A Body of Practical Divinity

6. Lay aside Disobedience, Rom. 10.21. All the day long have I stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient People. 'Tis spoken of the Jews, God stretched out his Hands in the Preaching of the Word, but they rejected Christ. Let there be none among you that wilfully refuse the Counsels of the Word: 'Tis sad to have an Adders Ear, an Adamant Heart. Zac. 7.11, 12. If when God speaks to us in his Word we are deaf, when we speak to him in Prayer he will be dumb.

III. If you would hear the Word aright, have God Ends in hearing. Come to the Word to be made better. Some have no other end in hearing, but because it is in Fashion, or to gain Repute, or stop the Mouth of Conscience. But come to the Word to be made more Holy. There's a great deal of difference between one that goes to a Garden for Flowers to wear in her Bosom, and another that goes for Flowers to make Syrups and Medicines of. We should go to the Word for a Medicine to cure us; as Naaman the Syrian went to Jordan to be healed of his Leprosy. 1 Pet. 2.2. Desire the sincere Milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby. Come to the Word to be changed into the Similitude of it. As the Seal leaves its Print upon the Wax, so labour that the Word Preached may leave the Print of its own Holiness upon your Heart. Labour that the Word may have such a Virtue upon you as the Water of Jealousy, to kill and make fruitful, Numb. 5.27. That it may kill your Sins, and make your Souls fruitful in Grace.

III. If you would hear the Word aright, have God Ends in hearing. Come to the Word to be made better. Some have no other end in hearing, but because it is in Fashion, or to gain Repute, or stop the Mouth of Consbience. But come to the Word to be made more Holy. There's a great deal of difference between one that goes to a Garden for Flowers to wear in her Bosom, and another that goes for Flowers to make Syrups and Medicines of. We should go to the Word for a Medicine to cure us; as Naaman the Syrian went to Iordan to be healed of his Leprosie.