A Guide to Godliness, Book 5 · Chapter 6
CAP. VI.
Of the duties of the people in hearing of the Word; and firſt, of ſuch as are to be performed in their preparation.
§. Sect. 1 That we muſt vſe preparation before the hearing of the Word, and wherin it conſiſteth.
ANd theſe are the things which are required vntounto the right preaching of the Word. VntoUnto the right hearing of it, that it may be a powerfull meanes to inrich vsus with Gods graces, and to ſtrengthen vsus vntounto all Chriſtian duties of a godly life, ſome things are required before wee heare, ſome things in hearing, and ſome things after we hauehave heard it. Before we heare, we muſt vſe due preparation; vntounto which is required firſt, that we enter into a ſerious conſideration of Gods glorious preſence, before whom we are to preſent our ſelues, that we may heare him ſpeaking vntounto vsus, not of ordinary matters of ſmall importance, but ſuch as meerely concerne his glory, and the euerlaſting ſaluation of our owne ſoules. Whereby we ſhall be preſerued from ruſhing raſhly into the holy aſſemblies, and be made carefull to looke vntounto our feet, before we enter into the Houſe of God. For if worldly men, Eccleſ. 5. 1.duely conſidering that they are going into the preſence of an earthly King, to heare him ſpeake of the waighty affaires of the Common wealth, or ſuch things as neerely concerne them in their owne particular, prepare themſelues accordingly, that they may bee fit to come into ſuch a royall preſence; how much more ſhould wee vſe the like and greater care, when we are to come into the preſence of the King of Kings, and to heare him ſpeaking vntounto vsus of ſuch things, as much more concerne vsus and the euerlaſting good of our ſoules and bodies? Secondly, being to come vntounto this ſpirituall feaſt, we are to prepare our ſelues by getting a good appetite, that we may not idlely fit by and looke on, when others feed on theſe ſpirituall delicacies, for the refreſhing and ſtrengthening of their ſoules. To which end, wee muſt, by renewing our repentance, purge and clenſe our ſoules from ſinfull corruptions (as our ſtomacks from clogging and hurtfull humours) which otherwiſe will take away our appetite, and make vsus lothe and refuſe, or eating againſt ſtomacke, not able to diſgeſt our ſpirituall nouriſhment. Of which kinde are wrath, maliciouſneſſe, guile, diſsimulation, Jam. 1. 21. 1. Pet. 2. 1.hypocriſie, preiudice, and foreſtalled opinions, and ſuch like; ſeeing if theſe beare ſway in vsus, it is not poſſible that the Word of God ſhould take any effect, or become profitable nouriſhment for the preſeruing and increaſing of our ſpirituall health and ſtrength. So alſo wee muſt baniſh out of our minds worldly cogitations about our pleaſures or profits, which wil diſtract vsus from hearing the Word with any attention, and out of our hearts earthly cares, which like thornes, will choake the ſeed of the Word, and make it vtterly vnfruitfull in vsus. Moreouer, we muſt ſtirre vp our appetite, by conſidering our ſpirituall wants, which can no otherwiſe be ſupplied, then by comming vntounto this feaſt; for as hunger, and ſenſe of our emptineſſe, maketh vsus to long after our bodily food, ſo if we duly conſider how empty we are of all Gods graces, and feeble vntounto all good duties, it will much increaſe our appetite to the food of our ſoules; and wee ſhall goe to this Market with all cheerefulneſſe, if we conſider, that heere, and no where elſe, wee may fit and furniſh our ſoules with all neceſſaries. Againe, we muſt examine our ſinnes which beare ſway in vsus, that repenting of them, we may receiue the aſſurance of pardon in the publike miniſtery, to our ineſtimable comfort, and may alſo bee ſtrengthened againſt the power of them, that we may ſubdue them, and not ſuffer them to raigne in vsus, as in former times; being armed againſt them, and the tentations of our ſpirituall enemies, alluring, or forcibly drawing vsus into them, with the whole armour of God, and eſpecially the ſword of the Spirit. And this will alſo prouoke our appetite, and make vsus goe with cheerefulneſſe to the hearing of Gods Word, like the malefactour to receiue his pardon, or the Souldier that hath beene often wounded and foyled, by reaſon of his nakedneſſe, to put on ſufficient armour, and to receiue from his Commander defenſiue and offenſiue weapons. Finally, we muſt prepare our ſelues, and ſtirre vp our appetite, by conſidering the properties of the Word, which we goe to heare. As firſt, the excellencie of it, as being the Word, not of man, but of God, the Word of truth, life, and ſaluation. Secondly, the power and efficacie of it, as being the power of God himſelfe to our ſaluation, Rom. 1. 16. Heb. 4. 12.