The Soul's Preparation for Christ

Object. Ay, but Secondly, they object, in this last age of the world there is a difference to be put, it is true, if men were not taught this were necessary, but now in these times of knowledge what needs all this ado? all those troubles and reproofs? what, shall we make men to be chamlings, to mince their meat for them? no, set their meat, set the word before them, and they are wise enough to take their meat, and to apply the word to themselves.

Object. Ay, but Secondly, they object, in this last age of the world there is a difference to be put, it is true, if men were not taught this were necessary, but now in these times of knowledge what needs all this adoe? all those troubles and reproofes? what, shall we make men to be chamlings, to mince their meat for them? no, set their meate, set the word before them, and they are wise enough to take their meat, and to apply the word to themselves.

Answ. To this I answer three things, I confess it is ⟨p. 74⟩true, the Lord (blessed be his name) hath made his word more evidently known then formerly, and yet there is a great deal of knowledge wanting in the most sort of men; nay, I can speak it by experience, that the meaner ordinary sort of people, it is incredible and unconceivable, what Ignorance is among them; Nay, I will be bold to justify it, that he that thinks himself the wisest in understanding, if we come home to him by way of examination, we shall make it known, to him that he knows little or nothing of which he should and ought to know: But Imagine men had the knowledge of the word, that is not the main end of preaching, to instruct men: but to work upon their hearts. When a man hath taught men what they should do, he is but come to the walls of the Castle; the fort is in the heart, the greatest work of the ministry is to pull down the wills of men, that know the truth of God and hold it in unrighteousness: Nay, they that do know it, how dull are they in the performances of these duties God calls for at their hands, so that we had not only need to mince their meat for them, but even to put it into their mouths; nay, they sleep with meat in their mouths; I appeal to you that are enlightened in the knowledge of the truth, do you not find dullness of mind, and indisposedness of spirit in the performances of those duties God calls for at your hands? It was spoken by a reverend Divine, that the freest horse needs sometimes a spur to prick him forward, so I say, the best Christian