I. Distraction. 1 Cor. 7.35. That ye may attend upon the Lord without Distraction. It is said of St. Bernard, That when he came to the Church-Door, he would say, Stay here all my Earthly Thought. So should we say to our selves, when we are at the Door of God's House, Stay here all my worldly Cares, and wandering Cogitations, I am now going to hearken what the Lord will say to me. Distraction hinders Devotion. Distraction in Hearing is, when the Mind is tossed with vain Thoughts, and diverted from the Business in hand. 'Tis hard to make the Quicksilver Heart fix. St. Hierom complained of himself, Some times (saith he) when I am about God's Service, per Porticus deambulo, I am walking in the Galleries, and sometimes casting up Accounts. So oft in hearing of the Word the Thoughts dance up and down; and when our Eye is upon the Minister, our Mind is upon other things. Distracted Hearing is far from sanctifying the Sabbath. It must needs be very heinous to give way to vain Thoughts at this time, because when we are hearing the Word, we are now in God's Special Presence. To do any Treasonable Action in the King's Presence, is high Impudence. Jer. 23.11. Yea, in my House have I found their Wickedness. So may the Lord say, In my House, while they are hearing of my Word, I have found Wickedness; they have wanton Eyes, and their Soul is set on Vanity. This enhanceth and aggravates the sin.
I. Distraction. 1 Cor. 7.35. That ye may attend upon the Lord without Distraction. It is said of St. Bernard, That when he came to the Church-Door, he would say, Stay here all my Earthly Thoughtt. So should we say to our selves, when we are at the Door of God's House, Stay here all my worldly Cares, and wandring Cogitations, I am now going to hearken what the Lord will say to me. Distraction hinders Devotion. Distraction in Hearing is, when the Mind is tossed with vain Thoughts, and diverted from the Business in hand. 'Tis hard to make the Quicksilver Heart fix. St. Hierom complained of himself, Some times (saith he) when I am about God's Service, per Porticus deambulo, I am walking in the Galleries, and sometimes casting up Accounts. So oft in hearing of the Word the Thoughts dance up and down; and when our Eye is upon the Minister, our Mind is upon other things. Distracted Hearing is far from sanctifying the Sabbath. It must needs be very hainous to give way to vain Thoughts at this time, because when we are hearing the Word, we are now in God's Special Presence. To do any Treasonable Action in the King's Presence, is high Impudence. Ier. 23.11. Yea, in my House have I found their Wickedness. So may the Lord say, In my House, while they are hearing of my Word, I have found Wickedness; they have wanton Eyes, and their Soul is set on Vanity. This inhanceth and aggravates the sin.
