The Christian Mans Calling, Treatise · Chapter 17
CHAP. XVII. Of the Chriſtians duty after Hearing.
THirdly, I proceed now to the third thing, which is, Thy behaviour after Hearing or Reading; and I muſt tell thee, that it concerneth thee now to be very watchful; for many Birds wait to peck up the corn, as ſoon as the Husbandman hath ſowed it. Our Saviour telleth us, He that received ſeed among thorns, is he that heareth the word, and the care of this World, and the deceitfulneſs of riches choak the Word, and he becometh unfruitful, Mat. 13.32. As High-way men watch the honeſt Countreyman, as he cometh from the Fair, where he hath ſold his Cattel, and filled his purſe, and then ſet upon him, and rob him: So do the cares of the world dog the honeſt Chriſtian, as he cometh from the Word, where he got ſome Spiritual treaſure, and then fall upon him to plunder him.
Beſides, Satan is ſo ſubtle, that he will be ſure to haunt the ſoul after reading or Hearing the Word: When any one heareth the Word, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was ſown in his heart, Mat. 13.19. The ſeaſon (then) is worthy our obſervation: When the Chriſtian hath made a good meal, then the Devil tryeth all his wiles and tricks to make him vomit it up again. Servants when they carry full cups of wine in the midſt of unlucky boys, muſt be wary and watchful, or they will ſpill it. Some people take phyſick, and though it doth them ſome good at preſent, yet all is quickly marr'd by their neglect of thoſe rules which ſhould be obſerved afterwards: The Word (poſſibly) when thou heardſt it, made ſome work among thy affections; the beauty of Chriſts perſon was diſplayed before thine eyes, and thy heart began to fall in love with thy Saviour; the extremity of his paſſion was deſcribed to thee, and thine heart began to loath the cauſe thereof, thy ſins: Well now then, thy conſcience is a little warmed and awakened, and the pores of thy ſoul opened; ſhouldſt thou go into the cold preſently, all would come to nothing. If water be taken from the fire, when it is a little warm, it cooleth quickly; he that would have it boil, muſt rather encreaſe the fire.
There are two things which God requireth of thee after hearing and reading the Word, namely, Prayer and Practice.
1. Prayer; Petition for a bleſſing upon the Word, and Thanksgiving for the bleſſing of the Word.
Petition for a bleſsing upon the Word: After the ſeed is ſown, the influence of Heaven muſt cauſe it to ſpring up and ripen, or otherwiſe there will be no harveſt. Paul may plant, and Apollo water, but God muſt give the encreaſe, 1 Cor. 3.6. The Miniſter preacheth, thou heareſt, but it is the Lord who teacheth to profit. Thou mayeſt, like Mary, have Chriſt before thee in a Sermon, and yet not know him, till he diſcover himſelf to thee. The Eunuch could read of Chriſt in the Prophet, but could not reach Chriſt till God came to his Chariot. There is a twofold light requiſite to a bodily viſion, light in the eye, and light in the air, the former cannot (as we experience in the night) do it without the latter. There is alſo a twofold light neceſſary to Spiritual ſight; beſide the light of underſtanding which is in a man, there muſt be Illumination from the Spirit of God, or there will be no beholding the Lord in the glaſs of the Word.
When the Diſciples had heard Chriſts Doctrine, they were not able to underſtand or profit by his preaching; and therefore they cry to him, Lord open to us this parable. When thou haſt read or heard the Word, go to God, and ſay, Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy Statutes; Give me underſtanding, and I ſhall keep thy Law, yea I ſhall obſerve it with my whole heart. Make me to go in the path of thy Commandments. Encline my heart unto thy Teſtimonies, and not unto covetouſneſs, Pſal. 119.33. to 37. Intreat God to write his Law on the fleſhly tables of thine heart. Bernard obſerves, bodily bread in the Cupboard may be eaten of Mice, or moulder and waſte; but when it is taken down into the body, it is free from ſuch danger: If God enable thee to take thy ſoul-food down into thine heart, it is ſafe from all hazards.
