Whispering in Church
It is said "the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth."Proverbs 17:24.
Any new face that comes in , any strange garb, any noise , any head that moves , any leaf that stirs , commands the eye and heart of a fool. It is a precept among the Rabbis, that if a Jew be at prayer , though a serpent come and bite him , yet he must not stir till he has done his duty. Satan, the old serpent, will be nibbling at your heel with one vain suggestion or other , but go through with your business , and let God alone with him..... In hearing of God's word let the eye be chained to the preacher with the greatest attention and reverence , as if you saw an angel in the pulpit , or Christ Himself .........."The eyes of them all that were in the synagogue were fastened on Him"Luke 4:20 And here I cannot but digress a little , but it is to cure a more criminal digression , which is , that frequent abuse of whispering and talking to one another in the service of God .... This is a sin in a high degree , and that , because it brings a guilt and a distraction upon two persons at once . If a vain thought in church is so evil as you have heard , how criminal then, is this , that involves you both , yes, perhaps occasions a distraction to twenty more that observe you .... your heart testifies to God's face that you despise His presence .... And who but a practical athiest would be whispering with his neighbour about anything , while the King of heaven and earth is pleading with him about eternity?
There is even more offence in it . An offence to the preacher ... to the congregation ..... to the angels .... to your own souls.
Any new face that comes in , any strange garb, any noise , any head that moves , any leaf that stirs , commands the eye and heart of a fool. It is a precept among the Rabbis, that if a Jew be at prayer , though a serpent come and bite him , yet he must not stir till he has done his duty. Satan, the old serpent, will be nibbling at your heel with one vain suggestion or other , but go through with your business , and let God alone with him..... In hearing of God's word let the eye be chained to the preacher with the greatest attention and reverence , as if you saw an angel in the pulpit , or Christ Himself .........."The eyes of them all that were in the synagogue were fastened on Him"Luke 4:20 And here I cannot but digress a little , but it is to cure a more criminal digression , which is , that frequent abuse of whispering and talking to one another in the service of God .... This is a sin in a high degree , and that , because it brings a guilt and a distraction upon two persons at once . If a vain thought in church is so evil as you have heard , how criminal then, is this , that involves you both , yes, perhaps occasions a distraction to twenty more that observe you .... your heart testifies to God's face that you despise His presence .... And who but a practical athiest would be whispering with his neighbour about anything , while the King of heaven and earth is pleading with him about eternity?
There is even more offence in it . An offence to the preacher ... to the congregation ..... to the angels .... to your own souls.
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