ſharper then any two-edged ſword, pearcing euen to the very deuiding of the ſoule and the Spirit, the ioynts and marrow, and is a diſcerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. A Word that hath alwayes its operation, and returneth Eſa. 55. 11.neuer in vaine, but bringeth that to paſſe for which it is ſent, and is either the ſweete ſauour of life vntounto life, or of death vntounto death. Thirdly, the great 2. Cor. 2. 15, 16.vtility and profit of it, being a perfect and pure Law, that conuerteth the ſoule, Pſal. 19. 7, 8.a light that ſhineth vntounto vsus who ſate in the ſhaddow of death, and guiding our feete into the way of peace; heauenly wiſedome, that giueth vnderstanding vntounto Luk. 1. 79.the ſimple, and maketh the wiſe more wiſe; our Counſeller to aduiſe vsus, our food to nouriſh vsus, our weapon to defend vsus and repell our enemies, an effectuall meanes to worke in vsus all ſauing graces, and the way that bringeth vsus to eternall bleſſedneſſe. Finally, let vsus prepare our ſelues, and whet our appetite, by conſidering the neceſſity of it, ſeeing without it wee can attaine vntounto no good, nor eſcape any euill; in which regard, our Sauiour ſaith to Martha, that this one thing is neceſſary, as though there were no Luk. 10. 42.neceſſity of any other thing in compariſon of it. The which neceſſity lyeth not only vponupon weakelings, and thoſe who are ſimple and ignorant, that they may learne the truth, but alſo vponupon thoſe who hauehave made greateſt progreſſe in Chriſtianity, and are richeſt in knowledge, that they may bee mooued to practiſe what they know, and bring it to holy vſe, and that the graces of God may be confirmed and preſerued in them. Vnleſſe any man would fooliſhly imagine that he is ſo ſtrong in grace, that he needeth not to eate any more food, for the reſtoring of that ſpirituall ſtrength which is daily abated and impaired through our corruption, and the aſſaults and tentations of our neuer-reſting enemies, Satan & the world. The laſt duty to be performed in our preparation, is, that we feruently pray vntounto God for his grace, and the aſſiſtance of his holy Spirit, both to his Miniſters in ſpeaking, & our ſelues with the reſt of his people, in hearing, that he may be ſo inabled therby to ſpeak the Word truly, ſincerely, powerfully & profitably, and we to heare in a Chriſtian and holy maner, that God may be glorified, and we edified in our holy faith, and ſtrengthened more and more vntounto all the duties of a godly life.
§. Sect. 2 Of duties to be performed in the hearing of the Word.
In the hearing of the Word, diuers duties are to be performed. As firſt, we muſt ſet our ſelues in Gods preſence, that we may heare all things that are Act. 10. 33. Eſa. 66. 2. 1. Theſ. 2 13.commanded vsus of him, according to the example of good Cornelius; in which regard we muſt not heare the Word after a careleſſe and cold maner, but with feare and trembling, if we would hauehave God that ſpeaketh, take any delight in vsus. Secondly, we muſt heare it, not as the word of man, but as it is the Word of God, by which wee ſhall one day bee iuſtified or condemned. Thirdly, wee muſt hunger after the ſincere milke of Gods 2 Cor. 5. 20. Luk. 10. 16. 1. Pet. 2. 1, 2.Word, without the mixture of humane traditions, carnall eloquence, and worldly wiſedome, that we may grow vp thereby. Fourthly, wee are to heare with all attention, hauing our eyes faſtened vponupon the Teacher, and hanging vponupon his lips, as the child vponupon the mothers breſt, like the hearers Luk. 4 20. and 19. 48. Nehem. 8. 3. Act. 20. 7.of our Sauiour Chriſt; to which end wee muſt carefully baniſh all worldly cogitations and wandring thoughts, and alſo all drowzineſſe and ſleepineſſe, ſeeing we would not ſo heare our equals, and much leſſe our ſuperiours. Fifthly, we muſt heare with alacrity and cheerfulneſſe, and ſhake off all dulneſſe and carnall wearineſſe, which makes no part of the Sermon pleaſing but the concluſion onelyonly. Sixthly, wee muſt heare with all due reuerence, the Word, as being the Word of God, and not of man, as from him, and before him, in whoſe preſence the hils and mountaines ſhake and tremble. Seuenthly, with all humility, ſubmitting our ſelues vntounto it, as vntounto the Scepter of Gods Kingdome, to bee ruled and directed, inſtructed and reproued by it, and not rebell againſt Gods holy ordinance, and repine and rage againſt our Teachers, when they touch our conſciences to the quicke, and ſharpely repro…e vsus for our ſinnes. Laſtly, we muſt heare the Word with faith and a good conſcience, giuing credit Heb. 4. 2.vntounto all the parts of it, as well threatnings as promiſes, and applying all to our owne vſe; with an earneſt deſire to profit by it, and to lay it vp in the cloſet of our hearts, that we may not be forgetfull hearers, and like leaking Heb. 2. 1.and riuen veſſels that will hold nothing.
§. Sect. 3 Of duties to be performed after the hearing of the Word.
After the hearing of the Word, two duties are to be performed. The firſt is, that publikely in the Church we ioyne with the Miniſter in giuing praiſe and thankes vntounto God for his mercy towards vsus, in feeding our ſoules with the bread of life, and for the liberty he hath giuen vsus to come in peace and ſafety into his holy Aſſemblies, to heare vsus ſpeake vntounto him in our prayers, and to ſpeake vntounto vsus by his Miniſter and Ambaſſadour; and that priuately at home, at leaſt in ſome ſhort manner, wee renew our thankeſgiuing, and deſire the Lord to write that which we hauehave heard, in our hearts, by the finger of his Spirit, and to make it effectuall for the inriching of our hearts with ſauing grace, and the ſtrengthening of vsus to all holy duties. And if our memory, ability and gifts will ſerue, it is profitable for vsus, and acceptable to God, if we can frame our prayer according to that which we hauehave heard, confeſſing thoſe ſinnes which hauehave been reproued, bewailing thoſe wants which hauehave been diſcouered, deſiring thoſe graces which hauehave been commended vntounto vsus, or praiſing God if we already hauehave them, and deſiring grace and ſpirituall ſtrength, that we may performe thoſe duties, vntounto which wee hauehave been perſwaded and exhorted. The ſecond duty is, that we lay vp that which we hauehave heard, in our hearts and memories, that we may practiſe them in our liues. For as it is not enough to hauehave good ſeed ſowne in our grounds, if wee doe not couer it that it may take root, but let the fowles of heauen take it away, nor to feed vponupon wholeſome meate, vnleſſe we retaine it in our ſtomackes that it may be digeſted, and like good nouriſhment applied to all the parts of the body; ſo it will little auaile vsus to heare many Sermons, and neuer thinke more of them after we are gone out of the Church, and to receiue this ſpirituall food with greedy appetites, if we keepe it not, but preſently caſt it vp againe, out of hearts ſurfetted with worldly cares, and clogged and cloyed with the groſſe humours of our ſinfull luſts. The which (as I am perſwaded) is one chiefe cauſe why the moſt, euen amongſt diligent hearers, hauehave, after ſo long inioying the light of the Goſpell, ſo little profited either in knowledge or holy practice; namely, becauſe they hauehave been ſo careleſſe in keeping what they hauehave heard, and hauehave put this ſpiritual treaſure into broken bags, and this precious liquor into riuen veſſels. Now the meanes to retaine and imprint the things which we hauehave heard in our hearts and memories, is firſt to louelove, regard, and ſet our hearts vponupon them; for euen old men (as we ſay) who are weakeſt in memory, doe yet retaine thoſe things which they moſt affect. The ſecond is, that wee heare the Word with diligent attention, obſeruing the method of the Teacher, and how he proceedeth from poynt to poynt, faſtening the former poynt in our mindes, by caſting our eye backe vntounto it, when as hee is leauing of it, and proceeding to another. For as it is not poſſible that the fault of the firſt concoction, ſhould be amended in the ſecond, ſeeing eueryevery part and faculty is wholly taken vp about its owne proper worke; ſo is it no more poſſible that we ſhould remember that which wee neuer minded, or that the memory ſhould bring forth that, which the vnderſtanding neglected to lay vp by due attention and obſeruation. And therefore the Apoſtle telleth vsus, that we ought to giuegive the more earneſt heed to the things wee heare, Heb. 2. 1.leſt at any time we ſhould let them ſlip. Thirdly, this may make vsus rub our memories, and make vsus carefull to imprint in them the things which wee heare, if we conſider that our diligent hearing of the Word will not make vsus happy, vnleſſe we alſo retaine it in our memories, and practiſe it in our liues: for ſo the Apoſtle Iames ſaith, that if we looke into the perfect Law of Iam. 1. 25.liberty, and continue therein, being not forgetfull hearers, but doers of the worke, we ſhall be bleſſed in our deed. And the Apoſtle Paul limiteth the promiſe of ſaluation made vntounto the preaching and hearing of the Word, to the condition of retaining it in our memories. I declare (ſaith hee) vntounto you the 1. Cor. 15. 1, 2.Goſpell which I preached, and ye receiued, by which alſo ye are ſaued, if you keepe in memory that which I preached vntounto you. Fourthly, wee muſt vntounto our hearing, adde meditation, which is a notable meanes of imprinting it in our hearts and memories. Fifthly, wee muſt conferre with others, that they may helpe vsus where we are wanting, and we them, where they hauehave failed. Sixthly, Gouernours of families may helpe themſelues, and thoſe which are committed to their charge, for the better vnderſtanding and remembring of what they hauehave heard, by repeating the chiefe poynts of the Sermon after they are come home, by ſtrength of their memory, or helpe of their notes, and examining their children and ſeruants, and putting them to giuegive an account of what they hauehave heard and learned. Laſtly, we muſt make what we hauehave heard, our owne, by applying it to our owne vſe, and bringing it to practice in our liues and conuerſations; whereby we ſhall Luk. 11. 28. Ioh. 13 17. Iam. 1. 25.intitle our ſelues to that bleſſedneſſe which is promiſed to all thoſe who both heare the Word and keepe it. And ſo much of the firſt meanes of inabling vsus to the duties of a godly life, the miniſtery of the Word, and the things that are required vntounto it. The which I hauehave the more briefly Chriſtian warfare, 1. part. lib. 2. cap. 26.paſſed ouer, becauſe I hauehave touched diuers of the poynts before, and more fully handled ſome of them in another Treatiſe.