Thanksgiving. Conſider what a diſtinguiſhing mercy, what a precious treaſure the Word of God is; how without it thou hadſt for ever been both unholy, and unhappy; how by it thou mayſt eternally be both gracious and glorious; and without queſtion thou wilt finde cauſe to bleſs the giver for ſuch a rare and profitable gift. The Apoſtle ranketh this favour amongſt the bleſſings of the higheſt form: What advantage hath the Jew? or what profit is there of Circumciſion? Much every way; chiefly that unto them were committed the Oracles of God. And the Pſalmiſt mentioning this differencing-Mercy, concludeth it with, Praiſe ye the Lord, Pſal. 147.2. ult.
The light of the Sun, Moon and Stars is of ſuch concernment to men, that without them the beauty of the old Creation would be buried in darkneſs; and therefore the children of God have given the Moſt High the credit of thoſe greater and leſſer Candles, Pſal. 136.7, 8, 9. nay, they have ſeen eternal love by thoſe luminaries. The light of Gods Law and Word is of infinitely more worth; for by it the glory and beauty of the new Creation, and that curious piece of mans Redemtion is ſeen and known: What honor then doth God deſerve for this favour.
Ptolomy King of Egypt was at great coſt and charge to have the Law of the Jews tranſlated by the Septuagint into Greek. Euſeb. Hist. lib 5. cap. 8.Thou haſt the Old and New Teſtament both at a cheap and eaſie ra…e: Thou mayeſt read thy Fathers Will, in thy Mother Tongue; thou haſt in it a ſuitable Medicine for every Malady; ſeaſonable ſuccour in all thy Miſeries; the coſtlieſt Cordials, and choiceſt comforts, without Money, and without Price; and ſurely all this deſerveth thanks and praiſe.
Didſt thou but know the miſery of thoſe places and perſons who want the Word, ſurely thy heart could not but be affected with thy mercy in the enjoyment of the word. It is ſometimes deſcribed by Famine; I will ſend a famine, not of bread and water, but of hearing the Word of the Lord, Amos 4. How dreadful are the concomitants and conſequents of Famine! what ſhrivel'd cheeks, hollow eyes, pale viſages, fainting hearts, and trembling limbs, have men in a famine! they ſeem rather like walking Ghoſts, and moving carcaſſes, then living creartures. The tongue of the ſucking child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth, for thirſt; the young child asketh bread, and no man breaketh it unto them. Their viſage is blacker then a coal, they are not known in the ſtreets, their skin cleaveth to their bones, it is withered, it is become like a ſtick. The hands of the pitiful Women, have ſodden their own children, they were their meat in the deſtruction of the daughter of my people, Lam. 4.4, 8, 10. Theſe (friend) are the woful fruits of a bodily famine, but a ſoul famine is the ſorer famine. How many ſtarve for want of the bread of life! Thou ſitteſt (it may be) at a full Table; but couldſt thou conceive what millions famiſh for lack of this ſpiritual food, thou wouldſt pray to God earneſtly to pity ſuch places, and praiſe him heartily for providing ſo plentifully for thee. Their miſery is ſometimes ſet forth by darkneſs, and the ſhadow of death; Darkneſs is dreadful though but external. Twas one of the greateſt plagues which befel the Egyptians. When Job would curſe his day with a witneſs, what is his wiſh? Let darkneſs and the ſhadow of death ſtain it, let a cloud dwell upon it, let the blackneſs of the day terrifie it. Job 4.4. It was ſad when Paul and his companions ſaw neither Sun nor Stars in many days; but O how ſad is it when men ſee not the Sun of righteouſneſs ſhining in the Heavens of the Goſpel all their days! Such may enjoy the light of Gods providence, but they enjoy not the light of his countenance. How can they work that want the light of the word to direct them? or how can they walk? ſurely they that walk in the dark ſtumble, (the dark corners of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty) and fall even into Hell. Where no viſion is, the people periſh. O Reader, what infinite cauſe haſt thou to bleſs the Lord, that thou art not in their condition! If thou haſt any compaſſion for the poor, dark, dead ſouls be inſtant with the Lord; pray, O ſend out thy light and thy truth, that thy ways may be known upon earth, and thy ſaving health unto all Generations. If thou haſt any affection to thy own ſoul, praiſe God for his Law; Bleſſed be the Lord who hath ſhown us light. Procopius reporteth that nigh to the Pole where the night endureth for many Months together, the Inhabitants in the end of their long night, get up to the top of the Mountains, ſtriving who ſhall have the firſt ſight of the Sun, and as ſoon as they ſee it, they embace and hug each other, crying out, Ecce, Sol apparet; Behold, Lo, the Sun, the Sun appeareth. This poor Iſland had a long night of darkneſs, when the people in it ſerved dumb Idols and Devils; bleſſed for ever be the unſearchable goodneſs of God, the Sun of the Goſpel hath appeared amongſt us. Nay as its ſaid of Rhodes, it may be ſaid of England, The Sun always ſhines on it. What ſhall we render to the Lord for this benefit.
