The Boring of the Ear, Chapter 4
CHAP. IIII.
Qu. HAth not the hearer diſcharged his dutie when hee hath heard the whole Sermon attentiuely?
An. No, although there be ſcarce one of a hundred who doth not thinke ſo.
Qu. What then is to bee done?
An. Firſt, Men are not to go out of the Church ſo ſoone as the Sermon is ended, but ſtay the Prayer, Bleſſing, and Sacraments when they are adminiſtred.
Qu. Why ſo?
An. Touching Prayer, it is one principall part of the worſhip of God in the publike Aſſemblies, and therefore cannot bee ſo deſpiſed without ſinne. Beſides, it is the exerciſe wherby al things are bleſſed and ſanctified vntounto vsus. Finally, how can wee receiue ſo great a bleſſing at Gods hands, and depart from his preſence without giuing of thankes?
Qu. What other reaſon is there?
An. If it would bee counted a thing vncomely, and vndutifull, to ſtand before an earthly King as a dead Image, and ſo ſoone as euer his ſpeech were ended, to turne thy backe vponupon him without any Requeſt or Thankeſgiuing: How much more to deale thus with him that is, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords?
Qu. Why muſt wee ſtay the Sacraments?
An. Becauſe they are the publike Seales of the mutuall Couenant betweene GOD and vsus, whereby hee bindeth himſelfe to bee our God, and wee our ſelues to bee his people, and therefore wee are to bee preſent, not only at the Lords Supper, which belongeth to all Beleeuers that are of diſcretion to examine themſelues: but alſo at the adminiſtration of Baptiſme, whereby the ſame Couenant of Grace and forgiueneſſe of ſinnes is ſealed vntounto vsus.
Qu. Is it requiſite for mee of yeares to be preſent at the catechizing?
An. Yes, For firſt, many are men in yeares, which are Babes in knowledge.
Secondly, It is a thing of good example, both for the encouragement of youth, and alſo of the Miniſter himſelfe when hee ſhall ſee them preſent that can iudge of his paines.
Thirdly, By this meanes the elder ſort ſhall bee better able to examine and conferre with the yonger at home.
Qu. Why muſt people ſtay the bleſſing?
An. Becauſe the LORD commanding his Miniſter to bleſſe the people, doth neceſſarily imply their ſtaying till the bleſſing bee pronounced: elſe hee ſhould not bleſſe the people, but the bare Walles, which were to take the Num. 6. 23, 24.Name of God in vaine.
Qu. What is the ſecond dutie to bee done after the Sermon?
An. Such things as hauehave beene deliuered at Church muſt be, (as it were) chewed by Meditation, and turned ouer againe at home▪ after the example of the men of Berea, Acts 17. 10 11.for the quickning of our memorie, increaſing of our Knowlege, ſtrengthening of our Faith, &c.
Qu. What is the third dutie?
An. Parents and Maſters Exo. 12. 26. Deu 6. 2. 21 Ioſhua 4. 6.muſt demand, and take account of their people, of the things they hauehave heard.
Qu. Why ſo?
An. Becauſe, Firſt, they are to hauehave a care of their ſoules as well as of their bodies.
Secondly, They that will winne others to Godlineſſe, muſt beginne with them betime, Salomon ſaith.
Thirdly, By this meanes they ſhal frame them to more conſcience of their dutie in ciuill matters, and in the ordinary workes, and labours of their calling.
Qu. What is the fourth dutie?
An. To conferre godly of that which hath beene taught by the way, and at our Tables; and not according to the wicked cuſtome of a great number, to fall preſently into idle and vnſauourie ſpeeches, or Diſcourſes of Worldly matters, yea, to ſcoffing, and carping at the doctrine, or at the Teacher thereof.
Qu. What profit commeth hereby?
An. By ſuch godly ſpeeches Chriſt is after a ſort inuited, and drawne into our company by the preſence of Luke 24▪ 15 32. Phil. 4▪ 9. Epheſ. 4. 29, 30.his Spirit, as hee was to thoſe two Diſciples in perſon that went to Emaus.
Qu. What ſay you then to ſuch as doe not vſe this conference?
An. They are like that member of the naturall bodie, which keeping all the food to it ſelfe, and not imparting the ſame to the members adioyning, doth in ſhort time corrupt both himſelfe and them.
Qu. What is the fiſt dutie?
