A Help to Holy Walking, Treatise · Chapter 3
CHAP. III. Directions in Hearing the Word.
HAving given you ſome general Directions neceſſary in all Duties, without which no duty, either to God, or Man can be acceptable to God. I ſhall next deſcend to ſome particulars which God requires at our hands, and lay down ſome Directions, how they may be performed to God's Glory, and the Souls Advantage; for 'tis not the meer doing of a duty, but the well doinging of it that attains theſe ends. The firſt I ſhall mention, is that great duty of hearing God's Word: (As for the Preaching of it, I ſhall give Directions among thoſe Relative duties; which, God willing, I intend to Treat of in it's place.) If I could ſufficiently inſtruct you in this, I need not ſpeak much of the reſt; for this would be a help in all the other: for in the Word are Directions for the other alſo. I need not ſtand to prove this is a duty, I hope few will deny it. As for thoſe that are above Ordinances, ſo as to neglect them, Time hath diſcovered their Folly: doth not God ſend his Meſſengers to Preach, and is it not our duty to Hear? The Apoſtle tells us, Neceſſity is laid upon him, and woe to him if he preach not the Goſpel, 1 Cor. 9.18. And is Preaching their duty, and is not Hearing ours? Yea, doth not Chriſt himſelf teach us how to Hear? And gives us Cautions to that purpoſe; to take heed how we hear, And what we hear? Mark 4.24. Luke 8.18. And oftentimes calls upon thoſe that have Ears to hear, that they ſhould hear; and in many Parables gives Directions about hearing, as in the Parable of the Sower and the Seed; of the good Seed, and the Tares, and many more. But my buſineſs is at preſent only by way of Motive, to put you on to the Duty; and by way of Direction to help you in it: I ſhall at preſent uſe thoſe Motives, drawn from the benefit of the Word; for who is not moved with Profit and Gain? But here is the greateſt gain to be had, 'tis the ordinary means to bring Men to Chriſt; I ſay, the ordinary means, for God is not tyed to it, Rom. 10.14,17. Faith cometh by hearing; to this end God ſends Paul to the Gentiles, to open their Eyes, and to turn them from Darkneſs to Light, and from the power of Satan unto God, Acts 26.17,18. When Chriſt met with Paul in the way, Acts 9.9,10. He doth not Inſtruct him himſelf, but ſends him to be Inſtructed by Ananias; and when he ſent an Angel to Cornelius, it was not to Preach the Goſpel to him, but to direct him to Peter, Acts 10.35. It was by Preaching that Peter Converted 3000. at one time, Acts 2.37.41. The Word is the Seed, that being ſown in a good heart, fructifies abundantly, Mat. 13.8. The neglect of this is threatned, Mat. 10.14. Whoſoever ſhall not receive you, nor hear your words, &c. It ſhall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of Judgment, than for them; and few are brought in that neglect this Duty: Nay, 'tis of daily uſe to thoſe that are Converted, to build them up; it is the Milk that muſt nouriſh them, and make them grow; for where there is Life, there muſt be Food: David, by this means became wiſer than his Teachers, and had more Underſtanding than the Antient, and what condition ſoever a poor ſoul is in here, he may find directions. Art thou in ſorrow and diſtreſs? here conſolation is to be had; here the Soul by faith ſucks ſweetneſs out of the Promiſe: art thou in affliction? here are Cordials to uphold a fainting heart, directions to bear them well, and promiſes of a ſeaſonable deliverance: if thou run aſtray, here thou maiſt hear a voice behind thee, ſaying, this is the way walk in it, God hath here ſet way-marks to guide thee: If thou be dead, or dull, here are rouſing conſiderations to quicken thee: if thy faith be weak, here it may be ſtrengthned: if thy Soul be ſin ſick, here is a Phyſitian directed to, and a Potion preſcribed will effect the cure: If thou art troubled with Satans Temptations, here is Armour of proof, the Sword of the Spirit for thy defence, with which Chriſt himſelf broke the Serpents head, Mat. 4.4,7,10. In a word, here is that way to life pointed out unto thee, that will never fail; when all the learning in the World, and all Humane Policy, and good Meanings and Intentions will deceive: now that thou maiſt hear with profit, take theſe directions following.