On the town houſe of Geneva is writen upon a Marble Table, in letters of gold, Poſt tenebraſs Lux. After darkneſs light. In remembrance of, and thankfulneſs for their deliverance from the pride, power, tyranny, and abominations of the Pope, Anno. 1535. I doubt not but we in theſe parts of the World, have as much cauſe to ſet up a Monument of praiſe and thanks to the bleſſed God, for beſtowing upon us the light of his glorious Goſpel, and freeing us from the power of that man of pride, who exalteth himſelf above all that is called God.
Reader, Is it not a priviledge for thee, to ſit by the fire of the word, when many poor ſouls are freezing in the cold! for thee to walk in the light of the word, when many ſit in darkneſs, and the ſhadow of death! for thee to be clothed out of the rich Wardrobe of the word, when many have their nakedneſs appearing to their eternal ſhame! nay what an advantage haſt thou, that when thouſands and millions, have none to give them bread, but ſtarve and famiſh, thou haſt a Table fairly ſpread, and fully furniſhed with all ſorts of food, both for neceſſity and delight! yea, and if ſickneſs hinder thee from coming down to Dine or Sup with thy brethren; and ſiſters, upon that day of exceedings, the Lords day, thy God is ſo tender of thee, that he ſendeth thee ſomewhat up to thy chamber (alloweth thee his Bible and bleſſing at home) for thy nouriſhment and comfort; O that men would praiſe the Lord for his goodneſs, and his wonderful works to the children of men.
2. Practice; when the Preacher hath done in the Pulpit, the Hearer muſt begin in his practice; He heareth a Sermon beſt who practiſeth it moſt, what one ſaith of Pſa. 119. I may ſay of the whole Scriptures, They are verba vivenda, non legenda, words to be loved, more then to be read or heard. A Chriſtians life ſhould be a legible comment on Gods Law. The ſtrokes in Muſick muſt anſwer to the notes and rules ſet down in the Leſſon.
It is obſervable that the blood was to be ſprinkled on Aarons right ear, right thumb, and great toe of his right foot, Exod. 29.20. the firſt did note his right hearing the Word, the ſecond and third his working according to it, and walking in it. The doing, not the hearing or reading Chriſtian, goeth away with the bleſſing; And he ſaid, yea rather, bleſſed are they that hear the Word of God and keep it, Luke 11.28. The occaſion of the expreſſion is confiderable; one of Chriſts hearers, having taſted, was ſo taken with the luſciouſneſs of his Doctrine, that ſhe could not before all the company forbear commending the tree for the fruits ſake, Bleſſed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou haſt ſucked; Yea rather (ſaith Chriſt) Bleſſed are they that hear the Word of God and keep it; In which words he doth not deny her aſſertion, but her inference, or the foundation of it. Mary though happy, yet was not ſo happy in bearing the eſſential, as in keeping the Written Word of God. She was rather bleſſed in having Chriſt formed in her, then in having him formed of her; It was her greater honour and happineſs to be a member of Chriſt, then to be the Mother of Chriſt. The Porter is not ſo rich by carrying a bag of Gold, as the Merchant that oweth it. The Chriſtian onelyonly that keepeth the word of Chriſt, is truely related to Chriſt the Word, Matth. 12. ult.
