The Sixth Evil.

The Sixth Evil.

The Sixth thing wherein the danger of earthly-mindedness consists is this: That 'tis one of the greatest hinderances in the world to profiting by the Ministry of the Word. Oh! many of you cannot but be convinced in your consciences that you have not profited by the Word, and sometimes you will complain of the want of profiting under the means, Oh that you had but hearts to look into the cause of it, from whence it is that you profit so little: It will appear to come from your earthly-mindedness, you bring a heart full of ⟨p. 31⟩the world, full of dross with you, no marvel though you do not see those spiritual and heavenly things that are in the Word, when as there is so much dross in your eyes; you know travellers in the summer time, travelling in the midst of dust and in company, they have not that freedom of their eyes to see things as at another time: Oh! many men come to the word with their thick clay, & a great deal of filth that doth clam up their very eyes, and dead their hearts in the hearing of the Word; you know what Christ said to Martha, when Mary was sitting at Christs feet, and hearing his word, but Martha was cumbered with many things; so 'tis many times with those that come to hear the Word, though they are in the presence of Christ, and have the sound of the Word in their ears, yet their hearts are cumbered about many things, there's a great noise in their hearts, they are busied in the world even while they are hearing of the Word, as you find it in the 33. of Ezek. 31. ver. there is an notable description, I fear it may be of many of you: And they come unto thee (saith the Lord to the Prophet) as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words; but they will not do them, for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goeth after their Covetousness: They sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, (mark) and they show much love with their mouth; they will commend the Sermon; it may be they will say, He is an excellent Preacher, it's a very good Sermon that we heard this day; they will show love with their mouth; but yet their hearts go after their covetousness for all that; they heard a man speak fine things, and brought excellent expressions for to set forth his matter that he had in hand;