A Body of Practical Divinity

4. If you would have the Word effectual, receive it with Meekness, Jam. 1.21. Receive with meekness the engrafted Word. Meekness is a Submissive Frame of Heart to the Word; a willingness to hear the Counsels and Reproofs of the Word. Contrary to this Meekness, is, (1.) Fierceness of Spirit, whereby Men are ready to rise up in Rage against the Word. Proud Men and Guilty cannot endure to hear of their Faults. Proud Herod put John in Prison, Mark 12.12. The guilty Jews being told of their Crucifying Christ, stoned Stephen, Acts 7.59. To tell Men of Sin, is to hold a Glass to one that is deformed, who cannot endure to see his own Face. (2.) Contrary to Meekness is Stubbornness of Heart, whereby Men are resolved to hold fast their Sins, let the Word say what it will. Jer. 44.16. We will burn Incense to the Queen of Heaven. Oh take heed of this! If you would have the Word preached work effectually, lay aside Fierceness and Stubbornness, receive the Word with Meekness. By Meekness the Word preached comes to be ^*engrafted: As a good Scion that is grafted into a bad Stock, doth change the Nature of the Fruit, and make it taste sweet: So when the Word comes to be engrafted into the Soul, it sanctifies it, and makes it bring forth the sweet Fruit of Righteousness.

4. If you would have the Word effectual, receive it with Meekness, Iam. 1.21. Receive with meekness the engrafted Word. Meekness is a Submissive Frame of Heart to the Word; a willingness to hear the Counsels and Reproofs of the Word. Contrary to this Meekness, is, (1.) Fierceness of Spirit, whereby Men are ready to rise up in Rage against the Word. Proud Men and Guilty cannot endure to hear of their Faults. Proud Herod put Iohn in Prison, Mark 12.12. The guilty Jews being told of their Crucifying Christ, stoned Stephen,