So also we must banish out of our minds worldly cogitations about our pleasures or profits, which will distract us from hearing the Word with any attention, and out of our hearts earthly cares, which like thorns, will choke the seed of the Word, and make it utterly unfruitful in us. Moreover, we must stir up our appetite, by considering our spiritual wants, which can no otherwise be supplied, then by coming unto this feast; for as hunger, and sense of our emptiness, maketh us to long after our bodily food, so if we duly consider how empty we are of all Gods graces, and feeble unto all good duties, it will much increase our appetite to the food of our souls; and we shall go to this Market with all cheerfulness, if we consider, that here, and ⟨p. 489⟩no where else, we may fit and furnish our souls with all necessaries. Again, we must examine our sins which bear sway in us, that repenting of them, we may receive the assurance of pardon in the public ministry, to our inestimable comfort, and may also be strengthened against the power of them, that we may subdue them, and not suffer them to reign in us, as in former times; being armed against them, and the tentations of our spiritual enemies, alluring, or forcibly drawing us into them, with the whole armour of God, and especially the sword of the Spirit. And this will also provoke our appetite, and make us go with cheerfulness to the hearing of Gods Word, like the malefactor to receive his pardon, or the Soldier that hath been often wounded and foiled, by reason of his nakedness, to put on sufficient armour, and to receive from his Commander defensive and offensive weapons. Finally, we must prepare our selves, and stir up our appetite, by considering the properties of the Word, which we go to hear. As first, the excellency of it, as being the Word, not of man, but of God, the Word of truth, life, and salvation. Secondly, the power and efficacy of it, as being the power of God himself to our salvation, 1sharper then any two-edged sword, piercing even to the very dividing of the soul and the Spirit, the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. A Word that hath always its operation, and returneth 2never in vain, but bringeth that to pass for which it is sent, and is either the sweet savour of life unto life, or of death unto death.
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 appetite, by considering our spirituall wants, which can no otherwise be supplied, 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 ⟨p. 489⟩no where else, wee may fit and furnish our soules with all necessaries. Againe, 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 nakednesse, 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 saluation, 1sharper 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 returneth 2neuer 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.
- 1Rom. 1. 16. Heb. 4. 12.
- 2Esa. 55. 11.
