A supplement to The Morning-exercise at Cripple-Gate, or, Several more cases of conscience practically…

5. We should be diligent and regular in attending on the word preached. ⟨p. 122⟩As it is the duty of Ministers to be instant, and Preach the word in season, and out of season, 2 Tim. 4.2. So it is duty of people to hear it. Reading the Scriptures and good Books is not sufficient for those that are in a capacity to hear: The Preaching of the Word is the great Ordinance appointed by God, for the Instruction, Edification, and Conversion of those that are to be saved; and it is that which God doth usually accompany with most life and power. As it is in other cases, so it is for the most part here; you are commonly more affected with what you hear Men speak, than with what they write. Ministers may write or print their Sermons, but not their Affections, not that Power and Spirit of the word, which themselves feel, and you perceive in them. You are most like to be warmed by the word, when you hear it coming out of a hot heart. When you see your Teachers affected with the truths they deliver, and speaking like those that feel what they speak, you are most like to be affected too. Though indeed the great reason of hearing is, because it is God's Ordinance, and he hath not only taken care that the word should be written, that so all may read it; but hath appointed Officers too purposely to Preach it, that so all may hear it.

But withal be sure to be regular in your hearing. Take heed how you hear, Luke 8.18. and take heed what you hear, Mark 4.28. and from both will follow, that you must take heed who you hear too. Hear those that are most knowing, and best able to instruct you, those that are most sound and least like to mislead you. Do not choose to put your Souls under the conduct of blind-guides. Seek for the Law at their mouths, whose lips do best preserve knowledge. And when you have found such, keep close to them. Settle your selves under the guidance of some faithful Pastor, upon whose Ministry you may ordinarily attend. That running to and from, which is usual among us, is quite another than what Daniel speaks of, ch. 12.4. and I am sure is not the way to increase knowledge. Rolling stones gather no moss. Such rovers seldom hit upon the right way. Such wandering Stars may be soonest bemisted. They that thus run from one Minister to another, may soon run from one opinion to another, and from one error to another. I dare safely say, you may get more sound knowledge of the things of God by constant attendance upon the Ministry of one of less abilities, than by rambling up and down to hear many, though of the greatest gifts. It is a great advantage to your gaining knowledge to hear a Minister's whole discourse, and be able to take up the full design of his work, and not merely to hear in transitu, by snatches, to pick up here a notion, and there a notion, or hear one Man's Doctrine in the Morning, and another's Application in the Afternoon. It is no wonder if Men that run to and fro,