Mar. 9.25 then hearing the Word and shouldest thou be possessed with a deafe divell Homer As it was Vlysses his chiefest care for his owne preservation to deprive Polyphemus of his eye-sight so is it Satans to deprive thee both of seeing and hearing at Church Mat. 26.43 for thy destruction As Christ came the second and third time and found his Disciples asleepe So when shall one observe thee but asleepe at Church Pro. 29 1 Hee that being often reproved hardeneth his necke shall suddenly be destroyed and that without remedie saith Salomon And hast not thou beene often reproved for this fault and yet art never the better Deut. 32 1. As both Moses and the Prophets directed their speech Isa 1.2 unto the heavens earth and mountaines so might wee well doe considering the generall drowsinesse which hath taken hold on most men and women As the Prophet of old Isa 53.1 Who hath beleeved so may wee now who hath heard our report How many like the dormouse sleepe all Winter that it may live the better in Summer So doe they sleepe at Church that they may wake about their worldly businesses Eras Apophth Alexander the Great knew himselfe to bee a man by sleepe so maist thou know thy selfe to bee a sinfull man by sleeping at Church What a shame is it Heb. 5.12 that when for the time yee ought to bee Teachers yee have need that one teach you againe which bee the first Principles of the Oracles of God and are become such as have need of milke and not of strong meat What is the reason Prompt sap reformat pag. 456. how commeth this to passe after so many Sermons Even because yee are dull of hearing either heare not at all or to no purpose 7. Which when the Sermon is done will not sticke to cut the points delivered into question and dispute about the same themselves notwithstanding for the most part having beene asleepe thereat or when they are come from Church will commend the Preacher and his Sermon telling how zealous how learned how eloquent it was c. when as haply they heare but a little thereof Thou commendest it It is well so may a sick person commend a physitian whose Physick hee never tried but what profit hast thou gained thereby what fruit hath it produced on thee If none thou wert no otherwise an hearer but in imagination Sect. 2. Exhortation to Preachers Vse of exhortation unto Preachers People Preachers Be wee carefull as well to prevent this evill as to remove it when it seazeth on our Auditors Iam. 2. â— As wee are not to have the faith of our Lord Iesus Christ the Lord of glory with respect of persons So let not our Sermons bee with respect of persons but so study and so preach at all times that thereby wee may enforce hearing eares and the eyes of all may be set on us Lift wee up our voyces like trumpets especially when we shall observe our people drowsie So shall wee nill they will they rowse them up Endevour wee also that our Auditors may truly love us as children their parents for where the man is despised how is it possible that his doctrine should bee regarded which they will doe through our love of them and their soules salvation Whatsoever may bring our ministry into contempt be wee carefull to avoid being assured that such as shall loath our doctrine though haply they come to Church that thereby they may avoid the danger of the law will rather set themselves to sleepe then give eare thereunto Such indeed will take exceptions at our doctrine as being either too harsh or too mild too vehement or too cold at our utterance as being either too slow or too quicke at our voice as either being too high or too low and at our conversation as being either too loose or too austere but wee must not be discouraged But why should I offer to instruct you both knowing what you should doe and doing what you know People People When thou commest unto Gods house Prov. 6.4 give not sleepe unto thine eyes nor slumber unto thine eye-lids 2 Chro. 23.6 Here must thou keepe the watch of the Lord yea lest sleepe should assault thee to thy prejudice thou must set a watch against the same as the Israelites did against Sanballat and Tobijah Neh. 4.9 Psal 123 2â— Behold as the eyes of servants looke unto the hand of their masters and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistresse So here especially should our eares and eyes wait upon the Lord our God If thou sleepest at Church thou shalt assuredly find that Gods judgements sleepe not yea Rev. 3.3 if thou shalt not watch hee will come on thee as a thiefe wee are all children of the light and children of the day wee are not of the night 1 Thes 5.5 Eph. 5.14 nor of darknesse therefore let us not sleepe as doe others but let us watch Sleepest