 2. 41.Where the sound is of the Word Preached there goeth the Spirit ordinarily. Yet I deny not but that men in priuate reading the Scriptures and other holy books may & do feele some soft and sweet blasts of the holy spirit; but in the publike Ministry of the Word, the Spirit commeth downe like a mighty rushing winde filling the whole roome, wee receiue then grace in a fuller measure. Sermons preached are compared to raine and deaw, but printed to snow; which though it lye longer on the ground, yet it is much colder, and doth not in like sort pierce, moysten, and fatten the ground as the other. Moreouer those things that hauehave passed the presse lye by vsus; wee may at any time hauehave, and vse them: but the notes of a Sermon preached are like the Manna that fell on the Saturday which (if it was not presently gathered) was vtterly lost. There is much difference betweene those generall Receipts you finde in Physick bookes, and a speciall potion or Electuary made by a trusty Apothecary, according to the direction of a Learned Physitian, and particularly applyed to thy peculiare disease. EueryEvery man hath not the skill of the Apothecary to make the confection, and fewer hauehave the iudgement of an experienced physitian to direct where and how it ought to bee giuen. And albeit thy preacher bee a man of no very extraordinary gifts, yet in regard he is an Ambassadour sent from God vntounto thee if he faithfully (though perhaps not so eloquently) deliuer his message vntounto thee thou oughtst to heare it; and honour him for his Masters sake. His feete cannot but seeme beautifull to thee if they be sho…d with the Preparation of the Gospell of Peace.
The diligent Bee gathereth hony out of Thime,Plut de tranquill auima one of the driest herbs that is; and certainly if thou bee not a drone thy selfe, thou mayest sucke from the mouth of the barrenest and (as thou callest him) the dryest Preacher, Doctrine sweeter then the hony or the hony combe. Although I assent freely to Lactantius that the truth findeth easyer-entrance into the soule when she commeth armed,Lactan. instit diuin. lib. 1. c. 1. Potentius inanimos influit. & visuâ instructa, & luce orationis ornata. not onelyonly with her owne strength but also with the best aide, wit, or art can afford. Yet withall I affirme with Saint Paul that faith standeth not in the entising words of mans wisedome, but in the demonstration of the Spirit, and the power of God. Art may moue affection; but nothing but Gods Word and the grace of the Spirit can remoue corruption. Humane wit and learning may tickle the eare, and (as Seneca speakes of Chrysippus his acute Sentences) pricke,Sen Epist. 1. ad Lucsliū. Pungst non penetrat. Heb. 4. 12. Peircing to the deuiding &c. but neuer pierce the heart: that is the singular prerogatiue of the Word of God. What are Rams-hornes in comparison of siluer Trumpets? Yet when God commands and appoints, the harsh sound of them, shall demolish those strong holds of Satan which the sweeter and shriller sound of siluer Trumpets shall not doe. Bee tho… obedient to him who is set ouer thee in the Lord, and must giuegive an account of thy soule. Desire not to hauehave thy eares tickled, but thy heart pricked, and make then no doubt but that God will blesse his ordinance and thy obedience; and supply to thee by his Spirit what may bee deficient in the Preachers learning or language. But then thou must come prepared to the hearing of the Word by such directions as are set downe in the Word.
THE PREPARATORIE Admonition.
THE ANALYSIS.
The preparation to the hearing of the Word consisteth in
1 Consideration, especially of these particulars, viz▪ that
1 The hearing of the word is a necessarie dutie ioined by God the
Father,
Sonne,
Holy-Ghost.
2 Wee must giuegive account to God what, how, and whom wee heare.
3 The word we heare is the word of God, & not of a mortal man.
4 It is the ordinarie meanes of saluation.
5 If we profit not by it, it will be to our greater damnation.
2 Prayer for
1 The Preacher that God would
Direct
Assist
him.
