Gods word how tobe heard, VponPafîìOn Sunday c, 3 tocethfieoarpredethrcation, r Jam Z 531 felfe in great peril!. Ina word, The Wordof Godis the Souks fufterlance,and being miniftred (lowly, itis no meruaile ifit fall into a Confumption. The thirdis, tíludsre cumattentions, Taheart diligently , and with attention, freeing the foulefrom all worldly caresand incumbrances : foras theeyes can- not ioyntlyand at once,beholdboth Heauenand Earth;fo the Soule cannot at- tentiuely at oneand the fame time, behold the things of the World ; and of God, Ifanyman lamet eìnarld, the loneof the Fathtr abidethnot in him'. When a great and principal !Kiucrisdiuided intomanyKiuolets or little ftreadmes, fo much the fclfe water will euerie one ofthem haue. The like fucceedeth with that heart which isdiuided into many cares and defires ,Foolrfh andnófinehills drowsemeninperdition and deflrullion, AndSalomonfaith, Whin than ftteJl with a Prince, ob/eruewhat is beforethee, andput thy knifeunto thy throat, if thou bec a man peen to thy appetite. AChriftiansfitting at theKing of Heauens Table, is the hearing ofhis Doctrine; this is that Boord whereunto W f deme inuiteth vs. Where the BreadofwholefomeDoctrine is fet before thee,which ftrengthneth Frox.aA the heartof man, and theWineofGrace, which cheereth and comforteth the heart : At which Tablewhofoeuer (ball confetofit, mull confiderwith atten- tion that which is fer before him , calling out of his mind all other worldly things. Thole Miniffers that were imployed for the apprehending of our Sa uiour Chrift, finding himpreaching to the People, they hearkened vntò him with that earneft anddiligent attention, that they had quite forgot roput that in executionwhich wasgiuenthem in charge by the Pharifecs : and being deman- ded by them, Why didyetnotbring him along withyou l They returned this an- fwer, Macyany manOakedo heflake. The glorious DatorSaint Aagufine , be- fore that he hadvnwinded himfelfe out of the errour of the Manichees, hue went ofpurpofe to heare Saint Ambrafe, but not with intention togiue any cre- dit to his Doctrine, but to delight himfelfe with theclegancie ofhis phrafe,and beingrauifhedwith the fweetneffeof hiswords, had his heart taken,as well as his e.tre ; his attention fupplied the faultof his intention ;this was that putting of theknifeto the throat. The glorious Apoftle Saint Paulgoes a little further, and calls GodsWord, not only Cultrum,but Gladrum,not aKnife,but a Sword, Takevnta thee the SwordoftheSpirit,whicbif theWordofGod: What then t' Marrie hegiues thee acaueatinthefeinfuing words, Sitamenhahet inpoteflateanimam tuam, That thy foulebe notdiftracted with the troublefome bufineffes of this world. Saint Chryfllome compares the foule of theIuft, to a Poole ofWater whichRands all alone in fome lowValley,where there is all ftilneffe, repo fed- The t aie or neffe, frefhneffe,cleereneffe,and the Sunne- beames pure('brightneffe. Salomon of atsnn&th likeneth the Souleof a finner, to atroubled and tcmpeftuous Sea, The heart of whereindif- thtWicked uas a ragingfia. frying. The fourth is, Audire cumconferuatione,To hearewith aretention,and to lay vp the Word ofGod inour hearts, Bledare they that heare the Word ofGod, andkeepe it ; Not theywho heare the Wordof God,and forget ir, takingit in at oneBare, and letting it out atanother; but theywhich heare it and keepe it. It is Saint Gregaries obferuation, That the Phyfition doth defpaireof that Patients fro- macke, thatcannot keype it's meat, but throwes it vpas foone as it receiueth Saint ChryfoFiomeaduifeth,That he that heareth a Sermon fhould doe as hedoth thatcomes outofa Ba-h, prefenrly to retvrehimfelfe, get him tohisChamber, there keep:: himfelfewarme, wrapgood (tore of (loathesabout him , that the ill humors may the better beexhaledand drawne from him. Plutarch telleth vs, That manytake no pleafure in Flowers , or care any further for them , than to Y y a !Doke
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