The Boring of the Ear, Chapter 2
CHAP. II.
Qu. VVHat is the generall dutie of hearers before the Sermon time?
An. Their dutie is, with great care and conſcience to prepare and ſanctifie themſelues.
Qu. How is that proued?
An. Firſt, by plaine and euident Precepts and Teſtimonies of Scripture, both in the Old and New Teſtament. Salomon ſaith, Looke well to thy Eccles. 4. 17feet when thou goeſt to the Houſe of GOD, ſo as thou mayſt bee prepared to heare, that is, to obey and beleeue, the word of God preached in his Temple: as if hee ſhould ſay, looke thou be more carefull to offer vp thy ſelfe vntounto God, by giuing him an obedient heart and eare, then to bring Calues, Goates, &c. without a beleeuing and obedient heart, as the manner of Hypocrites and Worldlings Iam. 1. 21. 22.is. Iames ſaith, Lay apart all filthineſſe, and ſuperfluitie of maliciouſneſſe, and receiue with meekneſſe the word that is grafted in you, which is able to ſaue your ſoules.
Secondly, The practiſe of GODS faithfull people, Gen. 35. 2.both before the Law, Gen. 35. Iob 1. 5. Exo. 19. 10. 1. Sam. 16. 5 2. Chro. 15. 12. 2. Chro. 29. 5 Ioel 2. 15. 16 Pſal. 18. 7. Iob 15. 15.2. Iob 1. 5. And at the giuing of the Law. Exod. 19. 10. and likewiſe after the Law, 1. Sam. 16. 5. 2. Chronicles 15. 12. and 2. Chron. 29. 5. Ioel 2. 15, 16.
Thirdly, The glorious Maieſtie of God before whom we come.
1. Cor. 2. 9. 1. Tim. 3. 16 1. Pet. 1.Fourthly, the excellencie of theſe heauenly things which in this holy meeting are propounded vntounto vsus.
Fiftly, Our owne inſufficiencie. 2. Cor. 3. 5.2. Corinthians 3. 5.
Sixtly, The pollution and vncleaneneſſe both of our hearts and liues: in reſpect whereof wee ought to hearken to the ſaying of the holy Apoſtle, Clenſe your hands yee ſinners, and purge your hearts Iames 4. 8.yee double minded men, and ſo draw neare to God, and hee will draw neare to you.
Seuenthly, (This may bee referred to the fift Reaſon) if the Heathen did ſo highly eſteeme of their Deuilliſh Myſteries, that they vſed to ſay, Be gone, be gone farre from hence all yee prophane ones; And againe, Touch no vncleane thing with vnwaſhen hands: how much more ought we to think thus of the great and holy Myſterie of Godlineſſe, and accordingly to prepare our ſelues to bee partakers thereof?
Qu. You hauehave ſhewed me generally what is to be done of all men before the Sermon, now tell what is to bee done more particularly.
An. Firſt, they muſt carefully auoyde ſu…fetting and drunkenneſſe, and diſorder in Dyet: and vſe great moderation, and ſobrietie, eſpecially ouer night, and in the morning before they reſort to the publike Aſſemblies▪ Luke 21. 32Chriſt ſaith, Take heed lest at any time your hearts bee ouercome with ſurfetting and drunkenneſſe. If at all times wee muſt take heed, how much more at this time? For Wine is a mocker, ſaith Salomon▪ Pro. 20. 1.and ſtrong drinke is raging▪ And as the Prophet ſaith, Wine and ſtrong drinke take away the heart. And Eſay ſaith▪ Wo be to them that riſe early to follow drunkenneſſe, &c. then hee giueth the reaſon, ſaying, Eſay 11. 24.They regard not the Lords worke, but deſpiſe the Law of the Lord of Hoſts. Where the Apoſtle ſaith, Bee not filled with Wine, wherein is exceſſe, Eph. 4. 17. 18.but be yee filled with the ſpirit; He ſheweth that fulneſſe is an Enemie to ſpirituall Graces: whereof heedfull and profitable hearing of the word is one.
Qu. What is the next particular hinderance to bee auoyded, when we are to goe to the Houſe of God?
