It is never so, but Satan hath a deep hand therein. And another Artifice which he useth, to deprive men of that good, which they might receive by hearing the Word is, that he causeth them to sleep at Sermons. And from thence it cometh to pass, that men are most sleepy at Sermon time. Before the Sermon began, they were not drowsy, and after the Sermon is ended, they are not so; but just at that season, when they are called to attend unto the word of God, they are apt to drowse and sleep. This is ⟨p. 199⟩as Satan would have it. He had rather have men wakeful at any time, than at Sermon time. And as for the internal cause, of mens sleeping at Sermons; it is from that Infirmity which they are subject unto, and miserably attended with. In some, it proceeds much from Natural Infirmity. Some are naturally of more wakeful, and others of more sleepy tempers and dispositions. And old age doth naturally incline men unto infirmity in this as well as in many other respects. But especially, this evil proceeds from that sinful and moral Infirmity, which men are woefully subject unto. Hence it was, that the Disciples slept when they should have been fervently praying to God, Mat. 26.40,41. Jesus cometh to the Disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith to Peter, what, could you not watch with me one hour. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. There was in the Disciples of Christ, spirit as well as flesh; so far as they were made spiritual, they were willing to have watched with Christ; and had newly manifested their willingness, by professing their readiness to die for his sake; but because of a carnal unregenerate part, which as that time prevailed, they, slept when Christ bid them watch. It was because of their Flesh, their infirmity both natural and moral, that they slept when they should have been watching and praying, and the same is true, if men sleep when they should be watching and hearing. Had not ⟨p. 200⟩men sin and corruption in their hearts, it is certain, that they would not sleep at Sermons.
It is never so, but Satan hath a deep hand therein. And another Artifice which he useth, to deprive men of that good, which they might receive by hearing the Word is, that he causeth them to sleep at Sermons. And from thence it cometh to pass, that men are most sleepy at Sermon time. Before the Sermon began, they were not drowsie, and after the Sermon is ended, they are not so; but just at that season, when they are called to attend unto the word of God, they are apt to drowse and sleep. This is ⟨p. 199⟩as Satan would have it. He had rather have men wakeful at any time, than at Sermon time. And as for the internal cause, of mens sleeping at Sermons; it is from that Infirmity which they are subject unto, and miserably attended with. In some, it proceeds much from Natural Infirmity. Some are naturally of more wakeful, and others of more sleepy tempers and dispositions. And old age doth naturally incline men unto infirmity in this as well as in many other respects. But especially, this evil proceeds from that sinful and moral Infirmity, which men are wofully subject unto. Hence it was, that the Disciples slept when they should have been fervently praying to God, Mat. 26.40,41. Jesus cometh to the Disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith to Peter, what, could you not watch with me one hour. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. There was in the Disciples of Christ, spirit as well as flesh; so far as they were made spiritual, they were willing to have watched with Christ; and had newly manifested their willingness, by professing their readiness to die for his sake; but because of a carnal unregenerate part, which as that time prevailed, they, slept when Christ bid them watch. It was because of their Flesh, their infirmity both natural and moral, that they slept when they should have been watching and praying, and the same is true, if men sleep when they should be watching and hearing. Had not ⟨p. 200⟩men sin and corruption in their hearts, it is certain, that they would not sleep at Sermons.