An. To keepe in minde that the Sabbath is not ended as ſoone as the Sermon is done: and therefore not to meddle with Worldly matters: but to ſpend the reſt of the time in Prayer, Reading, Repetition, ſinging of Pſalms, &c. according to the ſcope of the fourth Commandement. Therefore they are greatly deceiued who thinke they hauehave ſufficiently ſanctified the Sabbath, when they hauehave heard a Sermon ſuperficially in the fore-noone: And they likewiſe who vainly perſwade themſelues that the Sanctification of the Lords Day conſiſteth chiefly in abſtayning from the works and labours of their callings, and yet will paſſe the ſame away in diuers vanities, laſciuious Dancings, Drinkings, and bodily pleaſures.
Qu. May no bodily labours bee performed on the Lords Day?
An. Yes, ſuch as are neceſſarily required for the health, welfare, and defence of our ſelues or our Neighbour, and could not well bee diſpatched the day before, nor deferred till the day following. For in ſuch caſes the Mat. 12. 8. Mark. 2. 27.Sonne of man is Lord of the Sabbath Day. Wherefore the Macchabees did fooliſhly in ſuffering themſelues to bee ſlaine without reſiſtance becauſe it was the Sabbath 1. Mac. 2. 36.Day, which error afterwards they decreed to reforme.
Qu. What is the ſixt dutie?
An. If we hauehave heard any thing that ſeemed darke, and doubtfull to vsus, not to be diſcouraged, but to confer with Phil. 1. 9, 10our godly Paſtor that wee may know the things that differ.
Qu. Why muſt wee doe this?
An. Firſt, We vſe it in the things of this World, much more then ought wee to doe it in the things that concerne eternall life.
Mal. 2 7. M t. 13. 36 Iohn 16. 19. Acts 8. 34.Secondly, The Prieſts lips preſerue knowledge, &c.
Thirdly, Examples teach the ſame thing.
Qu. What is the ſeuenth dutie?
An. EueryEvery godly hearer muſt ſound and ſearch his owne heart, and accordingly ſentence and cenſure himſelfe touching that which he hath heard, how farre forth hee hath beene rebellious againſt the ſame, or yeelded obedience thereunto.
Qu. What will this ſifting of the heart bring forth?
An. If we find a ſweet harmonie and conſent betweene Gods Word and our wills, it wil worke in vsus ioy and peace of conſcience, with Thankeſgiuing to God, whoſe meere grace, and free gift it is: otherwiſe it ought to humble vsus, and worke that godly ſorrow in vsus which Paul ſpeaketh of, 2. Cor. 7. 10.and cauſe vsus to purge out that old leauen ſpoken of, 1. Cor. 1 Cor. 5. 7.5. 7.
Qu. What is the eighth dutie?
An. It is, that all Chriſtians, eſpecially Superiours, doe endeauour to redreſſe and reforme ſuch as belong to their care and charge, by a more ſpeciall applying of ſuch things as are deliuered in Sermons, to their ſpeciall ſinnes and tranſgreſſions, doubts or feares, whereby they ſhall diſcharge a brotherly dutie, and inure the other to thinke more deeply and fruitfully of the things that are taught.
Qu. What followeth of all this?
An. Hence it appeareth, Firſt, how hard and excellent a thing it is not only to preach, but alſo to heare Sermons profitably.
Secondly, It ſheweth how farre they be out of the way of diſcharging their dutie, who hauehave ſuperficially ſpent an houre or two either in preaching or hearing.
Qu. What then ſhould faithfull Miniſters doe?
An. They ought with all care to apply themſelues to performe this dutie of preaching holily and fruitfully.
Firſt, by diligent ſtudie and meditation at home.
Secondly, By a zealous deliuering of the ſame in the Church.
Thirdly, By Prayer, and watching for the profit of their Doctrine both in themſelues and others.
Qu. What may prouoke them hereunto?
An. The promiſes of GODS Word ſet downe, Dan. 12. 3. 2. Tim. 4. 7, 8.Eſay 49. 4. and in other places.
Qu. What muſt good people doe?
An. Firſt, prepare themſelues with great Religion to heare the Word, and to vſe all reuerence and attention in the hearing.
Secondly, to endeauour with like Religion to expreſſe and practiſe it in the whole courſe of their life.
Qu. What ſhould mooue them hereunto?
Luke 11. 28An. Becauſe (as Chriſt ſaith) Bleſſed are they that heare the Word of God, and keepe the ſame. And the Apoſtle ſaith, Iames 1. 21.The Word thus receiued is able to ſaue their ſoules.
FINIS.
End of the text · Stephen Egerton, The Boring of the Ear (1623)