A Body of Practical Divinity, Sermon 69
EXOD. XX.10.
IV. Having thus dressed your Souls in a Morning, for the further Sanctification of the Sabbath, address your selves to the Hearing of the Word Preached.
(1.) And when you are set down in your Seat,
1. Lift up your Eyes to Heaven for a Blessing upon the Word to be dispensed. For, you must know the Word Preach'd doth not work as Physick, by its own inherent Vertue, but by a Vertue from Heaven, and the Co-operation of the Holy Ghost. Therefore put up a short Ejaculatory Prayer for a Blessing upon the Word, that it may be made effectual to you.
(2.) The Word being begun to be Preach'd, set your selves in a right manner:
1. With Reverence and Holy Attention. Acts 16.14. A certain Woman named Lydia attended unto the things that were spoken of Paul. Constantine the Emperor was noted for his Reverend Attention to the Word. Luke 19.48. Christ taught daily in the Temple: And all the People were attentive to hear him, foreign, in the Greek, They hung upon his Lip. Could we tell Men of a Rich Purchase, they would diligently attend: And shall they not much more, when the Gospel of Grace is Preaching to them? Now that we may sanctifie and hallow the Sabbath by attentive Hearing, take heed of two things:
I. Distraction in Hearing.
II. Drowsiness in Hearing.
I. Distraction. 1 Cor. 7.35. That ye may attend upon the Lord without Distraction. It is said of St. Bernard, That when he came to the Church-Door, he would say, Stay here all my Earthly Thoughtt. So should we say to our selves, when we are at the Door of God's House, Stay here all my worldly Cares, and wandring Cogitations, I am now going to hearken what the Lord will say to me. Distraction hinders Devotion. Distraction in Hearing is, when the Mind is tossed with vain Thoughts, and diverted from the Business in hand. 'Tis hard to make the Quicksilver Heart fix. St. Hierom complained of himself, Some times (saith he) when I am about God's Service, per Porticus deambulo, I am walking in the Galleries, and sometimes casting up Accounts. So oft in hearing of the Word the Thoughts dance up and down; and when our Eye is upon the Minister, our Mind is upon other things. Distracted Hearing is far from sanctifying the Sabbath. It must needs be very hainous to give way to vain Thoughts at this time, because when we are hearing the Word, we are now in God's Special Presence. To do any Treasonable Action in the King's Presence, is high Impudence. Ier. 23.11. Yea, in my House have I found their Wickedness. So may the Lord say, In my House, while they are hearing of my Word, I have found Wickedness; they have wanton Eyes, and their Soul is set on Vanity. This inhanceth and aggravates the sin.
Qu. Whence do these roving distracted Thoughts in hearing come?
Answ. 1. Partly from Satan. The Devil is no Recusant, he will be sure to be present in our Assemblies: If he cannot hinder us from hearing, he will hinder us in hearing. Iob 1.6. When the Sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, Satan came also among them. The Devil sets vain Objects before the Fancy to cause a Diversion. Satan's great Design is to render the Word we hear fruitless: As when one is writing, another joggs him that he cannot write even: So when we are hearing, the Devil will be jogging us with a Temptation, that we should not attend to the Word Preached. Zach. 3.1. He showed me Ioshua the High Priest standing before the Angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his Right Hand to resist him.
2. These wandring Thoughts in Hearing come partly from our selves. We must not lay all the blame upon Satan.
(1.) They come from the Eye. A wandring Eye causeth wandring Thoughts. A Thief may be let into the House at a Window: So vain Thoughts are let in at the Eye. So that as we are bid to keep our Feet when we enter into the House of God, Eccles. 5.1. so we had need make a Covenant with our Eyes when we are in the House of God, Iob 31.1. that we be not distracted by beholding other Objects.
2. Wandring Thoughts in hearing arise out of the Heart. These Sparks come out of our own Furnace. Vain Thoughts are the Mud which the Heart (as a troubled Sea) casts up. Mark 7.21. For from within, out of the Heart of men, proceed evil Thoughts. It is the Foulness of the Stomach sends up Fumes into the Head; and the Corruption of the Heart sends up Evil Thoughts into the Mind.
3. Distracted Thoughts in hearing proceed from an Evil Custom. We inure our selves to vain Thoughts at other times, therefore we cannot forbear them on a Sabbath. Custom is a Second Nature. Ier. 13.23. Can the Ethiopian change his Skin, or the Leopard his Spots, then may ye also do good that are accustomed to do evil? He that is used to bad Company, knows not how to leave it. Such as have vain Thoughts keeping them Company all the Week, they know not how to get rid of them on the Sabbath. Let me show you how evil these vain distracting Thoughts in hearing are.
First, To have the Heart distracted in Hearing, is a Disrespect to God's Omnisciency. God is an all-seeing Spirit, and Thoughts speak louder in his Ears than Words do in ours. Amos 4.13. He declareth unto Man what is his Thought. Therefore to make no Conscience of Wandring Thoughts in Hearing, is the affronting of God's Omnisciency, as if he knew not our Heart, or did not hear the Language of our Thoughts.
