The Christian-man's calling: or, A treatise of making religion ones business. Wherein the nature…

1. When thou art hearing or reading, set thy self seriously as in the presence of God. God setteth before thee in his word, and offereth to thee life or death, blessing or cursing, his infinite favour or fury, Heaven or Hell; and friend, are these things to be jested with? Imitate Cornelius in his carriage, when he was to hear Peter; We are all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God Act. 10.33. The piety of this Centurion appeareth in the ground and motive of his hearing; he came not to hear men, but God; to hear all things which are commanded thee of God, 2. In the gracious manner of his hearing; he doth not say, we are all here present before thee, but we are all here present before God.

When the heart is awed with the apprehension of a Divine presence, the iron gates of the ears will fly open of their own accord, and give the Word a free passage. The Creature dares not but hearken diligently to the speech of that God, on whose breath depends his life and death, when he seeth him immediately before his eyes: I can speak it by experience, saith Erasmus, that there is little good to be got by the Scriptures, if a man read or hear it cursorily and carelessly; but if a man do it out of conscience, and as in Gods presence, he shall find such an efficacy in it, as is not to be found in any other Book. This setting thy self seriously, as in Gods presence, is like the Masters eye to his servant, which will make him ply his work whether he would or not; or rather like the fire to the Smiths bar of iron, which doth so mollify it, that he striking whilst it is hot, may beat it into what form and mould he pleaseth.

When the heart is awed with the apprehension of a Divine presence, the iron gates of the ears will fly open of their own accord, and give the Word a free passage. The Creature dares not but hearken diligently to the speech of that God, on whose breath depends his life and death, when he seeth him immediately before his eyes: I can speak it by experience, saith Erasmus, that there is little good to be got by the Scriptures, if a man read or hear it cursorily and carelesly; but if a man do it out of conscience, and as in Gods presence, he shall finde such an efficacy in it, as is not to be found in any other Book. This setting thy self seriously, as in Gods presence, is like the Masters eye to his servant, which will make him ply his work whether he would or not; or rather like the fire to the Smiths bar of iron, which doth so mollifie it, that he striking whilst it is hot, may beat it into what form and mould he pleaseth.