which were spoken of Paul." Give atten- tion to the word, as to a matter of life and death. And, to that purjio^e have a care, (1.) To banish vain impertinent thoughts, which will distract yon, and tak(; you off from the work in hand, 'flits- fouls will be coming to the saeiiliee, (iti.. xv. 11., therefore we must drive tlieni away. An archer may take a right aim; but if one stand at his elbow, and jog him when he is going to shoot, he will not hit the mark: Christians may have good aims in hearing; but take heed of imj)ertiuent thoughts which will jog and hinder you in (iod's service. (2.) Banish dulness. The devil gives many hearers a sleepy sop, they cannot keep their eyes open at a sermon ; they eat so much on a Lord's day, that tiiey are fitter for the pillow and couch, than the temple. Fre- quent and customary sleeping at a sermon, shows high contempt and irreverence of the ordinance ; it gives a bad example to others ; it makes your sincerity to be called in ques- tion ; it is the devil's seed-time. Mat. xiii. 25., " While men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares." O shake off drowsiness, as Paul shook off the viper ! Be serious and attentive in hearing the word, Deut. xxxii. 47., " For it is not a vain thing for you, because it is your life." When people do not mind what God speaks to them in his wonl, God doth as little mind what they say to him ill jirayer.
/Y. 2. If you would have the word preach- ed effectual, come with an holy appetite to the word, 1 Pet. ii. 2. The thirsting soul is the thriving soul. In nature, one may have an appetite and no digestion ; but it is not so in religion. Where there is a groat ap- petite to the word, there is for the most pari digestion ; the word doth concoct and nour- ish. Come with hungerings of soul after the word ; and therefore desire the word, that it may not only please you, but profit you. Look not more at the garnishing of the dish than at the meat, — at eloquence and rhetoric more than solid matter. It argues both a wanton palate, and surfeited stomach, to feed on sallads and kickshaws rather than wholesome food.
A. 3. If you would have the preaching of the word effectual, come to it with a ten- derness upon your heart, 2 Chron. xiii. 7.,
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THE WORD READ AND PREACHED. HOW EFFECTUAL.
Because thy licart was tender. If we preach to hard hearts, it is like shooting against a bra/en wall, the word (h)tl! not enter ; it is like setting a gold seal upon marble, which tiikes no impression. O come to the word preached with a melting frame of heart ! It is the melting wax receives the stamp of the seal. When the heart is in a melting frame, it will better receive the stamp of the word preached. When Paul's heart was melted and broken for sin, then he cries, " Lord, what wilt thou have me to do," Acts ix. 6. Come not hither with hard hearts ; who can expect a crop when the seed is sown upon stony ground ?
A. 4. If youAvould have the word effectual, receive it with meekness, James i. 21., " Re- ceive with meekness the ingrafted word." Meekness is a submissive frame of heart to the word, — a willingness to hear the coun- sels and reproofs of the word. Contrary to this meekness, is (1.) Fierceness of spirit, Avhereby men are ready to rise iip in rage against the word. Proud men, and guilty, cannot endure to hear of their faults. Proud Herod put John in prison, Mark vi. 17. The guilty Jews being told of their crucifying Christ, stoned Stephen, Acts vii. 69. To tell men of sin, is to hold a glass to one that is dcjformed, who cannot endure to see his own face. (2.) Contrary to meek- ness is stubbornness of heart, whereby men are resolved to hold fast their sins, let the word say what it will, Jer. xliv. 17., " We will burn incense to the queen of heaven." O take heed of this ! If you would have the word preached work effectually, lay aside fierceness and stubbornness, receive the word with meekness. By meekness the word preached comes to be ingrafted. As a good scion that is grafted, in a bad stock, doth change the nature of the fruit and make it taste sweet ; so when the word comes to be ingrafted into the soul, it sanctifies it, and makes it bring forth the sweet fruit of righteousness.
A. 5. Mingle the word preached with fiilth, lleb. iv. 2., " The word preached did not ])r()fit, not being mixed with faith." W you leave out the chief ingredient in a me- dicine, it hinders the oi)erati<»u : do not leave out this ingredient of faith. Believe the word, and so believe it as to apply it.
When you hear Christ preached, apply him to yourselves ; this is to put on the Lord Jesus, Rom. xiii. 14. When you hear a promise spoken of, apply it ; this is to suck the flower of the promise, and turn it to honey.