Secondly, To give way to wandring Thoughts in Hearing, is Hypocrisie. We pretend to hear what God saith, and our Mind is quite upon another thing. We present God with our Bodies, but do not give him our Hearts, Hos. 7.11. This Hypocrisie God complains of, Isa. 29.13. This People draw near me with their Mouth, and with their Lips do honour me, but have removed their Heart far from me. This is to prevaricate, and deal falsly with God.
Thirdly, Vain Thoughts in Hearing discover much want of Love to God. Did we love God, we should listen to his Words as Oracles, and bind them upon the Table of our Heart, Prov. 3.3. When a Friend whom we love speaks to us, and gives us Advice, we mind it with Seriousness, and suck in every Word. The giving our Thoughts leave to ramble in Holy Duties, shows the Defect of our Love to God.
Fourthly, Vain impertinent Thoughts in Hearing defile an Ordinance: They are as dead Flies in the Box of Oyntment. When a String in the L…te is out of Tune, it spoils the Musick. Distraction of Thoughts puts our Mind out of Tune, and makes our Services sound harsh and unpleasant. Wandring Thoughts poyson a Duty, and turn it into sin. Psal. 109.7. Let his Prayer become sin. What can be worse, than to have a Man's Praying and Hearing of the Word become sin? Were it not sad when the Meat we eat should encrease bad Humours? So when the Hearing of the Word, which is the Food of the Soul, should be turned into Sin?
Fifthly, Vain Thoughts in Hearing anger God. If the King were speaking to one of his Subjects, and he should not give heed to what the King saith, but be thinking on another business, or playing with a Feather, would not this provoke the King? So when we are in God's Presence, and God is speaking to us in his Word, and we mind not much what he saith, but our Hearts go after Covetousness, Ezek. 33.31. will not this anger God to be thus slighted? God hath pronounced a Curse upon such; Mal. 1.14. Cursed be the Deceiver which hath in his Flock a Male, and Sacrificeth to the Lord a corrupt thing. To have strong lively Affections to the World, here is a Male in the Flock; but to hear the Word with Distraction, to give God Duties fly-blown with Vain Thoughts, this is to offer to the Lord a corrupt thing; this brings a Curse, Cursed be the Deceiver.
Sixthly, Vain Thoughts in Hearing (when allowed and not resisted) make way for hardning the Heart. A Stone in the Heart, is worse than in the Kidneys. Distracted Thoughts in hearing do not Better the Heart, but Harden it. Vain Thoughts take away the holy Awe of God which should be upon the Heart, they make Conscience less Tender, and hinder the Efficacy the Word should have upon the Heart.
Seventhly, Vain distracting Thoughts rob us of the Comfort of an Ordinance. A gracious Soul oft meets with God in the Sanctuary, and can say as Cant. 3.4. I found him whom my Soul loveth. He is like Ionathan, who having tasted the Hony on the Rod, his Eyes were enlightned. But Vain Thoughts hinder the Comfort of an Ordinance, as a black Cloud hides the warm comfortable Beams of the Sun from us. Will God speak Peace to us when our Minds are wandring, and our Thoughts are travelling to the Ends of the Earth, Prov. 17.24? If ever you would hear the Word with Attention, do as Abraham, he drove away the Fowls from the Sacrifice, Gen. 15.11. So when we find these Excursions and sinful Wanderings in hearing, labour to drive away the Fowls; get rid of these vain Thoughts; they are Vagrants, and we must not give them Entertainment.
Qu. But how shall we get help against these Vagabond Thoughts?
Resp. 1. Pray and watch against them.
2. Let the Sence of God's Omniscient Eye over-awe our Hearts. The Servant will not sport in his Masters Presence.
3. Labour for an Holy Frame of Heart. Were the Heart more Spiritual, the Mind would be less Feathery.
4. Bring more Love to the Word. That which we love we fix our Minds upon. He that loves his Pleasures and Recreations, his Mind is fixed on them, and he can follow them without Distraction. Were our Love more set upon the Word Preached, our Minds would be more fixed upon it. And surely, there is enough to make us love the Word Preached, for it is the Word of Life—the Inlet to Knowledge, the Antidote against Sin, the Quickner of Holy Affections: It is the True Manna, which hath all sorts of sweet Tasts in it. It is the Pool of Bethesda, in which the Rivers of Life spring forth to heal the broken in Heart. It is a Soveveraign Elixir or Cordial to revive the sorrowful Spirit. Get Love to the Word Preached, and you will not be so distracted in hearing. What the Heart delights in, the Thoughts dwell upon.
