Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-08-10
LEXA. GAZETTE & VIRGINIA ADVERTISER.
DOERS OF,THE WORD.
4 Sermon Preached i'm the Methodist
Protestant Church. AleXandria. Va.
Sunday Night. August ith. 1872. by
Rev James L.. kiilgOre. NJ. d.. D.D-
(rUBLISHED BY REQUEST)

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers
only."-James l, y.
How reasonable, necessary, and opposite was
the admonition of the text to the people for
whom it was intended They had heard the
word Of God, and to some extent believed it;
but not so as to reduce it to practice. Or such
persons we have a description given by God
through the prophet Ezekiel They come unto
thee as the people cometh, and they sit before
thee as my people, and they hear thy words,
but they will not do them, for with their mouth
they shew much love, but their heart goeth
after their covetousuess. And, 10 thou art
uuto them as very lovely song Of one that
hath pleasant voice, and can play we'll on al
instrument; for they hear thy words, but they
do them not '-Ezckiel xxxlii, 81, 3D.
The present is an age of hedrng more than OF
1oiug aud to the majority Of those who attend
God house, the quotation from Ezekiel is
peculiarly appropriate. 1t is, however, not
the hearer of God S word, but the doer OF God s
will, who shall be blessed in his deed. lu con-
sidcriug this passage, we will, first, describe
the various hearers; and, secondly. give some
directions for proftably hearing Gods word.
|. Describe the rari,us kinds Of heurpr~-In
doing so we will arrange them under various
classes
|. 4 Class of Formal Hearers. These hear the
WOTu WIFI StIlCl ICY uidIlty, lnCS "io pi'tuP' !"
their attendance on the ordinances. Some
times they ''hear the word gladly" applaud
its ministers, and entertain them with hospltall-
ty; but they treasure not the word IN their
hearts. Indeed, they have so often heard 1t,
and so frequently evaded its force, that 1t now
seldom impresses them, and there is but little
hope that it ever will be the power of God
to their salvation. They are what our text
calls hearers only They constitute the
majority of all congregations.
> 4 ChlSs of ForgettM Hearers. s.--These sell
dom 'hear the word with an intention to prac-
tcc it. They are however, often found among
the people of God. Hence the admonltion OF
Moses to the lsraelites: Only take heed to
thysef, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou
forget the things which thine eyes have seen,
and lest they depart from thine heart all the
DAYS of thy life. ."-Deut. iv, 8. We are not so
much in danger of forgetting what our eyes
have seen. as what our ears have heard:
danger arising not so often from defectlveness
of memory, as from heedlessuess, indifference,
and unwatchfulness. The Apostle Peter was
anxious to stir up the pure minds OF the
aucents ''by way of.remembrance. We can
generally remember the pleasing and the prom.
table. Both these David found Gods Word
to be to him; and ought not every Christian to
find the same and adopt his language, saying,
The law Of thy mouth is better unto me than
thousands Of gold and silver. "How sweet are
thy words unto my taste Yea, swcetcr than
honey to my mouth !'-Psalms cxix, 12-lO3:
1t is both our duty and privilege to hlde
his word in our hearts, that 1t may furnish US
with suitable material for subsequent medlta-
ton. w
>. 4 Glass Of Capricioms Ucarcrs.-These
are remarkable for nothing more than their
f;lstidiousness in the selection OF minister. Ii
his efforts resemble the lightuing's flash, the
thunder roll, or the mighty voice which aap-
pea]s to the human heart and stlrs its depths,
they will hear if the preacher be graceful IN
person, pleasant in utterance, abundant 10
matter and correct in dictlon, he commands
their attention and respect. But If IN any
of these qualities he fail, they will not hear
Ought this so to be? Is it not submitting too
much to the ntolerant demands OF a morbid
taste +?
We plead neither for vulgarity nor impro-
pricty IN speech but we think that utility
should be sought before establishment. 1t is
the quality of the food for which We should be
anxious rather than the mode in which 1T is
served or, to change the figure, truth is not
less profitable because it is clothed In honey
garb. ~,
/. A Glass of Critical Hearers These at
tend the ministry for the purpose ot criticism.
The preacher, his composition, his reasoning,
and his theology are all praised or blamed IN
proportion as they come up to, or tall below,
their standard Their aim being unworthy
the end of the Gospel is seldom answered on
them They derive no spiritual advantage
themselves and those who would they hinder
But we may be asked, Are we, then, to re,
ccive every statement without eXam'natoh
We answer, no. Emphaticaly no. Submit
IL ,,l 70 ln
let your motive be pure for it is the motive
that stamps the deed. The Bereans heard the
APOSTLE, but they also searched the Scriptures
to see if these things were so. Acts XVII, III.
We are also exhorted to prove all things
hold M fast that which is good" But in doing
" ..Sit. with Mary at the Masters feet.
To the Saviour teaching we should listen !;
and to His authority We should bow,,,
5. 4 Glass Of Practical Heare'$ $-Ihe>e are
the only true wise hearers. Hence Christ says,
Who's oeyer heareth these sayings OF mlne ana
docth them, will liken him unto wise man.
&c. Matt vii, 24-27. r
Such hearing is profitable = for |hoso
looketh into the perfect law OF liberty, ana con-
,imlcth therein, he being not torgeniui nearer
but a doer of the work, this man shaH NC piee'
ed in his decd James /, %
> GIVE SOME DIRECTIONS FOR PRoFITABIf
lIrAnlNG The WoRD.-"Take heed how ye
hear is command of the highest. authority
1t is true that much of our attention oepenuS
ou the speaker, and the subject OF nus 81 dlse3urse
but our proiting by our hearing Gods " ora
does not depend so much on these, as on our
own state of mind. !,
That we may hear to advantage, We should
hear
|. With Serious Attemtion.-The reasons tor
TINS are two :.
a. Ou O,cu Poft.-To be inattentlye is
the same as ITO have ears and hear not: oome
ucrsonS aro h,b;tnollv restless, listess and