A Body of Practical Divinity

Fourthly, Vain impertinent Thoughts in Hearing defile an Ordinance: They are as dead Flies in the Box of Ointment. When a String in the L•te is out of Tune, it spoils the Music. Distraction of Thoughts puts our Mind out of Tune, and makes our Services sound harsh and unpleasant. Wandering Thoughts poison a Duty, and turn it into sin. Psal. 109.7. Let his Prayer become sin. What can be worse, than to have a Man's Praying and Hearing of the Word become sin? Were it not sad when the Meat we eat should increase bad Humours? So when the Hearing of the Word, which is the Food of the Soul, should be turned into Sin?

Fourthly, Vain impertinent Thoughts in Hearing defile an Ordinance: They are as dead Flies in the Box of Oyntment. When a String in the L•te is out of Tune, it spoils the Musick. Distraction of Thoughts puts our Mind out of Tune, and makes our Services sound harsh and unpleasant. Wandring Thoughts poyson a Duty, and turn it into sin. Psal. 109.7. Let his Prayer become sin. What can be worse, than to have a Man's Praying and Hearing of the Word become sin? Were it not sad when the Meat we eat should encrease bad Humours? So when the Hearing of the Word, which is the Food of the Soul, should be turned into Sin?

Fifthly, Vain Thoughts in Hearing anger God. If the King were speaking to one of his Subjects, and he should not give heed to what the King saith, but be thinking on another business, or playing with a Feather, would not this provoke the King? So when we are in God's Presence, and God is speaking to us in his Word, and we mind not much what he saith, but our Hearts go after Covetousness, Ezek. 33.31. will not this anger God to be thus slighted? God hath pronounced a Curse upon such; Mal. 1.14