A godly and learned exposition or commentary upon the three first chapters of the…A godly and learned exposition or commentarie vpon the three first chapters of the…

Now seeing Christ is so careful to prepare Johns mind with attention and diligence to receive the things which should be told him: This teacheth us, that when we come to hear Gods word, we must use all means of attention: for if it were needful to John, then is it far more necessary for us, who are far inferior to him in all gifts of understanding and memory. And here also is another cause of small profit and little liking of Gods word, namely, want of attention ⟨p. 47⟩in the heart. We must therefore like godly Lydia, Act. 16. stir up our dull and heavy spirits, and with all diligence mark the things we hear. And here we must take heed of two enemies to attention: the first are by-thoughts: as when the body indeed is present, but the mind wandereth from the word, and is wholly possessed with thoughts of pleasure, or other worldly affairs: For these be thorns in the ground of our hearts, which choke the good seed of the word. Many will complain they cannot mark and remember that which is taught; now the cause is in themselves their wandering thoughts, which hinder both understanding and memory: for the mind conceiving other matters, cannot observe how one point dependeth on another, much less remember them afterward.

Now seeing Christ is so carefull to prepare Iohns mind with attention and diligence to receiue the things which should bee told him: This teacheth vs, that when we come to heare Gods word, we must vse all meanes of attention: for if it were needfull to Iohn, then is it farre more necessarie for vs, who are farre inferiour to him in all gifts of vnderstanding and memorie. And here also is another cause of small profit and little liking of Gods word, namely, want of attention ⟨p. 47⟩in the heart. Wee must therefore like godly Lydia, Act. 16. stirre vp our dull and heauie spirits, and with all diligence marke the things wee heare. And here we must take heed of two enemies to attention: the first are by-thoughts: as when the body indeed is present, but the mind wandereth from the word, and is wholly possessed with thoughts of pleasure, or other worldly affaires: For these bee thornes in the ground of our hearts, which choke the good seede of the word. Many will complaine they cannot marke and remember that which is taught; now the cause is in themselues their wandering thoughts, which hinder both vnderstanding and memorie: for the mind conceiuing other matters, cannot obserue how one point dependeth on another, much lesse remember them afterward.