Lectures Upon Psalm 51, Part 1 · Lecture 6
Lecture VI. On the Title of Psalme 51. Novemb. 23, 1625.
IT followeth now that we proceed to the other two parts of the use of Direction. And for the better stirring up of your affection to that which I am to deliver, you must know this, that to heare the word profitably, is a laborious, and painefull thing. The bringing of your bodies hither, and lending of your eares, is not all (though that be painfull to you that come farre) but there is more belongs to it then so, there is a labour of the mind, and heart, required in this worke, Strive (saith our Saviour, Luk 13.24.) to enter in at the strait gate. Every gate, every part of that way whereby wee must come to life eternall, is strait, and narrow, and without much striving & labour, it is not possible to passe through it. To pray aright, you (that are acquainted with the conscionable performance of this duty) find it to be a painfull, and laborious thing. Rom. 15.30. Strive together with me (saith the Apostle) in your prayers to God for me. And surely it is no lesse painfull a thing to heare spiritually, and profitably. Labour (saith our Saviour, Iohn 6.27.) not for the meate which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life.
And no marvell, For, 1. there is an utter indisposition of our owne hearts by nature, to every thing that is good; being alienated in our minds from God, as the Apostle speaketh. Colos. 1.21. and estranged (as David saith Psal. 58.3.) from the very wombe, 2. Satan also is very busie with us, when wee goe about this worke of hearing Gods Word, to hinder us by all the cunning he hath, from hearing it fruitfully, Luke 8.12. Those by the high-way side are they that heare: then commeth the devill, and taketh away the Word out of their hearts, lest they should beleeve, and be saved. 3. The Lord, though he first converted us without any helpe of our owne will and endeavour; for wee were by nature dead in trespasses, Ephes. 2.1. yea, he converted us against our will, Rom. 10.21. All the day long have I stretched out my hands unto a disobedient and gain-saying people. Yet will he not save us, nor build us up in grace, nor blesse the meanes of grace unto us, without the helpe of our will and endeavour; but when he hath once regenerated and renewed our will, hee will have us… imploy it in his worke: Phil. 2.12. Worke out your owne salvation. Wee had need therefore to take paines with our owne hearts, and strive to heare profitably. For certainely as a great cause why we profit so little by the Word is this, that we will not do that that lyeth in us to make our hearing profitable, we will take no paines in this worke; so if we would take a little paines for it, we should find that the fruit and comfort we should receive by it, would abundantly recompence all the paines wee have taken in it. That which Solomon saith of labour in our lawfull callings, Pro. 14.23. In all labour there is profite, and 13.11. He that gathereth by labour, shall increase (there is a secret blessing of God upon men that labour in the meanest calling that is, that they are able to live, and thrive by it) may fitly be applyed to this purpose; they that labour, and will take paines in the worke of their owne salvation, to make all meanes of Grace profitable unto themselves, shall certainly thrive, and increase in Grace, whereas the lazy soule (under the best meanes of Grace that are) shall still be like Pharaohs Kin…, l…ane, and ill-favoured. Gen. 45.21. VVe find by experience, that it is not the greatnes of a mans living, that maketh him rich, but the good imploying, and carefull husbanding of it. A little ground, if a good husband, a carefull, and painfull man have the occupying of it, proves oftentimes more fruitfull then a great deale more land will doe in the hands of a lazy and carelesse husband, though it be of it selfe a better soile, and have more helps, from God and nature, then the other hath. Pro. 24.30, 3…. I went by the field of the slothfull, and by the Vineyard of the man void of understanding, and loe, it was all growne over with thornes, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken downe; So it is not the greatnesse, and excellency of the ministery that a man liveth under, and daily frequenteth, that will make one rich in Grace, but the care, and endeavour himselfe useth to make it profitable to him. A weaker ministery with this care, will be more availeable to inrich the heart, then the strongest can be without it.
As I therefore shewed you the last day what you must do before you come, to prepare, and fit your selves to the hearing of the word; so will I now shew you, what your labour must be while you are in hearing of it, and lastly what you must do after you have heard it, if you desire to profite by it.
And that which is your part to doe while you are hearing, consisteth in five points.
