Whilst CHRIST was himself on earth, it is said, that the people hung upon him to hear the gracious words that proceeded out of his mouth. And if we looked on ministers as we ought, as the sent of JESUS CHRIST, we should hang upon them to hear their words also.
Besides, the sacred truths that gospel ministers deliver, are not dry insipid lectures on moral philosophy, intended only to amuse us for a while; but the great mysteries of godliness, which, therefore, we are bound studiously to listen to, lest through our negligence we should either not understand them, or by any other means let them slip.
But how regardless are those of this direction, who, instead of hanging on the preacher to hear him, doze or sleep whilst he is speaking to them from GOD? Unhappy men! Can they not watch with our blessed LORD one hour? What! have they never read how _Eutychus_ fell down as he was sleeping, when St. _Paul_ continued his discourse till midnight, and was taken up dead?
But to return. Though you may prepare your hearts, as you may think, by a teachable disposition, and be attentive whilst discourses are delivering, yet this will profit you little, unless you observe♦
♦ duplicate word “a” removed
3. A third direction, Not to entertain any the least prejudice against the minister.
For could a preacher speak with the tongue of men and angels, if his audience was prejudiced against him, he would be but as sounding brass, or tinkling cymbal.
That was the reason why JESUS CHRIST himself, the Eternal Word, could not do many mighty works, nor preach to any great effect among those of his own country; for they were offended at him: And was this same Jesus, this GOD incarnate, again to bow the heavens, and to come down speaking as never man spake, yet, if we were prejudiced against him, as the _Jews_ were, we should harden our hearts as the _Jews_ did theirs.
Take heed therefore, my brethren, and beware of entertaining any dislike against those whom the Holy Ghost has made overseers over you. Consider that the clergy are men of like passions with yourselves: and though we should even hear a person teaching others to do, what he has not learned himself; yet, that is no sufficient reason for rejecting his doctrine: for ministers speak not in their own, but CHRIST’s name. And we know who commanded the people to do whatsoever the Scribes and Pharisees should say unto them, though they said but did not. But
4. _Fourthly_, As you ought not to be prejudiced against, so you should be careful not to depend too much on a preacher, or think more highly of him than you ought to think. For though this be an extream that people seldom run into, yet preferring one teacher in opposition to another, has often been of ill consequence to the church of GOD. It was a fault which the great Apostle of the _Gentiles_ condemned in the _Corinthians_: For whereas one said, “I am of _Paul_; another, I am of _Apollos_: are ye not carnal,” says he? “For who is _Paul_, and who is _Apollos_, but instruments in GOD’s hands by whom you believed?” And are not all ministers sent forth to be ministring ambassadors to those who shall be heirs of salvation? And are they not all therefore greatly to be esteemed for their work’s sake.
The Apostle, it is true, commands us to pay double honour to those who labour in the word and doctrine: but then to prefer one minister at the expence of another, (perhaps, to such a degree, as when you have actually entered a church, to come out again because he does not preach) is earthly, sensual, devilish.
Not to mention that popularity and applause cannot but be exceedingly dangerous, even to a rightly informed mind; and must necessarily fill any thinking man with a holy jealousy, lest he should take that honour to himself, which is due only to GOD, who alone qualifies him for his ministerial labours, and from whom alone every good and perfect gift cometh.
5. A _Fifth_ direction I would recommend is, to make a particular application of every thing that is delivered to your own hearts.
When our Saviour was discoursing at the last supper with his beloved disciples, and foretold that one of them should betray him, each of them immediately applied it to his own heart, and said, “LORD, is it I?” And would persons, in like manner, when preachers are dissuading from any sin, or persuading to any duty, instead of crying, this was designed against such and such a one, turn their thoughts inwardly, and say, LORD, is it I? how far more beneficial should we find discourses to be, than now they generally are?
But we are apt to wander too much abroad; always looking at the mote which is in our neighbour’s eye, rather than at the beam which is in our own. Haste we now to the