fulness. It is the pride of the understanding which has made so many infidels. They have been wise above what was written; and wiser in their own eyes, than men who could render a reason. Lean not to thine own understanding; but submit to be instructed by God. If reason were a sufficient guide, there would be no need of Revelation.

We should search the Scriptures wisely, and enter deeply into Divine Truth; but we should not view that as a mystery, which is plain to the meanest capacity. Some men, who have more wit than judgment, find mysteries in the most obvious passages of holy writ; but we should search out the real meaning of the Holy Ghost, and endeavour to understand the word in its plain grammatical sense. Spiritualizing, so called, frequently betrays great weakness of intellect. Some passages must be understood spiritually; but let us not imagine that the spiritual meaning is some far-fetched allegory. Most passages, in their plain, literal, grammatical sense, convey a spiritual meaning, and establish some spiritual truth. Search every part of the Scriptures. Go through all the books regularly. It is wrong to read only here and there a chapter, and here and there a verse. I would advise every one, that he may see the great design of the whole, to begin at the beginning, and go regularly through every book to the end. At least, we should read one book through, before another is begun. Thus we shall see all the designs of the Holy Ghost in this revelation, and the result will be a rational and comfortable view of the whole Bible.

Search the Scriptures frequently. Set apart a portion of time every day for this important work, and let no business hinder. When we set about any other business upon this plan, we generally succeed; and why not in reading the Scriptures? Surely the reading of this book is of greater moment than any other business. Let us never think the time lost which we spend in this way. We have read volume after volume of mere trash. Novels, plays, and romances, have destroyed many of our precious hours. Henceforth may the Bible be our delight!

Above all, search the Scriptures practically. Desire to learn, that thou mayest obey. When we reduce the word to practice and experience, it is "a light to" our "feet, and a lamp to" our "path." Ps. exix, 105. But to read practically, we must often stop and ask ourselves questions. For instance: I read, "Blessed are the meek;" and I ask myself, Am I meek? "Blessed are the merciful:" Am I merciful? "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart:" Do I love him with all my heart?

Thus, while we search the Scriptures, we feed upon them, and grow up in the life of God. They are a safe guide to a better state, and a comfort by the way. Let us teach them to our children; and may both they and our children's children, read, understand, and obey, the heavenly oracles.

"Blessed Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning; grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them; that by patience and comfort of thy holy word we may embrace, and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ." Amen.

SERMON XXXIX.

DIRECTIONS HOW TO HEAR SERMONS.

Take heed, therefore, how ye hear. LUKE viii, 18.

THE duties of religion, when improperly performed, are highly offensive to God. The duty of hearing the Gospel, is vastly important; but it is not much regarded, by the generality of men. Some persons seldom hear the the word; and others hear with careless indifference. They frequent the house of God, at the stated times of public worship; but do not hear as if they were accountable to him. Hence we see the necessity of urging the caution of our Lord, "Take heed how ye hear."

Observe, First, we should hear the word of God; and, Secondly, we should take heed how we hear.

I. WE SHOULD HEAR THE WORD OF GOD.

The place where we should hear, is a matter of minor importance; but we should hear in some place of worship, where God records his name. The best rule in this case, is, to attend that ministration of the word, which is most instructive and edifying.

But let us remember, whatever views we entertain of ministers, that it is a duty to hear the word of God. He has commanded holy men to preach the Gospel to every creature; and the duty of every creature to hear, is implied in the command to preach. And as God condescends to send his messengers to us, we are bound to hear them with due attention; for those who will not hear, pour contempt on him who sends the word. The Lord required the Jews to hear his prophets: And Jesus heard the word in the synagogues of Judea.

To hear the word is a high privilege. For, when it is faithfully preached, the ignorant are instructed; penitent mourners are comforted; true believers are edified; careless sinners are warned; poor backsliders are restored; practical religion is recommended; and God is honoured before the people. In short, by hearing the word, we are fully taught what is necessary to be known; we are warned against every thing that is hurtful; we are directed to every thing that is good; and we are encouraged to hope for a blessed immortality.

II. WE SHOULD TAKE HEED HOW WE HEAR.

That we may hear profitably, we should prepare our minds beforehand; not daring to run into the presence of God, as the giddy multitude to a play, or other places of amusement. Lay aside every temporal concern, and leave the business of the world behind. Enter your closets, and pray for the blessing of God upon yourselves, your ministers, and your fellow-worshippers. He who goes from his closet to the house of God, is sure to obtain a blessing.

The mind of every hearer should be divested of prejudice. Prejudice

against either the place, the minister, the people, the doctrine, or the mode, of worship, will be sure to hinder us of a blessing. Conquer this vile disposition, and hear with candour. Be open to conviction; and think charitably of all who differ from thyself in opinion. Thus thou wilt be prepared for a comfortable reception of the truth, and for a firm rejection of error.

Hear attentively. When God speaks either by a prophet or by any ordinary messenger, the people should be attentive. The matter of which sermons are composed is, in general, important, and demands attention. Recollect, the sermon which you now hear, may be the last that you shall ever hear. Recollect also, that you are to give an account for every sermon you hear, to the Judge of quick and dead. Attention strengthens the memory; and those sermons which are heard attentively, are not soon forgotten. That you may be attentive, feel a deep interest in what you hear. If a will be read, in which we are concerned, how attentively we hear!

Hear for yourselves. Some hear only for their neighbours. When a striking remark is made, we think, This will suit such a one. How commonly do we hear people say, 'I thought of such a one while the preacher was preaching. And didst thou forget thyself? Hadst thou no interest in the word? Was there no part suitable to thy case?

As the word of God is a blessing, it should be heard with thankfulness. Surely it is a blessing to sit under the joyful sound. How many there are who never heard the word! How many there are who are hindered by sickness! Bless God, then, for every sermon. Thankfulness for the word will bring thee often under its sound; but if thou art not thankful, thou wilt neglect these precious opportunities.