First, you must set your selves as in Gods presence, while you are hearing of his word. 1. Remember, and thinke with your selves, you have to deale with God in this businesse; it is Gods word, and not mans that you heare 1. Thess. 2.13. It is God himselfe that speaketh to you from heaven by us, Heb. 12.25. How shall we escape if we turne away from him that speaketh from heaven. Luke 10.16. He that heareth you heareth me. Iohn was the voice of him that cryed in the wildernesse, Iohn. 1.23. It is the Lord himselfe that speaketh and cryeth to you in our ministery, we are but his voice: Therefore Moses maketh this preface to his Doctrine, Deut. 32.3. Because I will publish the name of the Lord, ascribe ye greatnesse unto our God. And as it is God that speaketh to you in our ministery; So 2. is he alwayes in a speciall sort present where his word is preached, to observe, and marke how it is delivered, and received, and either to blesse, or curse the hearers accordingly. Of this, and such like places it may be said, as Iacob said of Bethel, Gen. 28.16, 17. Surely the Lord is in this place, and I knew it not—this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. Though you knew it not before, know it now, surely the Lord is in this place, this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. Not that God dwells more here then there (though he did so in the temple of Ierusalem) but I speake it in reference to his majesty, and in respect of the assemblies, and meeting of Gods people, to joyne together in the use of his ordinances, Matth. 18.20. Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
Remember, and thinke on these two things, whensoever you heare, that you may set your selves as in Gods presence, when you are about this worke. So did good Cornelius though a souldier, and a great man too. Acts 10.33. We are all h…re present before God, to heare all things that are commanded thee of God. This is profitable for us to doe in our whole course of life: David did so, Psal. 16.8. I have set the Lord alwayes before me. This will greatly further our profiting by hearing, for it cannot choose but breed in our hearts an awfull feare of God. When Iacob had said, Genes. 28.16. Surely the Lord is in this place, verse 17. Hee was afraid, and said, how dreadfull is this place? And without our hearts bee stricken with this awfull feare, and reverence of God, we can do no service unto him …n an acceptable manner, Psal. 2.11. Serve the Lord with feare, Hebr. 12.28, …9. Let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and godly feare, for our God is a consuming fire. This feare will keepe us in that behaviour and disposition of body and mind, as is meete. 1. It will keepe our bodies from sleepinesse, and all other unreverent behaviour. For so will the presence of any man do whom we reverence, and feare, Proverbs 23.1, 2. When thou sittest to eate with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee, and put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite. 2. It will keepe our thoughts from roving, without which we can never relish the Word. Psal. 1.9.113. If we doe not hate vaine thoughts, wee cannot love Gods Word. 3. It will make us carefull to receive, and obey that, that shall be taught; for so hath God bin wont to prepare his people to receive his Word: yea, he said of them when they were thus affected, Deut. 5.29. O that there were such a heart in them, that they would feare me, and keepe my commandements alwayes.
Applic:No marvell then, though we profite so little by the Word, we performe this service with little or no reverence, and feare. The Apostle noteth it for a signe of an ungracious heart, Iude 12. to eate without feare; how much more to heare without feare; witnesse the liberty men take to sleepe at Sermons, not once striving against their owne corruption (by stirring up, rowsing themselves, or desiring them that sit next them, to awake them) none resisting Satan, who certainely helps forward this corruption in it. Luke 8.12. and who, if they would resist him, would flye from them, Iames 4.7. Three notable contempts, and wants of reverence these men doe shew. 1. To the congregation; It is a signe of a gracelesse heart to beare no reverence to men, Luke. …8.2. worse, not to reverence any godly man, or care for grieving or offending him, or regarding what he thinks of us, Mat. 18.10. Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; worst of all not to reverence the congregation of Gods people, when they are assembled to worship God, 1. Cor. 11.22. despis… yee the Church of God? I tell you, it becomes the greatest Prince that is, in his comming in, and going out, and his whole behaviour to shew reverence to the Congregation. 2. They shew contempt to the holy Angels, who are present, and have a speciall charge given them, to attend the holy assemblies of Gods people, both to be as a guard unto them, and as witnesses to observe their behaviour, 1. Cor. 11.…0▪ 3. But chiefly they shew contempt to God, who (as we have heard) is in a speciall sort present here, Levit. 6.2. Reverence my sanctuary, I am the Lord.
Secondly, while the word is preached unto us, wee must attend diligently to what we heare, as they that would be loath to loose a word that should be delivered, VntoUnto me m…n gave care (saith Iob. 29.21, 23.) and waited, and kept silence at my counsell. And they waited for me as for the raine, and they opened their mouth wide, as for the latter raine. And it is said, Luke 19.48. That the people *So it is in the margent.hanged upon Christ. This Gods people are oft called upon for, Mar. 4.23. Christ was wont to say to the people in the beginning of his Doctrine, hearken; and againe at the end of his Sermons, vers. 9. And 7.14. Hearken every one of you. Esa. 55.23. Hearken diligently unto me, encline your eare, and come unto me; heare, and your soule shall live. Pro. 22.17. Bow downe thine eare, and heare. No hope the ministery of Christ himselfe should draw us, and make us to come unto him, and cause our soules to live, unlesse we thus heare, hearken diligently, encline, and bend our eares to heare; Put these things into your eares, saith our Saviour, Luk. 9.44. For 1 the Word is so precious as it is worth the hearkning unto. Psal. 19.10. It is more to be desired then gold, yea then much fine gold; sweeter also then honey, and the honey combe. 2. Who knowes how soone you may be deprived of it. 3. As in all other the parts, and faculties of mans body, and soule there is a naturall aversnesse, and indisposition to that that is good; so it is in the eare, there is a marvellous unaptnesse, and untowardnesse in it to hearken to the Word; it is not so soone weary of hearing any thing, as of Gods Word. Mat. 13.15. This peoples heart is waxen grosse, and their eares are dull of hearing. Yea we are by nature deafe as well as blind. Esa. 43.8. Bring forth the blinde people that have eyes, and the deafe that have eares. So that it is noted for a speciall worke of Gods Spirit (which every one of you which find it, in your selves, may take great comfort in) to be able to mind the word, and to attend unto it. Esa. 32.3. The eares of them that heare, shall hearken. And Act. 16.14. It is said of Lydia that the Lord opened her heart, that she attended to the things that were spoken by Paul. If the Lord had not opened her heart she could not have done it; this is not every mans case. Our Saviour speakes of some that hearing heare not, Mat. 13.13. How can that be will you say? Yes very well. Men may heare, and not mind nor regard what they heare, and so in hearing not heare. The hearing eare, and the seeing eye (saith Solomon, Pro. 20.12.) the Lord hath made even both of them. To have an eare able to hearken, and attend to the Word is a rare gift of God; which made our Saviour say to his Disciples, Matth. 13.16. Blessed are your eares, for they heare.
