A guide to the Holy City, or, Directions and helps to an holy life containing rules of religious advice, with prayers in sundry cases, and estates ... / by Iohn Reading ...

CHAP. XIII.

§. 1. Of hearing Gods word. §. 2. Motives thereto. §. 3. The usuall lets. §. 4. Conditions requisite to profitable hearing. §. 5. Rules of practice thereto ap∣pertaining.

1 SInne (to Gods dishonour, and mans misery) invaded the soule principally by the eare: and it is Gods pleasure to beat it out againe by the same doore: that as in our first parents, we heard Satans seducements to our ruine; so for our repaire, we should heare the voice of Christ,a which is our life—b our wisedome, and blessednesse if we keepe it.

2. No word can binde and stay the conscience, direct to

salvation, comfort the soul, and make a man truly wise, but only thatc which cannot be false: that only is the ground of faith; whatsoever is lesse, is but opinion at most: this infallible cer∣tainty is only in the word of Godd who cannot lye. Let o∣thers magnifie traditions of men, I will learne my religion e here,f who but God could teach me Gods will, and the mystery of salvation? If the Oratour did justly reprove him that learned Greeke at Lilybaeum not at Athens: and Latine at Cilicia not at Rome, how much more culpable are they, who neglecting Gods word will elsewhere learne religion?

3.g God hath spoken at sundry times, and in divers man∣ners by the Prophets and Apostles, whose writings the same his infallible spirit endited, to reveale his will concerning the duty and salvation of man; and for a constant and unchange∣able rule of faith and manners, leading to the same: As when he had shewed the Israelites his power and providence to feed them with Manna from heaven,h hee commanded that a part thereof should be laid up for posterity in the golden urne: soi when those divine clouds (the Prophets and Apostles) had showred downe their heavenly food of soules, the com∣mission was to them all, which was to some, write this for a me∣moriall in a booke, Exod: 17. 14. write the vision, and make it plaine upon tables, Habac: 2. 2. what thou seest write in a booke, Rev: 1. 11. write, for these words are true and faithfull Rev: 21. 5. This is that Manna which was accommodate to every Palate: it was milke to the child, and strong meat to the man: the Scripture is for all estates, ages, and conditions.

4. Though the Scriptures are the only infalliblek dictate of the holy Ghost, appointed to be the rule by which to try all doctrines; yet the preaching of the same word; expounding, & applying it by the Ministers of Christ, is likewise the ordinance of the same God, assisted by a sufficient measure of his spirit, to the edifying and salvation of the hearers, so is it the (l pow∣er of God to salvation to every one that beleeueth: he hath said, it m is not you that speake, but the spirit of your father which speak∣eth in you: and, take heed unto thy selfe and unto the doctrine— for in doing this, thou shalt both save thy selfe and them that heare thee.

5. As Christ was the Propheto which God promised to raise up, which every soule must heare which will be saved; so was, and is, his spirit now speaking in the Preachers of the Gos∣pell: See Luk. 10. 16. and as salvation is by faith onely, so is faithp by hearing, and that by the Word of God: and how shall they learne without a teacher? or preach except they be sent, and furnished of God? when he sent the Angellq to Cornelius, he could by the same, have instructed him concer∣ning his will; but he remitted him to the Ministrie of Peter: so when Christ appeared tor Saul on the way he could as easily have told him what he should do, as send him bl••nd to Ananias, to restore him at once a double light: but he would thus teach men a reverend esteeme and dependance on the mi∣nistry, by which his purpose was, ordinarily to bring men to faith and salvation.

To incite us to this duty of hearing, let us consider, that

1. Ass Aaron must be heard when he went into the ho∣ly place: and thet Prophet must heare the Word at Gods mouth, and warne the people thereof upon paine of death, u so if they will not heare, and be warned, they wilfully perish.

2. The Word is Gods Scepter of his Kingdome: 'tis his great mercy to give the light of the Gospell to a people, as a starre to lead them to Christ, when heew removeth the Candlesticke from others, by nature as good as they.x The Queene of Saba said, that Solomons servants were happy in that they might stand and heare his wisedome: how much more happy are they, who may in the Gospell, heare the wisedome of Christ, and be sensible of hisy saving power therein?

3. This word, as God owneth it for thez dictate of his spirit, and his ordinance, so doth he indeed make it effectuall toa convert the soule, to make the simpleb wise unto sal∣vation, and the wise perfect, and throughly furnished to all good workes.

4. Hereby Satans Captives may be brought to repentance, acknowledge the truth, & recover themselves out of his snare. 2. Tim: ••. 24. to whom they must else (like thosec care-bored servants) be in vassalage for ever.

5. The word of truth isd safely heard, though not al∣waies so preached:d truth begetteth malice, and so createth danger to the speaker, where itching eares will not endure sound doctrine, 2. Tim: 4. 3.

6. It is the word of reconciliation, 2. Cor: 5. 19. the embassie of God, to entreat us to be reconciled to him in Christ: it pro∣fereth peace if we will embrace it: if we hearken unto ite as Jothan said) God will hearken unto us: it is thef gladsome tydings of salvation,g the Gospell of peace, Rom: 10. 15. the savour of life to them who receave it; as of death to them that reject it or neglect it: every sermon setteth before ush life and death, blessing and cursing, that we may choose: asi Fabi∣us said to the Carthaginians, when he shooke his robes, In this bosome, I bring you warre and peace, choose which you will.