Mix faith with hearing. It is said of the Israelites in the wilderness, "The word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard." Heb. iv, 2. We are not bound to believe every thing that a preacher may advance, for all men now living are fallible; but when he advances nothing but what is agreeable to the Scriptures, we should believe him, that we may profit by the word. Faith in the commands which may be delivered, will lead us to obedience; faith in the promises will afford encouragement; and faith in the threatenings will inspire us with a sacred dread of offending.

Guard against curiosity in hearing. Some foolish people run all over the country to hear sermons. They admire great men; but perhaps have little love for practical religion. The messenger is exalted, but the message is neglected. Men of solid piety always prefer useful preaching, and generally attend one place; but they do not deem it prudent to sit under an unconverted man, for he runs before he is sent, and cannot profit the people at all.

Be a constant hearer of God's word. Determine not to be hindered, either by business, company or weather, unless in extraordinary cases. Some, when exhorted to hear the word, reply, that they can read a good sermon at home. We do not deny this; but recollect, a sermon heard in the house of God, is often accompanied with the power of that Divine Spirit, who is in the midst of religious assemblies. In God's house we

are in God's way; at home we are in our own; so that it is better to hear even a poor sermon in the house of God, than to read a good one at home.

Hear the word devoutly. Pray to God, that he may give thee the hearing ear, and the understanding heart. Beg earnestly, that power may attend the word, and that it may be made a general blessing. Often lift up thy heart, in short ejaculations, for thyself and every one present. Be an humble hearer. We are all unworthy of the word. Some proud spirits come to hear, who hold the preacher, the people, and the word, in contempt. We sometimes boast that great men were in our assemblies, without considering what spirit they were of; how they despised us; or how they railed against us when they went away.

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Apply the word. The preacher must apply, with ardent zeal; but that will be of little use, unless the hearers apply for themselves. mons unapplied, like food undigested, do more harm than good. A bad digestion of our food, shows a want of bodily health; and a bad digestion of the word, shows a want of spiritual health.

After the sermon let us go away silently, enter into our closets, and pray for a sanctified use of what we have heard. It is shameful to hear the people begin to talk about common worldly affairs after the service is ended; nor is it less shameful, to see them lounge about the door of a place of worship, as if what they had heard were to be forgotten. Go thou, and reduce all to practice. Remember who hath said, "Blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it." Luke xi, 28.

These observations, carefully improved, will render the word both pleasing and profitable. Every time we attend the sacred ministry, we shall be wiser and better than we were before. Then we shall highly esteem all the ministers of Jesus; the end of the ministry will be answered; and God will be glorified. Amen.

SERMON XL.

PERSEVERANCE IN PRAYER.

Pray without ceasing. 1 THESSALONIANS V, 17.

PRAYER to Almighty God, is a sacred duty, and a privilege of inestimable value. The man who neglects it, cannot live a religious life; for the body may as easily live without breath, as the soul without prayer. Prayer is the breath of the soul; and when we cease to breathe after God, we cease to live to him. Let us, then, "pray without ceasing." Two things are clearly taught in this passage: First, we should pray⚫ and, Secondly, we should pray without ceasing.

I. WE SHOULD PRAY.

Let us make a few general observations upon prayer.

Prayer should be addressed to God, who is the fountain of all good. Whatever we want, whether it relate to this world, or that which is to come, we should humbly ask at his bountiful hands. While heathens pray to idols, and deluded Papists to departed saints, let us pray to God, who is our Father, and the Father of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

We should pray in the name of Jesus. God will not suffer us to approach him in our own name. "I am the way," saith Christ, "and the truth and the life. No man cometh unto the Father but by me." John xiv, 6. Prayer offered up in the name of Jesus is successful. "Verily, Verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you." John xvi, 23. How encouraging! How many hinder themselves of a blessing, by neglecting to pray in the name of our adorable Lord!

When we consider the vast distance there is between us and God, it will appear necessary to pray with humility. We address a Being whom angels worship with reverence, and before whom they fall on their faces, as a token of deep humility. When Abraham prayed unto the Lord, upon the plains of Mamre, he said, "I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes." Gen. xviii, 27. The deeper we sink in humility, the higher we rise in the esteem of God.

All prayer should be offered up in faith. We are expressly commanded to "ask in faith," and "the prayer of faith shall save the sick." James v, 15. To pray in faith, implies a firm belief that God will both hear and answer our prayer; and this belief is founded on a persuasion, that we pray according to the Divine will. Hence, we must pray only for lawful things: For how can we offer up prayer in faith, when we ask for things which are not lawful?

Fervency is necessary in prayer. When our affections are languid, devotion loses its spirit, and degenerates into a worthless form. Christ directs us to be importunate in this solemn duty. This will appear highly necessary, when we consider, that, unless we are importunate, we cannot be in earnest; nor do we see the value and importance of the things for which we pray. Therefore, that we may feel our wants, God requires us to be in earnest.

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But our fervour in prayer should always be accompanied with submisWe should submit to the time when God may please to bless; and when he does not see it fit to answer our prayer at all, we should submit. For sometimes we want a blessing now, which may fit for us at another time: And sometimes our prayers, though lawful and necessary in our own judgment, may not appear so to infinite wisdom. Submission in prayer is founded upon a persuasion, that God knows better than we do, both when to bless, and what will prove a real blessing. O, leave all to him; for he doeth all things well!

When we engage in prayer, we should seek the aids of the Holy Spirit. He helps the infirmities of good men. The apostle Jude recommends "praying in the Holy Ghost." Jude 20. Prayer, without the divine influence of the Spirit, is cold and formal but, under his