Hearing the truth is one principal avenue through which grace is conveyed to the soul of man. " Faith cometh hy hearing." (Rom. x. 17.) One of the first steps towards conversion is to receive from the Spirit a hearing ear. Seldom are men brought to repentance and faith in Christ without " hearing." The general rule is that of which St. Paul reminds the Ephesians, " ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth." (Eph. i. 13.)
Let us bear this in mind when we hear preaching decried as a means of grace. There are never wanting men who seek to cast it down from the high place which the Bible gives it. There are many who proclaim loudly that it is of far more importance to the soul to hear litur- gical forms read, and to receive the Lord's Supper, than to hear God's word expounded. Of all such notions let us be- ware. Let it be a settled principle with us that " hearing the word," is one of the foremost means of grace that God lias given to man. Let us give to every other means and ordinance its proper value and proportion. But never let us forget the words of Paul, " despise not prophesy- ings," and his dying charge to Timothy, " Preach the word."- (1 Thess. v. 20 ; 2 Tim. iv. 2.)
* " Public and continual preaching of God's word is the ordinary means and instrument of the salvation of mankind. St. Paul calleth it the ministry of reconciliation of man unto God. By preaching of a word, the glory of God is enlarged, faith is nourished, and char- ity increased. By it the ignorant is instructed, the negligent exhorted and invited, the stubborn rebuked, the weak conscience comforted, .mid to all those that sin of malicious wickedness, the wrath of God is threatened. By preaching, due obedience to Christian princes and magistrates is planted in the hearts of subjects: for obedience pro- oecdeth of conscience, conscience is grounded upon the word of God,
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We learn, in the last place, from these verses, the im- portance of a diligent use of religious privileges. What says our Lord ? " Unto you that hear shall more be given. He that hath, to him shall be given : and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath."
This is a principle which we find continually brought forward in Scripture. All that believers have is un- doubtedly of grace. Their repentance, faith, and holi- ness, are all the gift of G-od. But the degree to which a believer attains in grace, is ever set before us as closely connected with his own diligence in the use of means, and his own faithfulness in living fully up to the light and knowledge which he possesses. Indolence and lazi- ness are always discouraged in God's word. Labor and pains in hearing, reading, and prayer, are always represented as bringing their own reward. " The soul of the diligent shall be made fat." (Prov. xiii. 4.) " An idle soul shall suffer hunger." (Prov. xix. 15.)
Attention to this great principle is the main secret of spiritual prosperity. The man who makes rapid progress in spiritual attainments — who grows visibly in grace, and knowledge, and strength, and usefulness — will always be found to be a diligent man. He leaves no stone un- turned to promote his soul's well-doing. He is diligent over bis Bible, diligent in his private devotions, diligent as a hearer of sermons, diligent in his attendance at the Lord's table. And he reaps according as he sows. Just
the word of God worketh his effect by preaching. So as generally when preaching wanteth, obedience faileth." — Archbishop GrindaVs Letter to Queen Elizabeth.