A Christian Directory

It is a sad thing to hear a man draw out a dreaming dull discourse about such astonishing weighty things? and to speak as if it were the business of his art, to teach men to sleep while the names of Heaven and Hell are in their ears; and not to be moved while they hear the message of the living God, about their life or death everlasting. If a man tell in the Streets of a fire in the Town, or a Soldier bring an Alarm of the enemy at the Gates, in a reading or jesting tone, the hearers will neglect him, and think that he believeth not himself. I know it is not mere noise that will convert a soul: A bawling fervency which the hearers may discern to be but histrionical and affected, and not to come from a serious heart, doth harden the auditors worst of all: A rude unreverent noise is unbeseeming an Ambassador of Christ: But an ignorant saying of a few confused words, or a sleepy recital of the most pertinent things, do as little beseem them. Christ raised not Lazarus by the loudness of his voice: But where the natural ears are the passage to the mind, the voice and manner should be suitable to the matter. Noise without seriousness and pertinent matter, is like Gunpowder without Bullet, that causeth sound, and no execution: And the weightiest matter without clear explication and lively application, is like Bullet without Powder: If you will throw Canon Bullets at the enemy with your hands, they will sooner fall on your feet than on them. And it is deadness aggravated by hypocrisy, when a lifeless Preacher will pretend moderation, as if he were afraid of speaking too loud and earnestly, le•t he should awake the dead, whom lightning and thunder will not awake; and when he will excuse himself by accusing those that are not as drowsy or dead as he; and would make men believe that seriousness is intemperate rage or madness: If you are cast upon a cold and sleepy Minister, consider the matter more than the manner: But choose not such a one for the cure of hardness and insensibility of heart.

It is a sad thing to hear a man draw out a dreaming dull discourse about such astonishing weighty things? and to speak as if it were the business of his art, to teach men to sleep while the names of Heaven and Hell are in their ears; and not to be moved while they hear the message of the living God, about their life or death everlasting. If a man tell in the Streets of a fire in the Town, or a Souldier bring an Allarm of the enemy at the Gates, in a reading or jeasting tone, the hearers will neglect him, and think that he believeth not himself. I know it is not meer noise that will convert a soul: A bawling fervency which the hearers may discern to be but histrionical and affected, and not to come from a serious heart, doth harden the auditors worst of all: A rude unreverent noise is unbeseeming an Embassador of Christ: But an ignorant saying of a few confused words, or a sleepy recital of the most pertinent things, do as little beseem them. Christ raised not Lazarus by the lowdness of his voice: But where the natural ears are the passage to the mind, the voice and manner should be suitable to the matter. Noise without seriousness and pertinent matter, is like Gunpowder without Bullet, that causeth sound, and no execution: And the weightiest matter without clear explication and lively application, is like Bullet without Powder: If you will throw Canon Bullets at the enemy with your hands, they will sooner fall on your feet than on them. And it is deadness aggravated by hypocrisie, when a lifeless Preacher will pretend moderation, as if he were afraid of speaking too lowd and earnestly, let he should awake the dead, whom lightning and thunder will not awake; and when he will excuse himself by accusing those that are not as drowzie or dead as he; and would make men believe that seriousness is intemperate rage or madness: If you are cast upon a cold and sleepy Minister, consider the matter more than the manner: But choose not such a one for the cure of hardness and insensibility of heart.