Ofduties tobeperformedafter earrhearisg ods,cord. 379 And thus are wee to flirre vpour feluesto thediligent and 4.Seti.7. attendue hearingof Gods word,that fo it may be fruitftìll in How vve are our hearts,and effeóuall for our conuerfion and calling vn -t0 behaue our ter to God : but when wee haue gone thus farre weemuff not (c uehard as heere ref}, for ifour enemie Satan cannot hinder the feede the vvord, ofGods word from falling intoour hearts, then hee will la- bour to fleale it awayas foone as it is fowed, that itmay ne- tier take roote nor bring foorth any fruite, as appeareth by lamentableexperience : for howmany are there who receiue the word ofGodwith their approbation, andare fomewhat affect}ed with that which is fpoken, and yet fooneafter it va- nifheth away, and nothing remaineth but their old cor- ruptions?and whencedoth this proceedbut from themalice of S, who when hee findeth the feedeof theword not throúílyentred into the ground of the heart, and therein couered likea rauenous birddeuoureth it;or ifithaue alittle rooting, yet hee choaketh it with the thernie cares of the world, foas it neuer fpringeth vp, nonot fo much as into a bladeof profegion ; or ifit be fo farre growne vp, yet he in deuoureth to keepe it from- euer thriuing further, by can- fing thehot funne ofperfecution to arife, andwith the heate thereofto make it wither, and perifh, though fora time it haue made a flourifhing (hew; as our Sauiour Chrift hath taught vs in theparableofthe Sower, Math.' 3. And there--Matth.336. fore it behooueth euery one ofvs to take no leffe paines after the hearing of the word to keepe it from deuouring and topreferue andnourifh it, that itmay take deep roote andbring forth much fruit; thenwe did in the time ofpre- paration,atsd in the time whenwe receiued it:for as the care- full husbandman taketh great painesin flirting vphis fallow grounds,and preparing it for the feed,as alfo iri the feed time infowing it in the ground thus prepared, and yet all this, - were tono purpofeif he did not afterward harrow it and cotter it in the ground; fo though we take greatpaines in- breakingvpandpreparing the fallowgrounds ofour hearts, . anda1íó in receiving the feede ofGods worde, yet if wee benot as:carefull after all thisto couer and hide this feede in flue-_
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