to retain the word which we have heard; and, therefore, it is not said that the water flows out, but that we, as it were, pour it out. And this crime is denoted by the addition of the preposition (Tapa) to the verb (pen.) For as the simple verb denotes the "passing away" of any thing, as water, whether it deserves to be retained or no; so the compound doth the lesing of that perversely which we ought to have retained. And there is an elegant metaphor in the word; for as the drops of rain falling on the earth, water it and make it fruitful, so does the celestial doctrine make fruitful unto God the souls of men, upon whom it descends. And in respect to the word of the gospel it is, that the Lord Christ is said to come down "as the showers on the mown grass," Psalm lxxii, 6; so the apostle calls the preaching of the gospel to men, the watering of them, 1 Cor. iii, 6, 7; and elsewhere compares them, to whom it is preached, to the "earth that drinketh in the rain,” Heb. vi, 7. Hence, in the words we are upon, men are said to pour out the word preached, when by their negligence they lose, instead of retaining, the benefit of the gospel. So when our Savior had compared the same word to seed, he sets out men's falling from it by all the ways and means whereby seed cast into the earth may be lost or become unprofitable, Matt. xiii. And as he shews this is done various ways; so there are many times and seasons, ways and means, by which we are in danger of losing, or of pouring out, through misimprovement, (as a vessel that does not answer the end for which it is made,) the water or rain of the word which we have received. And this is referred to in that expression, "lest at any time."

$5. (II.) From the words thus explained, we may proceed to the following observations:

gos

Obs. 1. Diligent attendance to the word of the pel is indispensably necessary for perseverance in the profession of it; such a profession, I mean, as is acceptable to God, or will be useful to our own souls. The profession of most is a merely not renouncing the gospel in word, whilst in their hearts and lives they deny the power of it every day. A saving profession is that which expresseth the efficacy of the word to salvation, Rom. x. 10. This will never be the effect of a lifeless x, attendance; for it implies,

.

(1.) A due valuation of the grace tendered in it, and of the word itself on that account. Thus the original word (poσEXE) denotes such an attendance to any thing, as proceeds from an estimation and valuation of it answerable to its worth. If we have no such thoughts of the gospel, we can never attend to it as we ought; and if we consider it not as that wherein our chief interest lies, we consider it to no profit. The field wherein is the pearl of great price, is so to be "heeded," as to be valued above all other possessions whatsoever, Matt. xiii, 45, 46. They who esteemed not the marriage feast of the king above all avocations and worldly concerns, were shut out as unworthy, Matt. xxii, 7. If the gospel be not more to us than all the world besides, we shall never continue in an useful possession of it. Constant high thoughts, then, of the necessity, worth, glory, and excellency of the gospel, especially on account of the author of it, and the grace dispensed in it, is the first step in that "diligent heeding" of it, which is here required, that we may keep our faith firm unto the end.

(2.) Diligent study of the gospel and searching into the mind of God in it, that so we may grow wise in its holy mysteries, is another part of this duty. The gospel is the wisdom of God, 1 Cor. i, 24; and in it

treasures.

are laid up all the stores and treasures of that wis dom, Col. ii, 2, 3. It is to be sought for as silver, and to be searched after as hid treasures, Prov. ii, 4; that is, as worthy the utmost pains and diligence. Men with indefatigable pains, and often with great danger, pierce into the bowels of the earth in search of hidden Such treasures are not gathered, by every lazy passenger on the surface of the earth. They must dig, seek, and search, who intend to be made partakers of them; and so must we do for these treasures of heavenly wisdom. The mystery of the grace of the gospel is great and deep, such as the angels desire to bow down and look into, 1 Pet. i, 12; and which the prophets of old, notwithstanding the advantage of inspiration, "inquired diligently" after, verse 11. Without this, no man will hold fast his profession. Nor doth any man neglect the gospel, but he that knows it not, 2 Cor. iv, 3, 4. This is the great principle of apostasy in the world, that men have owned the gospel, but never knew what it was; and therefore foolishly leave the profession of it, as they lightly took it up. Studying the word is the security of our faith.

(3.) Mixing the word with faith is also required in this attention, see chap. iv, 2. As good not hear, as not believe; believing is the end of hearing, Rom. x, 11; and therefore Lydia's faith is called her attention, Acts xvi, 14. To hear, and not believe, is in the spiritual life, what to see meat, and not to eat it, is in the natural; it will please the fancy, but will never nourish the soul. Faith alone realizeth the things spoken to the heart, and gives them subsistence in it, Heb. xi, 1, without which, as to us, they hover in loose and uncertain notions.

(4.) Laboring to express the word received, in a conformity of heart and life to it, is another part of

this attention. This is the next proper end of our hearing; and to do a thing appointed for a certain end, without aiming at that end, is no better than the not doing it at all, in some cases much worse. The apostle says of the Romans, that they were cast into the mould of the gospel doctrine, chap. vi, 13. It left upon their hearts an impression of its own likeness, or produced in them an express image of that holiness, purity, and wisdom, which it revealeth. This is "to behold, with open face, the glory of the Lord, as in a glass, and to be changed into the same image," 2 Cor. iv, 18; that is, the image of the Lord Christ, manifested to us, and reflected upon us by means of the gospel. When the heart of the hearer is animated with gospel truths, and is thereby moulded and fashioned into their likeness, and expresseth that likeness in its fruits, or a conversation becoming the gospel, then is the word attended to in a right manner. This, and this alone, will secure to the word a station in our hearts, and give it a permanent abode.

(5.) Watchfulness against all opposition to the truth, or power of the word in us, belongs also to this duty. And as these oppositions are so many, powerful, and dangerous, so ought this watchfulness to be great and diligent. Hence,

§6. Obs. 2. There are sundry times and seasons, several ways and means, men are in danger of losing the word that they have heard, if they attend not diligently to preserve it. (MyToTE) "at any time," or "by This our Savior teacheth us at large in the parable of the seed, which was retained but in one sort of ground out of the four into which it

any way or means."

was cast, Matt. xiii. experience of all ages. who, when they have

And this is confirmed by the Yea, few there are at any time, heard the gospel, keep it as they

ought. We may briefly name the seasons wherein, and the ways whereby, the hearts and minds of men are made like “leaking vessels," (contrary to the use for which they were made) to pour out, or let slip, the word of truth.

(1.) Some lose it in a time of peace and prosperity. That is a season which slays the foolish. "Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked." According to men's pastures, so are they filled. and then forget the Lord. They fill their lusts, until they loath the word; and thus quails often make a lean soul. A prosperous outward estate hath stifled many a promising conviction, yea, and weakens faith and obedience often in many of the saints. The warmth of prosperity breeds swarms of apostates, as the heat of the sun doth insects in the spring.

(2.) Some lose it in a time of persecution. "When persecution ariseth," saith our Savior, "they fall away." Many go on apace in profession, until they come to see the cross. The sight of this puts them to a stand, and turns them quite out of the way. They thought not of it, and do not like it.

(3.) Some lose it in a time of temptation. It pleaseth God, in his wisdom and grace, to suffer sometimes an hour of temptation to come upon the church for trial, Rev. iii, 10; that the members may be made thereby conformable to Christ their head, who had his special hour of temptation. In this trying state, many lose the word. They have been cast into a negligent slumber, by the secret power of temptation; and when they awake, and look about them, the whole efficacy of the word is lost and gone.

§7. The ways and means, also, whereby this woful effect is produced are various, yea, innumerable. For instance, the love of this present world. This made