1. Direct. If thou wouldſt hear with Profit, reſolve then to break through all the difficulties, and oppoſitions that lye in thy way; for doubtleſs there will be many ſnares laid for thee, and thou wilt find many hinderances to this duty; many Enemies will appear, and without a ſtrong Reſolution to go through, what ever danger lyes in the way, thou wilt hardly hold out. I do not mean that the curſory hearing of the Word is thus oppoſed, but the practiſing of it when heard. The Devil is a ſworn Enemy, and therefore expect he will do his worſt. Thou ſhalt find, that if he can have his will, there ſhall never Godly Miniſter be ſetled: Do you not ſee what oppoſiton is rais'd, what contention breaks out, before a faithful Paſtor can be ſetled; what Inſtruments doth he uſe to hinder the work? Who will neither ſpare Coſt nor pains in the buſineſs. Or, if they be ſetled, how oft doth he raiſe one or other to worry them, and make them weary of their places, if not of their Lives? For he knows ſuch as theſe Diſcover his wiles, and hinder his Trade; and if he can but ſtop their Mouths, and drive them out into the Wilderneſs, he may Rule without controul. It be not the Drunken, Debauched Clergy that he fears, theſe bring Fiſh to his Net. If this will not prevail, he endeavours then to work ſuch a prejudice in the Hearers Hearts, to their Miniſters, that they ſeldom profit by them: if they can have nothing againſt them, but concerning the Law of their God, yet he perſwades them they are Phanaticks, becauſe more ſerious in Religion than ſome others are; and ſo diverts what he can from hearing them, and then he thinks himſelf ſure of them. Sometimes he ſets them about their Worldly buſineſs, or to go to Fairs, &c. He knows there is no danger to him in that; or perſwades them to drouſe, or ſleep out their time, or ſit idly at home, or ſpend the Sermon time at Dice, or Cards, or other unlawful Games: For others, he hath a Companion at the Ale-houſe door to call them; he knows there they are ſecure. If thou break through theſe difficulties, he will endeavour to lull thee aſleep in the Congregation; or if awake, to diſtract thy thoughts with Worldly buſineſs, that when thy Body is in the Congregation, thy mind ſhall be in the ſhop or Fields; or, perhaps, he may let thy Eyes wander upon this Beauty, or that new Faſhion, and thus divert thy mind from thy Duty. And thoſe that would be very attentive at a Stage-Play, are very heartleſs at a Sermon, as if it did not ſo much concern them; or, if thou doſt hear attentively, yet he will make thee a forgetful Hearer, and pick up the Seed as faſt as 'tis ſown, Mat. 13.4.19. How often do men leave all behind them at the Church door? and that man cannot give an Account of one paſſage in a whole Sermon, that can give you a large account of a Stage-Play, or idle Tale, or Story; or, if any thing be remembred, it muſt be ſome miſexpreſſion, or ſomething that muſt render the Preacher contemptible, and ſo bring him into Queſtion: And if they remember any thing that is good, the Devil perſwades them they ſhall never practice it; or, at leaſt, defer it till hereafter: or if they practice any, it muſt be the light, and cheap, and eaſie part of Duty, and ſo as good never a whit, as never the better. Theſe, and a thouſand ſuch, are the wiles of the Devil to keep thy Soul in bondage, which if he do, thou art undone for ever. He hath Inſtruments alſo which he ſets on work, wicked men; ſome to draw, and ſome to drive; ſome by one means, ſome by another, to hinder thee. Oh! take heed what you do, ſays one, you will run your ſelf upon the pike of danger; you'l make your ſelf contemptible to the World, ſaith another; you'l hazard your Eſtate, or Liberty, crys a third; our Fore-Fathers, ſaith another, were honeſt men, yet never followed theſe Courſes. Others, on the other hand, will load you with ſcoffs, and ſcorns; and if this ſerve not, with down-right Perſecution: and, which is moſt dangerous, thy own deceitful heart will ſide with Satan, and help to betray thee; Carnal reaſon is ready to ſuggeſt, what need ſo much ado, there was never good World ſince there was ſo much Preaching? when, alas! the cauſe is not in the much Preaching, but in the little practice. Now, having ſo many Enemies, you muſt come with a full Reſolution to break through, or never begin.
