The Soul's Preparation for Christ

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 ⟨p. 75⟩needs a sharp reproof to prick him forward in a Christian course.

Answ. To this I answer three things, I confesse it is ⟨p. 74⟩true, the Lord (blessed be his name) hath made his word more evidently knowne then formerly, and yet there is a great deale of knowledge wanting in the most sort of men; nay, I can speake it by experience, that the meaner ordinary sort of people, it is incredible and unconceiveable, what Ignorance is among them; Nay, I will be bold to justifie it, that he that thinkes himselfe the wisest in understanding, if we come home to him by way of examination, we shall make it known, to him that he knowes little or nothing of which he should and ought to know: But Imagine men had the knowledge of the word, that is not the maine end of preaching, to instruct men: but to worke upon their hearts. When a man hath taught men what they should doe, he is but come to the walls of the Castle; the fort is in the heart, the greatest worke of the ministery is to pull downe the wills of men, that know the truth of God and hold it in unrighteousnesse: Nay, they that doe know it, how dull are they in the performances of these duties God calles for at their hands, so that we had not onely need to mince their meat for them, but even to put it into their mouthes; nay, they sleepe with meat in their mouthes; I appeale to you that are inlightned in the knowledge of the truth, doe you not finde dulnesse of minde, and indisposednesse 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 pricke him forward, so I say, the best Christian