Remains of that excellent minister of Jesus Christ, Mr. Joseph Alleine being a collection…Remaines of that excellent minister of Jesus Christ, Mr. Joseph Alleine being a collection…

Thirdly. Have I not neglected, or been very overly in the Reading of Gods holy Word? I am afraid that many of us do neglect this duty, doth not there pass over our heads many a day wherein we Read not a Chapter? And yet I fear more of the manner how you Read. Did you begin with Prayer, and observe what promises, or Commands, or Threatenings, or Examples were there for you to Imitate, or to fear and avoid? And did you ⟨p. 9⟩turn it into Prayer afterwards? That I would advise you to, to turn some of the Chapter into prayer afterward. O that we should slight the word, that the Saints of God have set such a price upon! The word! why 'tis the word of God, and when we see the hand of God to it, this should affect us.

Thirdly. Have I not neglected, or been very overly in the Reading of Gods holy Word? I am afraid that many of us do neglect this duty, doth not there pass over our heads many a day wherein we Read not a Chapter? And yet I fear more of the manner how you Read. Did you begin with Prayer, and observe what promises, or Commands, or Threatnings, or Examples were there for you to Imitate, or to fear and avoid? And did you ⟨p. 9⟩turn it into Prayer afterwards? That I would advise you to, to turn some of the Chapter into prayer afterward. O that we should slight the word, that the Saints of God have set such a price upon! The word! why 'tis the word of God, and when we see the hand of God to it, this should affect us.

Fourthly. Have I digested the Sermon I heard last? Have I prayed it over, and Repeated it over? Brethren, would you know why we are such Dwarfs in Christianity, why we grow so little? Here is one grand Reason, we take in much and digest but little; it may be thou art greedy of taking opportunities, there cannot be a Sermon but thou must be at it, or else it is not well; but dost thou Pray it over, and Repeat it over again? The want of this is the reason that we grow no better, therefore content not thy self that thou hast heard such a Sermon; it is never well till God hear of it, in Confession, Prayer, and praise for such mercies as were discovered to thee. This is the way to thrive, and you will never Thrive till you come to this. The Reason why there have been so much sowing and so little fruit, is because the seed hath not been covered by Meditation, and watered by prayer, the Devil or evil thoughts come and steal away the seed.