2. Direction, If thou wouldeſt profit by the word Preached; be ſure to propound to thy ſelf right ends, & take heed of the by ends, wch. many bring; 'tis the end that makes or marres the action; many glorious works have been ſpoiled by a bad end. Let the duty be never ſo excellently performed, if the end thou aimeſt at in the performance be not right, the duty is abominable in Gods account; thus the Faſting, Prayer, and Almes deeds of the Phariſees, though all commanded duties, were by God rejected, becauſe it was popular applauſe they aimed at, Mat. 6.1,2,3, &c. Thou maiſt hear all the daies of thy life to no profit, as too many do, if thy ends be not good; ask thy ſelf therefore this queſtion, when thou comeſt to the Ordinance: What do I here? or what errand come I about? what is my end in coming? or what do I deſire? or would get by hearing? and get thy Heart and Conſcience to return an anſwer; and if thy ends ariſe no high-than thy ſelf, they are falſe and deceitful: if every man would ſpeak out, or if we could hear the voice of Conſcience ſpeaking within them, we ſhould find many falſe hearted, that neither perform the duty in obedience to God, neither take they pleaſure in the duty it ſelf; may not ſome of you ſay? 'tis not love to God, or his Word, but for Cuſtomes ſake we come; We and our Fathers before us were alwayes good Churchmen; but if this be all, thy ends are low and baſe: others might ſay, we come to hear of ſome eaſier way to Heaven, wherein we might go with our Sins in our hearts, and the World upon our backs; but theſe Men cannot endure Soul-ſeeking Sermons, but cry out of ſuch Preachers, as Ahab of Micajah, he never Propheſies good of me, but evil; and therefore they hate them, as Herodias did John Baptiſt; and delights in thoſe that daub with untempered Mortar, and cry peace, peace, when there is no peace. Many, eſpecially of the Younger ſort, they come to ſee, and to be ſeen; to ſhew their New Cloaths, or obſerve the Faſhion that other wear; and being Examined, this is moſt they can remember. Many come that they may be accounted forward Proſeſſors, and are tickled with popular Applauſe; but when 'tis more in Credit to Perſecute than profeſs, theſe, perhaps, follow that Profeſſion. Some come, with the Butterflie, to paint her Wings, and theſe are all for gaudy Notions, and ſtore their Heads, and not their Hearts with what they Learn; ſome weary of their own Houſes, come to drive away the time; perhaps, to get a nap of ſleep; ſome come for fear of the Law, leſt that take hold upon them; and ſome to ſtop the mouth of Conſcience, which otherwiſe will give them no reſt; ſome come to ſpeak with a Friend, which otherwiſe they knew not how to meet with ſo conveniently; and as they came by chance, 'tis a great Chance if they receive any good by their coming: Some come to enquire out ſome good bargain, others to appoint ſome merry Meeting, or ſome drunken match, or Game at Cards, or Dice, or Bowls; and, perhaps, ſome come on purpoſe to entrap the Miniſter in his Words, or wreſt them to a wrong Sentence: theſe Mens memories are much like to Sives, they keep the refuſe, all the beſt runs through; Chriſt himſelf had ſuch Hearers: if theſe, or like to theſe, be thy ends, thy heart is rotten, thy Duties ſtink in God's Noſtrils, and they will never do thee good; thou mayſt expect a Curſe from God, and not a Bleſſing. But a true Chriſtian aims at higher ends, viz. that he may know his Maſters will, and knowing, may obey it, and may glorifie him by obeying; and by this means he may get nearer unto Chriſt, and have, and maintain more Communion with him; that he may know more of the Excellency that is in Chriſt; that he may be more enamoured on him; that he may ſee more of his own heart, and the deceitfulneſs of it; and more of the vileneſs of ſin, to hate it more; that we may have clearer Evidences of God's Love to his Soul, and of his Intereſt in Chriſt; theſe, and ſuch like are a Believers ends, in hearing the Word. If now thy ends be lower, 'tis a bad ſign of an Hypocritical, or Prophane heart.
