Sermons on Various Subjects Volume 1, Sermon 12 – Table of contents 2
SERMON XII.
DIRECTIONS how to hear SERMONS.
LUKE viii. 18.
Take Heed therefore how you hear.
THE Occaſion of our LORD's giving this Caution was this: Perceiving that much People were gathered together, to hear him, out of every City, and knowing (for he is GOD, and knoweth all Things) that many, if not moſt of them, would be Hearers only, and not Doers of the Word, he ſpake to them by a Parable, wherein, under the Similitude of a Sower, that went out to ſow his Seed, he plainly intimated how few there were amongſt them who would receive any ſaving Benefit from his Doctrine, or bring forth Fruit unto Perfection.
The Application, one would imagine, ſhould be plain and obvious: But the Diſciples, as yet unenlightened in any great Degree by the Holy Spirit, and therefore unable to ſee into the hidden Myſteries of the Kingdom of GOD, dealt with our Saviour, as People ought to deal with their Miniſters,—diſcourſed with him privately about the Meaning of what he had taught them in Publick, and with a ſincere Deſire of doing their Duty, asked for an Interpretation of the Parable.
Our bleſſed LORD, as he always was willing to inſtruct thoſe that were teachable (herein ſetting his Miniſters an Example to be courteous and eaſy of Acceſs) freely told them the Signification of it. And withal, to make them more cautious and more attentive to his Doctrine for the future, He tells them, that they were in an eſpecial Manner to be the Light of the World, and were to proclaim on the Houſe-Top whatſoever he told them in Secret. And as their improving the Knowledge already imparted, was the only Condition upon which more was to be given them, it therefore highly concerned them to take heed how they heard.
From the Context then it appears, that the Words were primarily ſpoken to the Apoſtles themſelves. But becauſe they were the Repreſentatives of the whole Church, and 'tis to be feared out of thoſe many Thouſands that flock to hear Sermons, but few comparatively ſpeaking are effectually influenced by them; I cannot but think it very neceſſary to remind you of the Caution given by our LORD to his Diſciples, and to exhort you with the utmoſt Earneſtneſs to take heed how you hear.
In Proſecution of which Deſign I ſhall in the following Diſcourſe,
I. Firſt, Prove that every one ought to take all Opportunities of hearing Sermons. And,
II. Secondly, I ſhall lay down ſome Cautions and Directions, in order to your hearing them with Profit and Advantage.
I. And, Firſt; I am to prove that every one ought to take all Opportunities of hearing Sermons.
That there have always been particular Perſons ſet apart by GOD to inſtruct and exhort his People to practice what he ſhould require of them, is evident from many Paſſages of Scripture.—St. Jude tells us, that Enoch the ſeventh from Adam propheſied, or preached, concerning the LORD's coming with ten Thouſand of his Saints to Judgment. And Noah, who lived not long after, is ſtiled by St. Peter, a Preacher of Righteouſneſs. And though in all the intermediate Space between the Flood and Giving of the Law, we hear but of few Preachers, yet we may reaſonably conclude, that GOD never left himſelf without Witneſs, but at ſundry Times, and after divers Manners, ſpoke to our Fathers by the Patriarchs and Prophets.
But however it was before, we are aſſured that after the Delivery of the Law, GOD has conſtantly ſeparated to himſelf a certain Order of Men to preach to, as well as pray for, his People; and commanded them to enquire their Duty at the Prieſts Mouths. And though the Jews were frequently led into Captivity, and for their Sins ſcattered abroad through the Face of the Earth, yet he never utterly forſook his Church, but ſtill kept up a Remnant of Prophets and Preachers, as Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Daniel, and others, to reprove, inſtruct, and call them to Repentance.
Thus was it under the Law. Nor has the Church been worſe, but infinitely better provided for under the Goſpel: For when JESUS CHRIST, that great High Prieſt, had through the Eternal Spirit offered himſelf as a full, perfect, ſufficient Sacrifice, Oblation and Satisfaction for the Sins of the whole World, and after his Reſurrection had all Power committed to him both in Heaven and Earth, he gave Commiſſion to his Apoſtles, and in them to all ſucceeding Miniſters, to go and preach his Goſpel to every Creature; promiſing to be with them, to guide, aſſiſt, ſtrengthen and comfort them always, even to the End of the World.
