SERM. fhuts his eyes, may charge the fun with XIX. obfcurity.

All perfons indeed have not attainments fuitable to the interpretation of scripture, and drawing of conclufions from it. But then there are spiritual guides appointed for their inftruction; and they who were unable to conclude themfelves, may yet fee the force of a conclufion when it is

drawn by others. On their preaching therefore muft thefe efpecially give a dili gent attendance, that fo through the grace of God enlightening their understandings, they may behold wondrous things out of his

law.

Not as if Preaching were an inftitution defigned only for the ignorant! For it was fhewn before, that there are fubftantial reafons to be given, why the wifeft and most learned should not think themselves above it. And the fame it has been fince intimated might be urged again, to shew they ought to attend to it with frequency and diligence. For the Truths they know will often stand in need of reinforcement, and they themselves will often want to be ftirred up to a practical obedience. Befides which, the motions of Grace ought to be waited for on all occafions; and he who finfully omits though but once going to church, knows not but That might be the time, when (not fo much by the Preacher's

Preacher's eloquence as by the grace of SERM. God) thofe things fhould have been preffed XIX. home upon his confcience, which belong to his eternal peace, and which may now be hid for ever from his eyes.

And here, how juftly then might I on this occafion inveigh againft the practice of those men, who, either to indulge their floth, or to oblige their company, for the fake of idle, if not wanton vifits, or it may be to divert themselves at home, at the very beft to fpend their time in folitary meditations, or in reading to their families, refufe to give their conftant attendance at thefe holy ordinances? As if the duties of Religion were to be poftponed to every thing else! and God's publick ordinances were only then to be regarded, when we have nothing elfe to do! And can we believe fuch infolent contempt and mockery fhould not meet with a fuitable recompence from the great Judge of all the earth? I stand not here to accuse any one. And I thall forbear to run out in the general accufation; because this their ungodly practice gives me the lefs hopes of their being here, to hear it. But it will become us all, wherein we have at any time been guilty, to accufe ourselves. Let us at least take heed of fuch examples, and not forfake the affembling of ourselves together, as the manner of fome among us is; but let us

attend

SER M. attend to St. James's counfel, to be fwift to XIX. bear, and fo receive with meekness the en

grafted word, that it may thus be really engrafted in our minds, that it may take deep root downwards, and bear fruit upwards, and fo becoming indeed an inward active principle, it may have a vigorous and conftant influence on our behaviour. The mention whereof naturally leads me to the

3. Third and laft thing propofed to be fhewn under this Head, viz. that what we thus read and hear, muft influence and direct our practice: we must not be forgetful bearers, but doers of the work. We muft not with the man in the fimile, as foon as the glafs is taken from before us, forget immediately what manner of men we are. But as That has hewn the faults and errors of our lives, let it be our future care to repent of and amend them. For this indeed is the true end of hearing. And therefore the feed fown on the good ground in the parable, is only that which brings forth fruit with patience *. All the reft being either scorched for want of earth, or choked with thorns, or devoured of the birds, is as though it never had been fown at all. The word is never profitably heard, but when it is so regarded as to influence our practice. And therefore they who are

* Luke viii. 15.

bearers

hearers only, and not doers of the work, do SERM. (as St. James tells us) but deceive themselves; XIX. they flatter themselves with very fallacies, and are miferably deluded, whilst they thus pretend to impose upon their Maker. For, though Faith comes by hearing, yet That Faith alone will be accepted at our hands which operates by love, and is fruitful in every good work.

The very end for which Preaching was appointed, is by informing our understandings to reform our lives. And though we are obliged to use That Means because it is appointed, yet they who ufe it without reference to this end, will, instead of difcharging their duty, but aggravate their guilt. Tis moft abfurd to think it fhould be otherwife. And fo grofs and palpable is their delufion who think otherwise, that, did not daily experience convince us of the truth of it, one would hardly think it poffible any rational creature fhould be fo impofed upon. For what purpofe of Religion do they ferve by fuch an attendance on this publick ordinance? Hereby indeed they confefs the authority of God, and their dependance on him; they have their minds inftructed in the knowledge of Divine Truths, and their own duty laid openly before them. But all this will only serve to make their crime the greater, who, though they know. the Laws and confefs VOL. III.

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the

SERM. the Lawgiver's authority, have yet impuXIX. dence enough by difregarding them, to difhonour and affront him. Such treatment, we find, he justly refents as a very high indignity. So did he expoftulate by his Prophet with the Priefts, that polluted his altar and defiled his name. A fon bonoureth his father, and a fervant his Master. If then I be a father, where is mine honour? And if I be a Mafter, where is my fear * ? And to the fame purpose expoftulates our bleffed Saviour, why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I Jay †? Such inconfiftent behaviour looks like mere banter and ridicule; and either we muft be fuppofed in jeft, when we make fuch profeffions of humility and reverence, or elfe out of our wits, when we indulge a practice fo contrary to thofe profeffions. For this is in truth but to treat God like the mimick Princes of the ftage, who change their habit with the fcenes, and lofe all their grandeur when the company is gone, But they who dare thus to mock God now, shall one day feel his vengeance, and meet with the fate of that fervant which knew bis Lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, i. e. they fhall be beaten with many ftripes ‡. For how can they expect benefit from that Word, which knowing they contemn? The word * Mal. i. 6. + Luke vi. 46. Luke xii. 47.