Sermon on Luke 8:18, Sermon – Hymn
A SERMON, On LUKE 8th, 18.
Take heed therefore how you hear.
Preached in one of the Churches in London.
By GEORGE WHITEFIELD, Before he embarked the firſt time for Georgia.
For what is a man profited, if he ſhall gain the whole world, and loſe his own ſoul, or what ſhall a man give in exchange for his ſoul.— Mat. 16.26.
Re-printed, 1792.
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, …nd 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 Doct…ine, 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 them 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 courteou… and e…ſy o… Acceſs) freely told …hem 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 …ſpecial Manner to b… the Light of the …, 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 ….
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 tho' 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 the 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 Forerunner 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 afterward 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 Minſtry, 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 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, his Angels rood, and call it light bread? How much more tolerable will it be for …yre and S…on, for Sodom and Gomorrah, than for …uch Sinners? For better, Men had never heard of a Saviour's b…ing born, than after they have heard, not to give heed to the Miniſtry of thoſe, who are employ…, 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 ſu…h 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 Thing 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 public Preaching …f the Goſpel.—But taking it for granted, there are b…t few, if any of this unhappy Stamp, who think it not worth their while to tre…d 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.
For…ality 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 ourſelves.
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 ſolicitous 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 …n 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 ſolicitous to hear from the Miniſters of CHRIST, the glad Tidings of the Goſpel?
In particular, take heed therefore how you hear the Redeemer's calls. See Luke 11.9. Aſk and it ſhall be given you. It is not do this or that, or the other duty, and it ſhall be given you, but aſk, and it ſhall be given you. Your duties are what you owe to GOD, and they are his right; if you ſhould take the goods of a neighbour, to purchaſe any thing of him, it would be no better than ſtealing. See what our Saviour ſays, John 10.1. Verily, verily, I ſay unto you, he that entereth not by the door into the ſheep-fold, but climbeth up ſome other way, the ſame is a thief and a robber.
But to neglect doing duties, is the way to provoke the Moſt High.
The next words are, ſeek and ye ſhall find. The word ſeek implies a great earneſtneſs to find ſome valuable thing that is loſt, or ſomething of great value or importance, and what can be of greater importance than the reſtoration of a dead ſoul to life. Remember the importunate widow, how by her importunity ſhe obtained the reſtoration of her daughter. Knock, and it ſhall be opened unto you. When any perſon ſees what is in his own heart, he ſees his nature is depraved; but let no one, even in his heart, charge GOD with a fault in that matter, whether his ſhallow reaſon can comprehend it or not. Therefore, to be renewed in the ſpirit of your minds, it is the gift of GOD."
Whilſt CHRIST was himſelf on Earth, it is ſaid, that 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 Words alſo.
Beſides the ſacred Truths that Goſpel Miniſters deliver are not dry inſipid Lectures on Moral Philoſophy, intended only to amuſe us 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 … 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 Tongue 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 ſpoke; yet if we were prejudiced againſt him, as the Jews were, we ſhould harden our hearts as the Jews did theirs.
But, Fourthly, as you ought not to 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 godly 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 godly 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 perfer one truly pious Miniſter at the Expence of the Character of another, 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, leſt 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 them ſhould betray him, each of them immediately applied it to his own Heart and ſaid, LORD, Is it I? And would Perſons in like Manner, when Preachers are diſſuading from any Vice, or perſuading to any Virtue, inſtead of crying, this w… 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 miſteries of the Goſpel. And if ſo great an Apoſtle as 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. His all-powerful Hand is not ſhortened. He has promiſed to be with his Miniſters always, even unto the End of the World.
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 Acco…nt of the Doctrine they have delivered, and you as ſtrict a one, how you have impro…ed und…r 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 mortal 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 ingrafted 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 Rejoicing 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 Fulneſs of GOD, you ſhall be tranſlated by Death to ſee him as he is, and to ſing Praiſe before the Throne with Angels and Archangels, Cherubims and Seraphims, and the general Aſſembly of the Firſt-born, whoſe Names are written in Heaven for ever and ever.
AMEN.
… …erhaps ſome people in the ſtate of nature, may diſpute … the laſt line of the 4th verſe in the following Hymn, they … de… to conſider the following texts in the word of God, … …. 15, 16. Jereh. 5.2. John 1.49. and chap. 8.19. and … the experience of chriſtians.
HYMN.
1.
WHEN the bleſt day of penticoſt,
Was fully come, the Holy Ghoſt
Deſcended from above,
That miniſters be fit to teach,
And Chriſt's redemption fully preach,
The Lord of life and love.
2.
To ev'ry nation under heav'n,
To hear the goſpel ſound is giv'n▪
The call to all extends:
As ours was parted long ago,
So God divides his language too,
And after ſinners ſends.
3.
And were theſe firſt diſciples bleſt
With heav'nly gifts, and ſhall the reſt
Be paſt unheeded by:
What, has the Holy Ghoſt forgot,
To quicken ſouls that Chriſt has bought,
And let them lifeleſs lie?
4.
No, thou Almighty God of love,
Thou ſend'ſt thy mercy from above,
Thou viſit'ſt ſinners ſtill:
With breath of life, with quick'ning flame,
O let thy mercy be the ſame,
Thy ſelf to ſouls reveal.
5.
Not for the gift of tongues we pray,
Nor deafs nor blinds to take away;
Nor pow'r the ſick to heal,
But O to be renew'd within,
To have our ſouls waſh'd clean from ſin,
And love to do thy will.'
End of the text · George Whitefield, Sermon on Luke 8:18 (1792)