But if it be the Duty of Miniſters to preach (and Woe be to them if they do not preach the Goſpel, for a Neceſſity is laid upon them) no doubt, the People are obliged to attend to them; for otherwiſe, wherefore are Miniſters ſent?
And how can we here avoid admiring the Love and tender Care which our dear Redeemer has expreſſed for his Spouſe the Church? Who, becauſe he could not be always with us in Perſon, on account it was expedient he ſhould go away, and as our Fore-runner take Poſſeſſion of that Glory he had purchaſed by his precious Blood, yet would not leave us comfortleſs, but firſt ſettled a ſufficient Number of Paſtors and Teachers, and afterwards, according to his Promiſe, actually did and will continue to ſend down the Holy Ghoſt to furniſh them and their Succeſſors with proper Gifts and Graces for the Work of the Miniſtry, for the perfecting of the Saints, for the edifying of his Body in Love, till we all come in the Unity of the Spirit, to the Fulneſs of the Meaſure of the Stature of CHRIST.
Oh! how inſenſible are thoſe of this unſpeakable Gift, who do deſpite to the Spirit of Grace, who crucify the Son of GOD afreſh, and put him to an open Shame, by wilfully refuſing to attend on ſo great a Means of their Salvation? How dreadful will the End of ſuch Men be? How aggravating, that Light ſhould come into the World, that the glad Tidings of Salvation ſhould be ſo very frequently proclaimed in this City, and that ſo many ſhould loath this ſpiritual Manna, this Angels Food, and call it light Bread? How much more tolerable will it be for Tyre and Sidon, for Sodom and Gomorrah, than for ſuch Sinners? For better Men had never heard of a Saviour's being born, than after they have heard, not to give heed to the Miniſtry of thoſe, who are employed as his Ambaſſadors, to tranſact Affairs between GOD and their Souls.
We may, though at a Diſtance, without a Spirit of Propheſy, foretel the deplorable Condition of ſuch Men; and behold them caſt into Hell, lifting up their Eyes, being in Torment, and crying out, How often would our Miniſters have gathered us, as a Hen gathereth her Chickens under her Wings!—But we would not.—Oh that we had known in that our Day, the Things that belonged to our everlaſting Peace!—But now they are for ever hid from our Eyes.
Thus wretched, thus inconceivably miſerable, will ſuch be as ſlight and make a Mock at the publick Preaching of the Goſpel.—But taking it for granted, there are but few, if any, of this unhappy Stamp, who think it not worth their while to tread the Courts of the LORD's Houſe, I paſs on now to the
II. Second general Thing propoſed,—To lay down ſome Cautions and Directions, in order to your hearing Sermons with Profit and Advantage.
And here, if we reflect on what has been already delivered, and conſider that Preaching is an Ordinance of GOD, a Means appointed by JESUS CHRIST himſelf, for promoting his Kingdom amongſt Men, you cannot reaſonably be offended, if, in order that you may hear Sermons with Profit and Advantage, I
Firſt, direct or intreat you to come to hear them, not out of Curioſity, but from a ſincere Deſire to know and do your Duty.
Formality and Hypocriſy in any religious Exerciſe is an Abomination unto the LORD. And to enter his Houſe merely to have our Ears entertained, and not our Hearts reformed, muſt certainly be highly diſpleaſing to the Moſt High GOD, as well as unprofitable to our ſelves.
Hence it is, that ſo many remain Unconverted, yea, Unaffected with the moſt Evangelical Preaching; ſo that like St. Paul's Companions, they only hear the Preacher's Voice with their outward Ears, but do not experience the Power of it inwardly in their Hearts. Or like the Ground near Gideon's Fleece, they remain untouched; whilſt others that came to be fed with the ſincere Milk of the Word, like the Fleece itſelf, are watered by the Dew of GOD's Heavenly Bleſſing, and grow thereby.
Flee therefore, my Brethren, flee Curioſity; and prepare your Hearts by a humble Diſpoſition to receive with Meekneſs the engrafted Word, and then it will be a Means, under GOD, to quicken, build up, purify, and ſave your Souls.
A Second Direction I ſhall lay down for the ſame Purpoſe, is, not only to prepare your Hearts before you hear, but alſo to give diligent heed to the Things that are ſpoken, whilſt you are hearing the Word of GOD.