2 Our selues; in that he will giuegive vsus
1 Attention to heare.
2 Vnderstanding to conceiue.
3 Wisedome to apply.
4 Iudgement to discern.
5 Faith to belieue.
6 Memory to retaine.
7 Grace to practise the sincere doctrine of Gods holy word.
THE TEXTS.
HEarken ô Israell vntounto the ordinances and statutes which I teach you.… We are commanded by the Father. Deut. 4. 1.
Heare my Law ô my people; incline your eares to the words of my mouth. Psal. 78. 1.
This is my welbeloued Sonne in whom I am well pleased, heare him. Mat. 3. 17.
Hee that heareth of mee these words,The Sonne. &c. Mat. 7. 24.
Hee that hath an eare to heare let him heare. Mat. 11. 15.
Let him that hath an eare heare what the Spirit saith to the Churches.The holy Ghost to beare heedfully the Word of the Preacher. Reu. 2. 7.
Take heed what ye heare. Mar. 4. 24.
Beware of false Prophets that come vntounto you in sheeps-clothing. Mat. 7. 15.
They searched the Scriptures, whether those things were so. Acts 17. 11.
Proue all things: hold that which is good. 1 T…es. 5. 21.
Try the Spirits whether they be of God or not. 1. Ioh. 4. 1.
They hauehave not reiected thee but they hauehave reiected me. Not as the Word of Man, but as the Word of God.1 Sam. 8. 7.
Hee that heareth you heareth me, and he that heareth me heareth him that sent me. Luk. 10. 16.
Blessed is hee that heareth the Word of God and keepeth it. Luk. 11. 28.
Ye receiued the Word not as the Word of men, but as it is indeed the Word of God. 1 These. 2. 3.
The Word of God is liuely and mighty in operation, &c. Heb. 4. 12.
If any man speake let him speake as the Word of God. 1 Pet. 4. 11.
I am not ashamed of the Gospell of Christ;Which will proue the meanes of our saluation. for it is the power of God vntounto saluation to eueryevery beleeuer. Rom. 1. 16.
Man liueth not by bread only, but by eueryevery Word that proceedeth from the mouth of God. Luke 4. 4.
Hee that heareth my words and belieueth in mee hath life eternall, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death to life. Ioh. 9. 24.
To whom shall we goe? Thou hast the words of eternall life. Ioh. 6. 68.
He that refuseth me and receiueth not my words hath one that iudgeth him.Or damnation. The word which I hauehave spoken it shall iudge him at the last day. Ioh. 12. 48.
If I had not come, and spoken vntounto them they had not had sin. Ioh. 15. 22.
Wee are the sweete smelling sauour of Christ in them that are saued and them that perish. 2 Cor. 2. 15.
To the one wee are the sauour of death vntounto death: and to the other the sauour of life vntounto life, verse 16.
Continue in Pra…er, 2. Wee must pray for the Preacher.and watch in the same with thanksgiuing, Colos 4. 2.
Praying for vsus, that God may open to vsus the dore of vtterance to speake the mysteries of Christ. verse 3.
That I may vtter it as it becommeth me to speake.For our selues that we may Attend. verse 4.
A certaine woman named Lydia heard vsus, whose heart the Lord opened that she attended to the things that Paul spake. Acts 16. 14.
GiueGive me vnderstanding and I will keepe thy Law.Vnderstand Psal. 119. 34.
And this I pray that ye may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all iudgement. Discerne.Phil. 1. 9.
That yee may discerne those things that differ. verse 10.
The Lord giuegive thee a right iudgement in all things. 2 Tim. 2. 7.
God that commanded the light to shine out of darknesse, is he that hath shined in our hearts, to giuegive the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of Iesus Christ. 2. Cor. 4. 6.
The Apostles said Lord increase our Faith. Belieue.Luke 17. 5.
For this cause I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ, &c. Ephes. 3. 14.
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith. verse 17.
And his Mother kept all these sayings in her heart. Remember.Luk. 2. 51.
I hauehave hid thy promises in my heart▪ that I might not sin against thee Psal. 119. 11.
