Neglect in the Hearing of Gods Word, dangerous. [ 1706]
HErodotus hath a merry tale of a Piper, how he came to the water side, and piped to the fishes,* 1.1 but they would not dance, then he took his net, and caught some of them, and being thrown upon the land, they began to leap and skip up. Nay (quoth the Pipe••) I offered you Mu••••ck before and you would none, now you shall dance without a Pipe.* 1.2 Thus it is that most Men commonly regard the songs of Sion, the preaching of Gods Word, as some men do Musick heard late at midnight in the streets, whilst they are in bed, perhaps they will step to the window and listen to it a while, and presently to bed again; step from the couch of their lusts to Church, hear the Sermon, commend the Preacher for a good Man,* 1.3 and then to bed again, lulling themselves in their former security; but let such know, that if God have given them Musick, and they will not dance, if God have afforded Orthodoxall Preachers, and they will not hear: as Christ reproved the Iews, they shall mourn in sadnesse for their obstinate refusall of proffered mirth, and say with heavinesse of spirit, There was a Prophet amongst us.