§. 2. There is abundance of difference between a weak, unskilful, unexperienced, dead-hearted, formal Teacher, and such a one as is described in the Direction. Some that are senseless or indifferent in such matters as these themselves, would persuade you to be so too, and look first in your settlement to your bodily conveniences, and be content with such a Teacher as accidentally you are cast upon. And they'll tell you, that the work of grace dependeth not on the Preachers gifts, but on the gift, and blessing of the Spirit of God: The Formalists and the Enthusiasts concur in this, though from different principles: But though God can frustrate the fittest means, and can work without means, or by that which is least fitted to the end, yet it is his ordinary way to work by means, and that for the soul as well as for the body; and to work most by the aptest means. And I am sure it is the duty of every Teacher, to preach in the fittest manner that he can, for the peoples edification; and not to do Gods work deceitfully, and ineptly, because God can bless the unfittest means: And it is the peoples duty to attend upon the best they can enjoy, though God can equally work by the weakest or by none. As that pretence will not excuse the contemners of Gods Ordinances, that upon every little business, stay at home, and attend upon no Ministry at all, no more will it excuse them, that refuse that help that is most suited to their edification, and take up with a worse, when they might have better. We are not to neglect duty upon a presumptuous expectation of miraculous or extraordinary works: When we can have no better, we may hope for the greater benefit from the weakest; but not when it is the choice of our own presumptuous irreligious hearts. God can make Daniel and his companions to thrive better by eating Pulse, than others that fed at the Table of the King: And rather than sin against God, we must cast our selves on him for unusual supplies, or leave all to his will. But few would therefore be persuaded causelessly to live on Pulse, when they may have better. And one would think this Truth, should have no contradiction, especially from those men, that are apt to obscure and extenuate the Spirits operations on the soul, and to confess no Grace, but what consisteth in a congruous ordination of Means and Circumstances:
§. 2. There is abundance of difference between a weak, unskilful, unexperienced, dead-hearted, formal Teacher, and such a one as is described in the Direction. Some that are sensless or indifferent in such matters as these themselves, would perswade you to be so too, and look first in your settlement to your bodily conveniencies, and be content with such a Teacher as accidentally you are cast upon. And they'l tell you, that the work of grace dependeth not on the Preachers gifts, but on the gift, and blessing of the Spirit of God: The Formalists and the Enthusiasts concurr in this, though from different principles: But though God can frustrate the fittest means, and can work without means, or by that which is least fitted to the end, yet it is his ordinary way to work by means, and that for the soul as well as for the body; and to work most by the aptest means. And I am sure it is the duty of every Teacher, to preach in the fittest manner that he can, for the peoples edification; and not to do Gods work deceitfully, and ineptly, because God can bless the unfittest means: And it is the peoples duty to attend upon the best they can enjoy, though God can equally work by the weakest or by none. As that pretence will not excuse the contemners of Gods Ordinances, that upon every little business, stay at home, and attend upon no Ministry at all, no more will it excuse them, that refuse that help that is most suited to their edification, and take up with a worse, when they might have better. We are not to neglect duty upon a presumptuous expectation of miraculous or extraordinary works: When we can have no better, we may hope for the greater benefit from the weakest; but not when it is the choice of our own presumptuous irreligious hearts. God can make Daniel and his companions to thrive better by eating Pulse, than others that fed at the Table of the King: And rather than sin against God, we must cast our selves on him for unusual supplyes, or leave all to his will. But few would therefore be perswaded causlesly to live on Pulse, when they may have better. And one would think this Truth, should have no contradiction, especially from those men, that are apt to obscure and extenuate the Spirits operations on the soul, and to confess no Grace, but what consisteth in a congruous ordination of Means and Circumstances:
