And that that is the signification of it, If you compare it with Luke 12.18. you shall find that there is the same word used, where speaking of those that were invited to the supper, it is said, They all with one consent began to make excuse; they began to shift it off, that is the same word: Oh take heed of this, that when you are hearing the Word and Christ comes and speaks to your hearts, and you begin to think that it may concern you, and your consciences begin to stir, take heed that you do not shift Him off, take heed that you do not put away the Word from you by any kind of pretence whatsoever. (It may be) you will say, If I were certain it were the Word of God, and that God spake to me, God forbid but that I should submit unto it. But though it may be the hearts of men are not so notoriously rebellious as to resolve to sin against the Word, which they will acknowledge to be the Word of God, yet this is the deceit of the heart, when the heart hath no mind to obey, it will shift of the Word, and have pretences, and put-offs, Oh take heed that you do not shift off him that speaks from Heaven by making any kind of excuse whatsoever, but when thou hearest, if the Word of God come to thy conscience do not listen to vain reasonings that are against it. Others there are that cannot tell how to shift off the word but it will come upon them when they are hearing, it may be they are a little stirred, but it is presently gone, so that they are far from holding the Word, far from keeping it in their hearts Oh how many of you have been stirred when you have been hearing the Word! and how ⟨p. 199⟩happy had it been for you if you had hid those words in your heart that the Lord hath spoken to you in the Ministry of it. If you had but the Invitations of the Spirit now that sometimes you have had, how happy were it for you? but it is with many in hearing the Word, Just as with you Mariners when you are to go abroad; your friends come with you, take their leaves of you, and then you see them stand upon the shore a while, but when you sail a little further your friends are out of sight, and then you see only the shore, you sail on a little further, and then you see only the houses, you sail a little further and then you see only the steeples and such high places, and you sail yet a little further and then you see nothing but the Ocean: So it is in hearing the Word;
And that that is the signification of it, If you compare it with Luke 12.18. you shall find that there is the same word used, where speaking of those that were invited to the supper, it is said, They all with one consent began to make excuse; they began to shift it off, that is the same word: Oh take heed of this, that when you are hearing the Word and Christ comes and speaks to your hearts, and you begin to think that it may concern you, and your consciences begin to stir, take heed that you do not shift Him off, take heed that you do not put away the Word from you by any kind of pretence whatsoever. (It may be) you will say, If I were certain it were the Word of God, and that God spake to me, God forbid but that I should submit unto it. But though it may be the hearts of men are not so notoriously rebellious as to resolve to sin against the Word, which they will acknowledge to be the Word of God, yet this is the deceit of the heart, when the heart hath no mind to obey, it will shift of the Word, and have pretences, and put-offs, Oh take heed that you do not shift off him that speaks from Heaven by making any kind of excuse whatsoever, but when thou hearest, if the Word of God come to thy conscience do not listen to vain reasonings that are against it. Others there are that cannot tell how to shift off the word but it will come upon them when they are hearing, it may be they are a little stir'd, but it is presently gone, so that they are far from holding the Word, far from keeping it in their hearts Oh how many of you have been stirr•d when you have been hearing the Word! and how ⟨p. 199⟩happy had it beeen for you if you had hid those words in your heart that the Lord hath spoken to you in the Ministry of it. If you had but the Invitations of the Spirit now that sometimes you have had, how happy were it for you? but it is with many in hearing the Word, Just as with you Marriners when you are to go abroad; your friends come with you, take their leaves of you, and then you see them stand upon the shore a while, but when you sail a little further your friends are out of sight, and then you see only the shore, you sail on a little further, and then you see only the houses, you sail a little further and then you see only the steeples and such high places, and you sail yet a little further and then you see nothing but the Ocean: So it is in hearing the Word;
