paffions. The ear is pleafed and the tafte is gratified; but like the auditors of Ezekiel, they hear the words of the preacher and do them not.

What then are the difpofitions with which a Chriftian ought to liften to difcourfes from the pulpit? How fhall he fo learn, that he may be able to attain unto the knowledge of the truth?

The firft requifite is reverence for the Word of God. To explain and apply the Word of God is the object of every fermon. To hear the Word of God explained and applied is the object of every ferious hearer. And preaching is one of the means of grace and falvation ordained by the great Lord of the church. Attend then with devout regard to the miniftry of the Word. Confider that every doctrine which the preacher unfolds, every command which he inculcates, every promife, every threatening which he difplays before you, are avowedly delivered from the Bible. They are not the doctrines, the commands, the promifes, the threatenings, of the preacher; but of God. And he who in any cafe defpifes a rule of faith or of practice, which the minister truly declares to him from the Bible, defpifes not man, but God. one mob

In the next place, attend with a teach able mind. Uz qe me mad our Lord to his followers, and become a little children; great or in se kingdom of becce. Homile yoma in the houfe of your Maker. Be prepared t receive unwelcome t; t

contradict your favorite qitions, ar isclare war again tour fromie améliss Away with all pride, al differry, al prejudice. Bring every thought in magné vity to the obedience of Chrit; and reme with meekness the word i det save your fools.

Thirdly; Whatever be the tru

the preacher deliven, apply it, a farzta applicable, to yourfif You are henty for yourself, not for your neighbom. Wie ther this portion or that partios de in mon be applicable to your neighbou, é uz your concern. The on the 121.

are the person to whom where you in is addreffed. Apply it to the win of your foul. Et apply via to ir fairly. Many perfons become not ingy rous felf-deceivers, by app ring prof fermons to themicires, and making in it application of other parts t for example, the farmon fais ce ne

guage of encouragement to the true Chrif tian, and enlarges on the bleffed promifes fecured to him; all this encouragement, all these promises, they inftantly apply to themselves. But to themselves they did

not apply other paffages of the discourse, in which the marks of a true chriftian were defcribed; marks by which if they had examined their principles and conduct, they would perhaps have difcerned themfelves not to be true Chriftians, and of course not entitled to the benefit of any encou ragement or promife. Or if the minister difplays fome fcriptural example of the mercy of God to a grievous offender; they fail not to affure themselves that mercy will be equally extended to them. But they paid little regard to the proofs of true re pentance which the minifter had alfo detailed as manifefted by that offender: proofs which on due investigation they would have difcovered to be wanting in themfelves, and would confèquently have been conftrained to perceive that in their existing flate of heart they could have no reason. able hope of mercy. To apply fermons thus partially, thus unwarrantably, is but to blind your confcience and to harden yourfelf in fin.

Fourthly;

Fourthly; Reflect that circumstances apparently small and casual seem not seldom to be selected by Him, who can crush the globe with an atom, to accomplish momentous ends. To how many finners has an individual fermon been made, as it were, the hinge of converfion, the turning point between life and death! Did you withhold your attention from the laft fermon at which you were present? How know you but in that fermon was contained an elucidation of fome important doctrine which you mifconceive; a fcriptural example of virtue most needful for your inftruction; a fcriptural denunciation of vengeance against your own befetting fin? How know you but that to the absence of the chriftian armour which that discourse would have supplied, your fall under recent temptations is to be attributed? How know you but from the abfence of that armour, temptations even now impending over your head will derive their principal ftrength? But you have not merely precluded yourself from the advantage which you might have acquired. The neglect of that advantage is a fin for which you must render an account to God. Every opportunity which he affords you of imbibing inftruction in his holy temple, is a bleffing, for the improvement of which you * VOL. II. C

will

ment.

will stand refponfible at the day of judgeBeware left the preaching of his word, ordained by Him for your eternal good, prove, through your wilful difregard, the cause of an increase of your condemna

tion.

your

Fifthly; Let your attention during the delivery of fermons, and your fubfequent meditations on their import, be accompanied with a fervent defire that the Spirit of grace may incline foul unto knowledge. Whoever may plant, whoever may water, it is God who giveth the increase. To him raise your heart in prayer through the mediation of his Son Jefus. So fhall He enlighten you by his Holy Spirit to understand his law. So fhall he cause the good feed to take root in your bofom. So fhall he preferve you from the doom of the unfruitful hearer. So fhall he render you a doer of the law, bringing forth fruit unto perfection.

To conclude. Take heed, my brethren, hote Je bear. Look well to your hearts. Let the motives which bring you to this place be fuch as befit thofe who profefs to be athirft for inftruction and edification. Let your diligence in yielding faithful attention, and your fincerity in applying to yourselves the truths which you hear, be fuch as become