Commentary on the Gospels and Acts, Commentary 1 · Chapter 7 · Verse 24
Verse 24. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of … &c.]
Here we have the conclusion of this, if not first, yet, certainly, fullest of our Saviours Sermons; for matter most heavenly, and for order more then methodicall. Most men think, if they sit out a Sermon, it is sufficient: when the preacher hath … done they have done to: Away they go, and (for any practice) they leave the word where they found it, or depart sorrowfull as he in the Gospel, that Christ requireth such things as they are not willing to perform. Our Saviour had four sorts of hearers, and but one good, that brought forth fruit with patience. When St Paul preached at Athens, some mocked, others doubted, a few believed, but no Church was sounded there (as at other places) because Christ crucified was preached; unto the Jews a stumbling …, Act. 17.and to those Greeks foolishnes; whiles the Jews required a signe, 1 Cor. 1. 22. 23.and the Greeks sought after wisedome. But what saith the Prophet?…. 8. 9. Behold they have rejected the word of the Lord, and what wisedome is in them? He is a wise builder, a … servant, a wise virgine, a wise merchant, (if our Saviour may be judge) that heareth these sayings of his, and doth them. And behold (saith Moses) I have taught you statutes and judgements: Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisedome, &c. A good understanding …. 4. 6.have all they that do thereafter. David hereby became…. …. …. foreign Act. 23. 1. wiser then his teachers, ancients, enemies: and Paul counted it his chief policy to keep a good conscience void of offence toward God and men: which cannot be untill it may be said of a man, as2 Chron. 34. 16 Rom. 2 12. Shaphan said of Josiahs work-men, All that was given in charge to thy servants, they doe it. For not the hearers of the Law, but theLuk. 11. 28. doers shall be justified, saith-Paul: shall be blessed, saith our SaviourJoh. 13. 17. often: shall be made thereby the friends of Christ, Ioh. 15.2 Cor. 8. 23. Isa. 62. 3.14. the kindred of Christ, Matth. 12. 50. The glory of Christ, a Cant. 3. 11.royall diadem in the hand of …; yea, such as have the honour to set the crown royall upon Christs head in the day of his espousals. Be ye therefore doers of the Word, saith S. Iames, and not hearers only, deceiving, or putting paralogismes, tricks and fallaciesforeign. (sophister like) upon your own souls. They that place religion in hearing, and go no further, will prove egregious fools in the…. …. …. end. Which to prevent, look intently and accurately, saith thatforeign. Apostle, stoop down, and pry heedfully into the perfect law of … (as the Cherubims did into the Propitiatory, as the Angels do into the mystery of Christ, as the Disciples did into the sepulchre1 Pet 1. …. of Christ) and continue therein, till ye be transformed thereinto,Joh. 20. 5. Not being forgetfull hearers, but doers of the work: so shall ye be blessed in the deed. It is not enough to hear, but take heed how you hear. … with you the loan of your former hearing. For to Mark 4. 24. explained.him that hath shall be given, and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you. As ye measure to God in preparation and practice, he will measure to you in successe and blessing: and every time that you hear, God will come to you in the fulnesse of the … Rom. 16.foreign.of the Gospel of peace. See that ye shift not off him that speaketh, …. in ep. ad ….…. 12. 25. Veniat, veniat verbum Domini, & submittemus illi, sexcentasi nobis essent colla, said a notable Dutch Divine. Let God2 Cor. 8. 7. speak, and we will yeeld, though it were to the losse of a thousandRom. 6. 17. lives. The Macedonians delivered themselves up to God, and the Romans to the form of doctrine that was delivered … them: they took impression from it, as the metall … from the mould, or as the wax doth from the seal. David … up his hands to Gods Commandments, Psal. 119. 48. he did all the wils of God, who hadAct. 13. 35. set him both his time and his task. He sets all his servants a work, and requireth their pains, Hos. 10. 11. Ephraim was an heifer used to dance, and delight in the soft straw, and could not abide to plow, but the Lord will make him both bear and draw. Religion is not a name, saith one, goodnesse a word; it is active like fire, communicative like light. As the life of things stands in goodnes:M. Harris at … …. so the life of goodnesse in action. The chiefest goods are most active, the best good a meer act. And the more good we do, the more God-like and excellent we be, and the better provided against a rainy ….
Which built his house upon a rock.]
This rock is Christ; and…. 2. 10. conscionable … are living stones built upon him. The Conies…. 3. 5. are a people weak and wise, saith Solomon; and their wisdomeProv. 30 16. herein appears; they work themselves holes and burrows in the bosome of the earth, in the roots of the rocks. Learn we to doLuke 6. 48. the like: and be sure to dig deep enough (as S. Luke hath it)…, sed …. which while the stony-ground-hearers did not, their blade was scorcht up, and came to nothing. Some flashing joy they had upon the hearing of the Word, and many meltings (according to the nature of the Doctrine delivered) but these sudden affections, being not well bottomed, nor having principles to maintain them, they were but like Conduits running with wine at the Coronation, or like a land-floud, that seems to be a great sea, but is soon gone again.… fluctum ….