366. MAR 4:24. ON HEARING

Mar_4:24. On Hearing

PART I

"Take heed what ye hear."’97Mar_4:24.

It is one of the greatest privileges we can have on earth, to hear the blessed tidings of the gospel of Christ. "Blessed are the people who hear the joyful sound," &c. Hence, Christ said, "Blessed are your eyes," &c., Mat_13:16, Mat_13:17. No doubt any of you would have felt greatly exalted, had you been relatives of Jesus. Mary, his mother, was indeed highly favored above women. So cried one in the days of his flesh. "A certain woman of the company lifted up her voice and said, Blessed is the womb, &c., and the breasts which," &c., Luk_11:27, &c. Christ did not deny this, but he said, "Yea, rather blessed," &c. No doubt it was a great privilege to see and hear the Son of God in the days of his flesh, but it did not secure a greater blessing; for Christ said "Thomas, because thou hast seen, thou hast believed; blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed," Joh_20:27. We have the word of God plentifully distributed among us; the joyful tidings are daily proclaimed in our ears. It is for us to improve our opportunities, and be made better by our mercies. The text refers to the subject matter of what we hear,

I. In what Respect you are to take Heed as to the Matter which is delivered to you.

1. Ascertain that what you hear is the truth.

God has given you a touchstone, the sacred volume. Prove what you hear; weigh it; bring every thing to the law and to the testimony, see Act_17:11.

2. Take heed that you have the whole truth.

Ananias, &c., gave of their real property but not the whole promised. Paul said, "I have not shunned to declare the whole counsel of God."

3. Take heed that you have nothing but the truth.

No mixture of error; no human clay with the divine gold. There must be no adding to, nor subtracting from, the Word of God.

II. Why you should take heed what you hear.

1. We should remember all men are fallible.

Good men may err; learned men may err; no man, however learned or pious, is to be our leader, except as he gives to us the unadulterated word of God. We are to call none Rabbi, &c. No sure rule but God’s word. Numbers or respectability amount to nothing in religion. If numbers made a doctrine or sect right, then Popery is true, and Protestantism is false.

2. Nothing but the truth will benefit our souls.

The truth renews, sanctifies, builds up.

3. Error is productive of the most pernicious consequences.

It confuses, misleads, often involves in condemnation. Endangers the salvation of the soul.

4. Hearing is connected with the day of judgment and eternity.

We must all give an account.

Application

1. Cultivate a discriminating state of mind.

2. Desire the sincere and unadulterated Word of God.

3. Be ever subject, both in heart and life, to Divine authority.

Autor: JABEZ BURNS