A saint or a brute the certain necessity and excellency of holiness, &c. ...…

2. I will not believe you, because your objection is nothing but a Blasphemous accusation of the Living God. If it were true that Preaching is bad, it is Christ then that is bad that doth command it. But I am sure that Christ is not bad: and that such as Blaspheme him, do it to their cost. It is he that hath laid a Necessity on us, and woe be unto us if we preach not the Gospel, 1 Cor. 9. 16. and that chargeth us to feed the flock of God, 1 Pet. 5. 2. Yea the spirit chargeth us before God and the Lord Jesus Christ who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom, that we preach the word and be instant in season, out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.] If any one be to be blamed for all this preaching and stir for heaven, it is Christ that chargeth it so strictly upon us. And if thou dare lay the blame upon the Lord, speak out, and stand to it at judgement.

3. I know it is false that you say, that the world is the worse for all this preaching and Godliness, because it is against the very office of Christ, and of the Holy Ghost. Christ was a diligent preacher himself, and dare you accuse him for it? He came into the world to bring us the Light of heavenly Truth: and dare you say that it were better be without it. It is the work of the Holy Ghost to illuminate and sanctify men, and do you think that he doth us hurt? Christ dyed to wash and purify by the word and Spirit, the Church which is his Body, that he might present it spotless to the Father, Eph. 5. 26. 27. And darest thou say that Christ came to do us harm? By this thy despising of his benefits, thou showest that thou hast yet no part in him or in his saving benefits, but art in the gall of bitterness and bond of thy iniquities, and thy heart is not right in the sight of God.

3. I know it is false that you say, that the world is the worse for all this preachig and Godliness, because it is against the very office of Christ, and of the Holy Ghost. Christ was a diligent preacher himself, and dare you accuse him for it? He came into the world to bring us the Light of heavenly Truth: and dare you say that it were better be without it. It is the work of the Holy Ghost to illuminate and sanctifie men, and do you think that he doth us hurt? Christ dyed to wash and purifie by the word and Spirit, the Church which is his Body, that he might present it spotless to the Father,