Propositions

95 They whose knowledge is in swelling words, and painted eloquence of humane wisdom, being but a doctrine of the letter, in their death they are as if they knew nothing of Christ crucified: and whereof comes it, that there is soe much preaching, and so little learning? but because men preach and delight to hear plausible novelties to please the ear, rather than the simple power of the word to pierce the heart; they take the bone, and refuse the marrow; they are content with the shell, but want the kernel; and not only the Law killeth, but even the Gospel also; that is, the letter of the Gospel, being ministered without the ⟨image 29⟩spirit: Ask the wounded conscience, what comfort it is, to hear that Christ died for our sins: nay, ask if this gall not as much as the Law it self, so long as it is rather conceived by reason, than received by faith.

95 They whose knowledge is in swelling wordes, and painted eloquence of humane wisdome, being but a doctrine of the letter, in their death they are as if they knewe nothing of Christ crucified: and whereof comes it, that there is soe much preaching, and so little learning? but because men preach and delight to heare plausible novelties to please the eare, rather than the simple power of the worde to pearce the heart; they take the bone, and refuse the marowe; they are content with the shell, but want the kernell; and not onely the Lawe killeth, but even the Gospell also; that is, the letter of the Gospell, being ministred without the ⟨image 29⟩spirite: Aske the wounded conscience, what comfort it is, to hear that Christ died for our sinnes: nay, ask if this gall not as much as the Lawe it selfe, so long as it is rather conceived by reason, than received by faith.

96 As of all gifts, the gift of Gods spirit is the dearest, so the loss of it is most dangerous: for besides that, we know how few taste of it, and with what pain they that have gotten it keep it; and with what hard brunts they that lose the graces of it recover them again, we may conjecture the greatness of the loss, by our experience in other things: they that have been in reputation for their riches, and are become bankrupts, are grieved and ashamed; how much more then should their grief be, who by the riches of Gods graces have been comfortable to themselves, and honourable amongst others; and now by the decay of those gifts, have lost both the sweet peace and joy in themselves, and their credit with God, and in the conscience of the godly.