By hearkening, briefly you must understand these several particulars. The first is, a hearing with the ear. The second is, a closing with the truth, by the understanding of that we hear, for look as the ear receiveth the sound, so the mind and understanding ⟨p. 125⟩must apprehend the sense, and assent to the truth of what is delivered. Thirdly, the memory must retain and hold, that which the understanding hath received. The last and principal thing is, the stooping of the soul, and subjection of the heart, to that which is understood and remembered. For then indeed according to the Phrase of the Spirit of God in Scripture, a man is said to hearken, when the soul begineth to yield and subject it self, and to take the impression of that truth, which God is pleased to make known unto it, and that is the meaning of the Phrase, 1 Kings 12.15. The Text saith there of Rehoboam, that when the ancient men came to counsel him, he hearkened not unto them; as if it should be said, he heard them well enough, and he understood them well enough, and he retained their counsel in his memory well enough, but his soul yielded not to it, his heart embraced not that counsel, he did not subject himself thereunto, therefore the Text saith, He hearkened not to the counsel of the old men. The like Phrase we have touching the sons of Eli, 1 Sam. 2.25 When their father spake to them after a cold fashion, the Text saith, They hearkened not unto the voice of their father. They heard his words well enough, and understood what he said, but their souls stooped not, their hearts submitted not, they did not subject themselves, to take in the impression of the truth upon them, and to be framed to the wisdom of God revealed to them in the same. So that, my brethren, then a man is said to hearken, when his ear heareth the sound, his understanding closeth with the sense, and his memory retains it, and his heart cometh under it, stoopeth to it, yields up it self to the impression of the truths delivered, to be disposed of thereafter. In brief therefore this is the meaning: A careful attention to the word, that includes the three former; and obedience and subjection of heart to the word thus attended to, comprised in the last.
By hearkning, briefly you must understand these several particulars. The first is, a hearing with the ear. The second is, a closing with the truth, by the understanding of that we hear, for look as the ear receiveth the sound, so the mind and understanding ⟨p. 125⟩must apprehend the sense, and assent to the truth of what is delivered. Thirdly, the memorie must retain and hold, that which the understanding hath received. The last and principall thing is, the stooping of the soul, and subjection of the heart, to that which is understood and remembred. For then indeed according to the Phrase of the Spirit of God in Scripture, a man is said to hearken, when the soul begineth to yeeld and subject it self, and to take the impression of that truth, which God is pleased to make known unto it, and that is the meaning of the Phrase, 1 Kings 12.15. The Text saith there of Rehoboam, that when the ancient men came to counsell him, he hearkned not unto them; as if it should be said, he heard them well enough, and he understood them well enough, and he retained their counsel in his memory well enough, but his soul yeelded not to it, his heart imbraced not that counsel, he did not subject himself thereunto, therefore the Text saith, He hearkned not to the counsell of the old men. The like Phrase we have touching the sons of Eli, 1 Sam. 2.25 When their father spake to them after a cold fashion, the Text saith, They hearkned not unto the voice of their father. They heard his words well enough, and understood what he said, but their souls stooped not, their hearts submitted not, they did not subject themselves, to take in the impression of the truth upon them, and to be framed to the wisdome of God revealed to them in the same. So that, my brethren, then a man is said to hearken, when his ear heareth the sound, his understanding closeth with the sense, and his memorie retains it, and his heart cometh under it, stoopeth to it, yeelds up it self to the impression of the truths delivered, to be disposed of thereafter. In brief therefore this is the meaning: A carefull attention to the word, that includes the three former; and obedience and subjection of heart to the word thus attended to, comprized in the last.
