33+ OfHearing the word. bargaine ? who being in a Tourneyor fickein hisbodie, thínketh it a fpeciall crone, and findes in himfelffagriefe that hecould not come to thecongregationof the Lard? fromvemu/í z Manyreading in the fermons of theProphetsand Apottles,how theyexhort tohea. bearetbeword. ring ofthe word, marueile at it. And if at this dayweebe Ipokenfoto heare, wecanfay Why,eve fit here for no other end,we carnehither for that purpole, our feetemade hafte to heare,and thereforeitfeemethtobeavainefpeech. Wherefore wemufvnderi and,that this word (hearr) hatha further meaning than fo, Ezechiel chap.3 Lich, Let himthat bath ewes toheare,heare: fie that thereare two kindes of hearing, elfe this had been a friuolous fpeech. Wee mutt know therefore that(Iob.4z.)there are two hearings. Thereis an hea_ ring ofthecare, and there is an hearingof the heart : there is a fpeaking to thecare, and there is a fpeaking to theheart. rob faid, bee heardthe Lord but withhis eares,with his griflles only,and afterwardhe heard theLord better,andthat was with the hearing ofthe heart. Wee muff learn then todraw vp our hearts to our Bares, that fo one foundmay atote thefe pearce both atonce. But toheare with the heart there arefoure things tobe performed: fa/wettings, the firft isfet downe,Ecclef.¢, r7.LooI eto thyfeete, when thougoeff into thebottle oftheLord, And a.Chron.34.becaufemendadnot preparetheir heartsan their houlesat home, or by the wayabroad,all was invaine,they lofe theirfucceffe inheauenly things. Thefirft thing x.rreperetion, then is preparation, And commìng to the Church,curryman is todeale thus with him. felfe:I (hall now goe, where I may fit among reprobates, leaft therefore I fhould fit on more on the bill and beadrouleof myGranes,I will prepare my felfe and pray in ferious t.robeamal manner,andcarnally for thegrace ofGod to teach me. ThefecondChing is,that weauft tbatis taught heare thewordas goodCatholikes,that is,wê muff not heare theword by parcelsand by vr,andeot claufes as we lift,and giue ourcarevntill itcome toour fpeciall finre,and fit quietlytill tercels. oùrboyle betouched: but weansuff heart vniuerfaliyas well the thingsthat nsillikeva, as the things thatpieafevs. Wee muff be affeóled to Imamthe word, as thepeoplewereto- heare theLord in themountaine,who laid ; Speake theLord what bee will,weewill heart him. This is a goodkindeofhearing,and it pleated the Lordfo well,that he laid ; Oh that thisheart werearmies in thispeopk,cfne. Weewill commend any that will picare ourhu- monrs,and preach fuch thingsas followour appetite. As ifoppreflion be fpokenagainá, and we beoppreffedoffome, this common place is very plaufibleto vs,becaufè it is a- gainflonethat hath inhered vs. Or elfeweecome to theword asHerod came: Let john fpeake as muchas liewill,I will lacare lamm: but if heCosme to this, runt I may not hauemy brothers wife,Iwill notheare him. But ifwe cometo teach the Lord to fpeak,andto track him wifedome,and prefcribehim to faythes,and not to meddlewith. that, wee (hall neme tonpcie heare fruitfully. A third thing is continual) hearing: the word is a rare thing,therefore iebeariug. we Inuithaue a continual) bearing. Willyeheart howGod hath taken aniwere for.this, it is faid,Pfal.gs.Heb.3.Today.ifye will hearehisvoyce.This weknow is readtoday, and es morrow,andeuery day,andfo for euer,and yet all isbut today. We cannot exempt our felues,this bindes our hearts,and will haue vs holdout,as longas it is Paid to day.So then asweesnuff pray and beprepared toheare,and comewith a purpofe toheare vniuerfally, q,Rdefneta fo muff we hearecontinually. Yet weemutt adde afourth thing,and that is, wee mall yrattife the bring a deare to prablife the things weheare. And Burry man anulecome thus affeéled.L ábmgteebeare. haue prepared myfelfe to heare,I will hence all, as well that which is milliking, as that which liketh me :but bewareofthis laft,come what come will, I will not obey. Butifwee vownottoheare,to lay vp inourmemorie, thatour memoriemay call vpon our confci- ence,and ourconfciencecall upon vs to putit in praëlife, weecut offthe fentenceby the haife : Hethewbeareth theward,and kgepethit, is bleffed: andkeepes it, here is a coniun&ton copulatiue,and in no cafewemull leaue itout. And there is good reafon it fhould be to for asAugufüne faith, The wordis.comparedto an hammer, to a fire, to a fcvord, and not Simtte. for nothing.The hammer brufeth, fo the word mutt (often our hard hearts; the fire pur- geth and purifieth, fo the worde purgeth our droffeaffehlions,and purifsech ourhearts ; Lkb.}.ra. thefword pearceth,and fo theword diutdeth betweene themarrow and theíoynts. If the word workes not thefèeffe. s, it lofeth his power. The word is a wordof power, and let eueryman reckon with himfelfe,if in hearing theword I draw not neerer to themcrcie
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=