Looking unto Jesus a view of the everlasting gospel, or, the souls eying of…

In his Sermon he sometimes gave particular Schedules of Duty to several states of Persons; he sharply reproved the Pharisees for their hypocrisy and impiety; he gently guided others into the ways of Righteousness, calling them the straight ways of the Lord; and by such discourses and a Baptism, he disposed the spirits of men for the entertaining of ⟨p. 169⟩the Messiah, and the Doctrine of the Gospel. John's Sermons were to the Sermons of Jesus as a Preface to a Discourse.

In his Sermon he sometimes gave particular Schedules of Duty to several states of Persons; he sharply reproved the Pharisees for their hypocrisie and impiety; he gently guided others into the wayes of Righteousness, calling them the straight wayes of the Lord; and by such discourses and a Baptism, he disposed the spirits of men for the entertaining of ⟨p. 169⟩the Messias, and the Doctrine of the Gospel. John's Sermons were to the Sermons of Jesus as a Preface to a Discourse.

But observe this, that his most usual Note was Repentance, the Axe to the Root, the Fan to the Floor, the Chaff to the Fire: As his Raiment was rough, so was his Tongue; and thus must the way be made for Christ in stubborn obstinate hearts; plausibility, or pleasing of the flesh is no fit Preface to Regeneration; if the heart of Man had continued upright, Christ might have been entertained without contradiction; but now violence must be offered to our Corruptions, ere we can have room for Grace; if the great way-maker do not cast down Hills, and raise up Valleys in the bosoms of Men, there is no passage for Christ; never will Christ come into that soul, where the Herald of Repentance, either on one motive or other hath not been before him.

But observe this, that his most usual Note was Repentance, the Axe to the Root, the Fan to the Floor, the Chaff to the Fire: As his Rayment was rough, so was his Tongue; and thus must the way be made for Christ in stubborn obstinate hearts; plausibility, or pleasing of the flesh is no fit Preface to Regeneration; if the heart of Man had continued upright, Christ might have been entertained without contradiction; but now violence must be offered to our Corruptions, ere we can have room for Grace; if the great way-maker do not cast down Hills, and raise up Vallies in the bosoms of Men, there is no passage for Christ; never will Christ come into that soul, where the Herald of Repentance, either on one motive or other hath not been before him.