The first is the good hearing of the1 word, ymy sheep (saith Christ) hear my voice and follow me. And again: he which is of God heareth his voice. And this was one note of the faithful in the primitive Church to assemble to hear the word. This good hearing of the word is the saving hearing that bringeth life eternal. In this action, Christians are usually thus disposed. Before they come to hear the word of God they make themselves ready to hear it, as the men of Berea did, awho received the word with all readiness. This preparation standeth in two points: First, they disburden themselves of all impediments, that like unto runners in a race, they may bbe swift to hear: these impediments are sin and troubled affections, and they come with humble hearts cas fools, that they may become wise. Secondly, they quicken up themselves, and come unto the assemblies, hungering ⟨p. 82⟩and thirsting after the word of God, as men do after meat and drink. When they are in hearing Gods word, their minds are fixed and attentive only to that which is spoken, as dLydias was. Thirdly, they truly believe the word of God, & carefully apply it to their own souls. Fourthly, they feel the lively power of it in themselves. It is as esalt in them, to draw out their inward corruption; it is to them the fsword of the spirit, and as a gsacrificing knife in the hand of Gods Minister, by which their flesh is killed, and they are offered up in a living sacrifice to God: it is hspirit and life to quicken and revive their souls that are dead in sin: And the reason of this is plain: The word of God preached is as a cup of wine: the true Christian, is the Lords guest, but he hath sauce of his own: He bringeth his sugar with him, namely, his true faith, which 11he tempereth and mingleth with Gods word, and so it becometh unto him as a cup of sweet wine, and as water of life. Now the hypocrite, because he bringeth no faith with him, drinketh of the same, but thinketh the wine to be sour and tart, and void of relish, and in truth it is unto him as a cup of rank poison. ⟨p. 83⟩Again, kthey hear the word of God as in Gods presence, and therefore their hearts are full of fear and trembling, And they receive the word, not las from man, but as from Christ Jesus the only mDoctor of the Church:
The first is the good hearing of the1 worde, ymy sheepe (saith Christ) heare my voice and followe me. And againe: he which is of God heareth his voice. And this was one note of the faithfull in the primatiue Church to assemble to heare the worde. This good hearing of the worde is the sauing hearing that bringeth life eternall. In this action, Christians are vsually thus disposed. Before they come to heare the worde of God they make themselues readie to heare it, as the men of Berea did, awho receaued the worde with all readines. This preparation standeth in two points: First, they disburden themselues of all impedimentes, that like vnto runners in a race, they may bbe swift to heare: these impedimentes are sinne and troubled affections, and they come with humble heartes cas fooles, that they may become wise. Secondly, they quicken vp themselues, and come vnto the assemblies, hungring ⟨p. 82⟩and thirsting after the worde of God, as men doe after meate and drinke. When they are in hearing Gods worde, their minds are fixed and attentiue onely to that which is spoken, as dLydias was. Thirdly, they truly beleue the word of God, & carefully applie it to their owne souls. Fourthly, they feel the liuely power of it in thēselues. It is as esalt in them, to drawe out their inward corruption; it is to them the fsworde of the spirite, and as a gsacrifising knife in the hande of Gods Minister, by which their flesh is killed, and they are offered vp in a liuing sacrifice to God: it is hspirite and life to quicken and reuiue their soules that are dead in sin: And the reason of this is plaine: The word of God preached is as a cuppe of wine: the true Christian, is the Lords guest, but he hath sauce of his owne: He bringeth his suger with him, namely, his true faith, which
- 1Hearing of the word.
- yJohn. 10. 27. John 8. 47.Iohn. 10. 27. Iohn 8. 47.
- aAct. 17. 11
- bJam. 1. 18 Psal. 26. 67Iam. 1. 18 Psal. 26. 67
- c1. Cor. 3. 18.
- dAct. 16. 14.
- eMark 9. 4•.Marke 9. 4•.
- fEph. 6. 17.
- gRom. 15. 16.
- hJoh. 6. 63.Ioh. 6. 63.
- 11Hebr. 4. 2
- k