thou Oh! awake thou that sleepest Psal 145.15 The eyes of all wait on the Lord oh let thine also wait on him Pro. 20.13 love not sleepe lest thou come to poverty sleepe not at Church lest thou be poore in grace Gen. 15.11 As Abraham drave away the fowles from his sacrifice so must thou drowsinesse or what else may bring thee to sleepe at Church Awake here Pro. 6.22 as thou wouldst have the Word to keepe thee when thou sleepest else-where Didst thou consider how Satan hath intangled thee from which thou canst not be loosed but by the Word thou wouldest not give sleepe to thine eyes Prov. 6.4 5. nor slumber to thine eye-lids Verse 6 till by hearing the Word thou wert delivered as a Roe from the hunter and as a bird from the hand of the fowler Goe to the Ant thou sluggard consider her wayes and bee wise The sleepe of a labouring man is sweet whether hee eate little Eccles 5.12 or much but such will not bee thine at Church Act. 16.14 Lydia heard attentively and profited wonderfully for hearing is the sense of learning so if thou wouldst learne thou must needs heare Here especially let not thine eye bee satisfied with seeing nor thine eare with hearing Eccles 1.8 Yea attention being the forerunner which prepareth the way to the Preacher as the plough-share cutteth up the ground that it may receive the seed doe thou carefully attend unto the Word preached neither let Satan who labours either to stay thee from comming to Church or comming from hearing or hearing from marking or marking from liking or liking from practising prevaile against thee either way Iam. 4.7 Ionah 1.5 Resist him and hee will flie from thee Jonah was fast asleepe when the boat was ready to perish assuredly now there is no time for us to sleepe considering Gods judgements hanging over our heads The Prophet said of Baal King 18. â—7 unto Baals Priests by way of ironie peradventure hee sleepeth I would that touching us there were a peradventure and not rather Turkish hist pag. 654. He was murthered sleeping because Solyman whilst he was in favour had sworne to him that hee would never kill him whilst hee lived whom now being asleepe he did repute as dead and so caused him to bee murthered that wee doe indeed sleepe at Church and as Baal doe not heare at all Abraham the Turkish Basha would not have so carelesly laid himselfe downe to slumber if hee had knowne that then the angry Sultan would inflict on him the fury of his wrath to his destruction and thou wouldst not at Church if thou didst conceive that the Lord would then cut thee off by his destroying angell What meanes doth not the Lord use to awake us mercies judgements promises and what not Oh that some of them or all of them would awake us throughly Thou hast heretofore slept at Church but haply as Sampson forgot be like Iudg. 16.19 that the Philistins had once and againe bound him whilst hee was asleepe and so still ventured on Dalilah to his destruction thou hast not taken notice of the hurt which hath come through the same Hadst thou remembred it thou wouldst bee more vigilant whereunto also if thou wouldst consider thine heavy constitution and drowsie disposition thou couldst not but be stirred up The Disciples said of Lazarus Ioh. 11.12 If hee sleepe hee shall doe well But contrarily if thou sleepest at Church thou shalt doe ill Christ would awake thee Christ calleth upon thee doe thou therefore awake and heare lest as unto his Disciples hee say unto thee in justice Sleepe on now Eccles 8.16 There is that neither day nor night seeth sleepe with his eyes saith the Preacher So let it so may it bee said of thee whilst thou art at Church Mar. 14.38 The Spirit truly is ready but the flesh is weake watch yee therefore and pray lest yee enter into temptation And what I say unto you Mar. 13.37 I say unto all in one word of our Saviour Watch. FINIS
unto this then unto any other Hee that is sloathfull cannot but sleepe wheresoever he is Neither the feare of danger nor hope of reward will keepe him awake Languido sumus ingenio in somnum ituro Senec. de Provid cap. 5. wee are all naturally of a very dull and drowsie disposition by reason of that lumpish flesh of ours that abideth much even in the best by meanes whereof it commeth to passe that wee doe often-times sleepe and slumber be we never so carefull and diligent much more being sloathfull As it is with drowsie persons if they sit still and doe nothing they will soone fall asleepe so if we give our selves over to slothfulnesse wee shall soone be overtaken with this dismall sleepe 2. Through carelesnesse or want of attention when the mind is not set on its right object the preaching and reading of the Word but