II. If you would sanctifie the Sabbath by deligent attentive hearing, take heed of Drowsiness in Hearing. Drowsiness shows much Irreverence. How lively are many when they are about the World, but in the Worship of God how drowsie, as if the Devil had given them some Opium to make them sleep! A Drowsie Temper is (now) very absurd and sinful. Are not you in Prayer asking Pardon of sin? Will the Prisoner fall asleep when he is begging his Pardon? In the Preaching of the Word is not the Bread of Life breaking to you, and will a Man fall asleep at his Food? Which is worse, to stay from a Sermon, or sleep at a Sermon? While you sleep, perhaps that Truth was delivered, which might have converted your Souls. Besides, sleeping is very offensive in these Holy Assemblies: It is not only a grieving the Spirit of God, but a making the Hearts of the Righteous sad, Ezek. 13.22. It troubles them to see any show such a Contempt of God and his Worship; to see Men busie in the Shop, but drowsie in the Temple. Therefore as Christ said, Mat. 26.40. Could ye not watch one Hour? So can ye not wake one Hour? I deny not but a Child of God may sometimes through Weakness and Indisposition of Body drop asleep at a Sermon, but it is not voluntary or ordinary. The Sun may be in an Eclipse, but not often. If sleeping be customary, and allowed, it is a very bad sign, and is a profaning of the Ordinance. A good Remedy against Drowsiness is to use a Spare Diet upon this Day. Such as indulge their Appetite too much on a Sabbath, are fitter to sleep on a Couch than pray in the Temple. Now, that you may throw off Distracting Thoughts and Drowsiness on the Lord's Day, and may hear the Word with reverend Attention, consider,
1. It is God that speaks to us in his Word; therefore the Preaching of the Word is called the Breath of his Lips, Isa. 11.4. And Christ is said now to speak to us from Heaven, Heb. 12.25. as a King speaks in his Ambassador. Ministers are but as the Pipes and Organs, it is the Spirit of the Living God breathes in them: When we come to the Word, we should think thus with our selves, God speaks in this Preacher. The Thessalonians heard the Word Paul Preached, as if God himself had spoken to them, 1 Thess. 2.13. When ye received the Word of God, which ye heard of us, ye receiv'd it not as the Word of Men, but (as it is in truth) the Word of God. When Samuel knew it was the Lord that spake to him, he lent his Ear, 1 Sam. 3.10. If we do not regard God when he speaks to us, he will not regard us when we pray to him.
2. Consider how serious and weighty the matters delivered to us are. As Moses said, Deut. 30.19. I call Heaven and Earth …o record this day, that I have set before you Life and Death. Can Men be regardless of the Word, or drowsie when the weighty matters of Eternity are set before them? We Preach of Faith, and Holiness of Life, and the Day of Judgment, and the Eternal Recompences; here is Life and Death set before you; and doth not all this call for serious Attention? If a Letter were read to one of special business, wherein his Life and Estate were concern'd, would not he be very serious in listning to that Letter? In the Preaching of the Word, your Salvation is concerned, and if ever you will attend, it should be now, Deut. 32.47. It is not a vain thing for you, because it is your Life.
3. To give way to Vain Thoughts and Drowsiness in hearing, doth much gratifie Satan. He knows, that not to mind a Duty, is all one as not to do a Duty. Quicquid cor non facit, non sit; in Religion, What the Heart doth not do, is not done. Therefore Christ saith of some, Hearing they hear not, Mat. 13.13. How could that be? Because tho' the Word sounded in their Ear, yet they minded not what was said to them; their Thoughts were upon other things; therefore it was all one as if they did not …ear. Hearing they hear not. And doth not this please Satan, to see Men come to the Word, and as good stay away? They are haunted with vain Thoughts, they are taken off the Duty while they are in it; their Body is in the Assembly, their Heart in their Shop; Hearing they hear not.
4. It may be the last Sabbath that ever we shall keep. We may go from the place of Hearing to the place of Judging, and shall not we give Reverend Attention to the Word? Did we think thus when we come into God's House, Perhaps this will be the last time that ever God will counsel us about our Souls; before another Sermon Death's Alarum will sound in our Ears: With what Attention and Devotion should we come hither, and our Affections would be all on Fire in hearing!
5. You must give an Account for every Sermon you hear, Luke 16.2. Redde rationem: Give an account of thy Stewardship. So will God say, Give an Account of thy Hearing. Hast thou been affected with the Word? Hast thou profited by it? And how can we give an Account, if we have been distracted in hearing, and have not taken notice what hath been said to us? The Judge to whom we must give an Account is God. Were one to give an Account to Man, he might falsifie his Accounts, but we must give an Account to God. *Bern.Nec donis corrumpitur, nec blanditiis fallitur. He is so Iust a God, that he cannot be bribed; and so Wise, that he cannot be deceived. Therefore being to give an Account to such an impartial Judge, how should we observe every Word Preached, remembring the Account! Let all this make us shake off Distraction and Drowsiness in Hearing, and have our Ears chain'd to the Word.