3. Direct. If thou wouldſt profit by the Word preach'd, come unto it with thy heart rightly qualified, and rightly diſpoſed, with thy affections rightly ordered. One reaſon amongſt, others why ſo many come to, and return from the Word empty, is, becauſe the heart is not fitted for the Duty: get thy heart in Love with God; this is the way to thrive by his Word: how greedily do we read a Letter from a Friend, eſpecially if we expect ſome promiſe in it of ſome great Courteſie? the Word is Gods Epiſtle ſent from Heaven, ſtuff'd thick with gracious promiſes; if we entertain hard thoughts of God, we ſeldom profit by his word; get a love alſo to his Word, as David, O how love I thy law, it is my Meditation continually: we remember that which we love; What is the reaſon that many can remember an idle ſtory, or love ſong, or ſtage play, that cannot remember one paſſage, or ſentance in a whole Sermon? why, becauſe they love it better: exerciſe love alſo to the Miniſter, or thou wilt hardly profit by his preaching: prejudice is a great hindrance to the Soul. See this in Ahab, he had a prejudice againſt Micaiah, and hated him, and therefore his wholeſom counſel was rejected, 1 Kings 22.8. &c. The Phariſees alſo having a prejudice againſt Chriſt, carp't and cavilled with him; but few or none believed in him: which of the Scribes and Phariſees have believed on him? all his gratious words would not win upon them: and when a People have a prejudice againſt their Paſtour, ten to one they profit little by him. Come alſo with a believing heart, the word which they heard profited them not, becauſe it was not mixt with faith in them that heard it, Heb. 4.2. If the Devil can but bring us to this diſtruſt in God, and to call in queſtion the truth of his word; he hath what he would have: for who will leave a certain Inheritance, for an uncertain Hope? and take much pains when they doubt of a recompence; or leave beloved Sins, or perform ſelf denying duties, upon ſuch uncertainties? they ſhould bring alſo humble hearts to the duty, for 'tis the humble that God will teach, when he looks upon the proud afar off, James 4.5. 1 Pet. 5.5. A proud Spirit is like Laodicea, and thinks himſelf rich and wants nothing, when he is poor, and blind, and miſerable, and naked. Rev. 3.16,17. If there be any in the Congregation that ſet themſelves againſt God and his Word; 'tis commonly the Proud and ſelf conceited Perſons: it were them that ſet themſelves againſt Jeremy, Jer. 42.3. It were the Proud men that ſaid he ſpake falſly in the Name of the Lord. He that comes with abſence of his own wants, is moſt like to have a ſupply; he that comes with a conceit of his own righteouſneſs, is likely to go away empty; he fills the hungry with good things, but the rich he ſends empty away, Luk. 1.53. He that thinks he knows any thing, knows nothing, that he ought to know, 1 Cor. 8.2. Come therefore to the Ordinance with an Hungring, Longing, Thirſting, Panting deſire after this Bread of Life, and Sincere Milk of the Word; for then thou art moſt like to prevail for ſomthing to fill thy Soul. A full Soul loatheth the Hony-comb, but to an hungry Soul every bitter thing is ſweet: many Promiſes are made to the hungry; thoſe that hunger and thirſt after righteouſneſs are bleſſed, Mat. 5.6. theſe thirſting Souls ſhall have Wine and Milk, Chriſt and his Graces without Money or Moneys worth, Iſa. 5.51. Come not with a ſlight apprehenſion of, or a ſlight deſire after it, leſt it be denyed thee; ſet not light by it, as thoſe that were bidden to the Wedding. Mat. 22.2. &c. David had high prizing thoughts of it, it was ſweeter to him than honey, and the honey-comb, yea better than thouſands of Gold and Silver, Pſalm 19.10. and to Job, better than his appointed food: this made David meditate in it day and night; and by this means he came to have more underſtanding than his Teachers: bring alſo a mind free from Worldly cares, and fears, and deſires; theſe are the Thorns that choak the Word, Mat. 13.22. Bring not the Love of any ſin along with thee, for this will make the Word unprofitable: he that ſaith, I will not be made clean; God may ſay, thou ſhalt never be made clean; reſolve to obey the Word in the ſtricteſt paſſages of it.
