II. About hearing him, that must be explained also.
First, What it is to hear ; it being our great duty, and the respect bespoken for him. In the hearing of words there are three things considerable — the sound that cometh to the ear, the understanding of the sense and meaning, and the assent or consent of the mind. Of the first the beasts are capable, for they have ears to hear the sound of words uttered. The second is common to all men, for they can sense such intelligible words as they hear. The third belongeth to dis- ciples, who are swayed by their Master's authority. So that. Hear Mm, is not to hear as beasts, nor barely to hear as men, but to hear as disciples ; to believe him, to obey him ; to believe his doctrines and promises, and to obey his precepts. For his authority is absolute, and what he doth say, doth warrant our faith, and command our practice and obedience. I gather this partly from the word ' hear,' which not only signifies attention and belief, but obedience : as 1 Sam. xv. 22, ' To obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams," where to obc?/ and hearken are put as words of the same import and signification. Partly from the matter of Christ's revelation ; he hath revealed not only doctrines to inform the mind, but precepts to reform the heart and practice. If we assent to the doctrine, but do not obey the precepts, we do not hear him. Therefore to hear him is to yield obedience to what he shall teach you ; and when Christ cometh to take an account of the entertainment of the gospel, ' he shall come in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.' Partly too from the intimate connexion there is between his prophetical and regal office. Christ is so a prophet, that he is also a sovereign ; and doth not only give us counsel and direction, but a law, which we are to observe under the highest penalties. If the gospel were an arbitrary direction,, which we might observe or not observe, without any great danger to
396 Christ's transfiguration. [Ser. VI.
ourselves, surely it were folly to despise good counsel ; but it hath the force of a new law from the great king and lawgiver of the world, therefore it must not only be believed but obeyed : Heb. v. 8, He that is the chief prophet of the church is also the king of saints. Partly also from the near connexion that is between faith and obedience. The matter which we believe is of a practical concernment, and doth not require only a simple faith, or bare belief, which were enough in points merely speculative, but a ready obedience. It is said, Eom. xvi. 2G, ' The mysteries of the gospel are made manifest to all nations for the obedience of faith.' They are not matters of speculation and talk, but practice ; and blessedness is pronounced on such as hear them and keep them : Luke xi. 28, ' Blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it.' Many hear and talk, hear and stuff their minds with notions, but they do not frame themselves to the practice of what they hear. Many question not Christ's authority, but yet they do not regard his doctrine. Now, faith doth not only silence our doubts, but quicken our affections and enliven our practice.
Secondly, How can we now hear Christ, since he is removed into the heaven of heavens, and doth not speak to us in person ?
Ans. Surely it doth not only concern the believers of that age, who conversed with Christ in the days of his flesh, but it is the general duty of all Christians to hear Christ ; for during the whole gospel dispensation, God speaketh to us by his Son, Heb. i. 2 : the revelation is settled, and not delivered by parcels, as it was to the ordinary pro- phets. Now we hear Christ in the scriptures : Heb. ii. 3, 4, ' How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation? which was first spoken by the Lord, and afterwards confirmed to us by them that heard him.' He began to speak and to declare the gospel both before and after his resurrection ; and they that heard him were especially the apostles, who, being induced by the Holy Ghost, declared it first to the Jews, and then to the Gentiles, to whom it was continued by divers signs and wonders, as to the apostles, and to extraordinary mes- sengers. Christ saith, Luke x. 16, ' He that heareth you heareth me ; and he that despiseth you despiseth me ; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.' The despising of the messenger is the despising him that sendeth the message. A man's apostle is himself, is a Jewish proverb. As to ordinary ministers he saith, ' Lo, I am with you to the end of the world,' Mat. xxviii. 20 ; they are taken into part of the apostolical commission and blessings ; they preach in Christ's name, and we, as in his stead, pray you to be reconciled, 2 Cor. v. 20; so that it is his voice and his mes- sage ; he aflfordeth his presence and assistance unto the world's end. If you receive it with faith and obedience, you are in a course and way which will bring you to everlasting blessedness ; but if you stand out obstinately against his message, you are in the way to everlasting misery, for refusing God's methods for your redemption.