A guide to godlynesse or a Treatise of a Christian life shewing the duties wherein it consisteth, the helpes inabling & the reasons parswading vnto it ye impediments hindering ye practise of it, and the best meanes to remoue them whereunto are added diuers prayers and a treatise of carnall securitie by Iohn Douname Batcheler in Diuinitie and minister of Gods Word.

CAP. VI.

Of the duties of the people in hearing of the Word; and first, of such as are to be performed in their preparation.

§. Sect. 1 That we must vse preparati∣on before the hearing of the Word, and wherin it con∣sisteth.

ANd these are the things which are required vnto the right preaching of the Word. Vnto the right hearing of it, that it may be a powerfull meanes to inrich vs with Gods graces, and to strengthen vs vnto all Christian duties of a godly life, some things are required before wee heare, some things in hearing, and some things after we haue heard it. Before we heare, we must vse due preparation; vnto which is required first, that we enter into a seri∣ous consideration of Gods glorious presence, before whom we are to pre∣sent our selues, that we may heare him speaking vnto vs, not of ordinary matters of small importance, but such as meerely concerne his glory, and the euerlasting saluation of our owne soules. Whereby we shall be preser∣ued from rushing rashly into the holy assemblies, and be made carefull to looke vnto our feet, before we enter into the House of God. For if worldly men, * 1.1 duely considering that they are going into the presence of an earthly King, to heare him speake of the waighty affaires of the Common wealth, or such things as neerely concerne them in their owne particular, prepare themselues accordingly, that they may bee fit to come into such a royall presence; how much more should wee vse the like and greater care, when we are to come into the presence of the King of Kings, and to heare him speaking vnto vs of such things, as much more concerne vs and the euerla∣sting good of our soules and bodies? Secondly, being to come vnto this spirituall feast, we are to prepare our selues by getting a good appetite, that we may not idlely fit by and looke on, when others feed on these spiri∣tuall delicacies, for the refreshing and strengthening of their soules. To which end, wee must, by renewing our repentance, purge and clense our soules from sinfull corruptions (as our stomacks from clogging and hurt∣full humours) which otherwise will take away our appetite, and make vs lothe and refuse, or eating against stomacke, not able to disgest our spiri∣tuall nourishment. Of which kinde are wrath, maliciousnesse, guile, dissimu∣lation, * 1.2 hypocrisie, preiudice, and forestalled opinions, and such like; seeing if these beare sway in vs, it is not possible that the Word of God should take any effect, or become profitable nourishment for the preseruing and in∣creasing of our spirituall health and strength. So also wee must banish out of our minds worldly cogitations about our pleasures or profits, which wil distract vs from hearing the Word with any attention, and out of our hearts earthly cares, which like thornes, will choake the seed of the Word, and make it vtterly vnfruitfull in vs. Moreouer, we must stirre vp our ap∣petite, by considering our spirituall wants, which can no otherwise be sup∣plied, then by comming vnto this feast; for as hunger, and sense of our emptinesse, maketh vs to long after our bodily food, so if we duly consider how empty we are of all Gods graces, and feeble vnto all good duties, it will much increase our appetite to the food of our soules; and wee shall goe to this Market with all cheerefulnesse, if we consider, that heere, and

no where else, wee may fit and furnish our soules with all necessaries. A∣gaine, we must examine our sinnes which beare sway in vs, that repenting of them, we may receiue the assurance of pardon in the publike ministery, to our inestimable comfort, and may also bee strengthened against the power of them, that we may subdue them, and not suffer them to raigne in vs, as in former times; being armed against them, and the tentations of our spirituall enemies, alluring, or forcibly drawing vs into them, with the whole armour of God, and especially the sword of the Spirit. And this will also prouoke our appetite, and make vs goe with cheerefulnesse to the hearing of Gods Word, like the malefactour to receiue his pardon, or the Souldier that hath beene often wounded and foyled, by reason of his na∣kednesse, to put on sufficient armour, and to receiue from his Commander defensiue and offensiue weapons. Finally, we must prepare our selues, and stirre vp our appetite, by considering the properties of the Word, which we goe to heare. As first, the excellencie of it, as being the Word, not of man, but of God, the Word of truth, life, and saluation. Secondly, the power and efficacie of it, as being the power of God himselfe to our saluati∣on, * 1.3 sharper then any two-edged sword, pearcing euen to the very deuiding of the soule and the Spirit, the ioynts and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. A Word that hath alwayes its operation, and retur∣neth * 1.4 neuer in vaine, but bringeth that to passe for which it is sent, and is either the sweete sauour of life vnto life, or of death vnto death. Thirdly, the great * 1.5 vtility and profit of it, being a perfect and pure Law, that conuerteth the soule, * 1.6 a light that shineth vnto vs who sate in the shaddow of death, and guiding our feete into the way of peace; heauenly wisedome, that giueth vnderstanding vn∣to * 1.7 the simple, and maketh the wise more wise; our Counseller to aduise vs, our food to nourish vs, our weapon to defend vs and repell our enemies, an effectuall meanes to worke in vs all sauing graces, and the way that bring∣eth vs to eternall blessednesse. Finally, let vs prepare our selues, and whet our appetite, by considering the necessity of it, seeing without it wee can attaine vnto no good, nor escape any euill; in which regard, our Sauiour saith to Martha, that this one thing is necessary, as though there were no * 1.8 necessity of any other thing in comparison of it. The which necessity lyeth not only vpon weakelings, and those who are simple and ignorant, that they may learne the truth, but also vpon those who haue made greatest progresse in Christianity, and are richest in knowledge, that they may bee mooued to practise what they know, and bring it to holy vse, and that the graces of God may be confirmed and preserued in them. Vnlesse any man would foolishly imagine that he is so strong in grace, that he needeth not to eate any more food, for the restoring of that spirituall strength which is daily abated and impaired through our corruption, and the assaults and tentations of our neuer-resting enemies, Satan & the world. The last duty to be performed in our preparation, is, that we feruently pray vnto God for his grace, and the assistance of his holy Spirit, both to his Ministers in spea∣king, & our selues with the rest of his people, in hearing, that he may be so inabled therby to speak the Word truly, sincerely, powerfully & profitably, and we to heare in a Christian and holy maner, that God may be glorified, and we edified in our holy faith, and strengthened more and more vnto all the duties of a godly life.