roveth on by-matters neither are the eyes fixed on the Preacher but walke hither and thither then is it no wonder but that sleepe by degrees creepeth on Therefore have we caveats and warnings propounded Rev. 2.7 Hee that hath eares to heare let him heare Take heed how yee heare Mar. 4.24 Jam. 1.19 Be swift to heare and the like 3. Through intemperancie When the stomacke is full how can the eyes bee but heavy Thereby the senses are so oppressed that during the same they cannot execute their office and experience sheweth that wee doe oftener and more readily sleepe at Church in the afternoone then in the forenoone Yea if this shutteth out the Spirit according to that of the Apostle Eph. 5.18 2 Pet. 2.5 Gen. 9.21 2 Pet. 2.8 and be not drunke with wine wherein is excesse but be filled with the Spirit made Noah a Preacher of righteousnesse discover his nakednesse occasioned just Lot who dwelling among the Sodomites Gen. 19.33 34 c. in seeing and bearing vexed his righteous soule from day to day with their unlawfull deeds in beastly manner to abuse himselfe by filthy incest with those that came out of his owne loynes and through the same the day of judgement shall take men at unawares as is implied in that of our Saviour Luk. 21.34 And take heed to your selves lest at any time your hearts bee over-charged with surfetting and drunkennesse and cares of this life and so that day come upon you unawares How can it but in like manner occasion this Ecclus. 31.20 Sound sleep saith the sonne of Sirach commeth of moderate eating but this for the most part of immoderate 4. Through hatred of the Preacher when wee cannot abide him as Ahab could not indure Micaiah when we are so affected towards him as the Iewes towards Paul and Steven will wee attentively heare what he delivereth Many indeed even thus affected afford the Preacher their bodily presence but like images having eyes they see not Psal 115.5 having eares they heare not or if they afford them their eyes and eares it is to a sinistrous end even that they may have some ground or other from his cariage or from what hee delivereth to bring him into trouble and molestation 5. Through disesteeme of the Word read or preached Too too many thinke that there is no more wisdome therein then their Teachers shew out of it which in their conceit being very small or none at all they neither watch thereat nor thereunto As no man cares for grace but hee that knowes its worth so none cares for the Word but hee that hath it in high esteeme for its unspeakeable excellencie Those prize it above thousands of gold and silver Psal 119.72.78.148 Psal 19.10 and unto them as unto David who meditated therein day and night it is sweeter then the honey and the honey combe They that have drunke of this water of life doe more and more thirst after it and as Peter being informed how necessarie it was that our Saviour should wash his feet said unto him Joh. 13.8 9. Lord not my feet onely but also my hands and my head rest not satisfied with sipping or tasting hereof 2 Sam. 23.15 but long as it were as David to drinke of the water of the well of Bethleem which is by the gate even to be drunke therewith Where this desire is there is watchfulnesse where it is wanting drowsinesse 6. Through disobedience unto the admonitions and reproofes of the Word when being admonished of our drowsinesse wee notwithstanding doe not amend but rather grow worse and worse as the people in the dayes of Ieremie Ier. 44.16 As for the word which thou hast spoken to us in the name of the Lord wee will not hearken unto thee When I say being againe and againe admonished wee notwithstanding amend not doe we not as it were through our obstinacie put out the light that wee may sleepe the more securely 7. Through shamelesnes When we become so impudent that though we be detected noted pointed at spoken of spoken against spoken to as common sleepers at Church and so consequently contemners of the Word yea and certainly informed that thereby we make our selves as gazing stocks or common objects of laughter yet having as it were an whores forehead wee are not ashamed but doe the more goe on in the same Of us may it be said Isa 3 9. The shew of their countenance doth witnesse against them and they declare their sinne as Sodome they hide it not Yea as drowsie sluggards which love to sleep how loath are we how unwilling to be awaked how froward how angry when wee are awaked 8. Through inconsideratnesse or want of consideration as well of the excellencie of the Word and necessity of hearing the same as of our owne pronenesse unto drowsinesse Satans endeavours to lull us asleepe and our owne weaknesse to resist