Body of Divinity, Book 8 · Chapter 2
CHAP. II. Of Ordinary Religious Duties, and first of Hearing the Word.
I. That we must hear the Word.
HEaring of the Word preached is a duty that lies upon all Saints, Ephes. 2.In my first Book I have spoken of reading and meditating in the Word. 17. Heb. 12. 25. 1 Pet. 1. 11. & 3. 18, 19.
It is a necessary and beneficial duty:
1. Necessary, It is seed to beget and meat to nourish, 1 Pet. 2. 2. It is …eedful in respect of our ignorance, Ephes. 4. 18. Forgetfulnesse, Heb. 2. 2, 3. Isa. 62. 6. 2 Pet. 1. 12. This is the word by which we are to examine our estates, and by which God will judge us at the last day, 2 Cor. 5. 15, 16. All the Persons of the Trinity speak to you in every truth discovered. The Father, Iohn 6. 45. the Son, Heb. 12. 25. the Spirit, Hear what the Spirit saith to the Churches.
2. Beneficial:
1. Souls are converted unto God, as death comes by hearing so life, Rom. 10. 17. Revel. 6. 1.
2. It is a great means of salvation, Rom. 1. 16. it is called salvation it self, the one thing necessary, Iam. 1. 21.
3. The Spirit is conveyed by it both in the gifts and graces, 2 Cor. 3. 8. Rom. 1. 12.
4. Growth in grace comes by it.
5. Satans Kingdome is overthrown by it, he fals from heaven like ligh…ning.
Object. I can reade the Word at home which is more truly the Word then what others preach. If he were a man of an infallible spirit it were something, but they may erre as well as we, some therefore will hear none, but look for Apostles.
Answ. If they were men of an infallible spirit thou must try their Doctrines by the Word. If God should send you Prophets and Apostles you must take nothing upon trust from them, Gal. 1. 8. 1 Iohn 4. 1.
II. How we must hear the Word.
SOme things must be done, 1. Afore hearing. 2. In hearing. 3. After hearing.
I. Afore hearing. Thou must pray for thy teacher that he may so speak as he ought to speak, Ephes. 6. 19. Col. 4. 3, 4. and for thy self, that thou maist hear profitably and be blessed in hearing, Prov. 2. 3, 5. Psal. 25. 4. & 119. 10, 18, 27.
II. In hearing.
1. One must set himself as in Gods presence, when he is hearing of the Word, Deut. 32. 2. so Luk. 10. 16. 1 Thess. 2. 13. so did Cornelius Acts 10. 33.
2. Attend diligently to what he heareth, Luke 19. 48. Gods people are oft calledSee Isa. 55. 20. Prov. 22. 17. Nehem. 8 3. We must hear the Word with faith, Heb. 4. 2. that brings every truth to the soul with divine authority, 1 Thes. 2. 13. Heb. 12. 25. and causeth the soul thence to receive it with assurance, 1 Thess. 1. 5. and to submit to it. See Job 5. ult. upon to attend, Mark 4. 9, 23. & 7. 14. It is seven times repeated, Revel. 2. He that hath an ear to hear let him hear, so did Lydia Acts 16. 14. Attentivenesse implies, 1. Earnestnesse and greedinesse of soul, Bibulae aures, James 1. 19. 1 Pet. 2. 2. so the people that slockt after Christ. 2. The union of the thoughts, and all other faculties of the soul, it is called attending upon the Lord without distraction, 1 Cor. 7. 35.
3. Hear the Word with understanding and judgement, Matth. 15. 10. Psal. 45. 10. 2 Tim. 2. 7.
4. He should hear with affection and delight, Deut. 32. 46, 47. Mark 13. 37. Acts 2. 4.
5. He must take every thing as spoken to himself, Matth. 19. 25, 27. & 26. 22. Iohn 5. 27.
III. After hearing.
1. We must meditate of what we have heard, Acts 17. 11.
2. Apply it to our selves. To apply the Word is to take it as that wherein I have an interest, Psal. 119. 111. every precept, promise and priviledge. The life of preaching and hearing both is application. If one could repeat the Bible from one end to another it would not make him a knowing Christian. When our Saviour told his Disciples, One of them should betray him, they all ask, Is it I? A good hearer, Isa. 55. 2. is said to eat, which notes an intimate application, the stomack distributes to every part what nourishment is sutable to it.
3. Conferre of it with others, Ier. 33. 25. See Iohn 16. 17, 19. Mark 4. 10. & Luk. 24. 15, 307. 17. & 10. 10, 11. Conference is that whereby we communicate to others what we have learned, or learn of others what we are ignorant of, or strengthen one another in that which already hath been taught us, Prov. 1. 5. & 13. 20. 2 Pet. 1. 12.
4. Practise it in our conversation, Psal. 103. 18. Matth. 7. 24. Luke 11. 28. Rev. 1. 3. If you know these things happy are you if you do them. Habits are perfected by action. Knowledge, a good understanding have all they that do thereafter. Faith and love are perfected by works, this glorifies God, Galat. 5. Matth. 16. 16. 1 Pet. 2. 9.
Motives to diligent attention in hearing:
1. It is Gods Word, Thus saith the Lord, and The word of the Lord.
2. It is of special concernment, the matter of it requireth attention, it is the word of life, of righteousnesse, it will sanctifie us and make us grow in grace.
3. It is the introduction, 1. To Understanding, Mat. 15. 10. Act. 28. 27. 2. To Obedience and Reformation, therefore hear is often in Scripture put for obey.Obedient hearing is made a sign of grace, John 10. …. See Joh. 8. 27. 3. To Memory, Iam. 1. 23, 24.
4. It is necessary to bring in and build up Gods people, Iam. 1. 21. Mark 4. 24.
5. There are particular Promises to it, 1. God will give them strength to overcome their greatest corruptions, Psal. 119. 9. 2. God will work peace in their consciences, Isa. 57. 19.