SERMON XII.

LUKE viii. 18.

Take Heed therefore how ye bear.

EVERY Advantage, bestowed on us by

Providence, is a Truft, of which we must hereafter give Account. The Advantages, which tend more immediately to our Improvement in Piety and Virtue, are a Trust of the most important Kind: and religious Inftruction holds a principal Rank amongst these. Its Nature is excellently fitted to do Men Good: the Grace of God is ever ready to accompany it: and yet very frequently it fails of its End. Doubtless too often this is our Fault, who are employed to dispense it. We do not preach, we do not live, as we fhould: may God be merciful to us and amend us for heavy will be our Condemnation, if we wilfully tranfgrefs, or fupinely neglect, either Part of our Duty. But the Word of God, even when delivered by unskilful

skilful and wicked Hands, hath Power enough to produce its Effect, if received as it ought: and though delivered by the ableft and best, too commonly, for Want of being fo received, produces none. Preachers of Righteousness, from the Days of Noah' to this, have found their Warnings in a great Meafure fruitlefs: Prophets, exprefsly commiffioned from Heaven, have been rejected or difregarded by thofe, to whom they were fent. Nay, the Son of God himself, as indeed his whole Hiftory, but especially his Parable in this Chapter fhews, met with many, in whose Hearts his Doctrine either gained no Reception, or foon withered away, or was choked with Thorns; for a few, who brought forth good Fruit, in a greater Degree or a lefs. And if it was needful for him, who pake as never Man did, who confirmed his Difcourfes by Miracles, and adorned both by a Life of perfect Holiness, to bid his Apostles themselves take Heed, how they heard: much more ought his Minifters now to give his People the fame Caution, and they to obferve it. You think, and very truly, that a great deal is incumbent on us: but do

a

2 Pet. ii. 5.

John vii. 46.

you

you confider, what is incumbent on yourselves? Our Reasons to defire that our preaching may be fuccessful, are very ftrong: but yours are yet ftronger. If we fail of converting you, provided we endeavour it faithfully, we have delivered our own Souls: but if you fail of being converted, you die in your Iniquity. The Gofpel is the Savour of Life or of Death, to all that hear it. Thofe, who are careful to improve by it, God will blefs with further Improvements: thofe, who are not, he will leave in his juft Judgement to grow worse and worfe: or, to speak the Language of our Saviour just after the Text: Whosoever bath, to him fhall be given: and whosoever hath not, from him fhall be taken even that which he feem-· eth to have.

Being therefore fo deeply concerned in the Matter, let us all confider, with what Dispofition of Heart we ought to receive religious Inftruction.

1. And, in the first Place, that we should hearken to it with Attention, is exceedingly plain: for elfe both speaking and hearing are loft Labour. And And yet how many are there, who vouchsafe not even fo much Regard to the Doctrine of Salvation? Decency perhaps brings

c Ezek. iii. 19. ̄ VOL. I.

S

d

2 Cor. ii. 16.

us

us hither and a Failure of making our Appearance might be remarked to our Difadvantage: but whether our Minds are absent, cannot be so easily obferved: and therefore about that, we are very indifferent. Or we come of Course, without reflecting, what End is defigned to be ferved by it: and, though our Confciences would not let us stay away, yet we have never bethought ourselves, that being here without any Care to become the wifer for it, amounts very nearly to the fame Thing. Most however have furely fome general Intention of minding what they are about: but in fo weak a Degree, that every Suggestion of every Kind overpowers it. Some fet their Hearts on the Affairs, and fome on the Pleafures of Life fo intirely, that these Objects croud in at the most improper Times, and drive out all others. Too many have indulged an indolent Thoughtleffnefs, till applying their Minds in earnest to any Thing is become extremely difficult and painful to them. Not a few are engaged fo deeply in Observation of what they fee at Church, that they have no Room left for taking Notice of what they hear. There are Perfons too, who have so much to fay one to another, that they lose, and make thofe around them lofe, much of what the Preacher