the same Were wee affected with those wee could not but bee more watchfull 9. Through the want of Gods feare Gen. 20.11 As Abraham unto Abimelech enquiring of him why hee had said of Sarah that shee was his sister because I thought surely the feare of God is not in this place and they will slay me for my wives sake So may wee of Church-sleepers that wanting Gods feare they will make no conscience of sinne Yea Psal 36.1 2 3 4. as David layeth downe the want of Gods feare to be the ground of the ungodlies ungodly both workes words and thoughts so may wee nolesse confidently affirme that it is the ground of this wickednesse and as Salomon Prov. 1.7 The feare of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge so wee Iudg. 16.20 The want of it is the beginning of this particular follie Sampson not being afraid of the Philistims slept to the destruction of his body as too too many being voide of Gods feare sleepe at Church to the destruction both of soule and body 10. Through custome and willingnesse For when being come to Church and no sooner set but wee set our selves to sleepe
practise answerable 3. Werst thou not 〈◊〉 partiall judge thou mighteâ— truly and ingenuously confesseâ— that through the Word though out of the mouth of a weakâ— man by thee too much despised thy knowledge is daily bettered and augmented 4. Though thou knowest much yet by the Word thou maiâ—â— learne to know more which the Word knoweth of thee namely that thou knowest nothing yet as thou oughtest tâ— know VII It is such as whereâ—â— I have not profited all thâ— while though I have beene an hearer thereof these many yeares yea and have beene so watchfull as that J have not given leave unto mine eyes to sleepe nor my eye-lids to slumber thereat I am no lesse sinfull then before no lesse coveâ—ous malicious lascivious and the like A. A. The woman with â—he bloody issue was diseased â—welve yeeres yet at the length â—ured Mat. 9.20 The woman which â—ad the spirit of infirmity for â—he space of 18. yeares Luk. 13.16 and was â—owed together and could in â—o wise lift up her selfe yet â—as at the length loosed from â—â—er bonds Joh. 5.9 The man of the â—alsie was diseased for the â—pace of 38. yeares and yet at â—ength at Christs command and â—y his power rose tooke up â—is bed and walked The â—ind bloweth where it listeth â—nd thou hearest the sound â—hereof but canst not tell Joh. 3.8 â—hence it commeth and whither it goeth So is every one that is borne of the Spirit Abide an hearer waite Gods good leisure for assuredly if thou belongest to God thou shalt heare something at the length which will doe thee good Sect. 5. The persons reproving it The Persons reproving it I. They have little to doe that meddle herewith A. A. They are never out of their calling which would worke in thee a dislike of sinne and further thy salvation whether in this oâ— other particulars Some are enabled to encounter the greatest Every one may seeme sufficiently qualified to copâ— with this II. Such often-times as are most faultie herein doe most finâ— fault hereat A. A. Though their zeale against this sinne in thee doth not excuse or tolerate them thus to sinne yet art not thou thus to sinne because thy reprovers may be justly reproved for the same CHAP. VI. Remedies for the cure of this sleeping evill IT is observed that those grounds doe beare most corne and are freest from weeds which before they are sowne are duly prepared and after the seed is sowne are carefully harrowed What is to be done to avoid Church-sleeping well fenced in and diligently looked unto So those which would profit by the Word and be free from this drowsie disease must both before they come to Church when they are come to Church and when they are returned home set themselves on worke Sect. 1. Before we come to Church Before wee come to Curch we must 1. Take notice of Gods great goodnesse towards us in affording his Word unto us the same being so needfull as Without which our condition could not bee but indeed miserable the same being so profitable Amos 8.11 Rev. 2.5 as that no greater judgement can befall a land then the removall thereof therefrom no greater happinesse then its continuance 2. Examine our owne hearts throughly for what cause and to what end it is that wee goe to Church as whether it be not more for feare then love out of custome then conscience to see and to bee seene then in obedience unto Gods Commandement This is to ponder the path of our feet Prov. 4.26 Prov. 14.15 and surely the prudent man looketh well to his going 3. Observe our naturall constitution and by what meanes it commeth to passe that sleepe at Church seazeth upon us as whether it comes not through long waking excessive eating and drinking Gen. 22.5 distracting cares of the world for as Abraham when hee went to sacrifice his sonne upon the Mount left his asse and servants at the foot of the hill So when we come to the holy hill of God with the Congregation wee must abandon all by businesses prejudice against the person of the Teacher Pride for some measure of knowledge received Amputemus causas morbi ut morbus pariter auferatur Hier. carnall securitie or the like for the cause being knowne and taken away the effect will of it selfe cease Upon this discovery will ensue an holy jealousie whereby we shall be made so wary as that wee shall not trust our selves but use meanes â—o prevent this evill for as they that know themselves to have a weake stomacke are very chary of their diet so hee that is suspicious of himselfe and jealous of his owne drowsinesse and pronenesse thereto will bee carefull to avoid the same And as they that have gun-powder in their houses are carefull that fire come not neere it so finding our corruption as gun-powder and the forementioned causes of drowsinesse as fire wee shall endevour that they may not meet together yea hereupon if wee shall at any time be stirred up to a dislike of the Teacher to an admiration of our owne knowledge and the like wee shall thus argue If I shall give way unto this suggestion then will sleepe seaze on mee then shall I lose the benefit of the Word c. 4. Rom. 12.9 Labour for a true hatred and detestation of this sinne Never shall wee closely cleavâ— unto that which is good till wâ— have brought our hearts to detest and abhorre that which is evill were this throughly wrought there needed no rhetoricke to disswade us from Church-sleeping 1 Sam. 13.16 As Amnon loathing Thamar thrust her out of doores Pro. 8.13 so it being the feare of God to hate evill would we drive it away And as a man cannot indure the sent or savour of the meate which he loatheth our very hearts would rise against the same 5. Hunger after the Word Bodily hunger may occasion sleepe or sleepe may seaze even on the hungry according to the Proverb Vulpiesurienti somnus obrepit Eras chil Sleepe commeth upon the hungry fox but this hunger driveth away sleepe for as the stomacke hungering for meat cannot bee contented without it so neither can our soules without the Word being once taken with an earnest desire thereof 2 Sam. 23.15 Great was Davids longing for a little water of the Well of Bethleem Oh! saith he that one would give mee drinke of the water of the Well of Bethleem which is by the gate but much more vehement was it for the Word Psal 42.2 My soule saith he thirsteth for God for the living God when shall I come and appeare before God Psal 84.2 And againe My soule longeth yea even fainteth for the courts of the Lord. Assuredly had David had leave at this time to have come to the hearing of the Word he would not have slept thereat And who will not hunger after the Word if hee doe but 1.
By what meanes an hunger after the Word may be wrought in us Take a tast thereof in private by reading and meditation Hereby the soule cannot but get much both instruction and consolation 2. Consider the excellencie necessity and utilitie of the same whereof I have already spoken at large Psal 19.10 Prov. 3.15 and 8.10 and wereof both David and Salomon did make so much account that they esteemed it above gold silver rubies and what not 6. Resolve to attend unto and make conscience of the sacred ordinance of preashing there delivered as Job Job 31.1 J have made a covenant with my eyes why then should I thinke upon a maide So doe we make a covenant as with our eares to heare so with our eyes not to sleepe at Church Such was Davids religious care for the Arke Psal 132.4 that hee would not give sleepe to his eyes nor slumber to his eye-lids untill he found out a place for the Lord and habitation for the mighty God of Jacob And such must ours bee at the Word if wee would have any communion with God in that sacred ordinance Jacob being Labans shepheard Gen. 31.40 and making conscience of his duty his sleepe by night departed from his eyes and assuredly so would sleepe depart from ours especially by day if we made conscience of hearing the Word 7. Vse the creatures sparingly both sleepe for what is said of drinking water may be said of this Quo plùs sunt potae plùs sitiuntur aquae the more it is taken the more it is desired and meate and drinke for when men have over-liberally eate and drunke they are wont to bee heavie and drowsie ready to slumber as they sit fit for nothing but for sleepe Such excesse as it is a meanes even to drowne the mind and by