An. Exceſſiue care and minding of Earthly things, which are reckoned vp as thoſe ſpeciall thornes that choke vp the Seed of the Word of God, that it cannot Luke 8. 14▪bring forth fruit in due ſeaſon. Wherefore when we goe to heare a Sermon, we muſt endeuour by all meanes to emptie and diſburden our ſelues of all ſuch thoughts, caſting them from vsus as Thales did his goods, chooſing rather to drowne them, then let them drowne vsus by trouble and diſtraction.
Qu. What is the third particular hinderance?
An. A conceit and ouerweening of ſome ſingular knowledge, and furniture of Bookes and reading, whereby they come with ſuch a preiudice as will not ſuffer them to reape any profit by the Word preached.
Qu. What are the moſt conuenient remedies for the remouing of this euill?
An. To this purpoſe wee are firſt to call to minde, that the preaching of the Goſpell is the power of God to ſaluation, not to the ſimple and vnlearned only, but euen to Rom. 1. 16.eueryevery one that beleeueth.
Secondly, That theſe Myſteries are of that nature and ſo diſpoſed by the prouidence of GOD, that they are often reuealed to babes in knowledge & learning, when they are hid from the wiſe and prudent, and therefore the Mat. 11. 25more wittie, learned, & quicke of conceit that men are, the more need they hauehave to reſort to the Houſe of God with feare and trembling.
Thirdly, The examples of Gods faithfull Seruants. Dauid was not only a wiſe, and wittie Prince, but a holy Prophet likewiſe, and a man for his pietie and other ſpirituall graces moſt deare and acceptable to God: yet who more deſirous and forward to heare Pſal. 42. & 84. & 122. &c. Acts 18. 36.the Word of God then hee? Aquila and Priſcilla had better knowledge then Apollos himſelfe an eloquent Preacher, yet they diſdayned not to heare him: Nor hee them, though hee were more learned in other things.
Laſtly, the publike Aſſemblies of the Church hauehave more ſingular promiſes of Pſal. 29. 9. Ioel 2, 22. Rom▪ 10. 13, 14, 15. Mat. 15. 19, 20.GODS preſent Grace and bleſſings, as may appeare by ſundry places of Scripture.
Qu. What is the fourth hinderance?
An. A partiall, or rather ſchiſmaticall reſpect of perſons, ſuch as was in the Church of Corinth, where 1. Cor. 3. 3, 4ſom extolled one, & ſome another, ſome Paul, ſome Apollos?
Qu. Whence proceedeth this reſpect of perſons?
An. It proceedeth originally from the hearers, either from the ignorance of their mindes; or from the corruption of their hearts; and occaſionally from the Teachers, in reſpect of the diuerſitie of their gifts, and manner of handling of the Scriptures.
Qu. How are men hindered by their owne ignorance, and corruption?
An. When for want of Iudgement and Sanctimonie, they preferre ſuch as ſpeake pleaſing things, and tickle their eares with Eloquent tearmes, pleaſant ſtories, and wittie Ieſts, and cannot away with thoſe that ſpeake the words of truth and ſoberneſſe, Acts 26. Titus 2. 1.and the things as the ſame Apoſtle ſaith, that become wholſome doctrine. Eſpecially, if they doe plainly, and roundly lay their ſins 1. Kings. 22 7, 8.before them. Hence it was that Ahab could not endure Acts 24. 25.Michajah. This made Felix cut off Paul in the midſt of his ſpeech, and put him off till Mat. 14.another time. Hence ſprang the Impriſonment of Iohn Baptiſt by Herod.
Qu. What are the remedies againſt this hinderance?
An. For a remedy againſt this euil we are to conſider, Firſt, that ſuch partiall reſpect of Gods Miniſters 1. Cor. 3. 4.argueth a carnall, and a fleſhly minde, and ſheweth that wee are Babes and Children in Chriſtianitie.
Secondly, That by this partialitie wee giuegive to man more then his due, and take from Chriſt that which of 1. Cor. 11, 12, 13. & 3. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5right belongeth to him as appeareth.
Thirdly, That this diuerſitie and vnequalitie of gifts is not giuen for the renting and deſtroying, but for the building, and the beautifying of the Church of Chriſt, euen as the diuerſitie, and varietie of flowres in the ſame Garden differing in colour, ſmell, taſte and vertue, bring no confuſion nor deformitie: but doe decke the ground, and ſerue for the vſe and comfort of man: And the manifold varietie of ſtrings and Inſtruments doe make the ſweeteſt harmonie.
