Gospel-worship, or, The right manner of sanctifying the name of God in general and…

That which we are to speak to this morning, it is the Sanctifying of the Name of God in the hearing of his Word; If you would have the ground of what we are to say concerning this in a particular Scripture, you may have it in Luke, 8. 18. ⟨p. 162⟩take heed therefore how ye hear: It is not enough to come to hear the Word, that is good, and no question but God is pleased with the willingness of people to come to hear his Word, but you must not rest barely in hearing, but take heed how you hear. Now this is a Point of great consequence, and I hope it may do good, to help to make many Sermons to be profitable to you, and the Point (I hope) is seasonable, and will be very suitable unto you: For those that come to hear so soon in a morning, and are willing, even in hard weather, to come out of their beds, they give some good testimony that they do desire to honour God in their hearing, and to get good by their hearing; and 'tis pity that labour and pains should be bestowed, and no profit, but hurt rather got by it, which God forbid. Therefore now I am to speak to a Point that may help you so to hear, as may recompense all your labour and pains in hearing. In preaching to those that come to hear, so that they may get good and benefit by it, there is a great deal more encouragement than to such as come in a formal way because they use to come; therefore this Point being a great Point, I shall open it somewhat largely, and cast into this Method:

THat which we are to speak to this morning, it is the Sanctifying of the Name of God in the hearing of his Word; If you would have the ground of what we are to say concerning this in a particular Scripture, you may have it in Luke, 8. 18. ⟨p. 162⟩take heed therefore how ye hear: It is not enough to come to hear the Word, that is good, and no question but God is pleased with the willingness of people to come to hear his Word, but you must not rest barely in hearing, but take heed how you hear. Now this is a Point of great consequence, and I hope it may do good, to help to make many Sermons to be profitable to you, and the Point (I hope) is seasonable, and will be very sutable unto you: For those that come to hear so soon in a morning, and are willing, even in hard weather, to come out of their beds, they give some good testimony that they do desire to honor God in their hearing, and to get good by their hearing; and 'tis pity that labor and pains should be bestowed, and no profit, but hurt rather got by it, which God forbid. Therefore now I am to speak to a Point that may help you so to hear, as may recompence all your labor and pains in hearing. In preaching to those that come to hear, so that they may get good and benefit by it, there is a great deal more encouragement than to such as come in a formal way because they use to come; therfore this Point being a great Point, I shall open it somewhat largely, and cast into this Method: