Directions how to hear Sermons.
LUKE viii. 18.
_Take heed, therefore, how ye hear._
THE occasion of our LORD’s giving this caution, was this: Perceiving that much people were gathered together to hear him out of every city, and knowing (for he is GOD, and knoweth all things) that many, if not most of them, would be hearers only, and not doers of the word; he spake to them by a parable, wherein, under the similitude of a sower that went out to sow his seed, he plainly intimated, how few there were amongst them, who would receive any saving benefit from his doctrine, or bring forth fruit unto perfection.
The application one would imagine should have been plain and obvious; but the disciples, as yet unenlightened in any great degree by the Holy Spirit, and therefore unable to see into the hidden mysteries of the kingdom of GOD, dealt with our Saviour, as people ought to deal with their ministers; they discoursed with him privately about the meaning of what he had taught them in public; and with a sincere desire of doing their duty, asked for an interpretation of the parable.
Our blessed LORD, as he always was willing to instruct those that were teachable, (herein setting his ministers an example to be courteous and easy of access) freely told them the signification. And withal, to make them more cautious and more attentive to his doctrine for the future, he tells them, that they were in an especial manner to be the light of the world, and were to proclaim on the house-top whatsoever he told them in secret; and as their improving the knowledge already imparted, was the only condition upon which more was to be given them, it therefore highly concerned them to “take heed how they heard.”
From the context then it appears, that the words were primarily spoken to the Apostles themselves. But as it is to be feared, out of those many thousands that flock to hear sermons, but few, comparatively speaking, are effectually influenced by them, I cannot but think it very necessary to remind you of the caution given by our LORD to his disciples, and to exhort you with the utmost earnestness, to “take heed how you hear.”
In prosecution of which design I shall,
_First_, Prove that every one ought to take all opportunities of hearing sermons. And,
_Secondly_, I shall lay down some cautions and directions, in order to your hearing with profit and advantage.
_First_, I am to prove, that every one ought to take all opportunities of hearing sermons.
That there have always been particular persons set apart by GOD, to instruct and exhort his people to practise what he should require of them, is evident from many passages of scripture. St. _Jude_ tells us, that “_Enoch_, the seventh from _Adam_, prophesied (or preached) concerning the LORD’s coming with ten thousand of his saints to judgment.” And _Noah_, who lived not long after, is stiled by St. _Peter_, “a preacher of righteousness.” And though in all the intermediate space between the flood and giving of the law, we hear but of few preachers, yet we may reasonably conclude, that GOD never left himself without witness, but at sundry times, and after divers manners, spoke to our fathers by the patriarchs and prophets.
But however it was before, we are assured that after the delivery of the law, GOD constantly separated to himself a certain order of men to preach to, as well as pray for his people; and commanded them to enquire their duty at the priests mouths. And though the _Jews_ were frequently led into captivity, and for their sins scattered abroad on the face of the earth, yet he never utterly forsook his church, but still kept up a remnant of prophets and preachers, as _Ezekiel_, _Jeremiah_, _Daniel_, and others, to reprove, instruct, and call them to repentance.
Thus was it under the law. Nor has the church been worse, but infinitely better provided for under the gospel. For when JESUS CHRIST, that great High-priest, had through the eternal Spirit offered himself, as a full, perfect, sufficient sacrifice and satisfaction for the sins of the whole world, and after his resurrection had all power committed to him, both in heaven and earth, he gave commission to his Apostles, and in them to all succeeding ministers, to “go and preach his gospel to every creature;” promising to “to be with them, to guide, assist, strengthen, and comfort them always, even to the end of the world.”
But if it be the duty of ministers to preach, (and woe be to them if they do not preach the gospel, for a necessity is laid upon them) no doubt, the people are obliged to attend to them; for otherwise, wherefore are ministers sent?