If an earthly King was to iſſue out a Royal Proclamation, on performing or not performing the Conditions wherein contained, the Life or Death of his Subjects entirely depended, how ſollicitous would they be to hear what thoſe Conditions were? And ſhall not we pay the ſame Reſpect to the KING of KINGS, and LORD of LORDS, and lend an attentive Ear to his Ambaſſadors, when they are declaring in his Name on what Terms our Pardon, Peace, and Happineſs may be ſecured?
When GOD deſcended on Mount Sinai in terrible Majeſty, to give unto his People the Law, how attentive were they to his Servant Moſes? And if they were ſo earneſt to hear the Thundrings or Threatnings of the Law, ſhall not we be as ſollicitous to hear from the Miniſters of CHRIST, the glad Tidings of the Goſpel?
Whilſt CHRIST was himſelf on Earth, it is ſaid, that the People hung upon him to hear the gracious Words that proceeded out of his Mouth. And if we looked on Miniſters as we ought, as the Repreſentatives of JESUS CHRIST, we ſhould hang upon them to hear their Word… alſo.
Beſides, the ſacred Truths that Goſpel Miniſters deliver, are not dry inſipid Lectures o… Moral Philoſophy, intended only to amuſe u… for a while; but the great Myſteries of Godlineſs, which therefore we are bound ſtudiouſly to liſten to, leſt through our Negligence we ſhould either not underſtand them, or by any other Means let them ſlip.
But how regardleſs are thoſe of this Direction, who inſtead of hanging on the Preacher to hear him, doze or ſleep whilſt he is ſpeaking to them from GOD? Unhappy Men! Can they not watch with our bleſſed LORD one Hour? What; Have they never read how Eutichus fell down as he was ſleeping, when St. Paul continued his Diſcourſe till Midnight, and was taken up dead?
But to return. Though you may prepare your Hearts, as you may think, by a teachable Diſpoſition, and be attentive whilſt Diſcourſes are delivering, yet this will profit you little, unleſs you obſerve a
Third Direction,—not to entertain any the leaſt Prejudice againſt the Miniſter.
For could a Preacher ſpeak with the Tongu… of Men and Angels, if his Audience was prejudiced againſt him, he would be but as a ſounding Braſs, or a tinkling Cymbal.
That was the Reaſon why JESUS CHRIST himſelf, the eternal Word, could not do many mighty Works, nor preach to any great Effect among thoſe of his own Country; for they were offended at him. And was this ſame JESUS, this GOD incarnate again to bow the Heavens, and to come down ſpeaking as never Man ſpake; yet if we were prejudiced againſt him, as the Jews were, we ſhould harden our Hearts as the Jews did theirs.
Take Heed therefore, my Brethren, and beware of entertaining any Diſlike againſt thoſe whom the Holy Ghoſt has made Overſeers over you. Conſider that the Clergy are Men of like Paſſions with yourſelves. And though we ſhould even hear a Perſon teaching others to do, what he has not taught himſelf; yet that is no ſufficient Reaſon for rejecting his Doctrine. For Miniſters ſpeak not in their own, but CHRIST'S Name. And we know who commanded the People to do whatſoever the Scribes and Phariſees ſhould ſay unto them, though they ſaid but did not.
But, Fourthly, as you ought not be prejudiced againſt, ſo you ſhould be careful not to depend too much on a Preacher, or think more highly of him than you ought to think. For though this be an Extreme that People ſeldom run into; yet preferring one Teacher, in Oppoſition to another, has often been of ill Conſequence to the Church of GOD.
That, we read, was a Fault which the great Apoſtle of the Gentiles condemned in the Corinthians: For whereas one ſaid, I am of Paul; another, I am of Apollos: Are ye not Carnal, ſays he? For who is Paul, and who is Apollos, but Inſtruments in GOD's Hand by whom you believed? And are not all Miniſters ſent forth to be miniſtring Ambaſſadors to thoſe who ſhall be Heirs of Salvation? And are they not all therefore greatly to be eſteemed for their Work's Sake?
The Apoſtle, it is true, commands us to pay double Honour to thoſe who labour in the Word and Doctrine. But then to prefer one Miniſter at the Expence of another (perhaps to ſuch a Degree, as when you have actually entered a Church, to come out again, becauſe he does not preach) is earthly, ſenſual, deviliſh.
