A guide to godliness or a Treatise of a Christian life showing the dutiesA guide to godlynesse or a Treatise of a Christian life shewing the duties

The duties which respect the hearing of the Word, are of three sorts. The first, such as are to be performed before we hear, which ¹are two principally. The one, that we fit and prepare our selves, before we presume to approach into Gods presence to perform this holy duty; the which is done, partly by removing those impediments which might hinder us, as infidelity, impenitency, carnal security, worldly distractions and earthly-mindedness, profaneness and small esteem of the Word, excessive eating or drinking, conceit of our ⟨p. 126⟩own knowledge, as though little or nothing could be added unto it, prejudice and forestalled opinions of our teachers, hypocrisy, curiosity, itching ²ears, factious affections, whereby men have the truth of God in respect of persons, hearing or not hearing, according to that opinion which they have conceived of him that speaketh. And partly, this preparation consisteth in using all good helps and means, which may enable us to the careful and conscionable hearing of the Word. As to consider the weightiness of the action which we are about to perform, namely, an high and holy service unto God, which will further and seal up unto us our salvation or condemnation, and be either the savour of life unto life, or of death unto death, soften us like wax, or harden us like clay, and make us one step nearer either to heaven or hell. For Gods Word shall never return void, but accomplish what he pleaseth, and shall prosper in the thing whereto he sends it. Secondly, to meditate on the ends for