7. The dangers are unavoidable to the refuser to heare this word:

1. It is a desperate condition to be deafe to the ordinary remedy appointed by God to cure us: read 2. Chron: 36. 15. &c. The Lord God of their fathers sent unto them by his Messengers k rising early and sending, because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place: but they mocked the Messengers of God, despised his words and misused his Prophets, untill the wrath of God arose against the people, and there was no remedy. Therefore brought hee up them the King of the Chaldeans, who slew their yong men with the sword, &c. See Jer. 19. 15. Jer. 29. 18, 19. Jer: 25. 8. 9. &c. Levit. 26. 18. &c. Deut. 21. 13. 15.l Therefore did we heare a voyce of trembling, and fear, and not of peace: therefore a voyce is heard in Ramah, lamen∣tation and bitter weeping: for indeed hereby men desperately prevoke God. Heb. 3. 16. It is the height of rebellion against him, wherein they will admit of not treaty, Deut. 1. 43. Isay 30. 9. the Physitians say, deafnesse in a sharp fever is a signe of mad∣nesse: 'tis nothing lesse here: God will give them overn to strong delusions to beleeve lies, and be damned, who will not receive the love of truth that they may be saved:o I will choose their delusions (saith the Lord) and bring their feares upon them, because when I called, none would answer, When I spake they did not heare▪ the best that a contemner, or neglecter of

Gods Word, can expect, is to be severely afflicted, that at last hee may hearken and learne to acknowledge with David, p before I was troubled I went wrong, but now have I lear∣ned thy testimonies, as Elihu said, Job 36. 15. he openeth their eares in oppression.

2. God will cut him off. Act. 3. 23. Jer. 7. 13. 15. Deut, 30. 17. 18. they areq none of Christs sheepe who will not heare his voyce; theyr dispise Christ, Luk. 10. 16. whose word it is, Math. 16. 20. therefore shall it bes more tolerable for So∣dome and Gomorrah in the day of judgement then for them.

3. God willt not heare them when they crie unto him in distresse: Though they cry in mine eares with a lowd voyce, yet will I not heare them: and againe he saith,u as I cryed and they would not heare, so they cryed and I would not heare saith the Lord, Zach: 7. 13. 8.

8. The fruits of hearing are very necessary and most com∣fortable. The Tempter laboureth to keep us from Church, by presenting us many lets, pleasures, profits, and the like, whose losse he pretendeth, if we spend an houre to heare; but upon a due account it will appeare, that never any faithfull hearer, lost by performing this duty for

1. Faith is by hearing, Rom: 10. 17. faith apprehending all the riches of Gods mercy in Christ.

2. Hereby thou shaltw understand the feare of the Lord, and finde the knowledge of God, sound wisedome and under∣standing to prese•••••• thee, and deliver thee from the way of the evill man.

3. Hereby thou shalt abide in Christs love, and live: as it is written,x encline your eare—heare, and your soule shall live, & I will make an everlasting covenant with you: see Joh: 15. 10. Rev: 3. 20.

4. It is the better part, that one necessary thing, which shall never bee taken away, Luk: 10, 39. what ever else, with ex∣pence of pretious time we get, shall puickly bee taken from us, but the treasure we gaine in hearing Gods word, shall goe with us to eternity.

5. The holy Ghost accompanieth his owne ordinance, though ••ot alwaies in visible effects, as Act. 10. 44. &c. yet in that which is better to the hearers, justification by faith, whereby Christ becommeth ours, to hisy sealing with the spirit of promise, and beingz made fruitfull to all good workes: all which is better then faith of miracles, which a man may have, and yet be a reprobate, Math. 7. 22. 23.

6. They area blessed who heare the word of God, and keepe it: blessed with health and plenty, peace, wisedome (an attentive care makes a prudent heart:b He that hearkneth unto Councell is wise) and which is best, confidencec in Christ who never faileth trust.

7. Their prayers shall be heard,d If yee abide in me and my word in you, yee shall aske what yee will, and it shall bee done unto you: it was the answer of God toe Josias by the Prophetesse Huldah, because thy heart was tender and thou didst humble thy selfe before God when thou heard'st his Words against this place,— I ••ave even heard thee also, saith the Lord—lay up his words on thy heart (saith Eliphaz, Job: 22. 22. 27.)—thou shalt make thy prayer unto him and he shall heare thee—

The lets unto the right performing this duty are

1. Hardnesse of heart: as 'tis written, they refused to hearken— and stopped their cares, that they should not heare, yea they made their hearts as an adamant stone, least they should heare the law— and againe,g this peoples heart is waxed grosse, and their eares are dull of hearing—and againe,h if yee Will heare his voice har∣den not your hearts. Miserable is the state of those deafe adders who refuse to be charmed: who is so deafe as hee that will not heare? The deafe heart is incomparably worse then the deafe eare: this is an affliction, that a sinne: this a bodily infir∣mitie, that a spirituall and fearefull curse: there may bee true comfort in this, there can be none in that: The deafe man is se∣cure from the dangerous voices of railers and slatterers: and though he be deafe to man, may listen and freely speake to God, have his comfortable soliloquies, wherein hee may confer with his own soule: as by writing he may speak to others, and by reading heare others speake: nor can I more doubt concer∣ning the inward comfort of the naturally deafe, then of the

infant, who though he cannot understand the outward; ordi∣nary meanes, yet is capeable of the spirit of sanctification; and consequently of salvation, as may appeare in Jeremie sanctified from the wombe,k and John Baptist in the wombe. As it is in not receiving the sacraments (which represent Christ to the other senses) so in not hearing the word: it is not the privati∣on, but the contempt which condemneth: Where God denieth either meanes, or capacity, hee can save by some other way of applying Christ to the elect, then he hath revealed to us, whom it concerneth not; we being made capable of the word preach∣ed therefore unexcusable if we will not hearken and obey, that we may be saved.