4. Direct. Wouldeſt thou profit by the Word Preached? 'Tis neceſſary then that thou make ſome preparation for the receiving of it. The Heart of Man is compared to the Ground, the Miniſter to the Seeds-man, and the Word to the Seed. Now, you know the Ground muſt be prepared before the Seed be caſt in, otherwiſe thou canſt not rationally expect a Crop. The Body muſt be prepared, and the humours gathered to an head, before Phyſick work kindly: what buſineſs of moment can be done without preparation? And can we think, in this buſineſs of ſo great concernment, it is ſufficient to ruſh hand over head without conſideration? Some preparation ſhould be made before the Sabbath came, in ſetting thy Heart, as well as thy Houſe in Order; the Command is, to remember the Sabbath, to keep it Holy: And when the day is come, there are ſome Duties required before thou ruſh into the Congregation; perform thoſe Duties in thy Family, and in thy Cloſet that are required; beg of God a bleſſing upon the Ordinance, and upon the Miniſter, that he may ſpeak a word in ſeaſon to thy Soul, that it may meet with thy Corruption, and may ſtrengthen thy Grace, and benefit thy Soul: how canſt expect a Bleſſing, that doſt not beg for it? This is one cauſe that many go away barren, becauſe they came unprepared: Lay thy Heart open before God; ſay, as Samuel; ſpeak, Lord, for thy Servant heareth. In thy Prayer, open thy Soul to God; unlap thy Ears, and deſire a Plaiſter: offer up thy Sin-ſick Soul to this Phyſitian, that he may pour Oyl and Wine into thy Wounds; who knows but this may be the Time of Love, wherein God may ſay unto thy Soul, Live. Come with a reſolution to deny thy ſelf, thy Carnal wiſdom, and whatſoever ſhall be found contrary to the will and Command of God: Come not with a Reſolution to oppoſe God in any thing, though it be never ſo croſs to fleſh and blood, or to thy Carnal will, or Intereſt; or be never ſo oppoſite to thine own Natural Inclination or Appetite. Why ſhould we come to know our Duty, if we will not do it? Or our ſin, if we will not leave it? The word of God ſeldom works upon a fore-ſtalled affection. If thou knoweſt (and know thou mayſt, if thou carefully obſerve it) what hath uſually hindred thee in times paſt, from profiting by the Word; take heed of that for the time to come. Sometimes thou wilt find that it was Pride; thou ſets up thy own will againſt God. Sometimes paſſion; this put thy Heart out of Frame for the Duty. Sometimes Worldlyneſs; this filled thy Heart with vain thoughts: Beware of theſe for the time to come. Eſpecially beware of theſe ſins which are moſt predominant in thy Soul, for this will ſpoil the Duty. Come with a ſtrong Reſolution to Obey God in every thing. When he forbids any ſin, reſolve to leave it; when he Commands any Duty, ſet about it; for to what end elſe doſt thou hear, if it be only to know thy duty, and not to practice it; it will but procure thee the more ſtripes; but many are like thoſe ſilly Women, mentioned by the Apoſtle, ever Learing, and never come to the knowledge of the Truth. And they are like Balaam, let God deny them never ſo oft, they will come again; faln they would have a diſpenſation to ſin, and go to Heaven in a ſinful way. But we muſt, with good Old Ely, ſay, 'Tis the Lord, let him do with me as he liſteth. Or like Paul, Lord, what wouldeſt thou have me to do? Come alſo with a good ſtomach, then the Word would be ſavoury to thee; ſuch a man will not ſtrain courteſie, and carve all from himſelf, but greedily feed upon ſomething. Now, he meets with ſuch a man, ſaith one; now he hit ſuch a one home: but what is this to thee? Is nothing there that thou canſt eat? Get alſo ſome Acquaintance with the ſtate of thine own Soul, how the matter ſtands between God and thee, or otherwiſe thou canſt hardly divide the Word aright, and apply it: there are threatnings for obſtinate ſinners, and there are promiſes for the penitent; there is Milk for Babes, and ſtrong meat for Men. How wilt know thy own portion, if thou know not the ſtate of thine own Soul? If a ſick man come to an Apothecary's ſhop, and may make choice of what Medicine he pleaſeth, and yet neither know his Diſeaſe, nor what will Cure it, he may as well take, nay, 'tis more like that he will take that which is hurtful than that which is helpful. So a poor humbled ſinner oft-times lays hold of the threatning, which belongs not to him, and the preſumptuous man of the promiſe. And, laſtly, when Death comes, ſay to the World, ſtand by (as Abraham to his Servants) I will come again.
