A Continuation of morning-exercise questions and cases of conscience practically resolvedA Continuation of morning-exercise questions and cases of conscience practicaly resolved

2. It is to Preach with excellency of Speech, and words of mans Wisdom, when men think to reach the Gospel-end on Sinners by force of even spiritual reason and persuasion. This corrupt thought riseth in some from an imagination that moral suasion is all that is needful for converting a Sinner; and in some this thought rises on a better account; the Light of the Glory of God in the Gospel shines so brightly in upon their own Hearts, that they fall into this Conceit, That no man can stand before that Light which they can hold forth. Melanchthon's mistake at first, till Experience made him wiser. ⟨p. 206⟩Hast thou a clear Knowledge of Gospel Mysteries, and the word of Exhortation is with thee also, so that thou art qualified to urge, beseech, and plead warmly with sinners on Christs behalf? Take heed of this Snare, lest thou think that thy Wisdom and Gifts can promote and carry on the Gospel-design on men.

2. It is to Preach with excellency of Speech, and words of mans Wisdom, when men think to reach the Gospel-end on Sinners by force of even spiritual reason and perswasion. This corrupt thought riseth in some from an imagination that moral suasion is all that is needfull for converting a Sinner; and in some this thought rises on a better account; the Light of the Glory of God in the Gospel shines so brightly in upon their own Hearts, that they fall into this Conceit, That no man can stand before that Light which they can hold forth. Melancthon's mistake at first, till Experience made him wiser. ⟨p. 206⟩Hast thou a clear Knowledge of Gospel Mysteries, and the word of Exhortation is with thee also, so that thou art qualified to urge, beseech, and plead warmly with sinners on Christs behalf? Take heed of this Snare, lest thou think that thy Wisdom and Gifts can promote and carry on the Gospel-design on men.

3. This also is checked in the Apostles words, the setting forth the beauty of the Gospel by humane Art. The truth of the Gospel shines best in its bare Proposal, and its Beauty in its simple and naked discovery. We may observe from Church-History, that still as Soundness of Doctrine and the Power of Godliness decayed in the Church, the Vanity of an affected way of speaking and writing of Divine things came in. Quotations from the Fathers, Latin and Languages are pitiful Ornaments unto Preaching, if a man design Conversion and Soul-edification. And yet more despicable are all playing on words, Jinglings and Cadencies (which things are in all the Rules of true Eloquence justly exploded) and yet some men reckon much on them. But would any man think his Friend in earnest with him, that would accost him in any affair with such sort of Language and Gesture?