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?
And how can we here avoid admiring the love and tender care which our
dear Redeemer has expressed for his spouse the church? Who, because he
could not be always with us in person, on account it was expedient he
should go away, and as our forerunner take possession of that glory he
had purchased by his precious blood, yet would not leave us comfortless,
but first settled a sufficient number of pastors and teachers; and
afterwards, according to his promise, actually did and will continue
to send down the Holy Ghost, to furnish them and their successors
with proper gifts and graces “for the work of the ministry, for the
perfecting of the saints, for the edifying of his body in love, till we
all come in the unity of the spirit, to the fulness of the measure of
the stature of CHRIST.”
O how insensible are those persons of this unspeakable gift, who do
despite to the Spirit of grace, who crucify the Son of GOD afresh, and
put him to an open shame, by wilfully refusing to attend on so great
a means of their salvation? How dreadful will the end of such men be?
How aggravating, that light should come into the world, that the glad
tidings of salvation should be so very frequently proclaimed in this
populous city, and that so many should loath this spiritual manna, this
angels food, and call it light bread? How much more tolerable will it
be for _Tyre_ and _Sidon_, for _Sodom_ and _Gomorrah_, than for such
sinners? Better, that men had never heard of a Saviour being born, than
after they have heard, not to give heed to the ministry of those, who
are employed as his ambassadors, to transact affairs between GOD and
their souls.
We may, though at a distance, without a spirit of prophesy, foretel the
deplorable condition of such men; behold them cast into hell, lifting
up their eyes, being in torment, and crying out, How often would our
ministers have gathered us, as a hen gathereth her chickens under
her wings? But we would not. O that we had known in that our day, the
things that belonged to our everlasting peace! But now they are for
ever hid from our eyes.
Thus wretched, thus inconceiveably miserable, will such be as slight
and make a mock at the public preaching of the gospel. But taking it
for granted, there are but few, if any, of this unhappy stamp, who
think it worth their while to tread the courts of the LORD’s house, I
pass on now to the
_Second_ general thing proposed, to lay down some cautions and
directions, in order to your hearing sermons with profit and advantage.
And here, if we reflect on what has been already delivered, and
consider that preaching is an ordinance of GOD, a means appointed by
JESUS CHRIST himself for promoting his kingdom amongst men, you cannot
reasonably be offended, if, in order that you may hear sermons with
profit and advantage, I
1. Direct or entreat you to come to hear them, not out of curiosity,
but from a sincere desire to know and do your duty.
Formality and hypocrisy in any religious exercise, is an abomination
unto the LORD. And to enter his house merely to have our ears
entertained, and not our hearts reformed, must certainly be highly
displeasing to the Most High GOD, as well as unprofitable to ourselves.
Hence it is, that so many remain unconverted, yea, unaffected with
the most evangelical preaching; so that like St. _Paul_’s companions,
before his conversion, they only hear the preacher’s voice with
their outward ears, but do not experience the power of it inwardly in
their hearts: Or, like the ground near _Gideon_’s fleece, they remain
untouched; whilst others, who came to be fed with the sincere milk
of the word, like the fleece itself, are watered by the dew of GOD’s
heavenly blessing, and grow thereby.
Flee therefore, my brethren, flee curiosity, and prepare your hearts by
a humble disposition, to receive with meekness the engrafted word, and
then it will be a means, under GOD, to quicken, build up, purify, and
save your souls.
2. A second direction I shall lay down for the same purpose, is, not
only to prepare your hearts before you hear, but also to give diligent
heed to the things that are spoken from the word of GOD.
If an earthly king was to issue out a royal proclamation, on performing
or not performing the conditions therein contained, the life or death
of his subjects entirely depended, how solicitous would they be to hear
what those conditions were? And shall not we pay the same respect to
the King of kings, and LORD of lords, and lend an attentive ear to his
ministers, when they are declaring, in his name, how our pardon, peace,
and happiness may be secured?
When GOD descended on mount _Sinai_ in terrible majesty, to give unto
his people the law, how attentive were they to his servant _Moses_? And
if they were so earnest to hear the thunderings or threatenings of the
law, shall not we be as solicitous to hear from the ministers of CHRIST,
the glad tidings of the gospel?
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
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.