2. Unbeleefe: if we beleeve not Gods threatnings and pro∣mises, neither the law nor Gospelll can profit us. The faith∣full Minister prepareth to give (amongst others) to unbelee∣vers also,m the sincere milke of the word, that they might grow thereby, but asn the true mother to the dead child: when I rose in the morning to give my child sucke, behold it was dead, said she.

3. Want of discerning spirit, and true wisedome: the word of God is ao reproach to the uncircumcised eare:p the carnall apprehended it not: hee that is of God heareth his words:q therefore yee heare them not (saith Christ) because yee are not of Godr he that is not of God, heareth us not: hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of errour,s every one that is of the truth heareth Christ's voice. When for mens obstinacy God giveth them over,t hearing they shall not understand.

4. Corruption of a carnall heart, ever resisting the holy spi∣rit: we are naturally deafe to Gods word, till Christ say to our spirits, as tou deafe man, Ephphata, be opened: a naturall w Gileadite hath taken the passages of the soule, and nothing can enter which speakes not it; Shibboleth; which pronounceth not according to its custome and affection:x the itching eare cannot endure wholsome doctrine. Herod cannot endure to heare his incest reproved, nor Ahab his murder, the Pharises their hypocrisie, nor Demetrius his artifice of silver shrines: y the Grecians must have wisedome, the Jewes signes and wonders; the nice compture of the words, witty and pleasing

things (because they bring only a carnall eare) the Atheniaus somez newes the Gospell toa Gallio, is but contention of words and questions of names:b Jeremies preaching truth, to the wicked Princes and Priests, is treason against the City, c Pauls madnessed to Festus; moving of sedition and he∣resie: to Tertullus, ande blasphemie to the Jewes.

5. Pride: as 'tis written,f they dealt proudly, and he••rkned not unto thy commandements: they who (in the height of a car∣nall heart) resolve not to change their resolutions, cannot a∣bide to heare any thing dissenting: the proud heart cannot en∣dure any contradiction.

6. Love of the world: the tares thereofg choke up the good seed, so that it cannot finde roome in the heart to fructi∣fy: this makes the negotiators excuse their not comming to the spirituall feast, they must prove their Oxen, and survey their new purchases: the married thinke they owe no excuse: h this makes Felix put off hearing the Gospell to some con∣venient time, when Satan and the world will: this makes the formall hypocrite (who will seeme a great servant and lover of the word) goei away heavy, if it bid him sell and give to the poore, or secretly murmur, if it touch his fraud of fals weights: resolving to follow the word no further then it will comply with his gains: the Prophet describeth such—k they heare thy words, but they will not doe them: with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousnesse; &c.

7. Satans subtilty distracting their thoughts, so that they attend not, andl catching away that which is sowed in their heart, perverting the sense, embittering wholsome doctrine, with some dislike, distast, irksomenesse of the hearer, or sugge∣sting some impertinent thoughts, so to sill and busie the mind, that it cannot attend to, nor receive the word: the mind of a good hearer must be like them arke of the testimony in which was onely the tables of the Law.

The conditions necessary to profitable hearing, are that we take heed. 1 Whom. 2. What. 3. and how we heare.

1. Christs sheep will not hearken to a stranger, Joh. 10. 5. and God saith of seducers,n Thou shalt not hearken to the voyce of that Prophet.

2. We must take heed what we heare, Mark. 4. 24.o Evill Words corrupt good manners.

3. We must he cautiousp how we heare, Luk: 8. 18. The gate of life and death had need be guarded with all diligence: while Eve left it open to the Serpent, shee quickly perished. The conditions of hearing are that we must heare.

1. Faithfully: without which the word profiteth not: the learnerq must beleeve, specially in Gods schoole: wee must not perversely affect to bring Gods assertions to the touch∣stone of our sense or carnall ••eason, to make the Lawes of our owne faithr with Thomas, I will not beleeve except I see,—or to require demonstration and proofe of Gods truth,s whose part it is to pronounce, not to proove: because he is the onely competent witnesse to himselfe: all the creatures can adde no credit to his assertions: it is enough to conclude a thing true, if we can prove that God said it: because he is essentially truth: whatsoever is not true, is neither God, nor of God. It is im∣possible for him to lye; as 'tis impossible for him not to be, or to change his being true: now because wee are not capable of the infinite counsell and truth of God, he complieth with our capacity, and speaketht after the manner of men: by litle & litleu destilling that dew of heaven on our understandings, which may not overwhelme and drowne them, but make them fruitfull: not powring out his depths of knowledge on us, as he can speake, but as we can apprehend. Therefore we must a∣dore those mysteries, which we cannot examine, and beleeve every syllable of Gods word to be infallibly true, though our reason come infinitely short of sounding the depth thereof.

2. Attentively: we must come to a sermon, not for feare or fashion, but with an hearty desire to be edified, and therein shake off all oscitancie, carelesse drouzinesse, and wandering thoughts, which will else render all our worke fruitlesse: the Auditors thirst to heare, is the speakers supply: when they at∣tend, the spirit powreth out abundantly; asw the widowes oyle encreased, while there were vessels to receive it: bee thou present in minde, indeed to receive the word, or else a bodily presence, will no more profit thee, then did Satans appearance amongx the Saints, advantage him: bring me an heart free

from all worldly distractions,y said Chrysostome: hearing is the port of wisdome, the sense of descipline, admirable is the power of the tongue, which the good God gave, to be the soules in∣terpreter, that the spirits of men (otherwise close prisoners in those hou••es of clay) might convay a mutuall intelligence, and communicate their secret senses to each other through the eare: the heathens intimated 〈◊〉〈◊〉 their legends of Amphion buil∣ding the walls of Thebes, and Orpheus charming the eare with notes so sweet, that he made brutes attentive, & brought some from the dead: we better knowe the morall in the admirable power of speaking, able to unite men in civill societies, and an holy communion, to edifie, and (by the power of Gods spi∣rit working therein) to raise the dead in sinne, to newnesse of life: but all this must be done with an attentive eare, the hearing eare, so the Hebrewes put 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 cor audiens for an understanding heart. 1 King. 3. 9. without whose at∣tention it cannot be.

