Essay 03

(Same source)

On hearing the Gospel

As the preaching of the Gospel is an ordinance of Christ, so the hearing of it is the duty of all that can attend. What is the use of preaching if none will hear? But it is necessary to 'take heed how we hear;' Mark 4.24. Luke 8.18. There never was, at any time, in any country, greater opportunity and liberty to hear the Word of God than there is in Wales at this time (1841); yet hearing is hitherto unprofitable to thousands! Hebrews 4.2. Many after hearing offend God, and are likely to fall under His wrath. Hebrews 3.16,17. But there is a great benefit to be obtained by hearing the Word of God; 'faith cometh by hearing;' Romans 10.17; yea, souls receive life thereby. Isaiah 55.3.
There are unprofitable hearers. Many go to a place of worship with unworthy motives, and in a very improper frame of mind. Many go from habit, without considering the purpose of preaching and hearing the Gospel; they hear unconcerned, and regardless of God and His Word. Some go, whose end in doing so is extremely vain and sinful - to see and to be seen - and because many others go! The conversation of many in going to, and returning from, a place of worship, is very frivolous and corrupt. It is respecting dress and fashion, neighbours and their failings, or concerning some other worldly or vain thing. Few converse about the Bible, Christ, the soul, and the eternal world. Such persons are not anxious for the blessing of God, neither do they pray for communion with Him in the means of grace. Some in a place of worship will look about, and then they will fall asleep; they appear as if they needed nothing. They consequently leave without any benefit to their souls, or sorrow for their loss.
There is another sort of hearers who appear to be greater professors than the above. They will talk much about sermons and preachers in a very improper manner; they will make comparisons between them, extolling the one and slighting the other. These are often unfair judges; they generally judge according to their own taste and opinions, and not according to the Word. They do not understand what are the qualifications of a minister of God. It might be asked them, 'Are ye ripe in knowledge, judgment, and experience, to judge these things? Would it not be more proper in you to learn, than to become the judges of teachers?' Ask these persons concerning their own eternal affairs; they will appear blind and confused. Ask them, 'Do you know themselves? Is Christ in you, the hope of glory? Or else are ye reprobates?' If they cannot discern their own case, what suitability have they to judge the ambassadors of God? The scales of these men are not correct to weigh ministers, being their own opinions and tastes, and not the Word of God. No wonder then, if the most scriptural, experimental, and godly preachers are too light in their balances.
The proper qualifications in the opinions of those hearers are these - boldness, fluency, eloquence, excellency of speech, enticing words, human wisdom, and a pleasant voice. And the ministers that please them are such as do not speak very plainly of man's miserable state, nor press things too keenly on the conscience of man, nor say much of the total corruption of man by the fall, and his inability to save himself. Such ministers exalt but little of the sovereign grace of God; they speak but little of the Spirit's work in changing the sinner; and they do not state too minutely the signs of hypocrites, and false professors. Their manner of preaching accords with the carnal ideas of their hearers, to support their selfish confidence, touching slightly their pride, worldliness and carnal lusts. Then they are pleased with the preachers and with themselves likewise under them. Doubtless they will say that they receive benefit under their ministry, but they mistake gratification for profit, excitement of feeling for support, the satisfaction of their taste for spiritual edification. Hearers of this kind are likely to idolize the preachers they admire; they will depreciate other preachers, in order to exalt these. They become angry with all that doubt the excellences of these ministers. They speak more of them than of Christ; of their views than of the Bible. They plead that there is need of eloquence and talents to draw the attention of the people. It is possible for a preacher to draw the mind of the hearers by his gifts to himself and not to Christ. He may increase professors for a sect, disciples for a preacher, natural religion without the spirit; but neither gift nor eloquence, nothing but 'the preaching of the cross,' is 'the power of God,' to draw the sinner to Christ. It is God only that gives benefit and blessing by His own ordinances. 'God giveth the increase.'
