6. _Sixth_ and last direction: If you would receive a blessing from the LORD, when you hear his word preached, pray to him, both before, in, and after every sermon, to endue the minister with power to speak, and to grant you a will and ability to put in practice, what he shall shew from the book of GOD to be your duty.
This would be an excellent means to render the word preached effectual to the enlightening and enflaming your hearts; and without this, all the other means before prescribed will be in vain.
No doubt it was this consideration that made St. _Paul_ so earnestly entreat his beloved _Ephesians_ to intercede with GOD for him: “Praying always, with all manner of prayer and supplication in the spirit, and for me also, that I may open my mouth with boldness, to make known the mysteries of the gospel.” And if so great an Apostle as St. _Paul_, needed the prayers of his people, much more do those ministers, who have only the ordinary gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Besides, this would be a good proof that you sincerely desired to do, as well as to know the will of GOD. And it must highly profit both ministers and people; because GOD, through your prayers, will give them a double portion of his Holy Spirit, whereby they will be enabled to instruct you more fully in the things which pertain to the kingdom of GOD.
And O that all who hear me this day, would seriously apply their hearts to practise what has now been told them! How would ministers see Satan, like lightning, fall from heaven, and people find the word preached sharper than a two-edged sword, and mighty, through GOD, to the pulling down of the devil’s strong holds!
The Holy Ghost would then fall on all them that hear the word, as when St. _Peter_ preached; the gospel of CHRIST would have free course, run very swiftly, and thousands again be converted by a sermon.
For “JESUS CHRIST is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever.” He has promised to be with his ministers always, even unto the end of the world. And the reason why we do not receive larger effusions of the blessed Spirit of GOD, is not because our all-powerful Redeemer’s hand is shortened, but because we do not expect them, and confine them to the primitive times.
It does indeed sometimes happen, that GOD, to magnify his free grace in CHRIST JESUS, is found of them that sought him not; a notorious sinner is forcibly worked upon by a public sermon, and plucked as a firebrand out of the fire. But this is not GOD’s ordinary way of acting: No, for the generality, he only visits those with the power of his word, who humbly wait to know what he would have them to do; and sends unqualified hearers not only empty, but hardened away.
Take heed, therefore, ye careless, curious professors, if any such be here present, how you hear. Remember, that whether we think of it or not, “we must all appear before the judgment-seat of CHRIST;” where ministers must give a strict account of the doctrine they have delivered, and you as strict a one, how you have improved under it. And, good GOD! how will you be able to stand at the bar of an angry, sin-avenging judge, and see so many discourses you have despised, so many ministers, who once longed and laboured for the salvation of your precious and immortal souls, brought out as so many swift witnesses against you? Will it be sufficient then, think you, to alledge, that you went to hear them only out of curiosity, to pass away an idle hour, to admire the oratory, or ridicule the simplicity of the preacher? No; GOD will then let you know, that you ought to have come out of better principles; that every sermon has been put down to your account, and that you must then be justly punished for not improving by them.
But fear not, you little flock, who with meekness receive the ingrafted word, and bring forth the peaceable fruits of righteousness; for it shall not be so with you. No, you will be your minister’s joy, and their crown of rejoicing in the day of our LORD JESUS: And they will present you in a holy triumph, faultless and unblameable, to our common Redeemer, saying, “Behold us, O LORD, and the children which thou hast given us.”
But still take heed how you hear: for upon your improving the grace you have, more shall be given, and you shall have abundance. “He is faithful that has promised, who also will do it.” Nay, GOD from out of _Sion_, shall so bless you, that every sermon you hear shall communicate to you a fresh supply of spiritual knowledge. The word of GOD shall dwell in you richly; you shall go on from strength to strength, from one degree of grace unto another, till being grown up to be perfect men in CHRIST JESUS, and filled with all the fulness of GOD, you shall be translated by death to see him as he is, and to sing praises before his throne with angels and archangels, cherubim and seraphim, and the general assembly of the first-born, whose names are written in heaven, for ever and ever.
Which GOD, &c.