Fourthly, Remember that no Miniſter excelleth in all gifts: and yet no true Miniſter but hath ſome ſpeciall gifts and graces of edification. One is more profound in knowledge to informe the iudgement: another more powerfull in vtterance, for the inflaming of the affection: one is more fit to humble, and beate downe the proud, careleſſe and conceited perſons; another to comfort and raiſe vp penitent ſinners: one hath a ſpeciall grace to worke godly ſorrow, another to procure Mat. 11. 16 17, &c. Luke 10. 16ſupernaturall comfort and ioy.
Fiftly, Remember that the contempt of any true Miniſter is the contempt of God himſelfe.
Sixtly, Let it bee kept in mind that Chriſtian Hearers looke rather to the pith, and ſubſtance of the matter, then to the enticements and paintings of the ſpeech.
Quest. What is the fift hinderance to bee remooued before the Sermon?
Anſ. The fift (which may be referred to the former) is a certayne hatred of the Miniſters and loathing of the Miniſterie, ſuch as was in the Iewes, which made them to Acts 7. 55, 57.fret at Chriſt, and ſtop their eares againſt him.
Queſt. Whence ariſeth this hatred of the Miniſters, and Miniſterie?
Anſ. Sometime from the perſonall behauiour of the Miniſter himſelfe, but commonly from the matter which he deliuereth, whereby the Errors of their Iudgement, and corruptions of their hearts and liues, are laid open, and reprooued. This 1. Kings 18. 1. Kings 22.made Ahab to count Elias his Enemie, And to hate Michaiah. Mat. 14.And Herod for the like Marke 6.cauſe committed Iohn Baptiſt, as before you heard.
Qu. What bee the remedies againſt this hinderance?
An. Let ſuch haters and deſpiſers of the Miniſterie conſider that,
Firſt, They deſpiſe not 1. Sam. 8. 7. Luke 10▪ 16 Iohn 13. 22. 1. Theſ. 4. 8. 2. Cor. 5. …0.man but God, for all true Miniſters are the Lords Ambaſdours.
Secondly, They doe greatly preiudice themſelues, in Rom. 1. 16.neglecting, much more in lothing the meanes of their comfort and ſaluation. Men willingly bow to the tree that yeeldeth them ſhadow: How much more then ought they to ſubmit themſelues to the grace of God, that bringeth Titus 1. 11.Saluation, &c.
Thirdly, It is a point of godly wiſdome to diſtinguiſh betweene the perſons and the Offices, and not to depriue our ſelues of the fruit of the Word for the fault of the Teacher. In outward things men are wiſe: No man will refuſe a good Workman for ſome perſonall ſinnes. Hee that mindeth to build a houſe will not thinke the worſe of the Worke becauſe the Carpenter is wicked, Hee that is hungry will not refuſe his meate, becauſe the Cooke that dreſſed it is a Drunkard: why then ſhould we diſtaſte the food of our ſoules by reaſon of the ſinnes of him that doth diſtribute it vntounto vsus? would any man refuſe the Princes gift, becauſe the Meſſenger that bringeth it is a Machiauillian, &c.
Qu. What elſe maketh men lothe the Miniſterie?
An. Beſides that naturall corruption which is common to all, there is in many a ſatietie, and fulneſſe, now (as Salomon ſaith) Hee that is full Pro. 27. 7.deſpiſeth a Hony-combe; but to him that is hungry, far bitterer things are ſweet.
Secondly, That rebukes and threatnings though they bee tedious to the fleſh, yet they are wholſome Medicines to the ſoule, and ſtrong defences againſt Satan, &c. And therefore they ſhould pray with Dauid, Let the Pſal. 141.righteous ſmite me, &c. and prayſe God becauſe the righteous hath ſmitten them, as men doe for the Chirurgian when hee hath healed them, euen by painfull ſearching and inciſion.
Qu. What is the ſixt impediment to bee ſtriuen againſt?
An. The length of the way, fouleneſſe of the weather, weakneſſe in the parties, want of meanes to carrie them, &c.
Qu. What incouragements hauehave wee to ouercome theſe impediments?
An. Wee hauehave, Firſt, the Law that God laid vponupon the Exod. 23. 17 Deut. 12. 11, 12.Iſraelites, to appeare before the Lord three times eueryevery yeare, and that with their whole Family, and not emptie handed, vntounto the place appointed by God, which muſt needs be far off from a number of their dwellings.
