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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A93753 A sermon on 2 Cor. 2. XI. Stafford, Richard, 1663-1703. 1698 (1698) Wing S5131B; ESTC R42862 27,033 33

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before hearing and in the midst of hearing so he doth hinder after hearing When they have heard Satan cometh immediately and taketh away the Word that was sown in their hearts Mark 4. 15. As he doth by your falling to worldly talk or business presently afterwards Which is just like going from a good fire into the cold open Air in the Winter time They do not long retain the heat of the fire but they are again as chilly and as cold as ever And so when some have been warmed and heated at this ordinance of hearing the word they are presently Lukewarm or stark cold again Satan cometh immediately and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts When they only pass their Opinions Censures and Verdict upon the Preacher as if there was no more in a Sermon then to just sit it out pass their sentiments upon it afterwards and there is an End How many of the common People will give such a general Report that good things were spoken off and it was all very good and the like but they cannot remember and carry away distinctly not so much as one good thing which was therein spoken of Whereas if the very same Persons were at the hearing a Play Ballad News or Story concerning their Neighbours they could bring away the sence of that The heart of such People is just like a sieve which lets through the Pure Solid and Substantial Grain and they retain nothing but a little dust or chaff A●d so on the other hand when they find fault with or dislike a Sermon It is general again I do not like because I do not like it But they cannot assign any particular Reason thereof or if they can it is such a Reason that they are ashamed to own and speak out because perhaps their Consciences were touched to the quick by that Word which is Quick and Powerful sharper then any two Edged Sword Piercing even to the dividing asunder of Soul and Spirit and of the Joynts and Marrow and it is a discerner of the Thoughts and Intents of the heart But Sinners and Hypocrites and formal Christians do not like such kind of Sermons As Paul saith of himself Since ye seek a Proof of Christ speaking in me 2 Cor. 13. 3. And so he writes unto Timothy Make full Proof of thy Ministry 2 Tim. 4. 5. So I would to God that ye my hearers may find the Proof of my Ministry in your selves if this same Ministry to you ward is not weak but mighty in you Judge ye in your selves if at this my speaking and proposing it unto ye it hath a sensible operation and working upon your Hearts and Consciences this is a Proof and an Evidence and a Demonstration that I am inwardly ordained and appointed and sent by God for the work of the Ministry Tho' some as tho' living in the World are Subject unto Ordinances Col. 2. 20. Have several times objected to me that I do not come in regularly after the Law of a Carnal Commandment which doth impose and require several things of Mans devising which God and Christ have not required in their Gospel And therefore it would be sin or doubt of mind in me to comply therewith If such would come to hear they would perhaps find a Proof of Christ speaking in me and that is sufficient to qualify any one for a Minister of the Gospel But as we are to give a Proof of our Ministry so I would willingly seek a Proof of my Ministry in ye This shall be the Proof my Ministry which I would seek of ye How much do ye remember of the several Sermons I have Preached unto ye But if ye have for the time past remembred but little I am afraid so I will now put ye in mind of a way that ye may remember more When thou comest home to thy Chamber or Closet then write down as much observable Truth as ever thou canst remember Truly this was my manner in my Youth I did seldom write after Ministers but in the time of my Youthly Zeal this I would do which same Youthly Zeal should be still retained and practised As when a Man hath been abroad receiving Money the first thing he doth after he comes home is to see that it be right and then he goes and locks it up sure So after I had been hearing a Sermon I would forthwith go to my Study and set down the Preachers Name upon such a Text such a D●y and the●e write down all the observable and useful Truth I could remember and particularly and especially such Truth which was brought new to my mind whereof I had not heard nor read much before And this I esteemed to be as well or rather a better way then writing down in the Congregation least whilst I was writing down some I should let slip other things that were then spoken of But after and amidst all there is nothing like unto Writing them in the fleshy Tables of our hearts and to get them Engraven into our inward Parts That it may remain and be remembred even as long as our selves shall remain even until words and time shall be no longer But his Mother kept all these sayings in her heart Luk. 2. 51. And so if ye can keep the true sayings of God in your hearts and not suffer them to pass through or slip out again Saith Jesus unto his Disciples and Hearers Let these sayings sink down into your Ears The entrance of thy words giveth Light and Vnderstanding to the simple Now put all this together where God hath given to any Creature or Minister of his a Knowledge of his Word and Assistance of his Spirit and he accordingly being instructed therein brings out of his Treasury things new and old when these are brought out and Preached forth if they have an Entrance sink down into their Ears and further They are kept and Pondered in the heart so kept there that it shall not go from them here is the comfort of our Labouring in the work of the Ministry as also the benefit of your hearing Can ye remember any good and true sayings or Gracious words that proceeded out of such a Ministers mouth This or that he spoke and taught whilst he was yet among us I would not require it of ye to remember my particular and exact words but it is altogether as well if ye carry away the sence and what it was I drived at or exhorted unto in such a Sermon as the drift and design of this my Sermon is if ye would make a continuing and persevering work of it Be not Ignorant of the Devices of Satan and do never give way unto them I say again If ye would make a continuing and persevering work of it Be not Ignorant of the Devices of Satan and especially Be not Ignorant of this one particular device of his Where the word is sown when they have heard Satan cometh immediately and taketh away the word that was