5. Direct. If thou wouldeſt profit by the Word Preached, come to the Ordinances with an hungring, thirſting deſire after it; this is the Food of Life, and 'tis only the hungring Soul that is rightly qualified for it; The full Soul loatheth the Honey-Comb, Prov. 27.7. What ſhould a full ſtomack do at a Feaſt? Or a full Soul at a Sermon? How ſweet, how good, how precious was the Word to David, Pſal. 19.10. And to Job, better than his appointed Food, Job 23.12. And how pitifully doth David complain when he found the want, Pſal. 120.5. And how earneſtly did he deſire it? And thirſt after it? Pſal. 42.1,2. As ever Chaſed Hart did for the Water-brooks; and hadſt thou ever taſted the ſweetneſs of the word, or rather of God in the word, I needed not words to have perſwaded thee to love it. But that I may ſet ſome edge upon thine Appetite, I ſhall deſire thee to conſider with me theſe few things: firſt, conſider whoſe word it is; is it not the word of that great God, that made Heaven and Earth, and all things therein contained? One that is able to make it good, both in the promiſes and threatnings: and is alſo Faithful, and will make it good? Heaven and Earth ſhall fail, rather than one tittle of his word be un-fulfilled; and ſhall we ſlight a Meſſage ſent from ſuch a one? Had a Potent Prince ſent a Meſſage, whether a promiſe, or threatning, how diligently ſhould we have read it? And how greatly ſhould we have been affected with it? with Joy, or Sorrow. Now, God ſends his Meſſengers with a Meſſage of peace, if we will accept it, if not, they are to denounce war; yea, and threaten everlaſting ruine, and deſtruction; and yet who regards it? Read the contents of his Letter, Deut. 28. throughout. Nay, the matter of this word of God is of greateſt concernment, were it but for trifles, it were no matter, but it is concerning Life and Death, nay, the everlaſting Salvation or Damnation of Soul and Body, and therefore not to be ſlighted; they are Fools that Jeſt with ſuch edged Tools. Here are Inſtructions drawn up how you may avoid Hell, and attain Heaven; how you may get rid of ſin, and get out of the Slavery of Satan; how you may have a Remedy for your ſin-ſick Souls, and a Plaiſter for your Wounds; how you may get an Intereſt in Chriſt, and a Title to glory: In a word, how you may avoid Miſery, and attain everlaſting Happineſs; and is not all this worth your ſerious conſideration? Again, here is a Rich Legacy bequeathed to you by your Heavenly Father, even exceeding great and precious Promiſes, more worth than the World; and are not theſe worth the reading? At theſe Breaſts of conſolation thou mayſt ſuck and be ſatisfied, for they can never be drawn dry; thou wilt never repent the pains thou takeſt this way. This Word alſo is excellent in it ſelf, and therefore called the Word of Salvation, Acts 13.26. as pointing out the only way to Salvation: the Word of Reconciliation, 2 Cor. 5.19. as holding out Chriſt the only Recōnciliator: the Word of Life, Phil. 2.16. as pointing out the only way to Life. Here alſo is contained our Evidence for Glory, and all we have to ſhew for Heaven; this tells us what Qualifications are neceſſary to Salvation: here we find a Redeemer, a Saviour, a Surety to diſcharge our Debts, and Redeem the Soul out of the Slavery of Satan; yea, out of the hands of Divine Juſtice: This is God's Love Letter, wherein he makes Love to ſinful Souls, and offers them Chriſt for a Husband, and Heaven with him for a joynture; here thou maieſt find a cure for a wounded Conſcience, and a ſin ſick Soul; when neither Men nor Means, neither Food nor Phiſick can do thee good; here is a Plaiſter pointed out to draw out the Vennom of ſin, and ſtaunch the blood; yea, the way to Eternal Life is here chalked out, and ſhall we trifle in ſuch things as theſe? many are the Promiſes made to thoſe that walk after this Rule, Rom. 3.12. and many are the threatnings againſt thoſe that contemn it, Deut. 19.20. Porv. 1.23,24. Iſa. 6.9,10. 1 Sam. 2.25. Methinks ſuch conſiderations ſhould breed an appetite to it.
