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

Fifthly, Pray beforehand, That God would open thine eyes, and open thine heart, and accompany his Word. Thus did David, Open mine eyes, O Lord, that I may understand the wonders of thy Law. And you know what is said of Lydia, The Lord opened her heart, to attend to the Word that was spoken: Now seeing it is an Ordinance thou doest expect more good from, than what it self of its own nature is able to convey, thou haddest need to pray, Lord, I go to such an Ordinance of thine, and I know there is no efficacy in it self, it is not able to reach to such effects as I expect; that is, To have my heart spoken too, and quickened, and to have mine eyes opened; But O Lord, open mine eyes, and open mine heart; Lord, my heart naturally is locked up against thy Word, there are such wards in my heart, that except thou are pleased to put in a key that may fit my heart, it will never open; Man, he is not able to know my heart, and therefore he cannot fit a key to answer every word, to resolve every doubt, to silence every objection; but Lord, thou canst do it: Do thou Lord therefore •it thy Word this day that may meet with my heart; Lord, I have gone often to thy Word, and the key hath stuck in it, and it hath not opened; but Lord, if thou wouldst but fit it, and turn it with thine own hand, my heart would open. Oh! come with such a praying heart to the Word, and thereby shalt thou sanctify the Name of God in hearing his Word: This is to come to the Word, as to the Word of God, You must not come to the hearing of the Word as to hear a Speech, or an Oration, but come in such a preparation as this is: and so (I say) God will be glorified, and you shall be profited.

Fifthly, Pray beforehand, That God would open thine eyes, and open thine heart, and accompany his Word. Thus did David, Open mine eyes, O Lord, that I may understand the wonders of thy Law. And you know what is said of Lydia, The Lord opened her heart, to attend to the Word that was spoken: Now seeing it is an Ordinance thou doest exspect more good from, than what it self of its own nature is able to convey, thou hadest need to pray, Lord, I go to such an Ordinance of thine, and I know there is no efficacy in it self, it is not able to reach to such effects as I exspect; that is, To have my heart spoken too, and quickned, and to have mine eyes opened; But O Lord, open mine eyes, and open mine heart; Lord, my heart naturally is lockt up against thy Word, there are such wards in my heart, that except thou are pleased to put in a key that may fit my heart, it will never open; Man, he is not able to know my heart, and therefore he cannot fit a key to answer every word, to resolve every doubt, to silence every objection; but Lord, thou canst do it: Do thou Lord therefore it thy Word this day that may meet with my heart; Lord, I have gone often to thy Word, and the key hath stuck in it, and it hath not opened; but Lord, if thou wouldst but fit it, and turn it with thine own hand, my heart would open. Oh! come with such a praying heart to the Word, and thereby shalt thou sanctifie the Name of God in hearing his Word: This is to come to the Word, as to the Word of God, You must not come to the hearing of the Word as to hear a Speech, or an Oration, but come in such a preparation as this is: and so (I say) God will be glorified, and you shall be profited.