8
the word, Luke viii. 4. and to make it
unfruitful; For as Moses was unfit to talk
with God, till he had put off his shoes,
Exod. iii. and the blind man unfit to come
to Christ, until he had thrown away his
cloak, Mark x. so we must think ourselves
unfit to hear the word of God, and unapt
for every heavenly exercise, till we have
put off our shoes, that is our worldly cogi-
tations and affections, and till we have cast
away our cloaks, that is, all our lets and
impediments, which may hinder us from
profiting in our professions.
When our minds are quiet; we are fit
to deal in heavenly matters: therefore the
doctors conferred sitting in the temple,
and God delighteth to deal with us when
we are most private! He appeared to Abra-
ham sitting in the door of his tent, Gen.
xvii. the Holy Ghost, came down upon
the apostles, and 'filled all the house where
they were sitting;' the eunuch sitting in his
chariot, was called and converted, by the
preaching of Philip, Act; viii. 27. Mary sat
at Jesus' feet, yet she sit not sleeping as
many sit at the preacher's feet; but she sat
at Christ's feet and heard his words; as
Paul was brought up at the feet of Gama-
liel, Acts xxii. and was perfectly instructed
