A Body of Practical Divinity

1. With Reverence and Holy Attention. Acts 16.14. A certain Woman named Lydia attended unto the things that were spoken of Paul. Constantine the Emperor was noted for his Reverend Attention to the Word. Luke 19.48. Christ taught daily in the Temple: And all the People were attentive to hear him, [Greek or Hebrew], in the Greek, They hung upon his Lip. Could we tell Men of a Rich Purchase, they would diligently attend: And shall they not much more, when the Gospel of Grace is Preaching to them? Now that we may sanctify and hallow the Sabbath by attentive Hearing, take heed of two things: I. Distraction in Hearing. II. Drowsiness in Hearing.

1. With Reverence and Holy Attention. Acts 16.14. A certain Woman named Lydia attended unto the things that were spoken of Paul. Constantine the Emperor was noted for his Reverend Attention to the Word. Luke 19.48. Christ taught daily in the Temple: And all the People were attentive to hear him, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, in the Greek, They hung upon his Lip. Could we tell Men of a Rich Purchase, they would diligently attend: And shall they not much more, when the Gospel of Grace is Preaching to them? Now that we may sanctifie and hallow the Sabbath by attentive Hearing, take heed of two things: I. Distraction in Hearing. II. Drowsiness in Hearing.

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.