A Body of Practical Divinity

5. Mingle the Word preached with Faith. Heb. 4.2. The Word preached profited not, not being mixed with Faith. If you leave out the chief ingredient in a Medicine, it hinders the Operation: Do not leave out this Ingredient of Faith. Believe the Word, and so believe it as to apply it. When you hear Christ Preached, apply him to your selves; this is to put on the Lord Jesus, Rom. 13.14. When you hear a Promise spoken of, apply it: This is to suck the Flower of the Promise, and turn it to Honey.

6. Be not only attentive in Hearing, but retentive after Hearing. Heb. 2.1. We ought to give the more diligent heed to the things we have heard, lest at any time we let them slip. [Greek or Hebrew], Lest we let them run out as Water out of a Sieve. If the Ground doth not retain the Seed thrown into it, there can be no good Crop. Some have Memories like leaking Vessels, the Sermons they hear are presently gone, and then there is no good done. If Meat doth not stay and concoct in the Stomach, it will not nourish. Satan labours to steal the Word out of our Mind. Mark 4.15. When they have heard, Satan cometh immediately and taketh away the Word that was sown. Our Memories should be like the Chest of the Ark wherein the Law was put.

6. Be not only attentive in Hearing, but retentive after Hearing. Heb. 2.1. We ought to give the more diligent heed to the things we have heard, lest at any time we let them slip. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, Lest we let them run out as Water out of a Sieve. If the Ground doth not retain the Seed thrown into it, there can be no good Crop. Some have Memories like leaking Vessels, the Sermons they hear are presently gone, and then there is no good done. If Meat doth not stay and concoct in the Stomach, it will not nourish. Satan labours to steal the Word out of our Mind.