3. Prudently which is

1. By resolving to obey Gods word in every part: this is the end of our hearing:a not the hearers but the doers of the Law shall be justified—b be yee doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. Happy are they who heare and do thereafter: too many are all for hearing, and nothing for practice, like thosec monstrous Fanetii, who had eares disproportionably great for the body.d if the whole were hearing, where were the smelling: 'tis the symtome of a e queazie stomacke, to desire to tast many things, and to be able to digest nothing. The word of God isf quicke and active: like theg snow and raine, it doth not in vaine descend but doth his will who sent it, making the good grow up to the blessing, and the evill, like fowle weedes, more ranke for the fire: 'tis as the Arkeh at Obed, Edoms house a blessing, at i Ash••od a curse: we must not thinke 'twill lye dead, it ma∣keth the disobedient like the first sinnerk slie, and strive to hide from God▪ it leaves him excuselesse,l to the more stripes, by how much more, he knew his masters will, and would not doe it: read Deut: ••9. 19, 20, 21. wee many times wonder why the Lord afflicteth us; we may easily know 'tis for the con∣tempt,

and neglect of his word: we heare, but obay not,m ex∣cept where we please; which is indeed to idoll our own affecti∣ons, not to serve God: we at ourn pleasure, make free choice which of Gods laws we will obay, and which we will dispense withall: so Herod would obay Mark. 6. 20. The Athenians list∣ned till Paul spake of the resurrection, then some mocked, Act: 17. 3••. and the Jewes heard him, till he mentioned his mission to the Gentileso they gave him audience unto this word, then they lifted up their voices and said away with such a fellowe from the earth, for it is not fit that he should live: if we heare and resolve to obay all we shall bep prudent builders: and the word shall be a savour of life unto life to us: if not all, a savour of death unto death: our owne consent to the good word (in that we heare, & whereof in effect we say asq Shei∣mei to Solomon, the word that I have heard is good) shall pro∣nounce to us (as to him it did) our own doome when we keepe not the commandement wherewith we were charged; when men will be making their own rules, choice, and dispensations, they easily erre: then Jehoiakim burneth the Prophets rowle, Jer: 36. 23. then the rich man departeth fromr Christ in dis∣content, and thes Jewes from Paul.

2. Opportunely, in the accepted time: while hee speaketh: t today if yee will heare his voice, harden not your hearts: you know not how sooneu the Candlestick may be removed, how soone you may be taken hence, and whether you that neglect one sermon shall live ••o heare another: there was no noise (as hath beene noted) of thew hammer in the rearing up of So∣lomons Temple: neither shall there be any noise in the heaven∣ly Jerusalem of the word of prophesie,x which like an ham∣mer and fire, here fashioneth the living materialls of the spiri∣tuall temple. There all shall cease, 1. Cor: 13. 8. as when the Children of Israel hady tasted the fruit of Canaam, the Manna ceased: so shall this food of soules when wee come to our promised rest.

3. Hearing it as the word of God, not as the word of men knowing that whetherz Paul plant or Apollos water, God only giveth the encrease: when auditors faile of this rule, they a securely contemne the word, which they durst not doe,

were they indeed assured that the contempt thereof refle∣cted on God himselfe,b whose Word and Ordinance it is.

4. Having not the Word inc respect of mens persons, as the vulgar use:d The poore mans wisedome is despised, and his words not heard. The prudent man will value this heaven∣ly treasure, though God send it hime in earthen vessels: to beat downe that vaine affection of man, which too much looketh on second causes, God chose not the learned, rich, wise, or eloquent, to preach the Gospell, but the ignorant, poore, and despised, yeaf the foolish things of the world to confound the wise: the weake to confound the mighty: that no flesh might glory in his presence, and that g our faith might not stand in the wisedome of men, but in the power of God.

5. Hearing diligently: for what knowest thou when God will call thee effectually, comfort, and confirme thee? h Thomas was but once away from the company of the A∣postles, and in that one neglect, he once lost, (and for ought he knew, might finally) the oportunity of seeing Christ risen from the dead: and therefore, till Christ in mercy came a∣gaine to shew himselfe, continued in his unbeliefe: some come too late to Church: either lazinesse, ori Martha's many encumbrances keepe them long at home: theyk who stayed too long before they sought for manna found none: and sel∣dome do slow commers to Church find comfort in that they carelesly heare: all the people came early in the morning to heare Christ in the temple, Luk. 21. 38. the wise merchant will part from all, ease, sleep, worldly pleasures and emoluments to purchase this treasure: make it (as David did) thy hearts de∣light and treasure, and thou wilt be sure to loose nothing of it.

6. Hearing with an heart desirous rather of things pro∣fitable then pleasing thy curiosity. 'tis better to be made good, then witty; to be wise then to be reputed learned: he is learned indeed who is good, but he is not alwaies good that is lear∣ned: them wicked is truly foolish, and the foolish wicked: for he saith in his heart there is no God, Psal: 14. 1.