Observe then another cause why the Word is so unfruitfull in Many.Applic. 1. Some thinke it enough that they come to Church, though they shew no desire to heare at all, though they sit so as they can heare nothing. True it is that it is fit there should be a decent order in the Congregation, and (above all other places) there should there respect be had unto seemelinesse; every man, and woman should be placed there according to their yeares, and degree, and should keepe their places, 1 Cor. 14.40. Let all things be done decently, and in order. Paul joyed in the seemely order be beheld in the Church-assemblies of the Colossians, Col. 2.5. Among other things the Queene of Sheba observed, and admired in Solomons house, the sitting of his servants, in that decent order, was one 1 King. 10.5. and if it were fit they should fit in such a decent order in Solomons house, much more is it fit they should doe so in Gods house; as that decent order did so much commend Solomons house, so would it doe our Church-assemblies certainely. It is a fault I observe amongst you here that many of you use to stand up upon your formes, and seates. For 1. It is an unseemely sight, and decency becomes Gods house. 2. It hinders their hearing that sit behind you, and so it is not onelyonly against decency, but against edification also. 3. You do it without any just cause at all, when you may heare well enough though you sit or stand downe. All this notwithstanding if you cannot heare where you sit, the poorest or yongest of you should not be ashamed or afraid to come up higher, and sit or stand nearer to the pulpit. You should straine curtesie in this case. What a disorder was in that congregation mentioned, Luk. 12.3. they trod one upon another; and yet because their desire to heare, and to be edified by his doctrine forced them to it, our Saviour never blamed them for it. It is said of Christs hearers that they were wont to Sit about him, Mar. 3.34. and Luk. 15.1. that they drew neare to him to heare him; and Mary sate downe at his feet when he preached, that she might be sure to heare him, Luk. 10.39. Yea to helpe their attention, and keepe their minds the better from roving they were wont to fixe their eyes upon him, Luk. 4.20. Secondly, Of them that do heare us, few are able to hearken or attend to that they heare, Esa. 43.20. Seeing many things but thou observest not; opening the eares, but he heareth not. So that we may justly take up the complaint of the Prophet, Ier. 6.10. To whom shall I speake, and give warning that they may heare? behold their eare is uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken.
Thirdly, we should heare the Word with understanding, and judgement; 1. We must labour to conceive, and understand what we heare. Christ calls upon his hearers earnestly for this. Mat. 15.10. He called the multitude, and said unto them, heare, and understand. How should we els profit by any thing we heare? Acts 8.30. Vnderstandest thou what thou readest? saith Philip. So say thou to thy owne heart in hearing, els it is not possible for thee to profit by that thou hearest. Mat. 13.13. In hearing they heare not, neither understand; they that understand not what they heare, in hearing heare not. Ps. 45.10. Hearken (O daughter) and consider, and incline thine eare. 2 Tim. 2.7. Consider what I say. Yea 2. We should be able also to judge of that we heare, 1 Co…. 10.15. Iudge yee what I say. Iob 21.11. Doth not the eare try words? and the mouth tast his meate? 1 Thes. 5.21. Prove all things (not by thy proud fansy and conceit indeed, but by the Word, in reverence, and humility) hold fast that which is good. Christs sheepe can put a difference betweene the voice of their true Pastor, and of a stranger, Ioh. 104, 5.
Applic.Take notice of this for one chiefe cause why the Word is so unfruitfull, ye heare without understanding. 1. Many understand not what they heare; but that heavie judgement is upon them, that is mentioned, Mat. 13.14. In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esayas, by hearing, ye shall heare, and shall not understand, and yet they neither bewaile nor feele it. No marvell therefore though they profit not. Mat. 13.19. When one heareth the Word of the kingdome, and understandeth it not, then commeth the wicked one, and catcheth away that that was sowne. 2. Many that understand well what we say, yet here without all judgement; can put no difference twixt truth, and error, Pro. 14.15. The simple beleeveth every word, but the prudent man looketh well to his going. They cannot judge when the Scripture is wrested, and when it is well applyed. Vnskilfull they are in the word of righteousnesse: for they are babes, Heb. 5.13.