A30235:43
The difficulty of and the encouragements to a reformation a sermon preached before the…
The difficulty of and the encouragements to a reformation a sermon preached before the honourable House of Commons at the public fast, Septem. 27, 1643 / by Mr. Anthony Burges ...The difficulty of and the encouragements to a reformation a sermon preached before the honourable House of Commons at the publick fast, Septem. 27, 1643 / by Mr. Anthony Burges ...
London: printed by R. Bishop for Thomas Underhill, 1643London: printed by R. Bishop for Thomas Vnderhill, 1643
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Fourthly, to the heart and conscience of man: and herein it differs from all other Rules and Laws, they bind only the outward man, but these reach to the heart and conscience, Rom. 7. The Law is spiritual, it doth convince even a self-admiring Pharisee; when this Sun-light shineth, it discovereth all the hidden thoughts of the heart all those moats, that otherwise would not be seen, so Heb. 4. 12. Its a two edged sword, &c. The eloquence and wit of men doth not awe and terrify the conscience, but the Word of God doth, that makes the heart cry out, I am overcome, overcome. Its true God makes use of humane eloquence, Qui dedit Petrum piscatorem, dedit & Cyprianum Rhetorem; but all must be subordinate to the Word: As God is the Father of spirits, so the Word is a word of spirits; If the word comfort, though all the world threaten, the heart beareth up it self, and so if that threatens, the heart is discouraged.
Fourthly, to the heart and conscience of man: and herein it differs from all other Rules and Lawes, they bind onely the outward man, but these reach to the heart and conscience, Rom. 7. The Law is spirituall, it doth convince even a selfe-admiring Pharisee; when this Sunne-light shineth, it discovereth all the hidden thoughts of the heart all those moates, that otherwise would not be seene, so Heb. 4. 12. Its a two edged sword, &c. The eloquence and wit of men doth not awe and terrifie the conscience, but the Word of God doth, that makes the heart cry out, I am overcome, overcome. Its true God makes use of humane eloquence, Qui dedit Petrum piscatorem, dedit & Cyprianum Rhetorem; but all must be subordinate to the Word: As God is the Father ofspirits, so the Word is a word of spirits; If the word comfort, though all the world threaten, the heart beareth up it selfe, and so if that threatens, the heart is discouraged.
Use 1. Of exhortation, to set up this rule.