Secondly, The promiſe of Exo. 34. 24.ſauing them from their Enemies while they were ſo imployed. Now conſidering that God is the God of the Gentiles, as well as of the Iewes, it cannot bee but that the Gentiles are proportionably bound both to obey the Commandements, and beleeue the promiſes giuen to the Iewes: though there bee ſome particular differences 1. Kings 2. Kin. 4. 23 Luke 2. 42. Acts 2. 5. & 8. 27. Mat. 5. 32.betwixt them.
Thirdly, The practice and examples of the godly in former times both of the Old and New Teſtament.
Fourthly, By compariſon; if men take ſuch Iournies, and make ſuch ventures, for their bodily prouiſion, How much more ought they to do for the good of their ſoules?
Qu. What ſay you to the aged, ſicke, and ſuch as hauehave young Children?
An. Touching all theſe in generall, care muſt be had.
Firſt, that they make not a neceſſitie where none is.
Secondly, They muſt endeuour though they cannot goe all at once, nor euerie Lords Day, yet that they goe as oft as they can by turnes eueryevery one in his courſe.
Thirdly, they muſt be more carefull to aske queſtions, and to deſire repetition of the Sermon, of them that were there.
Fourthly, They muſt keepe no more at home with them, then of Neceſſitie they need, and ſuch they may lawfully keepe to attend vponupon themſelues being aged, ſickly, impotent, hauing children, &c. for herein the ſaying of the Holy Ghoſt may be remembred, 1. … 15. 22.Obedience is better then Hoſe 6. 6.Sacrifice. And againe, I will hauehave MercieMercy and not Sacrifice.
Qu. What is the ſeuenth impediment?
An. The laſt and greateſt let (which comprehendeth in effect all the former,) is carnall Securitie, Impenitencie, Worldlineſſe, vncleanneſſe of life, &c, which things either withdraw men altogether from hearing, or elſe make them heare with a deafe eare, and a dead heart, &c.
Qu. What is the remedie hereof?
An. True and vnfayned Repentance, and eſpecially that one fruit and companion thereof, which may be called care and deſire both to know, beleeue and obey the Lord, ſpeaking vntounto vsus in his holy Word: for it cannot bee but by the bleſſing of God, they muſt needs profit that goe to the publike Aſſemblies, as the Souldiers, Publicanes and people came to Iohn Baptist, Luke 3. 10, 11, 12.ſaying, What ſhall wee doe? Eſpecially when they be touched to the quicke with the feeling of their ſinne, and terrour of GODS Iudgement hanging ouer their heads for the ſame, as the people were, Acts 2. 37. And the Iayler.Acts 2. 37. & 16. 30.
Qu. You hauehave ſhewed mee what impediments are to bee auoyded: now let mee know what duties are to bee performed concerning this point?
An. Firſt, let ſuch as bee Gouernors of Families bring as neere as may bee their whole Family with them, excepting only ſuch as are apparantly like to take hurt, by reaſon of their ſickneſſe, or to diſturbe the Congregation by reaſon of their vnrulines, that they may ſhew the zeale Ioſhua 24. 15. Heſter 4. 16.of faithfull Ioſua, ſaying, I, and my houſhold will ſerue the Lord, and with holy Heſter, I and my Maides will doe likewiſe, that is, faſt and pray.
Qu. What is the ſecond dutie?
An. Such as hauehave Neighbours muſt endeauour to encourage and quicken them to ioyne in company, and to goe together to the Houſe of God, ſaying, as it is in Eſay, O houſe of Iacob come, and let Eſay 2. 5. Hoſe 6. 1.vsus walke in the light of the Lord, and with the woman of Samaria, Come and ſee a man, Iohn 4.&c. ſo let vsus ſay, Come and heare a man, &c. The performance of this holy dutie made Dauid glad at the very Pſal. 12….heart. Thus Philip, and Andrew did inuite Nathaneel Iohn 1. 45.and Simon to come vntounto Chriſt whom they had found before.
Qu. What is the third dutie?
An. As we goe to the place of publike Aſſemblies, wee muſt bee occupyed and exerciſe our minds with religious and holy Meditations, not ſuffering our owne luſts and cares of the World, and Satan with them to creepe in and enter with vsus into the Houſe of God.