7. Being not a captious hearer; some bring itching, some treacherous eares to Church, asn Jeremies enemies did, who watched for his halting, that they might prevaile against him. This is but a Witty folly at best; concluding rather a dain∣ty, then a wise hearer, a censurer then a scholler: one that com∣meth to Church to teach, not to heare: nothing but curiosities please them: but the truely thirsty are not so solicitous to drinke in gold or Corinthian vessels, as to quench their thirst with that which is wholsome: there are some Philoxene's, so full of censorious acrimonie, that they had rather be condem∣ned twice to the mines, then once to forbeare their rigid cen∣sure: a prudent hearer will be advantaged both by that which is delivered with much politure and elegancy, and that which is roughly: even the speakers errours shall adde to his know∣ledge: the ancient Heathens woont to place the Graces by the statue of Mercury, to signify with what candor, auditors ought to passe by some slips of speakers.

The Rules of practice are either 1. before. 2. in. 3. or after hearing the word.

1. Before thou commest into the house of God.

1.o Looke to thy foot, whether thou stand right before God by ap through examination of thy state, whe∣ther thou art in the faith: repent thee of all thy sins,q breake up your fallow ground and sow not among thornes: without this what hope can we receive of any fruit? One maine rea∣son why we doe often heare, and so litle profit, is the neg∣lect of this duty; how can wee hope that Gods word will doe us good, when we continue in impenitency and resolution to sinne.

2. Pray God for a blessing, that he would assist the speaker with an enlarged heart, faithfull memory, a doore of utterance, and that evidence of his spirit, which may make his ministry powerfull to convert and comfort.r If Paul had need of such assistance, how much more have wee? Pray that God would bee preased to take from thee all spiritu∣all blindnesse, hardnesse of heart, prejudicate opinion, wandering▪ thoughts, and prophanation: that hee would restraine the busie malice of the Tempter▪

that he would give thee a discerning spirit; that he would o∣pen thy heart and eares,s as he did Lydia's, that thou maist attend, and lay up his words in thy heart: that thou maist un∣derstand, beleeve, and bring forth fruits to life eternall.

2. In hearing 1. Attend without distraction, that thou ma••st minde, understand, and loose no part, least thou mistake the rest.

2. In case of distractions, send up breife and frequent ejaculation••, for Gods gratious assistance, thus must wee build like ant I•• raelite, among our enem••es, with a weapon in one hand, and a building instrument in the other, that wee may at once desend and edi••ie.

3. Compose thy body to such a reverend posture, in respect of Gods presence, and the testimony of men and An∣gells, who behold thee, that thou maist thereby contribute to the Minister & hearers, the assistance of thy devout gesture, attention, countenance, and voice, as occasion serveth to say, Amen.

3. After hearing. 1. Lay up the seed in a faithfull memo∣ry, u least the evill one come, take it away, and leave thee fruitlesse, that thou maist bew a doer of good works, and not a forgetfull hearer, and so bee blessed indeed: as 'tis written x Heare therefore O Isra••l, observe to doe it, that it may bee well with thee: lay that to heart which thou hearest, throughly ap∣plying it to thy selfe, as if God pickt thee out of all the con∣gregation, to speake to thee, that he might draw thee to repen∣tance, and salvation: thus must thouy lay up his words in thine heart, andz hald fast that thou hast received: thou lear∣nest only so much as thou remembrest: excuse not thy selfe upon a bad memory: thou seldome forgettest where thou se∣riously lovest▪ where is that old man that hath forgotten where he hath laid his gold? Use the best meanes▪ by repeating, writing, calling to memory some things at least, when thou commest home: thou shalt in this constant practice, ••inde thy memory amend.

2. Meditate, and examine how thou hast profited by hearing: in case thou finde hardnesse of heart, and ba••rennesse in thy soule, be not discouraged, God hath his times: Moses

smote the rock at Horeba twice, before it would yeeld, at last it sent out abundant streames of living waters. God speaketh once, and twice, and man perceiveth not: line must be unto line, and precept unto precept: happy he who once resenteth; give it not over, still practise: the beastb which ruminateth not, was reputed uncleane: the morall is, they are wicked, who call not oft to minde, that which they have heard. Be constant in exa∣mination of thy selfe after every sermō thou hearest: to dresse our selves we are contented often to consult our glasse, how well and decently 'tis done; how few doe it after hearing? If thou wilt doe thy selfe right herein, thou shalt at last feele the power of Gods word in thy soule.

Doth any enquire; how shall I knowe when I heare the word as I ought? The signes are. 1. Joy of the holy Ghost: so c went the shepheards home, so thed Eunuch, soe many of the faithfull.

2. Desire to heare more, as those happy converts, Act: 13. Act: 17. 32. the spirituallf eare is not satiate with hearing: when goodg Josiah had heard the Law read, he gave present charge, goe and enquire the Lord for us.

3. Profitting by theh sincere milke of the word, & growing thereby from strength to strength, from grace to grace.

4. Faithfull resolution to doe all that which thou hast learned (asi Israel once professed) otherwise, it had k beene better, never to have knowne the holy comman∣dement: it beingl lesse sin to be ignorant of Gods word, then to despise it knowne: Herod did many things but his dispensa∣tion with one sinne, overthrew all the rest.

5. Hearty and unfeigned repentance, such as we read of in the Jewes at Peters sermon, Act: 2. 37. such as is comman∣ded, Rev: 3. 3.

6. Filial feare of God; this is the end of speaking and hearing:m to feare God and keep his commandements, is the whole duty of man.

7. Readinesse to impart to others what we have lear∣ned —that they may teach their children, said Moses, Deut: 4. 10. so did holy Abraham his family.

3. Lastly, againe commend thy soule to God, that hee may send thee the former and later raine upon the seed sowed in thine eares, to enable thee to bring forth happy fruitsthereof: to make it powerfull, and comfortable to thee in life and death.

