1. Every Christian is Obliged to do all that he can for the salvation of others, but every Minister is doubly obliged, because he is separated to the Gospel of Christ, and is to give up himself wholly to that ⟨p. 356⟩work. Rom. 1. 1. 1 Tim. 4. 15. It is needless to make any further question of our Obligation, when we know that this work is needful to our peoples conversion and salvation, and that we are in general commanded to do all that is needful to those ends, as far as we are able. That they are necessary to those ends hath been showed before; and shall be more anon. Even the ancient professors, have need to be taught the Principles of Gods Oracles, if they have neglected it, or forgot it, saith the Apostle, [Greek or Hebrew] Heb. 5. 12. Whether the unconverted have need of conversion and the means of it, I hope is no doubt among us: And whether this be a means, and a needful means, experience may put us far out of doubt, if we had no more. Let them that have taken most pains in public, examine their people, and try whether many of them be not yet as ignorant and careless almost, as if they had never heard the Gospel. For my part, I study to speak as plainly and movingly as I can, (and next my study to speak truly, these are my chief studies) and yet I frequently meet with those that have been my hearers this 8. or 10. years, who know not whether Christ be God or man, and wonder when I tell them the history of his birth, and life, and death, and sending abroad the Gospel, as if they had never heard it before, and that know not that Infants have any original sin: And of those that know the History of the Gospel, how few are they that know the nature of that faith, repentance, and holiness, that it requireth; Or at least, that know their own hearts? But most of them have an ungrounded affiance in ⟨p. 357⟩Christ, trusting that he will pardon, justify and save them, while the world hath their hearts, and they live to the flesh: And this affiance they take for a justifying-faith. I have found by experience, that an ignorant sot that hath been an unprofitable hearer so long, hath got more knowledge and remorse of conscience in half an hours close discourse, then they did from ten years public preaching. I know that preaching of the Gospel publicly is the most excellent means, because we speak to many at once:
1. Every Christian is Obliged to do all that he can for the salvation of others, but every Minister is doubly obliged, because he is separated to the Gospel of Christ, and is to give up himself wholly to that ⟨p. 356⟩work. Rom. 1. 1. 1 Tim. 4. 15. It is needless to make any further question of our Obligation, when we know that this work is needful to our peoples conversion and salvation, and that we are in general commanded to do all that is needful to those ends, as far as we are able. That they are necessary to those ends hath been shewed before; and shall be more anon. Even the antient professors, have need to be taught the Principles of Gods Oracles, if they have neglected it, or forgot it, saith the Apostle, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 Heb. 5. 12. Whether the unconverted have need of conversion and the means of it, I hope is no doubt among us: And whether this be a means, and a needful means, experience may put us far out of doubt, if we had no more. Let them that have taken most pains in publike, examine their people, and try whether many of them be not yet as ignorant and careless almost, as if they had never heard the Gospel. For my part, I study to speak as plainly and movingly as I can, (and next my study to speak truly, these are my chief studies) and yet I frequently meet with those that have been my hearers this 8. or 10. years, who know not whether Christ be God or man, and wonder when I tell them the history of his birth, and life, and death, and sending abroad the Gospel, as if they had never heard it before, and that know not that Infants have any original sin: And of those that know the History of the Gospel, how few are they that know the nature of that faith, repentance, and holiness, that it requireth; Or at least, that know their own hearts? But most of them have an ungrounded affiance in ⟨p. 357⟩Christ, trusting that he will pardon, justifie and save them, while the world hath their hearts, and they live to the flesh: And this assiance they take for a justifying-faith. I have found by experience, that an ignorant sot that hath been an unprofitable hearer so long, hath got more knowledge and remorse of conscience in half an hours close discourse, then they did from ten years publike preaching. I know that preaching of the Gospel publikely is the most excellent means, because we speak to many at once:
