1. First, Hear it attentively, Christ in the beginning of his Sermons, calls upon his auditors to hearken, Mark 4.3.(e) and so doth Paul, Acts 13.16.(f) and Rev. 2.7.(g) and you read Luke 19.48. all the people were very attentive to hear him, [Greek or Hebrew] , they hung upon him hearing, that is, they hung their ears upon his mouth, that they might receive every word and miss nothing: This phrase is common in Greek Authors, [Greek or Hebrew], and in the Latin, warrantis conjux pendet ab ore viri, and Augustine speaking of his hearing Ambrose, saith, verbi ejus sus•endebar intentus, and one promising to hear attentively, saith, incipe suspensis auribus, ista bibam, now this attentive hearing is a diligent heeding of the things that are spoken by the Ministers of Christ, so as not to let any thing pass without notice and observation, this was the attention of the Samaritans to Philips preaching, Acts 8.6.(h) and the attention of Lydia to Pauls preaching, Acts 16.14.(i) that were spoken by Paul, that is to all of them, what saith Cornelius, Act. 10.33.(k) so that our attention must be catholic, and universal, we must ⟨p. 158⟩listen to all that is spoken to us in the name of Christ the Lord, but yet in preaching, some things are more especially to be attended to. 1. If any Scripture be clearly opened, attend to that. 2. If any doubt of Conscience be fully resolved, attend to that. 3. If any sin of yours be particularly discovered, attend to that. Lastly, if any thing be spoken by the Minister with a more than ordinary warmth and fervency, attend to that, there is some divine signature with it, and it calls for our special observation, that's the first; we are to hear the word attentively. I'll only mention two hindrances of attention, and proceed.
1. First, Hear it attentively, Christ in the beginning of his Sermons, calls upon his auditors to hearken, Mark 4.3.(e) and so doth Paul, Acts 13.16.(f) and Rev. 2.7.(g) and you read Luke 19.48. all the people were very attentive to hear him, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 , they hung upon him hearing, that is, they hung their ears upon his mouth, that they might receive every vvord and miss nothing: This phrase is common in Greek Authors, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, and in the Latine, warrantis conjux pendet ab ore viri, and Augustine speaking of his hearing Ambrose, saith, verbi ejus sus•endebar intentus, and one promising to hear attentively, saith, incipe suspensis auribus, ista bibam, now this attentive hearing is a diligent heeding of the things that are spoken by the Ministers of Christ, so as not to let any thing pass without notice and observation, this was the attention of the Samaritans to Philips preaching, Acts 8.6.(h) and the attention of Lydia to Pauls preaching, Acts 16.14.(i) that were spoken by Paul, that is to all of them, what saith Cornelius, Act. 10.33.(k) so that our attention must be catholique, and universal, we must ⟨p. 158⟩listen to all that is spoken to us in the name of Christ the Lord, but yet in preaching, some things are more especially to be attended to. 1. If any Scripture be clearly open'd, attend to that. 2. If any doubt of Conscience be fully resolv'd, attend to that. 3. If any sin of yours be particularly discovered, attend to that. Lastly, if any thing be spoken by the Minister with a more than ordinary warmth and servency, attend to that, there is some divine signature with it, and it calls for our special observation, that's the first; we are to hear the word attentively. I'le only mention two hindrances of attention, and proceed.
- (e)And he said unto them in his doctrine hearken.
- (f)Men of Israel and ye that fear God, give audience.
- (g)He that hath an ear, let him hear what the spirit saith to the Churches.He that h•th an ear, let him hear what the spirit saith to the Churches.
- (h)And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spakeAnd the people with one acc•rd gave heed unto those things which Philip spake
- (i)Whose heart the Lord opened, that the attended to the things spoken of Paul
- (k)Now therefore are we all here present before God, &c.
