Compassionate counsel to all young men especially I. London apprentices, II. students of divinity,…

And as men are unfit to teach others, that which they know not themselves, so unbelieving men, and unholy men, are far less fit to persuade the hearers to Faith and Holiness, than believing holy Teachers are. ⟨p. 112⟩Though some of them may be furnished with the same notions and words which serious Godly Teachers use, yet usually, even in that, they are greatly wanting: because they have not so throughly studied saving Truth, nor perceived its evidence, nor set their hearts upon it, nor deeply received and retained it. For serious affection quickeneth the mind to serious consideration, and causeth men speedily and deeply to receive that truth, which others receive but slowly, superficially, or not at all. How eagerly and prosperously do men study that which they strongly love? And how hardly do they learn that, which they have no delight in? much more which they hate, and their very natures are against?

And as men are unfit to teach others, that which they know not themselves, so unbelieving men, and unholy men, are far less fit to perswade the hearers to Faith and Holiness, than believing holy Teachers are. ⟨p. 112⟩Though some of them may be furnished with the same notions and words which serious Godly Teachers use, yet usually, even in that, they are greatly wanting: because they have not so throughly studied saving Truth, nor percieved its evidence, nor set their hearts upon it, nor deeply recieved and retained it. For serious affection quickneth the mind to serious consideration, and causeth men speedily and deeply to recieve that truth, which others recieve but slowly, superficially, or not at all. How eagerly and prosperously do men study that which they strongly love? And how hardly do they learn that, which they have no delight in? much more which they hate, and their very natures are against?

But if an Hypocrite should have good notions and words, yet he will usually be greatly wanting in that serious delivery, which is ordinarily needful to make the Hearers serious Christians. It seldom reacheth the heart of the Hearer, which cometh not from the heart of the Speaker. As light causeth light, so heat causeth heat; And the dead are unfit to generate Life. The arrow will not go far or deep, if both the Bow and Arm be not strong that shoot it; constant experience telleth us undeniably, of the different success of the reading or saying of