A Prayer before hearing the word:

O Lord God eternall, who hast laid the foundation of the earth, and formest the spirit of man within him, who art the fa∣ther of light, and causest the Sunne of righteousnesse to shine un∣to people sitting in darknesse, in the region and shaddow of death, that the glorious light of the Gospell might appeare to them, that they may therein knowe thee, beleeve, see thy saving health, and bee fruitfull in good workes, to thy glory and the assurance of their own hearts before thee: wee humbly acknowledge that we we are most un∣worthy of the least of all thy mercies, specially of that light of truth, which thou hast abundantly, and long bestowed upon us, seeing wee have not yet brought forth fruits worthy amendment of life, but have walked every man in the stubbornesse, vanity, and security of his owne heart, as if we had not knowne thy will: thou hast allured us with promises, and deterred us from our wicked waies with threatnings and sore afflictions accordingly sent upon us. but wee have answered all with contempt, security, adding transgressions to transgressions, till they have beene multiplied over our heads, as∣cended up into thy presence, and thence with wilfull hearts and vi∣olent hands, pulled downe thy severe judgements upon-our selves, as appeareth this day: so that in our own conscienc••s, we doe deserve to heare that sentence on the barren tree, cut it downe and cast it in∣to the fire, why keepeth it the ground barren? That thou shouldst give us over to our owne vile affections, and destruction of body and soule, by taking away the comfort of thy word from this sinfull nation, by permitting those sonnes of confusion (who of our selves have risen up speaking perverse things) still to prevaile a∣gainst the unity of this Church and State: that thou shouldst send us strong delusions, who would not receive the love of the truth, that thou shouldst suffer a fearefull darknesse againe to cover this land, that night should be to us for a vision, and darknesse for divinati∣on,

that the Sunne should goe downe upon our Prophets (whose words and ministry we have so much sleghted and contemned) and that the day should prove darknesse over them; that thy word should become a savour of death to us, and every prophesie wee heare rise in judgement against us: O Lord we cannot be ignorant, that our obstinary is such, as that thou who art an holy and just God, canst have no pleasure in us: we have so often stopped our eares to thy law, that we may well expect, that thou wilt not accept our offerings, and incense of prayers in our distresse, who have wearied thee with our words, and drawne neere to thee with ••eigned lips, b••t our hearts have beene far from thee: we are become the border of wickednesse, and thou hast beene sore displeased with us, because we have not hearkned to thy Prophets, who cryed to us to turne from our wicked waies; we have indeed not layed their messages to heart, but refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, we made our hearts as Adamant stone; least we should heare thy law, and the words which thou sentest in thy spirit by the former Prophets; therofore came this great wrath from thee: the Priests have offered polluted bread on thy altar, with the strange ••ire of their owne in∣ventions: the oppressing Cities obeyed not thy voice, nor received correction, they trusted not in thee, neither drew neere unto their God: their Princes within them were roaring Lyons, and their Judges evening Woolves, yea their Prophets were light and treacherous persons, their Priests have polluted thy sanctuary, & done violence to thy Law: we have itching eares for heapes of tea∣chers which preach pleasing things, crying to us, peace, peace, even when misery and destruction is upon us, because we would not abide wholsome doctrine: we have not feared thee, nor received instructi∣on, but corrupted all our waies, therefore are wee to this day consu∣med by the fire of thy jealousie, we are become an a••••licted poore peo∣ple, and we deserve that thou shouldst still be terrible unto us, and powre upon us thy indignation, bring distresse upon us, and that our blood should be powred out like water, on the bosome of this good land, which we have stained with cruelty, murder, rapine, oppression, uncleanesse, and that fulnesse of sinnes, which is scarse heard of a∣mong those who have not heard thy law to teach them better. But O Lord our God there is none holy, whom thou hast not made such, nor any so wicked, but thou canst make him holy; Lord we are in

thy gracious hands, we humbly pray thee to frame our hearts accor∣ding to thine owne will, and make us such as thou wouldst have us to be: O God of mercy have compassion on them who would not swerve from thee: make us a people of circumcised hearts, and pure language, that we may all▪ yet once againe, serve thee with one con∣sent: convert us that thou maist turne unto us, and establish thy co∣venant of life and peace amongst us: O Lord in the amazing feares and bitter a••••lictions of our soules, answere with good and com∣fortable words: returne unto Jerusalem with mercies, comfort Zi∣on (be still our God, and let us be thy people in truth and righte∣ousnesse) be thou a wall of fire round about her, the glory in the midst of her: dwell thou in her that she may againe be called a city of truth: the mountaine of the Lord of hoasts, the holy moun∣taine. Cut of the remnant of Baal from this place, and the name of the Chemarims with their Priests, who turned back from thee un∣to vanity and superstition: shew us thy waies, O Lord, and teach us thy statutes, lead us in thy truth, O God of our salvation: set thy feare in our hearts, that thy secret may be with us: open our eyes that we sleep not in death: shew us our sinnes, and the way to avoid them by the knowledge of thy law, and the spirit of sanctification: assure us of our interest in Christ, by the comfortable testimony of thy holy spirit, applying the promises of the Gospell to our woun∣ded consciences: continue forth the light of thy word to us, and the purity of religion and thy holy worship amongst us: put thy holy spirit the spirit of prayer and prophesie abundantly upon the Mi∣nistry: assist them with enlightned understandings, sound know∣ledge of all the mysteries of eternall life and salvation, enlarged hearts, holy affections, faithfull memories, and has••owed lips, for the powerfull delivery of thy holy word unto us: forgive us all our disobedience, barrenn••sse and unfruitfulnesse, give us true and hearty repentance for all our sinnes past, with a stedfast purpose and faithfully resolution never to commit the like againe: take from us all spirituall blindnesse, hardnesse of heart, unbeleefe, prejudi∣cate opinion, wandring and profane thoughts, and what ever else hath hitherto hindred the fruit bearing of thy holy word: resist the vigilant malice of the tempter, that he may not distract us, nor take away the seed of thy word out of our hearts. Give us sancti∣fied thoughts, and holy reverence towards thine ordinance, an hear∣kening

