1 There must be a preparation of the Soul, so as when you come to hear, you may with all readiness receive the Word; the soul must be made ready, in Act. 17. 11. there it is said, These were more noble then those of Thessalonica, in that they received the Word with all readiness of mind: The word is, with all A•aerity, as well as readiness: their minds were in a fit preparation to receive the word: and the text saith, They were more noble: The word that's translated more noble, it signify Better bred, for I do not take this scripture, as if it were meant only of men that were Earls or Lords, that did thus receive the Word with readiness, but they were of a more noble disposition, They were well bred men, so the Greek word signifies. A man some times preaching to a company of rude people that never had any good breeding, they will behave themselves rudely, they slight the word, and like the Swine, regard Acorns rather then Pearls: And the word is seldom so profitable to a company of rude people that have no breeding at all; but now there is more hopes to Preach to men that have breeding: Men that are exercised in Arts and Sciences, and have some understanding, and so some ingenuity in them, they will hearken to reason. Now there is a great deal of spiritual reason in the word, there is a great deal to convince men that are but rational men; let a man be but a rational man and willing to attend to the word, I say there is a great deal of reason to convince him in it, and it is a sign of good breeding, of men of ingenuity to be willing to hear the Word, Who are those in a parish that so disregard the word as not to hear it, but the ruder sort? There are many I confess that are men of parts perhaps the word doth not prevail with their hearts to convert them; yet if they have any good breeding at all, if the Word be preached in a convincing way, so that they see there is pains taken, and preached as the word of God to them, they will vouch safe their presence at least:
1 There must be a preparation of the Soul, so as when you come to hear, you may with all readinesse receive the Word; the soul must be made ready, in Act. 17. 11. there it is said, These were more noble then those of Thessalonica, in that they received the Word with all readinesse of mind: The word is, with all A•aerity, as well as readinesse: their minds were in a fit preparation to receive the word: and the text saith, They were more noble: The word thats translated more noble, it signifie Better bred, for I do not take this scripture, as if it were meant only of men that were Earls or Lords, that did thus receive the Word with readinesse, but they were of a more noble disposition, They were well bred men, so the Greek word signifies. A man some times preaching to a company of rude people that never had any good breeding, they will behave themselves rudely, they slight the word, and like the Swine, regard Acorns rather then Pearls: And the word is seldome so profitable to a company of rude people that have no breeding at all; but now there is more hopes to Preach to men that have breeding: Men that are exercised in Arts and Sciences, and have some understanding, and so some ingenuity in them, they will hearken to reason. Now there is a great deal of spiritual reason in the word, there is a great deal to convince men that are but rationall men; let a man be but a rationall man and willing to attend to the word, I say there is a great deal of reason to convince him in it, and it is a sign of good breeding, of men of ingenuity to be willing to hear the Word, Who are those in a parish that so disregard the word as not to hear it, but the ruder sort? There are many I confesse that are men of parts perhaps the word doth not prevaile with their hearts to convert them; yet if they have any good breeding at all, if the Word be preached in a convincing way, so that they see there is pains taken, and preached as the word of God to them, they will vouch safe their presence at least:
