word: he must believe it also. For it is not by any virtue inherent in itself, that the word produces its effect; but by the special grace and power of God, which accompany it, and bring it home to the hearts of the hearers. Now the power of God is exerted, the grace of God is bestowed, only for the benefit of those, who believe in Him and in his holy word. For, for this cause," saith the Apostle, "thank we God without ceasing, because when ye received the word of God, which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe." In them that believe, it works effectually; and in them only. Hence the Apostle expressly assigns a want of efficacy in the word, to a want of faith in the hearers: "The word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it P." And hence he uses it as an undeniable argument, to prove that the people had not obeyed the Gospel, because they had not

n

1 Thess. ii. 13.

VOL. II.

P Heb. iv. 2.

Ꮲ

believed it." But they have not all obeyed the Gospel: for Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?" taking it, as it appears, for granted, that as they could not believe, without obeying it, so they could not obey, without believing it.

And have not we cause, as the Prophet had, to say, "Lord, who hath believed our report?" For is it not the case with too many amongst us, that they can be content to hear the word, and will not deny that it is holy, and true, and just, and good; and yet do not believe it in their hearts? Do you indeed believe it to be the word of the almighty Creator and Governor of the world? Do you believe it to be that word, by "which he will judge you at the last days?" And does it not make your hearts faint within you, when you hear it reproving you for your sins, and forewarning you of the judgment to come? Does it not inflame you with the true love of God, and with an earnest desire and longing to serve and honour him

Rom. x. 16.

Isaiah liii. I.

9

John xii. 48.

above all things? Does it not stimulate you to the most active and vigorous endeavours, to avoid whatever he forbids, and to do whatever he commands, lest you fall under his displeasure, and so be lost and undone for ever? It is thus, that "the word of God effectually worketh in them that believe." But if you can sit and hear it, as we know from daily experience that multitudes can and do, with much seeming attention, but with little real anxiety to act in compliance with its injunctions; though you may make a profession of the Christian faith, you are not fully persuaded of its truth and certainty; and it is no matter of astonishment, but a consequence, which the scriptures teach us to expect, that you should be "not doers of the word, but hearers only, deceiving your own selves."

4. To the foregoing reasons, which explain why men are hearers only of the word, a fourth may be added; namely, that of those, who in some measure believe, whilst they hear, many have no sooner heard, than they presently forget,

and therefore are deficient in practice. This reason is suggested by the Apostle himself in the words following my text. "If any man be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man, beholding his natural face in a glass; for he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was:" he forgets the spots and stains which he saw upon his face, and so neglects to remove them. "But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed:" where "a forgetful hearer" is evidently opposed to "a doer of the work," on the presumption, that a powerful reason, why men do not what they hear, is because they forget it.

There are many such forgetful hearers, who hear much, but forget what they hear. And the reason, which they allege, is, that their memories are so weak, that they cannot retain it. But is this in reality the cause of your forgetfulness? Is not your memory capable of retaining other

things, which you wish to impress upon it? Are you a servant? and cannot you remember your master's orders? Are you a master? and cannot you remember what is necessary in the management of your affairs? Why then cannot you remember the things, which almighty God commands you; the things, that " belong to your" everlasting "peace?" Is it indeed, because you cannot? Take heed, my brethren, lest it be, because you will not remember them. If men would diligently endeavour to attend to what they hear, they might easily remember all that is necessary for them to do. They might not indeed remember the very words, which prescribe their duty; but they might keep the duty itself always present to their minds, so as to be able to put it into practice. Our Lord attributes the forgetfulness of "the hearers of the word," not to the weakness of their memories; but to the hardness of their hearts, or the worldly-mindedness of their affections. "Some receive the seed into stony places, but have no root in themselves; for when tribulation, or persecution aris