6. Direction, If thou wouldeſt profit by the word, be ſure to carry thy ſelf well in the time of hearing; we muſt take heed how we hear, as well as what we hear; if thou ſhouldeſt make theſe preparations as before directed, yet all may be ſpoiled at laſt; Reſort therefore timely to the Ordinance, 'tis more fit for thee to wait for God, than God waite for thee; late coming argues a weak ſtomack, hungry Perſons will not ſtrive to be laſt at a feaſt, and an hungry Soul will make haſte where meat is to be had; and when thou art there behave thy ſelf reverently, ſet thy ſelf as in the preſence of the great God; ſay as Jacob, this is no other than the houſe of God, and the gate of Heaven: and carry thy ſelf as if God were preſent looking upon thee; many by their light behaviour manifeſt their little zeal: didſt apprehend God preſent before the eye of thy Soul, it would keep thine eyes from ſleeping, and thy heart from wandring; joyn with the Miniſter in every part of Gods worſhip; God is the God of order, and not of confuſion; a private Prayer is moſt ſuitable for a private place, and private duties as before ſhould be performed in the Cloſet, be more ready to hear, than to offer the ſacrifice of Fools, Eccleſ. 5.1. When the Miniſter prayes joyn with him, and pray with Devotion; when he ſings, ſing with the underſtanding, when he preacheth, here with attention; attend not only to the words, but to the ſence; and not only to the ſence, but alſo to the Divine Obligation that lyes upon thee; draw out all thy ſtrength in the performance of the duty; hear as if it were for thy Life, for thy Soul, for Eternity, as indeed it is, Deut. 32.46,47. Set your hearts upon all the words which I teſtifie among you this day, which you ſhall command your Children to obſerve: for it is not a vain thing for you, becauſe it is your life, and through this you ſhall prolong your daies; and you muſt not only hear with attention, but with underſtanding alſo; for how can you profit by it, or what good will it do you, if you underſtand it not? and yet ſome Miniſters (the more is the pity) ſeek to hide their meaning in a Cloud of words, and deliver their meſſage either in an unknown tongue, or in unknown Notions; and 'tis the folly of ſome hearers, that delight in thoſe Sermons they underſtand not, the Maſs bites not, but what wiſe man will delight to gnaw bones, that may have fleſh, Paul, had rather ſpeak five words in the Church to edification, than two thouſand in an unknown tongue, 1 Cor. 14.19. and when thou doſt underſtand it, prove it by the Scripture, and take it not upon truſt; 'tis Chriſts counſel, ſearch the Scriptures: and the Apoſtles, try all things, and hold faſt that which is good: and the Bereans are commended for ſo doing, Act. 17.11. and when you have found it to be wholeſome meat, apply it to the heart; this is the ſumm of all, and without this it will do you little good. what good will Meat do if not eaten? or Phiſick if not taken? or a Plaiſter if not applyed? do as an hungry man doth, lay hold on ſomething to feed upon, when nice ſtomacks carve away all to others: now he meets with this man, or that man, but did he ſay nothing to thee? will another mans meat feed thee? or another mans Phyſick make thee well? cloſe with it thy ſelf, lay thy heart open to the Word, ſtrive not againſt it, ſubmit to it, indeavour not by ſubtil Diſtructions, cunning Evaſions, falſe Gloſſes, partial Interpretations to evade the force of it, or blunt the edg, but with David when reproved, cry out I am the man; wreſt not out of Gods hand: if any ſin be reproved, reform it; if any duty preſt, practice it; if the Miniſter teach thee any thing thou knoweſt not before, remember it, and bleſs God for it.