eare, and attentive heart: O God who hast the key of Da∣vid, which openeth & none can shut, who said'st unto the deafe eares be opened, and they presently were so: say it unto our hearts and eares: so sanctify our affections, and prepare us to heare and receive thy word, that we may attend unto it as thy word, and not the word of man, that it may prove a savour of life to us; that we may bring forth better fruits then ever we have done: that leading us in thy way it may bring us to Christ, the truth▪ the way, and the life, the end of the law to every one that beleeveth, and the fruits of our hopes & endeavours, the salvation of our bodies and soules, through thy sonne our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

AMEN.

A Prayer to be used after hearing the word.

O Lord our God, we humbly present unto thee the fruits of our hearts and lips, praise and thankesgiving, as for all thy gra∣tious mercies and favours spirituall and temporall, so specially for the light of truth in thy holy word preached unto us, whereby thou pleasest to reveale thy will concerning our duty towards thee, and our salvation in Christ Jesus. More particularly wee thanke thee for that portion thereof now bestowed upon us: we humbly pray thee to pardon our unholy, and unreverend hearing, our profanesse of heart and minde, inattention, wandring of thoughts, and drouzinesse of spirit. And now holy father prosper thine owne ordinance, send downe the former and the latter raine, the dew of grace, to mollifie our hard and stony hearts, that the seed now sowed in our outward eares, may be fixed in our memory, and take deepe root in our hearts and affections, that the fruits of our faith and entire obedience may appeare in our lives and conversations, to thy glory, and our comfort and salvation, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

AMEN.

Notes

• Sect. I.
• a

  Deut. 32. 47.
• b

  Deut. 4. 6.
• c

  Cui falsum subess•• non po∣test.
• d

  Tit. 1. 2. Hebr. 6. 18.
• e

  Non Deus a li••nis ass••rtiori••∣bus, sed suis ae∣stimandus voci∣bus est. Ambr. de poenit. l. 1. c. 4.
• f

  Coeli mystcri•• doccat m•• Deus ipse qui condi••dit, &c. cui ma∣gis de Deo, quam Deo cr••dam? ib. ad Valent. ep. 31.
• hoc intelligere quis hominum dabit homini? quis Angelus Angl••o, quis Angelus homi∣ni, &c. August. Cons. l. 13. c. 30.
• g

  Hebr. 11.
• h

  Exod. 16. 33.
• i

  Quid ••st au∣tem Scriptura sacra, nisi quae∣dam epistola om∣nipotentis Dei a•• creaturam suam? Disce cor Dei in verbis Dei Greg. ep. 40. l. 4.
• k

  2 Pet. 1.
• l

  Rom. I. 16.
• m

  Math. 10. 20.
• •• Tim. 4. 16.
• o

  Deut. 18. 15. Act. 3. 22, 23.
• p

  Rom. 10.
• q

  Act. 10.
• r

  Act 9.
• Sect. II.
• s

  Exod. 28. 35.
• t

  Ezek. 33. 7.
• u

  Tintinabu••a quae sonabant in v••ste pontificia∣li sonum signifi∣cant praedicatio∣nis. Hug. de Sanct. Victor. all. in lev. Sic etiam inter∣pretatur Just. Mart. dial. cum Triphon. Jud.
• w

  Rev. 2 5.
• x

  1 King. 10. 8.
• y

  Rom. 1. 16.
• z

  Math. 10. 20. Luk. 1••.
• a

  Psal. 19. 7.
• b

  2 Tim. 3. 15. 17.
• c

  Exod. 21. 5. 6. Deut. 15. 17.
• d

  Veritas odium parit tutius au∣ditur veritas qu••m praed••ca∣tur, Aug. de doct. Christ. nunquam sine querela aegra tanguntu••. Sen. de ira•• 3. c. 10.
• d

  Veritas odium parit tutius au∣ditur veritas qu••m praedica∣tur, Aug. de doct. Christ. nunquam sin•• querela aegra tanguntur. Sen, de ira•• 3. c. 10.
• e

  Judg. 9. 7.
• f

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• g

  Act. 10. 36.
• h

  Deut. 30. 15. 19.
• i

  Iloc ego in si∣nu bellum pa∣cem{que}, porto u∣••rum eligitis? ••. Flor. l. 2. c. 6.
• k