Not to mention that Popularity and Applauſe cannot but be exceeding dangerous even to a rightly informed Mind; and muſt neceſſarily fill any thinking Man with a holy Jealouſy, left he ſhould take that Honour to himſelf, which is due only to GOD; who alone qualifies him for his Miniſterial Labours, and from whom alone every good and perfect Gift cometh.
A Fifth Direction I would recommend is, to make a particular Application of every Thing that is delivered, to your own Hearts.
When our Saviour was diſcourſing at his laſt Supper with his beloved Diſciples, and foretold that one of th… ſhould betray him, each of them immediately applied it to his own Heart, and ſaid, LORD, Is it I? And would Perſons in lik Manner, when Preachers are diſſuading from any Vice, or perſuading to any Virtue, inſtead of crying, this was deſigned againſt ſuch and ſuch a one, turn their Thoughts inwardly, and ſay, LORD, Is it I? How far more beneficial ſhould we find Diſcourſes to be, than they generally are now?
But we are apt to wander too much abroad: Always looking at the Mote which is in our Neighbour's Eye, rather than the Beam which is in our own.
Haſte we now to the Sixth and laſt Direction: If you would receive a Bleſſing from the LORD, when you hear his Word preached, pray to him, both before, in, and after every Sermon, to endue the Miniſter with Power to ſpeak, and to grant you a Will and Ability to put in Practice what he ſhall ſhew from the Book of GOD to be your Duty.
This would be an excellent Means to render the Word preached effectual to the Enlightning and Enflaming your Hearts, and without this all the other Means before preſcribed will be in vain.
No doubt it was this Conſideration that made St. Paul ſo earneſtly intreat his beloved Epheſians to intercede with GOD for him,—Praying always, ſays he, with all Manner of Prayer and Supplication in the Spirit; and for me alſo, that I may open my Mouth with Boldneſs, to make known the Myſteries of the Goſpel. And if ſo great an Apoſtle as St. Paul, needed the Prayers of his People, much more do thoſe Miniſters, who have only the ordinary Gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Beſides, this would be a good Proof that you ſincerely deſired to do as well as know the Will of GOD: And it muſt highly profit both Miniſters and People; becauſe GOD through your Prayers will give them a double Portion of his Holy Spirit, whereby they will be enabled to inſtruct you more fully in the Things which pertain to the Kingdom of GOD.
And oh! that all that hear me this Day would ſeriouſly apply their Hearts to practiſe what has now been told them!—How would Miniſters ſee Satan like Lightning fall from Heaven, and People find the Word preached ſharper than a two-edged Sword, and mighty through GOD to the pulling down of the Devil's ſtrong Holds!
The Holy Ghoſt would then fall on all them that heard the Word; as when St. Peter preached. The Goſpel of CHRIST would have free Courſe, run very ſwiftly, and Thouſands again be converted by a Sermon.
For JESUS CHRIST, is the ſame Yeſterday, to Day, and for ever. He has promiſed to be with his Miniſters always, even unto the End of the World. And the Reaſon why we do not receive larger Effuſions of the bleſſed Spirit of GOD, is not, becauſe our All-powerful Redeemer's Hand is ſhortned, but becauſe we are not prepared to receive them, and becauſe we do not expect them, but confine them to the Primitive Times.
It does indeed ſometimes happen that GOD to magnify his Free Grace in CHRIST JESUS, is found of them that ſought him not; a notorious Sinner is forcibly worked upon by a publick Sermon, and plucked as a Fire-brand out of the Fire. But this is not GOD's ordinary Way of acting. No; for the Generality, he only viſits thoſe with the Power of his Word, who humbly wait to know what he would have them to do. And ſends unqualified Hearers not only empty, but hardened, away.
Take heed, therefore, ye careleſs, curious Profeſſors, if any ſuch be here preſent, how you hear▪ Remember that, whether we think of it or not, we muſt all appear before the Judgment Seat of CHRIST, where Miniſters muſt give a ſtrict Account of the Doctrine they have delivered, and you as ſtrict a one, how you have improved under it. And good GOD! how will you be able to ſtand at the Bar of an angry, Sin-avenging Judge, and ſee ſo many Diſcourſes you have deſpiſed, ſo many Miniſters who once longed and laboured for the Salvation of your precious and immortal Souls, brought out as ſo many ſwift Witneſſes againſt you? Will it be ſufficient then, think you, to alledge that you went to hear them only out of Curioſity, to paſs away an idle Hour, to admire the Oratory, or ridicule the Simplicity of the Preacher? No, GOD will then let you know, that you ought to have come out of better Principles, that every Sermon has been put down to your Account, and that you muſt then be juſtly puniſhed for not improving by them.