§. Sect. 2 Of duties to be perfor∣med in the hearing of the Word.

In the hearing of the Word, diuers duties are to be performed. As first, we must set our selues in Gods presence, that we may heare all things that are * 1.9 commanded vs of him, according to the example of good Cornelius; in which regard we must not heare the Word after a carelesse and cold ma∣ner, but with feare and trembling, if we would haue God that speaketh, take any delight in vs. Secondly, we must heare it, not as the word of man, but as it is the Word of God, by which wee shall one day bee iustified or condemned. Thirdly, wee must hunger after the sincere milke of Gods * 1.10 Word, without the mixture of humane traditions, carnall eloquence, and worldly wisedome, that we may grow vp thereby. Fourthly, wee are to heare with all attention, hauing our eyes fastened vpon the Teacher, and hanging vpon his lips, as the child vpon the mothers brest, like the hea∣rers * 1.11 of our Sauiour Christ; to which end wee must carefully banish all worldly cogitations and wandring thoughts, and also all drowzinesse and sleepinesse, seeing we would not so heare our equals, and much lesse our superiours. Fifthly, we must heare with alacrity and cheerfulnesse, and shake off all dulnesse and carnall wearinesse, which makes no part of the Sermon pleasing but the conclusion onely. Sixthly, wee must heare with all due reuerence, the Word, as being the Word of God, and not of man, as from him, and before him, in whose presence the hils and moun∣taines shake and tremble. Seuenthly, with all humility, submitting our selues vnto it, as vnto the Scepter of Gods Kingdome, to bee ruled and directed, instructed and reproued by it, and not rebell against Gods holy ordinance, and repine and rage against our Teachers, when they touch our consciences to the quicke, and sharpely repro••e vs for our sinnes. Lastly, we must heare the Word with faith and a good conscience, giuing cre∣dit * 1.12 vnto all the parts of it, as well threatnings as promises, and applying all to our owne vse; with an earnest desire to profit by it, and to lay it vp in the closet of our hearts, that we may not be forgetfull hearers, and like lea∣king * 1.13 and riuen vessels that will hold nothing.

§. Sect. 3 Of duties to be performed after the hea∣ring of the Word.

After the hearing of the Word, two duties are to be performed. The first is, that publikely in the Church we ioyne with the Minister in giuing praise and thankes vnto God for his mercy towards vs, in feeding our soules with the bread of life, and for the liberty he hath giuen vs to come in peace and safety into his holy Assemblies, to heare vs speake vnto him in our prayers, and to speake vnto vs by his Minister and Ambassadour; and that priuately at home, at least in some short manner, wee renew our thankesgiuing, and desire the Lord to write that which we haue heard, in our hearts, by the finger of his Spirit, and to make it effectuall for the in∣riching of our hearts with sauing grace, and the strengthening of vs to all holy duties. And if our memory, ability and gifts will serue, it is profita∣ble for vs, and acceptable to God, if we can frame our prayer according to that which we haue heard, confessing those sinnes which haue been re∣proued, bewailing those wants which haue been discouered, desiring those graces which haue been commended vnto vs, or praising God if we alrea∣dy haue them, and desiring grace and spirituall strength, that we may per∣forme those duties, vnto which wee haue been perswaded and exhorted. The second duty is, that we lay vp that which we haue heard, in our hearts

