success. We are offended, and we cavil; we dislike, and we object to, the bread of life, after which we should hunger; and turn away with disgust from those waters after which we should thirst. How different the Bereans, who heard with all readiness! The late Mr. Richardson well observed on this point,-" Persons stirred up to serious thinking about their souls, who were before ignorant of God and themselves, and unacquainted with the real nature of every Christian doctrine and duty, must, as new born-babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that they may grow thereby. What I have heard called a spirit of hearing,' unavoidably attends the revival of practical religion in all places. They must, they will seek that light and instruction of which they feel the want. To obtain it, they will break through every barrier, and cast aside prejudices against Dissenters, Methodists, and unauthorised teachers of every sect and name. Like persons dying of hunger, or parched with thirst, they will be ready to swallow the most homely, disgusting, and unwholesome food, and greedily drink water out of the dirtiest ditch. The life of the soul can no more be maintained without spiritual food, than animal life without eating and drinking." The direction, Let every man be swift to hear, is full of importance, and indicative of that state of mind which God delights to bless. Here is the best preparation for a cordial reception of the truth. O that such a readiness to hear may be largely granted to all professing Christians, and be met by a wise and full declaration of the unsearchable riches of Christ from all the ministers of his word! We see a beautiful example of such readiness in Cornelius's family: and O that congregations of hearers could say as he said→→ Now are we all here present before God, to hear all things

www, and lift up taciz vodce like a trumpes: then, thes the people began to open the ear, and the heart, wich were fast shut, and barred before; how did they then hearken as for their lives, as if every sermon was their Inst, as if death stood at the door of the church, and womid seize upon them as soon as they came forth; as if the arrows which flew so thick in the city, would strike them, before they could get to their houses; as if they were immediately to appear before the bar of

that God, who by his ministers was now speaking to them? Great were the impressions which the word then made upon many hearts, beyond the power of man to effect, and beyond what the people before ever felt, as some of them have declared. When sin is reproved, O the tears that slide down from the eyes! when the judgments of God are denounced, O the tremblings which are upon the conscience! When the Lord Jesus Christ is made known and preferred, O the longings and openings of heart unto him! When the riches of the Gospel are displayed, and the promises of the covenant of grace are set forth and applied, O the inward burnings and sweet flames which were in the affections! I hope, not a few were born again: a strange moving there was on the hearts of multitudes in the city: and I am persuaded that many were brought effectually to close with Jesus Christ, whereof, some died by the plague with willingness and peace; and others remain steadfast in God's ways unto this day."

6. HEAR IN FAITH. The Israelites in the wilderness having no faith in God's word, lost the promised blessings. The word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. Heb. iv, 2. You would not dishonour your bosom friend, or a revered father, by distrusting his word; have then a generous confidence in God; have a sure conviction that he will not deceive you. All his threatenings must be fulfilled; all his promises shall be exactly accomplished. The precepts of the God of power, wisdom, and love, cannot fail, if obeyed, to make you happy. His invitations to you, to partake of his

* See Gillies' Historical Collections, vol. i, p. 220.

mercies, however rich, and full, and free those mercies O believe them, con

are, they are all made in truth.

Observe how chil

fide in them, and rely upon them. dren entirely trust their parents, and leave all consequences with them; and how the babe clings to its mother, and draws nourishment from her; so let us trust our far better, even our heavenly, parent; so let us cling to, and embrace our Saviour Jesus Christ, and receive our supplies from his inexhaustible fulness. When Christ is preached by the minister, faith should be so exercised by the hearer, that he should be ready to say, as the Eunuch did to Philip, I believe that Jesus is the Son of God. There are many hindrances to be overcome, in receiving and obeying the word of God; but faith will carry you above all difficulties and obstructions, and above the opposition and enmity of the world, and will quench the fiery darts of Satan our great enemy. When you hear, therefore, of the divine anger; believe and fear, lest you should endure that anger, and fly to him, who has delivered us from the wrath to come. When you hear his promises, believe them, be persuaded of them, and embrace them, and thus ensure to yourself an interest in them. "To hear and not believe," says Dr. Owen, "is in spiritual life, what to see meat and not to eat, is in the natural; it will please the fancy, but never nourish the soul." You may expect to receive a blessing. If it be not your own fault, you shall not attend without spiritual good. Consider what God has promised. Look at the declarations, that the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation, to every one that believeth; and that his word shall not return void, aud hope for, and desire these blessings. Look to be more deeply convinced of sin; more clearly enlightened in the knowledge of the divine will; more

strongly and practically impressed by the truth; more comforted and rejoiced; and more thoroughly confirmed and established in the ways of God. In short, go in the spirit described, Isa. ii, 3, Let us go up to the house of the God of Jacob, and he will teach us of his ways. 7. Hear in the spirit of SELF-APPLICATION. There are many who are very ready to think all that is said applies to others; or are thinking how it suits their friends. When Peter, after our Lord's address to him, turns and asks about John, Lord, what shall this man do? he received a just reproof, What is that to thee; follow thou me! John xxi, 21, 22. The application of the sermon to ourselves is the first step towards receiving benefit. Are not many merely regarding the style and manner of the preacher, or the system and theory which he holds, without once thinking that they are personally concerned, and that life and death is set before them? But at the same time, this self-application requires judgment and discrimination. There are those who make a wrong application. If secure and careless, they will apply to themselves all the characters of the righteous, and all the comfortable promises made to such characters. If anxious and desponding, they appropriate in like manner to themselves all the descriptions of the wicked, and the threatenings made to their sins. Thus some speak to themselves peace and safety, when there is no peace for them in their present state; and others speak terror without a cause, and make their hearts sad, when the Lord designs it not. Now the true remedy for these evils is, to examine more carefully into their own characters, and ascertain their real state; and, above all, to pray for the enlightening of the Holy Spirit, who alone wisely and efficaciously applies divine truth, so as to regenerate, sanctify, and gladden the