The boring of the eare contayning a plaine and profitable discourse by way of dialogue : concerning 1. Our preparation before hearing, 2. Our demeanour in hearing, 3. Our exercise after we haue heard the Word of God / written by that faithfull and diligent minister of Gods Word, Master Stephen Egerton ...

CHAP. IIII. (Book 4)

Qu. HAth not the hearer discharged his dutie when hee hath heard the whole Sermon attentiuely?

An. No, although there be scarce one of a hundred who doth not thinke so.

Qu. What then is to bee done?

An. First, Men are not to go out of the Church so soone as the Sermon is ended, but stay the Prayer, Blessing, and Sacraments when they are administred.

Qu. Why so?

An. Touching Prayer, it is one principall part of the worship of God in the pub∣like Assemblies, and there∣fore cannot bee so despised without sinne. Besides, it is the exercise wherby al things are blessed and sanctified vn∣to vs. Finally, how can wee receiue so great a blessing at Gods hands, and depart from his presence without giuing of thankes?

Qu. What other reason is there?

An. If it would bee coun∣ted a thing vncomely, and

vndutifull, to stand before an earthly King as a dead I∣mage, and so soone as euer his speech were ended, to turne thy backe vpon him without any Request or Thankesgiuing: How much more to deale thus with him that is, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords?

Qu. Why must wee stay the Sacraments?

An. Because they are the publike Seales of the mutuall Couenant betweene GOD and vs, whereby hee bindeth himselfe to bee our God, and wee our selues to bee his peo∣ple, and therefore wee are to bee present, not only at the Lords Supper, which be∣longeth to all Beleeuers that are of discretion to examine themselues: but also at the

administration of Baptisme, whereby the same Couenant of Grace and forgiuenesse of sinnes is sealed vnto vs.

Qu. Is it requisite for mee of yeares to be present at the catechizing?

An. Yes, For first, many are men in yeares, which are Babes in knowledge.

Secondly, It is a thing of good example, both for the encouragement of youth, and also of the Minister himselfe when hee shall see them pre∣sent that can iudge of his paines.

Thirdly, By this meanes the elder sort shall bee better able to examine and conferre with the yonger at home.

Qu. Why must people stay the blessing?

An. Because the LORD

commanding his Minister to blesse the people, doth neces∣sarily imply their staying till the blessing bee pronounced: else hee should not blesse the people, but the bare Walles, which were to take the * 1.1Name of God in vaine.

Qu. What is the second dutie to bee done after the Sermon?

An. Such things as haue beene deliuered at Church must be, (as it were) chewed by Meditation, and turned ouer againe at home▪ after the example of the men of Berea, * 1.2for the quickning of our me∣morie, increasing of our Knowlege, strengthening of our Faith, &c.

Qu. What is the third du∣tie?

An. Parents and Masters

* 1.3 must demand, and take ac∣count of their people, of the things they haue heard.

Qu. Why so?

An. Because, First, they are to haue a care of their soules as well as of their bo∣dies.

Secondly, They that will winne others to Godlinesse, must beginne with them be∣time, Salomon saith.

Thirdly, By this meanes they shal frame them to more conscience of their dutie in ciuill matters, and in the or∣dinary workes, and labours of their calling.

Qu. What is the fourth dutie?

An. To conferre godly of that which hath beene taught by the way, and at our Tables; and not according to

the wicked custome of a great number, to fall presently into idle and vnsauourie speeches, or Discourses of Worldly matters, yea, to scoffing, and carping at the doctrine, or at the Teacher thereof.

Qu. What profit com∣meth hereby?

An. By such godly spee∣ches Christ is after a sort in∣uited, and drawne into our company by the presence of * 1.4 his Spirit, as hee was to those two Disciples in person that went to Emaus.

Qu. What say you then to such as doe not vse this con∣ference?

An. They are like that member of the naturall bo∣die, which keeping all the food to it selfe, and not im∣parting the same to the mem∣bers

adioyning, doth in short time corrupt both himselfe and them.

Qu. What is the fist du∣tie?

An. To keepe in minde that the Sabbath is not ended as soone as the Sermon is done: and therefore not to meddle with Worldly mat∣ters: but to spend the rest of the time in Prayer, Reading, Repetition, singing of Psalms, &c. according to the scope of the fourth Commandement. Therefore they are greatly deceiued who thinke they haue sufficiently sanctified the Sabbath, when they haue heard a Sermon superficially in the fore-noone: And they likewise who vainly per∣swade themselues that the Sanctification of the Lords

Day consisteth chiefly in ab∣stayning from the works and labours of their callings, and yet will passe the same away in diuers vanities, lasciuious Dancings, Drinkings, and bodily pleasures.

