Gospel-worship, or, The right manner of sanctifying the name of God in general. And…

2 There is another distemper in others and that is worse; that is, Such as when they find the Word come near unto them, relating those sins that their Consciences tells them they are guilty of, their hearts rise against God and His Word, and Ministers too: Because it would pluck away some beloved corruption, because it rebukes them for some haunt of evil, some distemper of heart that they have been or are guilty of, it puts a shame upon them, and therefore their hearts do rise against it. It is a dreadful thing to have the heart rise against the Word. As we read of that froward Prince Jehoiakim in the Prophecy of Jeremiah, that when the Roll was read in his hearing, (sitting in the winter time by a great fire) he took a pen-knife and cut it in pieces and threw it into the fire in anger: and I have read that the Jews kept a Fast every year to mourn for that great sin, & yet this Jehoiakim was the son of Josiah whose heart did melt at the hearing of the Word, he had an humble and a meek heart when the Law was read, and yet see what a different spirit Jehoiakim had either from his Father or grand-Father. It is a great dishonour to the Name of God for men to give liberty to their Passions to rise against the Word; take h•ed of Passion either while you are hearing the word, or after the word, as many of you while you are discontented with what is said; when you come in company, what a fury are many men in upon the hearing of some things in the word that comes close to their hearts; Remember when you are a hearing ⟨p. 181⟩of the Word that it is that which is above you, and it is not fit for one that is an inferior to show himself Passionate in the presence of a Superior: It is true, the Ministers they may be in as low a condition as you, and in a lower; but the Word they speak, it is above all the Princes and Monarchs upon the face of the Earth; and it is fit therefore we having to deal with God that we should behave our selves in a meek disposition.

2 There is another distemper in others and that is worse; that is, Such as when they find the Word come neer unto them, relating those sins that their Consciences tells them they are guilty of, their hearts rise against God and His Word, and Ministers too: Because it would pluck away some beloved corruption, because it rebukes them for some haunt of evill, some distemper of heart that they have been or are guilty of, it puts a shame upon them, and therefore their hearts do rise against it. It is a dreadfull thing to have the heart rise against the Word. As we reade of that froward Prince Jehoiakim in the Prophesie of Jeremiah, that when the Roll was read in his hearing, (sitting in the winter time by a great fire) he took a pen-knife and cut it in pieces and threw it into the fire in anger: and I have read that the Jewes kept a Fast every yeer to mourne for that great sin, & yet this Jehoiakim was the son of Josiah whose heart did melt at the hearinng of the Word, he had an humble and a meek heart when the Law was read, and yet see what a different spirit Jehoiakim had either from his Father or grand-Father. It is a great dishonor to the Name of God for men to give liberty to their Passions to rise against the Word; take hed of Passion either while you are hearing the word, or after the word, as many of you while you are discontented with what is said; when you come in company, what a fury are many men in upon the hearing of some things in the word that comes close to their hearts; Remember when you are a hearing