Qu. What be thoſe holy Meditations which we ought to hauehave?
An. Diuers, as hath been partly ſhewed before, as namely, Firſt, before whom we come, namely, before him who is King of Kings, &c.
Secondly, What thing we 1. Tim. 6. 15 Pro. 9. 1. &c.come to, namely, a ſupernaturall Banquet and heauenly Table for the refreſhing and ſatisfying of our faint and hungry ſoules, which will worke alacritie, as the former will humilitie. We ſee how it taketh vp mens hearts if it goe to ſpeake with an earthly King, and to heare him ſpeak with them and bid them to to his Table. How much Pro. 23. 1.more, when wee goe before the King of Heauen and Earth to ſpeake to him by Prayer, and to heare him by Preaching, and by both theſe as alſo by the Sacraments to feaſt and feed with him?
Thirdly, We muſt remember more particularly, the fruit of Gods Word, and the efficacie thereof, in that it is called, The Kingdome of Heauen, Mat▪ 3. 2.The meanes to keepe vsus Luke 16. 29 Iohn 5. 39. 1. Pet. 1. 19.from Hell, The treaſurie of eternall life, A ſure word of Propheſie, compared to a light that ſhineth in a darke place, and is not only food to nouriſh vsus: but alſo Seed to Iames 1. 18 1. Pet. 1. 23. Iames 1. 21. Pſal. 119. 53 92.beget vsus, Beeing able to ſaue our ſoules, That which will ſupport vsus, and quicken vsus in Ier. 15. 15, 18.our greateſt troubles, beeing the very ioy of our hearts.
Qu. What is the fourth dutie?
An. Fourthly, wee are to reade and meditate in priuate with others if wee may fitly, and by our ſelues vponupon that place of Scripture that is to bee handled in the publike Aſſembly, for if a godly man Pſal. 1. 2.ought to meditate day and night in the Law of the Lord; How can he be negligent vponupon the Day of the Lord in thinking of that Scripture, which is to bee handled in the Houſe of the Lord? And if the whole doctrine of the Goſpell ought Col. 3. 16.to dwell plentifully in vsus alwayes; How can we but poſſeſſe our ſelues of that part of the Goſpell or Word of God, which wee goe now to feede our ſoules withall? Moreouer, a Chriſtian ſhall better remember the matter which is deliuered, when hee hath thought of the ground of it before: and alſo diſcerne more cleerely the grace, and power of the publike Miniſterie ſo farre exceeding his priuate Meditations, or otherwiſe the weakneſſe of the Miniſter if hee want either that gift that he ſhould hauehave, or be negligent in that ſtudie Col. 4. 3.and preparation which hee ought to vſe.
Qu. What is the fift duty to be vſed of the Hearers before the Sermon?
An. Hee muſt powre forth faithfull and heartie Prayer, firſt for himſelfe, that God will enlighten his mind, confirm… his Memorie, reforme his Will, ſoften his Heart, purifie his Conſcience, that hee may grow in the knowledge of his heauenly Doctrine, lay hold of it by a true Faith, and turne the ſame into the daily, and wholſome exerciſes of Praier and Repentance, herein imitating Pſal. 25. 4, 5. & 119. 18. 33. Luke 17. 5.the Prophet Dauid, and the Apoſtles.
Secondly, For the people that ſhall ioyne with him, eſpecially thoſe of his owne Family. For if ſuch be worſe then Infidels, as make not bodily prouiſion for their Families; they cannot bee Chriſtians that neglect this part of prouiſion for their ſoules.
Thirdly, For their Miniſters: for if Paul beeing ſo excellent an Apoſtle, needed the Prayers of the Epheſians, Eph. 6. 19.much more doe the ordinarie Paſtors, and Teachers of the Church need the ſame.
Qu. Wherefore elſe is Prayer neceſſarie?
An. Becauſe, Firſt, God only giueth wiſdome, and out Pro. 2. 6.of his mouth commeth knowledge and vnderstanding.
Secondly, Fleſh and bloud reuealeth not thoſe things to vsus, but God our heauenly Mat. 16. 17Father.
Thirdly, The naturall man perceiueth not the things 1. Cor. 2. 16.which belong to the Spirit of God.