The Scripture directory for church-officers and people, or, A practical commentary upon the whole…

Thirdly, God giveth the increase, when he makes the Word preached, to take root and settling in mens hearts. Our Saviour purposely takes notice of this, in his Parable of the Sower that went out to sow, and the miscarriage of the most hopeful crop, was because it had no rooting, Mat. 13. While the Word is in the ear, or floating only in the affections, it's like seed on the grounds Surface; there will be no good of it, till it take inward rooting. This is called dwelling in a man: Let the Word dwell in your hearts, Col. 3.16. Let not our Sermons be as you your selves are, pilgrims and strangers: God many times threateneth the people of Israel to root them out of the Land, as men do Trees and Plants, which is an irrecoverable destruction, when the root is pulled up, there is no hope: And one main cause was, because the Word of God did not take any deep rooting in them. Think it not then enough, to hear it; no, nor to write it, or repeat it, or confer of it; but let it be rooted in thy vital parts. If the ground you till and sow, should yield no more increase, then thy heart doth to God, thou wouldst give over thy labour as a vain thing: And one main reason of this barrenness is, those things go not home to your hearts, they reach not to the inward parts.

Thirdly, God giveth the increase, when he makes the Word preached, to take root and setling in mens hearts. Our Saviour purposely takes notice of this, in his Parable of the Sower that went out to sow, and the miscarriage of the most hopefull crop, was because it had no rooting, Mat. 13. While the Word is in the ear, or floating only in the affections, it's like seed on the grounds Surface; there will be no good of it, till it take inward rooting. This is called dwelling in a man: Let the Word dwell in your hearts, Col. 3.16. Let not our Sermons be as you your selves are, pilgrims and strangers: God many times threatneth the people of Israel to root them out of the Land, as men do Trees and Plants, which is an irrecoverable destruction, when the root is pulled up, there is no hope: And one main cause was, because the Word of God did not take any deep rooting in them. Think it not then enough, to hear it; no, nor to write it, or repeat it, or conferre of it; but let it be rooted in thy vital parts. If the ground you till and sow, should yeild no more increase, then thy heart doth to God, thou wouldst give over thy labour as a vain thing: And one main reason of this barrenness is, those things go not home to your hearts, they reach not to the inward parts.