It is reported of the Nobles of Polonia, that when the Goſpel is read, they lay their hands upon their Swords, and begin to draw them; intimating thereby that they will defend it with the hazard of their lives: Saints muſt be ready to die for the Goſpel, but a Chriſtian may defend it as truely by an holy life, as by a bloody death. A ſcandalous converſation, is an offence to Religion, and openeth the mouths of its enemies; but as fire is a good defence to a man in a Wilderneſs, againſt the fury of ravenous beaſts, ſo the heat of grace flaming, and the light of holineſs ſhining in the lives of profeſſors, defendeth the word againſt its oppoſers. A Sermon practiced, is a Sermon in print, and by it the hearer teacheth all the Week long.
The Romans were commended for obeying from the heart, foreignthe form of Doctrine delivered to them. Rom. 6.17. In the Original it is whereunto they were delivered; A good hearer, as I ſaid before, is one that eats the word; now as meat eaten becomes one with the body, and takes the ſame form with it, the body and meat are ſo much the ſame, that they are one, and you cannot know them aſunder: So the Word is well heard, when it becomes one with the Chriſtian, when they are both of the ſame form; the hearer is delivered up into the likeneſs and form of the Scripture; the Word of God may be read in every leaf, in every line of the volume of his life.
Our bleſſed Saviour deſcribing good hearers, tells us, they are ſuch as bring forth fruit, ſome thirty, ſome ſixty, ſome an hundred fold, Mat. 13.23. And elſewhere he compares the obedient hearer, to the man who built his houſe upon a Rock, which ſtood firm and immoveable in the midſt of all winds, waves, and weather; and the man that heareth and doth not practice, to him who built upon the ſands, which houſe quickly fell, when the winds blew, and the waves beat, Mat. 7. latter end. His meaning and intention (Reader) was to quicken thee and me to minde ſubjection to the Word, without which we muſt periſh. Suppoſe thou art never ſo great an hearer, yet if not a doer, thou deceiveſt thine own ſoul: Alas, what will become of the frequent hearer, when the non, or negligent doer ſhall be thrown to hell!
I have read a ſtory of two men, who walking together, found a young Tree laden with fruit, they both gathered, and ſatisfied themſelves at preſent: One of them took all the remaining fruit; and carried it away with him; the other took the tree, and planted it in his own ground, where it proſpered, and brought forth fruit every year; ſo that though the former had more at preſent, yet this had ſome when he had none: They who hear the Word, and have large memories, and nothing elſe, may carry away moſt of the Word at preſent; yet he that (poſſibly) can remember little, who carrieth away the tree, plants the Word in his heart, and obeys it in his life, ſhall have fruit when the other hath none: The practical memory, is the greateſt mercy.
It is reported of a good man, that coming from a Lecture, and being demanded, Whether all were done, he ſhould fetch a deep ſigh, and ſay, All is ſaid, but all is not done.
Reader, when thou haſt heard the word, conſider, though the Sermon be at an end, yet there muſt not be an end of the Sermon. Practice, which is the heart of hearing, is ſtill behinde. Obſerve the properties of thoſe perſons to whom, and their poſterity, God will be propitious: The mercy of the Lord is from everlaſting, and his righteouſneſs to childrens children: To ſuch as keep his Covenants, and remember his Commandments to do them, Pſal. 103.17, 18. They are deſcribed by their act; they lay the word up, they remember his Commandments; and by their end, to lay the word out in their lives, to do them. A good husband having received a bag of money, locketh it up ſafe, that none may rob him of it, and as occaſion is, fetcheth it down, and layeth it out, ſome for food, ſome for cloathes, ſome for rent, ſome for ſervants wages, ſome for this, ſome for that, as his neceſſities require: So (Friend) do thou lay up the precious Treaſure of the word ſafe in the Cabinet of thine heart, and bring it out as thy occaſions call for it in thy life: Art thou in adverſity, fetch out the Promiſes for thy comfort; broach that ſtrong liquor, which was purpoſely tunned up for thee againſt a groaning hour: This is my comfort in mine affliction, for thy word hath quickned me, Pſal. 119.15. Art thou in proſperity, bring forth the precepts for thy carriage: Look to that Card and Compaſs by which thou mayeſt ſail eavenly and trim, notwithſtanding thoſe high winds, and ſwelling waters: Thy Word is a light to my feet, and a lamp to my paths, Pſal. 119.4. Wouldſt thou reſiſt and conquer Satans Temptations? The word is a Shield, which (as they ſay of Vulcans Armour) is full proof againſt all thruſts and darts: By the words of thy mouth, I have kept my ſelf from the pathes of the deſtroyer, Pſal. 17.4. Nay, fetch but this Sword of the Spirit out of Gods Armory, and the Devil will run like a Coward; he is more afraid of it, then Leviathan his name-ſake is of the Sword-fiſh, which ſome write he dreadeth more then all the fiſh in the Ocean. Thy Saviour gave Satan ſuch a wound with the Sword of the word, that he feeleth it to this day If thou wouldſt overcome the worlds inſinuations, d… but feed on the word, and thou wilt ſcorn th… ſcraps of the world. As the Greeks in their ſailing to fetch the Golden Fleece, when the Syrens endeavoured to inchant them with their Songs, found help againſt thoſe aſſaults, by hearkning to Orpheus pipe: So when that Harlot the World ſtriveth to bewitch thee with her pleaſant voyce, and poyſonous breath, thereby to hinder thy purſuit of the Golden Crown of Righteouſneſs, do but hearken to thoſe Spiritual Songs, that raviſhing Muſick, thoſe high and noble delights which are in the Goſpel, and thou wilt finde aſſured help. That thy corruptions within thee may be ſubdued, let ſtill the Word of God be conſulted: Thou mayeſt finde in it ſuch a bit and curb, as will bridle thy youthful moſt headſtrong luſts: By what means may a young man cleanſe his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy Word, Pſalm 119.11. If thine evil humors be never ſo many and filthy; yet the Word, like the Catholicon Drug, is inſtead of all purges. That thy Relation duties may be performed, the holy Scriptures muſt be fetcht out, and minded. Whether thou art an Husband, or Wife, or Parent, or Child, or Maſter, or Servant, to defray the charge of all thoſe duties, thou mayeſt take enough out of the Word of God. It is a well drawn Picture, that looks on all that look on it, and it guides thee by its eye how to order and govern thy feet; on what ground ſoever thou ſtandeſt, whether on the higher ground of a Superior, the plain even ground of an equal, or the lower ground of an Inferior. He that layeth up the word for theſe purpoſes, and bringeth it out in theſe practices, is the right profitable hearer; for he Remembreth the Commandments of God to do them.
Some hear and jear, they go to a Sermon as to a Stage-play, to laugh and be merry. Others hear and fret and fume, as thoſe that live under the Torrid Zone, curſe the very Sun. Others hear and forget what would do them moſt good, their memories are true to the fleſh, but treacherous to the ſpirit; they are like Veſſels made of Ivy, which (ſome ſay) if wine and water be poured into them, will leak out the wine, and keep in the water. Others hear and admire; but Reader if thou wouldſt not have the word to witneſs againſt thee, when thou ſhalt be judged by it, for thine everlaſting life or death, do thou hear and amend. Charles the great did ſet his Crown upon the Bible, intimating thereby that his Crown, his carriage as a King, ſhould be according to the commands of the word. O do thou hide this word in thine heart, that thou mayſt hold it forth to thy companions, by the hand of an holy converſation. Walk according to this Rule.
A good Wiſh about the word, wherein the former heads are epitomized.