Preachers, yea, those that are truly good and pious, are too light in the scales of these hearers. They are not eloquent and gifted enough; their sermons, they say, are too plain, clear, and void of ornament. They imagine they speak too openly against sin, and that they humble and degrade man too much, and that they exalt free grace too highly, giving all the glory to God, in the salvation of man. So many godly preachers who live near to God, being often at the throne of grace, under great distress of mind for man's salvation, and whose sermons are scriptural, and administer 'the sincere milk of the word' are nevertheless despised by these hearers, as their discourses are not adorned according to their taste. A 'pearl of great price' is often found in a mean shell. The food that is cooked in the plainest manner is the most wholesome and gives the greatest nourishment. It is indeed easier for these godly ministers to endure reproach than others, because they seek not their own things nor 'preach themselves.' Yet none are more distressed than they, because their communications are despised, their Master slighted, and free salvation neglected.
There are other sorts of hearers that receive no benefit by hearing. One kind is very numerous, and contains thousands of our youths. They come to places of worship, but retain nothing of what is heard. They have some pleasure in the sound of the Gospel and gifts of the preachers. Christ sets forth four kinds of hearers in the parable of the sower; one kind only received benefit. However, this was not owing to his being under a gifted ministry. The seed and sower were the same; it was because he understood, received, and kept the Word. This is the gift of God.
Next we shall observe the manner in which we should receive the Gospel; or what end and state of mind in hearing tend to the glory of God and good of souls. The greatest gain has been obtained by hearing the Gospel; 'faith and everlasting life,' have come by hearing, as observed already. 'It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.' 1 Corinthians 1.21. We should consider preaching and hearing the Gospel as divine ordinances, and we should use them with great soberness and reverence, 'keeping our foot, being ready to hear' considering ourselves as 'present before God, to hear all things that are commanded by God', through his ministry. Acts 10.33. Ecclesiastes 5.1. We should not consider a preacher less or more than a messenger from God to us. If we view him less than such, we degrade the ministry of the Gospel, and represent it as a human and a mean thing. If we consider him more than such a one, as able to administer some benefit to us himself, then we place preaching above and superior to the means of grace, and cease to wait on God. As to imparting any spiritual benefit, one minister is not superior to another; neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth. The benefit, the increase is from God. 1 Corinthians 3.6,7. We ought to pray more before we go to hear the Gospel, and look up more to God when we do hear. It may be said to many that complain they receive nothing under sermons, 'Ye have not because ye ask not.' James 4.2. Much is said about having blessings under sermons. But if you should ask many what is meant by a blessing, they cannot answer; perhaps they imagine that it is some pleasure in hearing.
However there are hearers that receive real profit by hearing. They have found a treasure of immense value in the Gospel field. They have exercised faith in Christ whilst hearing. The preaching of the cross has been 'the power of God to their salvation.' As by hearing they had spiritual life, so by the same means they receive nourishment and support. 1 Peter 2.2. They have benefit by means of sermons, when they come to see more of the evil of sin and the plague of their own hearts, until they hate and detest themselves more as sinners, and humble themselves more in the dust. Also, when they have a clear view of the glory of Christ, and greater aid to make use of Him, and more communion with Him. Also, when they are sanctified; when some sin is mortified, and the image of Christ is made more visible on and in them; when they are brought to love God, His law and Gospel more, and to be more obedient to Him. And lastly, when they are made more spiritual and heavenly, their affections being raised above the things of the flesh and the world, and set upon those that are heavenly.
This is the time they have blessings under sermons, and true benefit, being fed with spiritual food. Then God shall have the praise; they will speak but little of the preacher; they will forget him in admiring his Master; they will forget the cleverness of the sermon, by viewing the wonders of the Gospel. The excellence of the preacher in the judgment of these pious hearers is that he is a godly, sober, humble, self-denying, conscientious, and zealous minister. His fluency and gifts are but secondary things in their esteem. Those that are of God delight to hear those that are of God. 1 John 4.5,6.
Ye hearers, pray for the spirit of hearing, for hunger and thirst after real benefit; in hearing, pray for your minister instead of judging him. After all, ministers are but instruments; you must have the blessing from God Himself, through them. Pray for a humble, broken, meek, obedient spirit to hear the Word of God.
Use the Bible often; go to the throne of grace often; pray that the truth you hear may not be unprofitable to you. Thanks be to God for the Gospel.

Fron, April 1841