the time in criticism, curious remarks, and the like, when we should be eagerly listening to the message, following its directions, and embracing its blessings?

Take heed of INATTENTION. There is often a dulness of hearing very prejudicial to all success in attending upon the ministry. It was the case with the Jews of old. Hear, says Isaiah, ye deaf, and look, ye blind, that ye may see; and St. Paul, in the Epistle to the Hebrews, notices the same thing-Ye are dull of hearing, for when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again, which be the first principles of the oracles of God. Heb. v, 11. Such are not dull as to temporal things; but of spiritual things they say, what a weariness is it! Mal. i, 18. They have similar feelings to those who asked, When will the new moon be gone? that we may sell corn; and the sabbath? that we may set forth wheat? Amos viii, 5. It is observed by Cradock, that "A minister may have a great congregation, and yet but few hearers, if their minds be stuffed with the world before they come; if they bring their trades, their bargains, their plough, their worldly business along with them. David says of idols, They have ears, but hear not. We have too many such idols in our congregations." Some are asleep, even when they have no bodily infirmity to plead what a dishonour do they put on religion! what an infectious and evit example to others! what contempt of the presence of God! The Bible records one instance in which drowsiness had nearly been followed by irrecoverable death, to be as it were a warning to all sleepers. When Paul was preaching at Troas, and continued his speech until midnight, there sat in the window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep; and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and

fell from the third loft, and was taken up dead. There seemed some excuse for drowsiness at so late an hour, and during so long a discourse; but the record seems left not merely to evidence the divine power in his restoration to life, but also to be a caution against that which brought him into danger. While every allowance should be made for natural weakness and infirmi ties, which disable some from that attention which they desire to give, and which it is their grief and burden that they cannot give; while we would give to such every advantage of our Lord's kind remark, the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak; yet such should remember his question-What! could ye not watch with me one hour? And here much might be done, by moderation in food, or by taking a short rest at home previously, or perhaps by standing up part of the time. But there are those who, though they have no natural infirmity, seem, as soon as the sermon commences, to compose themselves as if they designed to sleep through

O let such remember the majesty and dignity of the great Jehovah in whose house they are assembled ! How can they receive a message from him, or obtain the gifts of his Spirit, or the riches of his grace, in such a drowsy state of mind! Some manifestly attend so carelessly and negligently, that what is preached, can hardly be profitably received by them. If they are not thinking of something else, they yet think no longer of what they hear, than while the words are sounding in their ears. Let these things be felt and mourned; let them discover your alienation from God, your ruin and depravity, and thus lead you to be earnest in seeking divine grace. Attention is absolutely needful to profitable hearing; just as while the mouth of the vessel is closed, it is in vain that we attempt to fill it,

by pouring any liquid upon it; so inattention effectually closes the ear and prevents the reception of knowledge, however abundant the instruction given may be! Lose not all your labour and time in coming to hear. When Samuel attends to God's voice, and says, Speak, for thy servant heareth, then he receives the revelation of the divine will. 1 Sam. iii, 1-14. In the time of Nehemiah, on the revival of religion, it is said, that the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law. Nehem. viii, 3. And so in the time of our Lord it is said, all the people were very attentive to hear him; ɛɛngɛμXTO, hanged on him, as it is in the margin.) Luke xix, 48. Do you wish to be preserved from inattention? remember the importance of hearing, and the danger of negligence. It helps attention to look at the minister, and is an indication of it; the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue, were fastened on our Lord, when they were eagerly interested. Luke iv, 20. Remember also, that the spirit of attention comes freely from God our gracious Father: The Lord opened Lydia's heart, that she attended to the things which were spoken of Paul. Acts xvi, 4. "The Lord turns away the eye and ear of sinners from seeing or hearing vanity, causes his voice to be heard, cures the spirit of slumber, and awakens out of sleep, that he may give light and life."

Take heed of PREJUDICES. Some come to hear with their minds filled with their own notions. They have adopted high doctrinal views, and cannot bear to have practice insisted upon; or, on the other hand, they dislike to have the doctrines of the Gospel prominently brought forward, and had rather hear moral' disquisitions on the excellence of virtue, which never trouble the conscience, nor renew the heart. They have an undue partiality for or against particular

individuals. Prejudices may arise from various causes, from education, the opinion of others, early associations, and the like. But the love of sin, and the want of a holy submission to the mind and will of God, are the principal causes. Prejudices may be taken up against the very best of ministers. Jeremiah had to complain in his day, (Jer. vi, 10.) To whom shall I speak and give warning that they may hear! Behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken! behold, the word of the Lord is to them a reproach, and they have no delight in it! The Jews were prejudiced against our Lord Jesus Christ. They were offended with him on account of the meanness of his birth, (Matt. xiii,57.) and therefore he could neither do any mighty works, nor preach the Gospel among them. Often on this account they rejected his words. We have a remarkable instance of this, Luke iv, 16-30. Every thing seemed hopeful and promising in the commencement of that discourse; the subject was full of consolation ; they were deeply interested, (ver. 20.) they all bare him witness, and' wondered at his gracious words; and then Satan injects a prejudice, Is not this Joseph's son? Our Lord meets the prejudice by appealing to sentiments common among themselves, and to the history of their fathers; but still, so powerful was the stream of prejudice, that the very means employed to abate it, only swelled it the more; and though our Lord was the preacher, all they in the synagogue were filled with such wrath, that they sought to destroy the Lord himself. Thus they rejected his Gospel, and perhaps perished for ever. There is a great difference between being cut to the heart, (Acts vii, 54.) and being pricked in the heart. Acts ii, 37. O let us guard against those prejudices which may ruin, and cultivate that broken and

tender spirit which will ever advance our eternal interests. Prejudice is sometimes marked by strong partialities in little things. The Jews were more willing to hear Paul in the Hebrew tongue; but when he had once mentioned his being sent to the Gentiles, their indignation was so excited, they refused to hear a word more. The angry Pharisees were quieted by his saying that he was a Pharisee. Acts xxiii. While the preacher speaks agreeably to the hearers' own opinion, they will attend, bat will not regard him farther. O what self-conceit, and self-ignorance and folly, is there in this! They expect the preacher should not preach simply the truth, but what will please them. Thus it was that Balak sent for Balaam. Numb. xxiv, 10, 11. They wish him to bless and curse, not as the truth is, but according to their prejudices. But there are those on the other hand, who place such implicit confidence in the words of their teacher, as to receive every thing on his credit, without examination or reflection. This is making man their confidence, instead of the divine word. plain, practical, self-condemning, and heart-exposing instructions which they receive, offend and prejudice some, so that they cannot bear to hear. What a contrast to this was the spirit of Eli, who, looking beyond the instrument of conveying the distasteful and painful truths which he heard, fixed his eye on the great Governor of all, and humbling himself under the conviction of his own just deservings, cried out, It is the Lord, let him do what seemeth him good! 1 Sam. iii, 18. It is the gracious office of the Holy Spirit to remove prejudices from the mind, and therefore the Apostle prays, that the Epehsians might have given to them the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ, the eyes of their understanding being enlightened.

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