Kaina kai palaia Things new and old, or, A store-house of similies, sentences, allegories, apophthegms, adagies, apologues, divine, morall, politicall, &c. : with their severall applications / collected and observed from the writings and sayings of the learned in all ages to this present by John Spencer ...

Dulness and drousiness in the service of God, reproved. [ 691]

IT is reported of Constantize the great, that when divine service was read, he would help the Minister to begin the prayer,* 1.1 and to read the verses of the Psalms interchangeably; and when there was a Sermon, if any place of special impor∣tance were alleadged, that he would turn his Bible, to imprint the place the bet∣ter in his mind, both by hearing and seeing it, and being as it were revished with those things which he heard, he would start up suddenly out of his Throne, and Chair of State, and would stand a long while to hear more diligently, and though they which were next him did put him in mind to remember himself, yet he heard the word so attentively, that he would not give any ear at all unto them:

How wonderfully should this confound us, that are every way inferiour,* 1.2 when we hear Emperors & mighty Kings shew such a good heart in hearing of the word of God, to be so chearful in the service of God; and we in the mean time to have such lum∣pish and dull spirits,, as to be never a whit moved or affected with the same; that though Christ talk with us never so comfortably in the way, yet our hearts are not so much as warmed within us, though he putteth his hand to the hole of the door, yet we will not list up the latch to let him in, and though our well-beloved speak, yet we will not hearken unto him.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Eusebius de vi∣ta 〈◊〉〈◊〉. lib. 3. cap. 17.
• * 1.2

  Tho. Playfer's Serm. Luk. 24. Cant. 5. & 8. 13.