Qu. May no bodily la∣bours bee performed on the Lords Day?

An. Yes, such as are ne∣cessarily required for the health, welfare, and defence of our selues or our Neigh∣bour, and could not well bee dispatched the day before, nor deferred till the day fol∣lowing. For in such cases the * 1.5Sonne of man is Lord of the Sabbath Day. Wherefore the Macchabees did foolishly in suffering themselues to bee slaine without resistance be∣cause it was the Sabbath

* 1.6 Day, which error afterwards they decreed to reforme.

Qu. What is the sixt du∣tie?

An. If we haue heard any thing that seemed darke, and doubtfull to vs, not to be dis∣couraged, but to confer with * 1.7our godly Pastor that wee may know the things that differ.

Qu. Why must wee doe this?

An. First, We vse it in the things of this World, much more then ought wee to doe it in the things that concerne eternall life.

* 1.8 Secondly, The Priests lips preserue knowledge, &c.

Thirdly, Examples teach the same thing.

Qu. What is the seuenth dutie?

An. Euery godly hearer must sound and search his owne heart, and accordingly sentence and censure himselfe touching that which he hath heard, how farre forth hee hath beene rebellious against the same, or yeelded obedi∣ence thereunto.

Qu. What will this sifting of the heart bring forth?

An. If we find a sweet har∣monie and consent betweene Gods Word and our wills, it wil worke in vs ioy and peace of conscience, with Thankes∣giuing to God, whose meere grace, and free gift it is: other∣wise it ought to humble vs, and worke that godly sorrow in vs which Paul speaketh of, * 1.9and cause vs to purge out that old leauen spoken of, 1. Cor. * 1.105. 7.

Qu. What is the eighth dutie?

An. It is, that all Christi∣ans, especially Superiours, doe endeauour to redresse and re∣forme such as belong to their care and charge, by a more speciall applying of such things as are deliuered in Ser∣mons, to their speciall sinnes and transgressions, doubts or feares, whereby they shall discharge a brotherly dutie, and inure the other to thinke more deeply and fruitfully of the things that are taught.

Qu. What followeth of all this?

An. Hence it appeareth, First, how hard and excellent a thing it is not only to preach, but also to heare Ser∣mons profitably.

Secondly, It sheweth how

farre they be out of the way of discharging their dutie, who haue superficially spent an houre or two either in preaching or hearing.

Qu. What then should faithfull Ministers doe?

An. They ought with all care to apply themselues to performe this dutie of prea∣ching holily and fruitfully.

First, by diligent studie and meditation at home.

Secondly, By a zealous deliuering of the same in the Church.

Thirdly, By Prayer, and watching for the profit of their Doctrine both in them∣selues and others.

Qu. What may prouoke them hereunto?

An. The promises of GODS Word set downe,

* 1.11 Esay 49. 4. and in other pla∣ces.

Qu. What must good people doe?

An. First, prepare them∣selues with great Religion to heare the Word, and to vse all reuerence and attention in the hearing.

Secondly, to endeauour with like Religion to expresse and practise it in the whole course of their life.

Qu. What should mooue them hereunto?

* 1.12 An. Because (as Christ saith) Blessed are they that heare the Word of God, and keepe the same. And the Apostle saith, * 1.13The Word thus receiued is able to saue their soules.

FINIS.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Num. 6. 23, 24.
• * 1.2

  Acts 17. 10 11.
• * 1.3

  Exo. 12. 26. Deu 6. 2. 21 Ioshua 4. 6.
• * 1.4

  Luke 24▪ 15 32.

  Phil. 4▪ 9. Ephes. 4. 29, 30.
• * 1.5

  Mat. 12. 8. Mark. 2. 27.
• * 1.6

  1. Mac. 2. 36.
• * 1.7

  Phil. 1. 9, 10
• * 1.8

  Mal. 2 7. M t. 13. 36 Iohn 16. 19. Acts 8. 34.
• * 1.9

  2. Cor. 7. 10.
• * 1.10

  1 Cor. 5. 7.
• * 1.11

  Dan. 12. 3. 2. Tim. 4. 7, 8.
• * 1.12

  Luke 11. 28
• * 1.13

  Iames 1. 21.