But fear not, you little Flock, who with Meekneſs receive the ingra…ted Word, and bring forth the peaceable Fruits of Righteouſneſs; for it ſhall not be ſo with you. No; you will be your Miniſter's Joy, and their Crown of Rejoycing in the Day of our Lord JESUS, And they will preſent you in a holy Triumph faultleſs and unblameable to our common Redeemer, ſaying, Behold us, O LORD, and the Children which Thou haſt given us.
But ſtill take you heed how you hear. For upon your improving the Grace you have, more ſhall be given, and you ſhall have abundance. For He is faithful that has promiſed, Who alſo will do it. Nay, GOD from out of Sion ſhall ſo bleſs you, that every Sermon you hear ſhall communicate to you a freſh Supply of Spiritual Knowledge. The Word of GOD ſhall dwell in you richly; you ſhall go on from Strength to Strength, from one Degree of Grace unto another, till being grown up to be perfect Men in CHRIST JESUS, and filled with all the Fulneſs of GOD, you ſhall be tranſlated by Death to ſee Him as He is, and to ſing Praiſe before his Throne with Angels and Archangels, Cherubim… and Seraphims, and the general Aſſembly of the Firſt-born, whoſe Names are written in Heaven, for ever and ever.
Which GOD of his infinite Mercy grant, &c.
The End of the Firſt Volume.
SERMONS ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS.
VOL. II.
CONTAINING,
I. Worldly Buſineſs no Plea for the Neglect of RELIGION.
II. The Marks of the NEW-BIRTH.
III. The Power of CHRIST'S Reſurrection.
IV. The Duty of Searching the Scriptures.
V. SATAN'S DEVICES.
VI. The Knowledge of JESUS CHRIST the beſt Knowledge.
VII. The heinous SIN of Drunkenneſs.
VIII. The Indwelling of the Spirit, the common Privilege of all Believers.
IX. The wiſe and fooliſh Virgins.
X. What think ye of CHRIST?
To which are added, Several PRAYERS.
By GEORGE WHITEFIELD, A. B. of Pembroke College, Oxford.
PHILADELPHIA: Printed and Sold by B. FRANKLI… …, Market-ſtreet, 1740.
THE CONTENTS
SERMON I. MATTH. Viii. 22. LET the Dead bury their Dead. 1.
SERMON II. ACTS xix. 2. Have ye received the Holy Ghoſt ſince ye believed? 15
SERMON III. PHILIP. iii. 10. That I may know Him, and the Power of his Reſurrection. 34
SERMON IV. JOHN V. 39. Search the Scriptures. 50
SERMON V. 2 CORINTH. ii. 11. Left Satan ſhould get an Advantage over us; for we are not ignorant of his Devices. 65
SERMON VI. 1 COR. ii. …. I determined not to know any Thing among you, …ve JESUS CHRIST, and him crucified. 86
SERMON VII. EPHESIANS V. 6. Be not drunk with Wine, wherein is Exceſs; but be filled with the Spirit. 101
SERMON VIII. JOHN vii. 37, 38, 39.
In the laſt Day, that great Day of the Feaſt, JESUS ſtood and cried, ſaying, If any Man thirſt, let him come unto me and drink.
He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath ſaid, out of his Belly ſhall flow River… of living Water.
But this ſpake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him ſhould receive. Pag. 120
SERMON IX. MATTH. xxv. 14. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the Day nor the Hour in which the Son of Man cometh. 143
SERMON X. MATTH. xxii. 42. What think ye of CHRIST? 172
PRAYERS.
A PRAYER for one entruſted with the Education of Children. 202
A PRAYER for a Servant. 206
A PRAYER for one under ſpiritual Deſertion. 210
A PRAYER for one under the Diſpleaſure of Relations for being religious. 214
A PRAYER for one deſiring to be awakened to an Experience of the New-Birth. 218
A PRAYER for one newly a… …ened … a Senſe of the Divine Life. 221