casting reason and understanding into a deepe and deadly sleepe to make men unable to watch against the motions of sinne to shut the doore of the heart against all vertues and to set it open to all vices so much more stupifieth it the body contrarily 1 Thes 5.6 Sobrietie is an especiall helpe to vigilancie 1 Pet. 47. which therefore the Apostles are usually wont to joyne together 8. Consider whither wee are going before whom to what end and who wee are To Gods house into the presence of the God of heaven to bee made partakers of the Word for the good of our soules wee being as of our selves of all others the most unworthy 9. Pray as for the Preacher that his lips may preserve knowlede Mal. 2.7 he may be faithfull in delivering the whole Counsell of God unto us Act. 20.27 and hee may powerfully and wisely speake to our consciences Rom. 1.16 and the Word read or preached that it may bee unto us the power of God unto our salvation 2 Cor â—2 16 the savour of life unto life and as good seed sowne in a good ground so for our selves and others that our eares may be attentive our eyes fixed on the Preacher our mindes bee opened to understand and our hearts and affections sanctified to obey the holy Word Ob. Ob. I cannot possibly spare so much time from my Calling as to thinke on these things or be thus prepared A. Sol. 1. As our Saviour unto Martha Martha Martha thou art carefull Luk. 10 41 4â— and troubled about many things but one thing is needfull and Mary hath chosen that good part which shall not bee taken away from her so may I unto thee The soule is to bee preferred unto the body and thou art more carefull of this then that 2. Bodily exercise profiteth little but godlinesse is profitable unto all things having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come 3. Seeke ye first the kingdome of God 1 Tim. 4.8 and his righteousnesse and all these things shall bee added unto you 4. Even in the doing of the workes of our Calling wee may both meditate pray resolve c. and so that bee no let to this Wee omit not our bodily recreation notwithstanding the workes of our calling and why should wethis 6. Wee take time to finne and why should wee not take time to prevent sinne Sect. 2. When wee come to Church When wee come to Church wee must In Generall In generall 1. Take heed unto our affections which the Preacher signifieth by these words Keepe thy foot when thou goest to the house of God Eccles 5.1 and be more ready to heare then to give the sacrifice of fooles 2. Get our eyes to bee anointed with eye-salve that we may see Rev. 3.18 and our eares open that wee may heare Remembring that as God hath bestowed upon us eyes and eares so when wee are come into his house both must be set on worke As our eyes must bee seeing so must our eares bee hearing and obedient as we our selves swift to beare Iam. 1.19 to this purpose is that so often reiterated phrase Hee that hath eares to heare Mat. 11.15 let him heare Yea as it is usuall for one that is drowsie to wash and rub his eyes or that feeleth any impediments in his eares to picke them so when wee perceive drowsinesse to creepe on us at Church wee must then rouse up our selves 3. Bee possessed with Gods feare Isa 66.2 1 Sam. 4.13 that wee may tremble at the Word As Eli whilst hee sate on a stooleby the way side watched because his heart trembled for the Arke of God So if when wee are at Church our hearts shall tremble in respect of our present danger through Satan wee shall be kept waking Dan. 2.1 Nebuchadnezzar being troubled his sleepe went from him so were wee troubled for sinne or did stand in awe of god because of the same it would not fall on us Griefe and sorrow occasion sleepe Luk. 22.44 Vigilabis si timebis August Timor domini janitor animi Ber. formido facit solicitudinem Ter. Psal 4.4 Pro. 16.6 but feare and care make vigilant and watchfull This is as a Porter set at the doore of our soule and will also keepe our eyes waking There is no affection more watchfull then this Stand in awe and sinne not yea as by this men depart from evill so shall wee through it from this of sleeping at Church This being kept fresh in our hearts will make us carefull to shunne and fearefull to doe ought that may offend him whom we feare In feare of invasion men are wont to keepe due watch and ward but when there is no such danger misdoubted like the men of Lachish Iudg. 18.7 they are the more carelesse and secure and thereupon are often upon the sudden oppressed At the hearing of the Word wee are at all times in danger of the assaults of Satan there is then neither time nor place to sleepe thereat The Crane which is by the rest appointed for Sentinell