The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-02-19

changing mods, notes, wlnks, and words
in the more remote parts OF the congrega-
ton. Others are lostin thought, running
over again the business transactions of
the previous week, or maturing their
plans for the next. 1t is not wholly the
preachers fault. The dulness of the SER
mon often originates in the hearers want
of interest in the subject. This want of
sympathy and interest has very dam
aging effect upon the sermon itself
Every public speaker knows how painful
and difficult is his task when he fails of
the hearty sympathy of his AUDIENCE
To secure this, the lawyer and the lectur-
er resort to many pleasant ruse, which
is not becoming for the minister of Christ.
Besides, there is natural and a strong
disrelish to spiritual truth in the heart,
which renders the preachefs s task doubly
difficult. No matter how earnest and pi-
GUS a minister may be, he can but find it
hard to elaborate the second point in an
argument, when he sees that the first has
been hardly heard, much less understood.
1t is too common to lay the fault OF bad
listening entirely on the preacher and his
sermon. True, the preacher must do his
whole duty as far as God may give him
grace; but the state of the hearers heart
determines under God the amount of good
done. 1t will not then be out of place to
suggest a few thoughts for the profit of
the hearer.
1. Give diHgent attention. Whatever
is worth doing at all, is worth doing we'll.
He that hath ears to hear let him hear. "
You like an earnest preacher, | like an
earnest hearer; at least, we want both in
the house of God Man has in him no
mere power of absorption by which he
may lounge lazily in Church, and still get
all the benefit of the sermon. Wakeful
attention is quite as necessary in this as
in worldly matters. Your interest in the
things discussed is too great for needless
inattention. The cry of danger is too
clear and appalling for us to be apathetic.
Shall the criminal idly whittle and smile
while the judge is pronouncing the SEN
tence of death? or as he sits in his lonely
cell, shall not his heart beat more rapidly
and his eye kindle tearfully, if the officer
comes and reads to him his pardon? How
then shall guilty man give idle attention
to the sentence of death and the promise
of life?
2. If any will not give diigent atten-
ton, at Ieast let them. gjre decent atten-
ton. None will give profitable attention
without the Holy Spirit, but all can give
a decent attention; and it may be that
the Spirit will bless the word in the heart
8. Profitable hearing requires some prep
aration. No farmer sows his seed with
out first preparing the land. Even good
ground needs careful preparation. This
is equally true in attending Church. Our
profting depends much on the state of
the heart. If the heart be right it will
appropriate and assimilate every word
that is spoken, as if it were wholesome
food and drink; but if the heart be cold
and careless, the thunders of Boaner-
ges are needed to arouse it to a sluggish
life. This preparation should be made at
home, in the closet, on the knees, with
earnest self examination; the means used
should be the reading of Scripture, and
of pious manuals, with earnest prayer
Is it Necessary for the minister to step
out of his closet into the pulpit? Is it
any less necessary for the hearer to go
from his closet to the pew? Then
4. PrayerfM attention is equally ne
cessary. Paul may plant, and Apollos
may water, but God giveth the increase.
The truth is powerful, but it needs Gods
blessing upon it, to make it "sharper
than any two edged sword, piercing to
the dividing asunder of the soul and
spirit, of the joints and marrow, dis
cerner of the thoughts and intents of the
heart" To get this blessing on the word,
pray for it. AS every truth falls upon
the ear, let silent prayer go up to God to
give it a sure lodgment III the heart.
5. Hear IN faith if you would receive
profit. OF some we read, "the word
preached did not profit them, not being
mired scith faith in them that hear it. "
Faith is needed for every precept and for
every promise. The bread of life does
not nourisa the faithless and unbelieving;
the water of life has no cooling streams
for those who believe not. Without faith
man may be hearer, but not doer.
"That the word may become effectual
to salvation, we must attend thereunto
with diligence, preparation, and prayer;
receive it with faith and love, lay it up in
our hearts, and practice it in our lives"
A COUNTRY PASTOR.
CHAT MAN" said Sydney Smith,
els not the discoverer of art who first
saws the thing. but. he who saws il so