Sermons preached on several occasionsSermons preach'd on several occasions

The external Ministration of the Gospel, without the concomitant Ministry of the Spirit, is ineffective. The Divinest Preacher cannot soften the Iron Sinew, nor melt the Heart of Stone, nor make the Rock to tremble. ⟨p. 287⟩The Prophet Isaiah, whose sublime Eloquence overcomes all the admired Orators of the World, yet complains, Who has believed our ¹Report? to whom is the Arm of the Lord revealed? The Angels of Light, if they were sent from Heaven, and were in this sense ministering Spirits, they could not by their Seraphic Zeal, and most excellent Eloquence change and reform Sinners. One evil Angel seduced and corrupted the best Man, Adam, in the State of Innocence and Happiness: but a Council of good Angels cannot restore one Man, tho the least tainted, to Holiness and Felicity. No Creature can be a Creator; the Sanctification of a Sinner is a new Creation. 'Tis only the Word of Life spoken by the Lord of Life, that can raise dead Bodies and dead Souls. Suppose the Word of God be assisted by his Rod, yet that will be ineffectual to cleanse and change ⟨p. 288⟩their Hearts without Divine Grace. 'Tis according to the wise Order of God, whom the Word does not convert, the Rod is made use of to cure; and whom the Rod does not cure, the Sword cuts off.

The external Ministration of the Gospel, without the concomitant Ministry of the Spirit, is ineffective. The Divinest Preacher cannot soften the Iron Sinew, nor melt the Heart of Stone, nor make the Rock to tremble. ⟨p. 287⟩The Prophet Isaiah, whose sublime Eloquence overcomes all the admired Orators of the World, yet complains, Who has believed our ¹Report? to whom is the Arm of the Lord reveal'd? The Angels of Light, if they were sent from Heaven, and were in this sense ministring Spirits, they could not by their Seraphick Zeal, and most excellent Eloquence change and reform Sinners. One evil Angel seduced and corrupted the best Man, Adam, in the State of Innocence and Happiness: but a Council of good Angels cannot restore one Man, tho the least tainted, to Holiness and Felicity. No Creature can be a Creator; the Sanctification of a Sinner is a new Creation. 'Tis only the Word of Life spoken by the Lord of Life, that can raise dead Bodies and dead Souls. Suppose the Word of God be assisted by his Rod, yet that will be ineffectual to cleanse and change