The last duty in hearing is, that we continue from the beginning of the Sermon to the end, and as we are to come with the first, so we must not (as the manner of many is) depart, till all the exercises of Religion being fully concluded, the whole Assembly be dismissed. For as it is great unmannerliness at a solemn feast, to rise before the table is taken away, unless it be in case of sickness, weakness, or some important business; so they which depart from this spiritual Feast before it be ended, are either very unmannerly and void of due reverence and respect of Gods presence, and his holy guests, and if they be not troubled with bodily infirmities, do show the sickness of their souls, when their spiritual appetite is so queasy, that they loath their nourishment, or that they think the employment which they go about, of greater weight, or at least much more necessary, then the feeding of their souls with this spiritual Manna, and using the means of their salvation. Neither must we haste away after the Sermon is ended, as though we would rush out of prison as soon as the door is opened; but we must stay still, that we may join with the Minister and the Congregation in prayer and thanksgiving, if any be (as there ought to be) after the concluding of the Sermon; seeing as in receiving our corporal food, so also in the spiritual, we have as just cause and occasion of praising God for benefits received, as of praying for his blessing upon them before we received them. But if it be omitted, we must supply this defect in respect of our own particular, by lifting up our hearts unto God, praising him for causing the light of his Gospel to shine still unto us, and for all the wholesome instructions, admonitions, reproofs, and consolations which he hath graciously at that time imparted unto us. And if there be a Psalm sung, we must join with the Congregation, praising the Lord with mind and voice, and making melody ⟨p. 396⟩unto him with our hearts: which being ended, we must expect the blessing of God pronounced by the mouth of his Minister, with all reverence and devotion, esteeming it of great efficacy, as if God himself did bless us by them. For so we read, that God appointing Aaron to pronounce 1such a blessing upon the people, saith, that he should hereby put his name upon them, and he himself also would bless them.
The last duty in hearing is, that we continue from the beginning of the Sermon to the end, and as we are to come with the first, so wee must not (as the manner of many is) depart, till all the exercises of Religion being fully concluded, the whole Assembly bee dismissed. For as it is great vnmannerlinesse at a solemne feast, to rise before the table is taken away, vnlesse it be in case of sicknesse, weaknesse, or some important businesse; so they which depart from this spirituall Feast before it be ended, are either very vnmannerly and voyd of due reuerence and respect of Gods presence, and his holy ghests, and if they be not troubled with bodily infirmities, doe shew the sicknesse of their soules, when their spirituall appetite is so queazie, that they loath their nourishment, or that they thinke the imployment which they goe about, of greater waight, or at least much more necessary, then the feeding of their soules with this spirituall Manna, and vsing the meanes of their saluation. Neither must we haste away after the Sermon is ended, as though wee would rush out of prison as soone as the doore is opened; but we must stay still, that we may ioyne with the Minister and the Congregation in prayer and thankesgiuing, if any bee (as there ought to be) after the concluding of the Sermon; seeing as in receiuing our corporall food, so also in the spirituall, we haue as iust cause and occasion of praising God for benefits receiued, as of praying for his blessing vpon them before we receiued them. But if it bee omitted, wee must supply this defect in respect of our owne particular, by lifting vp our hearts vnto God, praising him for causing the light of his Gospell to shine still vnto vs, and for all the wholesome instructions, admonitions, reproofes, and consolations which he hath graciously at that time imparted vnto vs. And if there be a Psalme sung, we must ioyne with the Congregation, praising the Lord with minde and voyce, and making melody ⟨p. 396⟩vnto him with our hearts: which being ended, we must expect the blessing of God pronounced by the mouth of his Minister, with all reuerence and deuotion, esteeming it of great efficacie, as if God himselfe did blesse vs by them. For so we reade, that God appoynting Aaron to pronounce 1such a blessing vpon the people, saith, that he should hereby put his name vpon them, and he himselfe also would blesse them.
- 1Num. 6. 23, 24, &c.
