The Method of Grace

Fourthly, The trifling of men with the duties of Religion plainly discovers the blinding power of Satan upon their minds and understandings, else they would never play and dally with the serious and solemn ordinances of God, at that rate they do; if their eyes were once opened they would be in earnest in prayer, and apply themselves with the closest attention of mind in hearing the Gospel. There are two sorts of thoughts about any subject of meditation. Some think at a distance, and others think close to the subject. Never do the thoughts of men come so close to Christ, to heaven and to hell, as they do immediately upon their illumination. When Johns Ministry enlightened the peoples minds, it is said, Mat. 11. 12. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. Surely these men were more in good earnest that would receive no repulse, take no denial; but even force themselves through all difficulties into heaven, and so would it be with you. If the God of this world had not blinded your minds, you would never pray with so much unconcernedness, nor hear with so much oscitancy and carelessness; pray as if you prayed not, and hear as if you heard not. It is with many of our hearers as it was with Aristotle, who after a quaint Oration made before him, was asked how he liked it: Truly said he, I did not hear it; for I was thinking all the while of another matter.

Fourthly, The trifling of men with the duties of Religion plainly discovers the blinding power of Satan upon their minds and understandings, else they would never play and dally with the serious and solemn ordinances of God, at that rate they do; if their eyes were once opened they would be in earnest in prayer, and apply themselves with the closest attention of mind in hearing the Gospel. There are two sorts of thoughts about any subject of meditation. Some think at a distance, and others think close to the subject. Never do the thoughts of men come so close to Christ, to heaven and to hell, as they do immediately upon their illumination. When Johns Ministry enlightned the peoples minds, it is said, Mat. 11. 12. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. Surely these men were more in good earnest that would receive no repulse, take no denial; but even force themselves through all difficulties into heaven, and so would it be with you. If the God of this world had not blinded your minds, you would never pray with so much unconcernedness, nor hear with so much oscitancy and carelesness; pray as if you prayed not, and hear as if you heard not. It is with many of our hearers as it was with Aristotle, who after a quaint Oration made before him, was asked how he liked it: Truly said he, I did not hear it; for I was thinking all the while of another matter.