  Jer. 7. 13. 14. Jer. 11. 7, 8.
• l

  Jer. 30. 5.
• Hippocr.
• n

  2. Thes. 2.
• o

  Isai. 66. 4.
• p

  Psal. 119.
• q

  Joh. 10. 3. 27.
• r

  Math. 10. 15.
• s

  Mark, 6 11.
• t

  Ezek. 8. 18.
• u

  Prov. 1. 24. Prov. ••8. 9.
• w

  Prov. 2. 1. 5. 6, 7.
• x

  Isai 55. 3.
• y

  Ephes. 1. 13.
• z

  Colos. 1. 6.
• a

  Deut. 28. 1, ••. &c. Isai 48. 18. Deut. 13. 17. 18.
• b

  Prov. 12. 15.
• c

  Ephes. 1. 14.
• d

  Joh. 15. 7.
• e

  2 Chron. 34. 27.
• g

  Math. 13. 14.
• h

  Heb. 3. 7, 8.
• Jer. 1. 5.
• k

  Luk. 1. 15. 44.
• l

  Heb. 4. ••.
• m

  1 Pet. 2. 2.
• n

  1 King. 3. 21.
• o

  Jer. 6. 10.
• p

  1 Cor. 2. 14.
• q

  Joh. 8. 47.
• r

  1 Joh. 4. 6.
• s

  Joh 18. 37.
• t

  Isay 6. 9. 10.
• u

  Mark. 7. 34.
• w

  Jud. 12. 5. 6.
• x

  2 Tim. 4. 3.
• y

  1 Cor. 1. 2••.
• z

  Act. 17. 21.
• a

  Act. 18. 15.
• b

  Jer. 26. 11. 21
• c

  Act 26. 34.
• d

  Act. 24 5.
• e

  Act 6. 11. 13
• f

  Nehem. 9. 29
• g

  Math. 13. 22.
• h

  Act. 24. 25.
• i

  Math. 19. 22.
• k

  Ezec. 33. 31. 32.
• l

  Math. 13. 19.
• m

  In illa nihil aliud fuit nisi ••abulae testam. Hieron. l. 2. ep. 19.
• Sect. IV.
• n

  Deut. 13. 3. 8 Jer. 27. 9.
• o

  1 Cor. 15.
• p

  constatis ••••∣rum in auribus constata ••st ima∣go sacrilegii. qui enim malè audit constre sacrilegium so∣let. Ambros. Rom. ul. ep. 56. l. 7.
• q

  Oportct disce∣••cm eredere▪
• r

  Joh 20.
• s

  Nec enim de∣cebat, ut quum Deus ad homine ••oqueretur, ar∣gumentis assere∣re•• suas voces, tanquam aliter sides ei non ha∣beretur, sed ut oportuit, est lo∣cutus, quasi re∣rum omnium m••ximus judex, ••ujus non est ar∣gumentari, sed pronunciare ve∣rum. Lactant. l. 3. c. 1.
• t

  Ad humanam inte••ligentiam hu••anarum re∣rum significati∣onibus loquens•• Salvian. de gu∣ber. Deil. 2.
• u

  Deut. 32. 2.
• w

  2 King. 4.
• x

  Job 1.
• y

  Chrysost. in Math.
• 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Prov. 20. 12. auris audic••s. Deut. 29 4. wee real. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• a

  Rom. 2. 13.
• b

  Jam. 1. 21. &c.
• c

  Fancsiorum nu••a alioquim corpora prae∣grandes ipsorum aures to•••• conte∣gunt. Plin. nat. hist. l. 4. c. 13.
• d

  1. Cor. 13. 17.
• e

  Senec.
• f

  Hebr. 4. 12.
• g

  Isay 55. 10.
• h

  2 Sam. 6. 11.
• i

  1. Sam. 5. 7.
• k

  Gen. 3.
• l

  Luk. 12. 47.
• m

  Neque verò corum te sedu∣cat ••rror qui ex arbitrio suo cli∣gunt, quae potissi∣mum•• Dei man∣data contemnant quaevè quasi vi∣lia ac parva de∣spiciāt. Hieron. 2. ep. 22.
• n

  Nulli servo∣rum licet ex his quae dominus suus imperat e∣ligere pro arbi∣trio quid velit facere, quid no∣lit, & insolen∣iissim•• abusionc quod placuerit assumere, quod displacuerit re∣pudiare—jam non dominicam volunt••••em im∣plet, sed suam. Salvian. l. 3.
• o

  Act. 22. 21. 22.
• p

  Math. 7. 24.
• q

  1. King. 2. 42.
• r

  Math 19. 22.
• s

  Act. 28. 29.
• t

  Hebr. 3. 7.
• u

  Rev. 2. 5.
• w

  1 King. 6. 7.
• x

  Jer. 23. 29.
• y

  Jo••h: 5. 12.
• z

  1 Cor. 3.
• a

  Jer. 44. 16.
• b

  2 Tim. 3. 16.
• c

  Jam. 2. 1.
• d

  Eccles 9. 16.
• e

  2 Cor. 4. 7.
• f

  1 Cor. 1. 26.
• g

  1 Cor. 2. 5.
• h

  Joh. 20.
• i

  Luk. 10.
• k

  Exod. 16. 21. 24.
• m

  Nemo malus nisi slultus, si enim saperet bo∣nus esse mallet exue nequ••iam si vis habere sa∣pic••tiam, Salvi∣an de gub. Dei. l. 5. f.
• n

  Jer. 20. 10.
• o

  Eccles. 5.
• p

  2 Cor. 13. 5.
• q

  Jer. 4. 3.
• r

  2 Cor. 1. 11.
• s

  Act. 16.
• t

  Nehem. 4. 17.
• u

  Math. 13.
• w

  Jam. 1. 25.
• x

  Deut. 6. 3.
• y

  Job. 22. 22.
• z

  Rev. 3. 3▪
• a

  Num. 20. 11
• b

  Levit. 11. 3. &c.
• c

  Luk. 2. 20.
• d

  Act. 8.
• e

  Act. 13.
• f

  Eccles. 1. 8.
• g

  2 King: 22. 3
• h

  1 Pet. 2. 2.
• i

  Deut. 5. 27.
• k

  2 Pet. 2. 21.
• l

  Quia minor is crimi••is reatus est, legem n••sci∣re, quam sperne∣re. Salvian. de gub Dei. l. 4. f. ••minor reatus cst sancta non legere, quam le∣cta violare, ib. l. 5. Ignosci aliqua∣tenus ignorantiae potest, contemp∣tus veniam non meretur. ib. Salvian. l. 5.
• m

  Eccles 12. 14.