4, Labouring to express the word received, in a conformity of heart and life unto tt, is another part of this attention. This is the next proper end of our hearing. And to do a thing appointed unto an end without aiming at that end, is no better than the not doing it at all, in some cases much worse. The apostle says of the Romans, that they were cast into the mould of the doctrine of the gospel, chap. vi. 17. It left upon their hearts an impression of its own like- ness, or produced in them the express image of that holiness, purity, and wisdom which it revealeth. This is to behold with open face the glory of the Lord in a glass, and to be changed into the same image, 2 Cor. 111. 18; that is, the image of the Lord Christ, mani- fested unto us and reflected upon us by and in the glass of the gospel. When the heart of the hearer is quickened, enlivened, spirited with gospel truths, and by them is moulded and fashioned into their likeness, and expresseth that lkeness in its fruits, or a conversation becoming the gospel, then is the word attended unto in aright manner. This will secure the word a station in our hearts, . and give it a permanent abode in us. This is the indwelling of the word, whereof there are many degrees, and we ought to aim \ that it should be plentiful.
5. Watchfulness against all opposition that is made either against the truth or power of the word in us belongs also unto this duty. And as these oppositions are many, so ought this watchfulness to be great and diligent. And these things have we added for the further explication of the duty that is pressed on us by the apostle, the necessity whereof, for the preservation of the truth in our hearts and minds, will further appear in the ensuing observation.
II. There are sundry times and seasons wherein, and several ways and means whereby, men are in danger to lose the word that they
VER. 1.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 267
have heard, if they attend not diligently unto its preservation. M4rore, “at any time,” or “by any way or means.” This our Saviour teacheth us at large in the parable of uh la the seed, which was retained but in one sort of ground
of those four whereinto it was cast, Matt. xiii.; and this the expe- rience of all times and ages confirmeth. Yea, few there are at any time who keep the word heard as they ought. 1. We may briefly name the seasons wherein and the ways whereby the hearts and minds of men are made as leaking vessels, to pour out and lose the word that they have heard.
(1.) Some lose it in a time of peace and prosperity. That isa sea- son which slays the foolish. Jeshurun waxes fat and kicks, Accord- ing to men’s pastures they are filled, and forget the Lord. They feed their lusts high, until they loathe the word. Quails often make a lean soul. A prosperous outward estate hath ruined many a con- viction from the word; yea, and weakened faith and obedience in many of the saints themselves. The warmth of prosperity breeds swarms of apostates, as the heat of the sun doth insects in the spring.
(2.) Some lose it in a time of persecution. “ When persecution ariseth,” saith our Saviour, “they fall away.” Many go on apace in profession until they come to see the cross; this sight puts them to a stand, and then turns them quite out of the way. They thought not of it, and do not like it. We know what havoc this hath made amongst professors in all ages; and commonly where it destroys the bodies of ten, it destroys the souls of a hundred. ‘This is the sea- son wherein stars fall from the firmament; in reference whereunto innumerable are the precepts for watchfulness, wisdom, patience, enduring, that are given us in the gospel.
(3.) Some lose it in a time of trial by temptation. It pleaseth God, in his wisdom and grace, to suffer sometimes an “ hour of temptation” to come forth upon the world, and upon the church in the world, for their trial, Rev. iii. 10. And he doth it that his own thereby may _ be made conformable unto their head, Jesus Christ, who had his especial hour of temptation. Now, in such a season temptation worketh variously, according as men are exposed unto it, or as God seeth meet that they should be tried by it. Every thing that such days abound withal shall have in it the force of a temptation. And the usual effect of this work is, that it brings professors into a slum- ber, Matt. xxv. 5. In this state many utterly lose the word. They have been cast into a negligent slumber by the secret power and efficacy of temptation; and when they awake and look about them, the whole power of the word is lost and departed from them. With reference unto these and the like seasons it is that the apostle gives us this caution, to “take heed lest at any time the word which we have heard do slip out.”
268 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. 11