Whosoeuer heareth of mee these words and doeth the same I will liken him to a wise man that built his house vponupon a rock Mat.Practice. 7. 24.
If ye know these things blessed are ye if ye do them, Ioh. 13. 17.
Be ye dooers of the Word & not hearers only deceiuing your own soules. Iam. 1. 22.
The Preparatory Hymne,
wherein the deuout soule expresseth her
a High esteeme of the Word.
b Continuall meditating on it.
c Exceeding delight in it.
Feruent desire to be
d Instructed in it.
e Ruled by it.
a My soule breaketh for the longing it hath vntounto thy iudgements at all times. Psal 119. 20.
The Law of thy mouth is better to me then thousands of gold and siluer. verse 72.
The Law of the Lord is perfect conuerting the soule: the testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple. Psal. 19. 7.
The Statutes of the Lord are right and reioyce the heart: the commandement of the Lord is pure, enlightning the eyes. ver. 8
The feare of the Lord is cleane enduring for euer: the Iudgements of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. verse 9.
More to bee desired are they then gold, yea then much fine gold; sweeter also then hony, and the hony combe. verse 10.
Moreouer by them is thy seruant taught: and in keeping of them is great reward. verse 11.
b I will meditate in thy precepts, and hauehave respect to thy waies. Psal 119. 15.
O how I louelove thy Law it is my meditation all the day. ver. 97.
Thy words hauehave I hid in mine heart that I might not sin against thee. verse 11.
c I will delight my selfe in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word verse 16.
Thy testimonies are my delight & my counsellers. verse 24.
Thy testimonies hauehave I claimed as mine heritage for euer; for they are the very ioy of mine heart. verse 111.
d Open thou mine eyes that I may behold the wondrous things of thy Law. verse. 18.
Make me to vnderstand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talke of thy wondrous workes. verse 27.
e Order my steps in thy Word: and let not any iniquity hauehave dominion ouer me. verse 133.
Make thy face to shine vponupon thy seruant: and teach mee thy statutes. verse 135.
The Preparatory Prayer.
GRatious God who hast appointed the opening of the Scriptures by preaching to bee the ordinary meanes of saluation to all thy chosen; blesse this thine ordinance to me, and prepare me for it. Grant that thy Word being mixed with faith in me may bee vntounto me a sauour of life vntounto life, and not a sauour of death vntounto death. Direct and assist thy Minister that hee may rightly diuide it. Open vntounto him the dore of vtterance, that what he hath conceiued in thy feare vponupon thy holy Oracles, hee may deliuer to thy glory. Fill him with the holy Ghost that his lips may bee full of grace, and that he may speake instruction to mine ignorance, correction to my errors, comfort to mine afflictions, and peace to my conscience. Guide the sword of the spirit in his hand that it may meete with, and smite my speciall corruptions and bosome sins, knowne, or vnknowne; and giuegive me patience to endure the iust reproofe of them by his Ministry, and louelove him for it, and amend by it. Open my heart that I may attend to those things that belong to my peace. Endue me with wisdome, and spirituall vnderstanding that I may descerne those things that differ, and try all things, and hold that which is good, and apply it to my selfe for the subduing of my fleshly members, and affections, and building me vp in the most holy faith of thine Elect. Quicken me with thy spirit that I may cheerefully, and willingly, and constantly listen to the voice of the heauenly charmer, that hee may kill the venome of sinne in my soule. Let the words of thy Preacher drop as raine, and distill as deaw vponupon me, and into mee to make my barren heart fruitfull in holy affections & desires; my minde in heauenly thoughts and conceptions; my tongue in wholsome words, and graceful speeches; my hands in all manner of good workes, that I proue not an idle hearer but a doer, of the Word, & constant practicer of al holy duties to the honour of thy holy and blessed Name, and the saluation of my soule in the day of the Lord Iesus, To whom with thee and the holy Ghost, &c.