and memories, that we may practise them in our liues. For as it is not e∣nough to haue good seed sowne in our grounds, if wee doe not couer it that it may take root, but let the fowles of heauen take it away, nor to feed vpon wholesome meate, vnlesse we retaine it in our stomackes that it may be digested, and like good nourishment applied to all the parts of the body; so it will little auaile vs to heare many Sermons, and neuer thinke more of them after we are gone out of the Church, and to receiue this spirituall food with greedy appetites, if we keepe it not, but presently cast it vp againe, out of hearts surfetted with worldly cares, and clogged and cloyed with the grosse humours of our sinfull lusts. The which (as I am perswaded) is one chiefe cause why the most, euen amongst diligent hea∣rers, haue, after so long inioying the light of the Gospell, so little profited either in knowledge or holy practice; namely, because they haue been so carelesse in keeping what they haue heard, and haue put this spiritual trea∣sure into broken bags, and this precious liquor into riuen vessels. Now the meanes to retaine and imprint the things which we haue heard in our hearts and memories, is first to loue, regard, and set our hearts vpon them; for euen old men (as we say) who are weakest in memory, doe yet retaine those things which they most affect. The second is, that wee heare the Word with diligent attention, obseruing the method of the Teacher, and how he proceedeth from poynt to poynt, fastening the former poynt in our mindes, by casting our eye backe vnto it, when as hee is leauing of it, and proceeding to another. For as it is not possible that the fault of the first concoction, should be amended in the second, seeing euery part and faculty is wholly taken vp about its owne proper worke; so is it no more possible that we should remember that which wee neuer minded, or that the memory should bring forth that, which the vnderstanding neglected to lay vp by due attention and obseruation. And therefore the Apostle telleth vs, that we ought to giue the more earnest heed to the things wee heare, * 1.14 lest at any time we should let them slip. Thirdly, this may make vs rub our me∣mories, and make vs carefull to imprint in them the things which wee heare, if we consider that our diligent hearing of the Word will not make vs happy, vnlesse we also retaine it in our memories, and practise it in our liues: for so the Apostle Iames saith, that if we looke into the perfect Law of * 1.15 liberty, and continue therein, being not forgetfull hearers, but doers of the worke, we shall be blessed in our deed. And the Apostle Paul limiteth the promise of saluation made vnto the preaching and hearing of the Word, to the con∣dition of retaining it in our memories. I declare (saith hee) vnto you the * 1.16 Gospell which I preached, and ye receiued, by which also ye are saued, if you keepe in memory that which I preached vnto you. Fourthly, wee must vnto our hea∣ring, adde meditation, which is a notable meanes of imprinting it in our hearts and memories. Fifthly, wee must conferre with others, that they may helpe vs where we are wanting, and we them, where they haue failed. Sixthly, Gouernours of families may helpe themselues, and those which are committed to their charge, for the better vnderstanding and remem∣bring of what they haue heard, by repeating the chiefe poynts of the Ser∣mon after they are come home, by strength of their memory, or helpe of their notes, and examining their children and seruants, and putting them

to giue an account of what they haue heard and learned. Lastly, we must make what we haue heard, our owne, by applying it to our owne vse, and bringing it to practice in our liues and conuersations; whereby we shall * 1.17 intitle our selues to that blessednesse which is promised to all those who both heare the Word and keepe it. And so much of the first meanes of inabling vs to the duties of a godly life, the ministery of the Word, and the things that are required vnto it. The which I haue the more brief∣ly * 1.18 passed ouer, because I haue touched diuers of the poynts before, and more fully handled some of them in another Treatise.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Eccles. 5. 1.
• * 1.2

  Jam. 1. 21. 1. Pet. 2. 1.
• * 1.3

  Rom. 1. 16. Heb. 4. 12.
• * 1.4

  Esa. 55. 11.
• * 1.5

  2. Cor. 2. 15, 16.
• * 1.6

  Psal. 19. 7, 8.
• * 1.7

  Luk. 1. 79.
• * 1.8

  Luk. 10. 42.
• * 1.9

  Act. 10. 33. Esa. 66. 2. 1. Thes. 2 13.
• * 1.10

  2 Cor. 5. 20. Luk. 10. 16. 1. Pet. 2. 1, 2.
• * 1.11

  Luk. 4 20. and 19. 48. Nehem. 8. 3. Act. 20. 7.
• * 1.12

  Heb. 4. 2.
• * 1.13

  Heb. 2. 1.
• * 1.14

  Heb. 2. 1.
• * 1.15

  Iam. 1. 25.
• * 1.16

  1. Cor. 15. 1, 2.
• * 1.17

  Luk. 11. 28. Ioh. 13 17. Iam. 1. 25.
• * 1.18

  Christian war∣fare, 1. part. lib. 2. cap. 26.