THe holy Scriptures being of ſuch authority, The Introduction.as the hand writing and heart of God himſelf, and ſo ſingular a mercy to me, that by the guidance of this Star I am directed (as the wiſe men) to Jeſus Chriſt; I wiſh in general that I may ſet an high price upon every part thereof, (that every peice may be currant with me) for his ſake, whoſe Image and ſuperſcription it beareth. O that my carriage before, at, and after hearing, may witneſs to God and my conſcience, Preparation for hearing.that I eſteem the law of his lips above thouſands of Gold and Silver; In particular, I wiſh that as the Jews when they went to hear the law, Preparation for hearing, by laying aſide evil frames.ſanctified themſelves, and waſhed their cloaths; ſo before I go to read or hear the word, I may ſanctifie my ſoul, and waſh my heart from all ſuperfluity of naughtineſs, and with meekneſs receive that ingrafted word which is able to ſave my ſoul. Prejudice,I wiſh that like Jehoſhaphat I may prefer one Micaiah, before four hundred falſe Prophets; yet that I may ever make a difference betwixt an evil Miniſters Preaching and practice, and even when the Miniſter is full of grace, may ſo diſtinguiſh between the treaſure and the veſſel, as not to vallue the Meſſage for the Meſſengers ſake, but to bid the workman welcome for the words ſake. I wiſh that I may be ſo ſenſible of my owninability, to profit by this holy ordinance, By prayer.and of the ſpeakers impotency to Preach home to my conſcience, that I may cry mightily to my God, that he would open my heart to receive the word with all affection, and ſo direct the Arrows, which the Preacher taketh out of the quiver of Scripture, that they may hit and pierce my deareſt corruptions. Conſideration.I deſire that the conſideration of the words excellency may cauſe me to prize it highly: Of its neceſſity, may make me to improve it diligently, and of its efficacy may move me to go to hear, (as a Priſoner going to a bar) to be tryed for my everlaſting life or death. Good ends in hearing.I wiſh that the weight of the word may ſink ſo deep into my heart, that I may never hear Sermons to pick flowers of Oratory, or to pleaſe my fancy, but to receive virtue from Chriſt, for the drying up my iſſue of ſin, and that I might cleanſe my ways by taking heed thereto according to Gods Word; Worldly thoughts laid by.That the noiſe of the World may never hinder me from hearing the voiee of my God: At hearing.I wiſh that when I come into the place of worſhip I may ſet my ſelf ſolemnly as before the Judge of quick and dead, Seriouſneſs as in Gods preſence.and as in the preſence of the Lord, with fear and awe, give audience to his word. If I were hearkening to an earthly Prince, I would be ſerious; O with what reverence ſhould I hear from the bleſſed and onelyonly Potentate! Becauſe without application the word will be unprofitable. Application of it.I wiſh that I may never draw a curtain before my own Picture, but overlooking others, may ſee my own face in the glaſs of the law. O that by faith I may ſo take down the hook of the word, as to be caught and taken by it. Renovation by it.My prayer is that the Goſpel may come to me, not in word onelyonly, but in power alſo, that I may go to it as clean paper for any inſcription, as ſoft wax for any impreſſion, which my God ſhall be pleaſed to make upon me. O that I might behold the Lord ſo effectualy in that glaſs, as to be changed into his Image, from glory to glory! In ſpecial I wiſh that my ſins may be placed by me in the front of this ſpiritual battle (as Uriah) purpoſely to be ſlain; and that thoſe ſmooth ſtones which are taken out of the ſilver ſtreams of the Sanctuary, may be thrown by ſo skilful and powerful a hand, that they may ſink deep into the foreheads of thoſe uncircumciſed ones, After hearing. Petition for a bleſſing.to their death and deſtruction. I wiſh that after the ſeed is ſown I may beg that the ſhowres of Heavens bleſſing may accompany it, that it may ſpring up in the fruits of righteouſneſs, to the glory of my God, and good of my precious ſoul. And becauſe the Goſpel is a diſh which is not ſet on every Table, Thanksgiving for the Word.though free grace beſtoweth it on me, I wiſh that I may riſe from this ſpiritual food, before I have given thanks to the Maſter of the feaſt. Practice.I deſire finally, that as I looked like a Saint in hearing, I may live like a Saint after I have heard; that thoſe bloſſoms of good purpoſes, which ſprouted forth while the Minister was preaching, may ripen into practice; that whatſoever characters others are known by, to be Chriſtians, I may be known by this ear mark, to be one of Chriſts ſheep, even by hearing his voyce, ſo as to follow him whereſoever he goeth. Though others, like petty Chapmen, deal onelyonly in ſome particular commodities, and thoſe ſuch as will ſerve their own turns, I deſire that I may deal with the Word by whole-ſale, and eſteem all Gods Precepts concerning all things to be right. O that I might order my whole converſation aright, and at the laſt ſee the ſalvation of my God! Amen.