The Rules of a Holy Life, Chapter 10
CHAP. X.
Rules that order vsus about hearing of the Word.
THus of the rules that we must obserue in all publike seruice of God. Now there be certain speciall rules which must bee particularly headed in each part of Gods worship by it selfe.Rules that order vsus in hearing the word of God. And first I will beginne with those rules, which wee must more specially obserue in hearing the Word of God, and these are of three sorts.
1. Some bind vsus to the good behauior, before we come to heare.
2. Some at the time of hearing.
3. Some after we hauehave heard.
1. Before wee come to heare, we must bring with vsus two things.
1.1. Before we come. A resolution to deny our own wits, reasons, opinions, and conceits, and empty our heads of al perswasion of our owne skill, to iudge in the things of the kingdome of God, being ready to beleeue and thinke in all things, as God shall teach vsus out of his Word. We must be fooles, that we may be wise, 1. Cor. 3. 18. humbling our selues at his very feete to receiue his Law, Deut. 33. 3.
2. VVe must bring with vsus a meeke and quiet spirit, a minde quieted from passions, lusts, and perturbations, and at rest from the turmoyling cares of this world. The world is able to doe great things in our hearts, if wee receiue it with meekenesse, Iam. 1. 19.
Secondly,2. In the time of hearing. at the time of hearing, we must looke to two rules.
First, wee must hearken without distraction: wee must heare, as it were for our liues, wee must incline our eares, and shake off all impediments arising from our owne drowsinesse, preiudice, or vaine thoughts, or distracting obiects, Esay 55. 3. Psal. 119. 113.
Secondly, we must proue all things, and keepe that which is good. Wee must heare with iudgement, and hearken for our selues, hauing speciall care to looke to that doctrine which in particular concernes vsus to lay it vp in our hearts, and apply it effectually. This is a rule of singular thrift in godlinesse. If wee did marke what sinne in vsus the Lord reprooues, or what comfort is specially fitted to our hearts: or what direction doeth specially concerne vsus: He hath an honest memory that will bee sure to keepe these things,Note. though hee forget all the rest, and hee hath a wretched memory, and hart too, that forgets these things, though hee could r…peat all the Sermon verbatim.
Thirdly,3. After we hauehave heard. after wee hauehave heard, two things also must be further done.
First, wee must by meditation labor to make those things wee hauehave heard, which concerne vsus, fast, that they runne not out of our mindes, and wee must take heed that neyther the Diuell steale away the good seed, nor our owne heart through negligence forget it. Neyther is this a worke for an houre after, to keepe these things till we may repeate them to others, but ought to be our daily worke, especially the weeke after to thinke so often of them, till there be a sure impression of the VVord in our hearts, Hebr. 2. 1, 2.
Secondly, wee must yet further see to it, that we be doers of the Word, yea wee must obserue to doe: as the phrase of the holy Ghost is. It is the wisedome of God so to dispose of his ordinances, that wee receiue our directions by parcels, and there is a time of interim between Sabbath and Sabbath, Sermon and Sermon, that we might in that space learne to frame our selues to the obedience of the truths receiued, that so we might bee ready to receiue new lessons from the Lord. The surest way for the husbandman to keepe his seed, is not to lay it vp in his barne, but to cast it into the ground. For what is sowed, he may receiue againe with aduantage; or if hee might faile of a haruest from his seede in nature, yet godly men shall neuer faile to receiue what they sowe by practice, with increase. So much of the Truth, as is put into practice, is sure for euer: The rest may be lost: and it is a singular helpe to a Christian, if he set vponupon his obedience, while the doctrine is yet fresh in his minde; for delay will compasse him about with many difficulties, and hee will want those inward incitations, that might stirre vp his heart with power and strength to obey.