7. Direction, If thou wouldeſt profit by the word preached, demean thy ſelf well then after hearing; 'tis not enough to give diligent attention, nay, to perform all the fore-going duties, for the moſt of the work lyes behind; when the Miniſter hath done, thy work begins; thou muſt call it to mind, ruminate upon it, do as the clean Beaſts under the Law, chew the Cud; what ever ſlips out of thy memory will do thee little good, 'tis what thou remembreſt, is moſt like to profit thee. Now to this end call to mind the Miniſters Method, what was his Text, how divided, how explained, what obſervations he raiſed, how they were proved, by what Scriptures, by what reaſons, how he applyed them, what marks or motives he gave under ſuch Uſes, &c. If he take not this method, which is exceeding good for the memory, yet obſerve at leaſt, what deſign he followed, what he driv'd at, what ſin he reproved, what duty he preſt, what grace he excited, and thus doing thou wilt gather up ſome gleanings of this Sermon; eſpecially obſerving if he preſt any duty thou neglecteſt, or reproved any ſin thou liveſt in: if all the reſt be forgotten, remember this, and what he taught thee that thou kneweſt not before; now when thou haſt thus called theſe things to mind, meditate upon them: for as Meat cannot nouriſh, if not digeſted, no more will the word till by meditation, thou makeſt it thy own; meat is eaſily caſt up when it lyes undigeſted in the ſtomack: ſo here when the Seed is ſown and not covered by harrowing, the Fowls of the Air pick it up; and when the word is not covered by mediration, the Devil ſteals it away, Mat. 13.4.19. If any thing lye dark or difficult to thee, go to the Miniſter, or ſome underſtanding Chriſtian to conferre of it, make known thy doubts, and this is a good way to get knowledg. The two Diſciples that came to Emaus, inquired by the way and diſcourſed: and 'tis thy duty to ſpeak of the Word in thy houſe, and as thou goeſt by the way, and when thou lieſt down, and when thou riſest up, Deut. 6.7. Oh what benefit might Chriſtians get, were they careful of this Duty? the word of God would then dwell plentuouſly in them; this would make a deeper impreſſion in the Heart, and would be a notable means to grow in knowledg. When thou haſt paſſed thus far, than preſs it upon thy own heart, for what good will it do thee otherwiſe: examine thy ſelf by the Marks and Characters, whether thou haſt thoſe gratious Qualifications, yea or no? whether thou art yet under the power of ſin and Satan? and whether delivered? and be accordingly affected: preſs home every reproof to thy ſelf, and ſee how far guilty thou haſt been; mourn for it, and reform; lay to heart every exhortation to duty, and let every motive ſtrengthen thy Reſolution, practice every direction, and make the beſt uſe of every paſſage for thy Souls good; and be ſure to practice what is taught thee: otherwiſe thou maiſt hear all the days of thy life to little purpoſe, 'tis not the hearers of the Law, but the doers that are juſtified; he that knoweth his Maſters will, and doth it not ſhall be beaten with many ſtripes; yea, 'tis not enough that thou practice it thy ſelf, but thou muſt endeavour that others may do ſo alſo: to this end thou muſt inſtruct thy Family, thy Children, and thy Servants what in thee lyes, preſs them on alſo to obedience, this is a commanded duty, Eph. 6.4. Deut. 4.9. And it was the practice of the Saints in all Ages, Deut. 18.19. Prov. 4.4. and 31.1. And becauſe all thy ſervices without Gods bleſſing are worth nothing: 'tis thy duty to go to God by prayer, to faſten theſe truths upon thy heart, which thou haſt heard, and open the heart of thy Family; Paul may plant, and Apollos water, but 'tis God muſt give the increaſe: mark alſo from time to time how thou doſt grow, or decreaſe. Theſe Directions well uſed, through Gods bleſſing, will make thee profit by hearing.