The Scripture directory for church-officers and people, or, A practical commentary upon the whole…

First, When we say, it's the instituted means, or Instrumental Cause, it's not to be understood, as if the Ministry or Peaching of the Word, by any inward natural power of it self, can work grace in the hearts of the Hearers; no: Experience witnesseth, that after ten thousand Sermons, men remain as ignorant, and as brutish as before. The words reach only to the ear, but they make no forcible impression upon the soul. So then, the Ministry doth not beget grace, as the fire burneth, or the hatchet cutteth; which are Instruments that work by their own inward dispotion and power to pruduce their effects. This is good to observe, that so still our hearts and prayers may be up to God, who works in and by the Ministry.

First, When we say, it's the instituted meanes, or Instrumental Cause, it's not to be understood, as if the Ministry or Peaching of the Word, by any inward natural power of it self, can work grace in the hearts of the Hearers; no: Experience witnesseth, that after ten thousand Sermons, men remain as ignorant, and as bruitish as before. The words reach only to the ear, but they make no forcible impression upon the soul. So then, the Ministry doth not beget grace, as the fire burneth, or the hatchet cutteth; which are Instruments that work by their own inward dispotion and power to pruduce their effects. This is good to observe, that so still our hearts and prayers may be up to God, who works in and by the Ministry.

Secondly, Because it's not a natural Cause; therefore it doth not also work necessarily these Divine Effects in every subject, but where and when God is pleased to apply it. The Sun shineth every where, upon one thing as well as another: The fire burneth always every where, in one place as well as another. But the Ministry doth not so, that is successful in one place and not in another: That works upon one Congregation, and not upon another. And herein Gods wisdom makes a wonderful difference. The most unlikely; the most indisposed many times find the Ministry enlivening and quickening of them, when others are blinded and hardened. So, that though we should have the Ministry of Angels, and of the most eminent men that ever lived, still we must take heed, that by our unthanfulness, negligence, profaneness, we do not provoke God to withdraw his power and presence in the Ministry. For if it be so (as it is to be feared it is so to too many people) then the Ministry is but a shadow; or if a body, a body without a soul: It's but a dead letter: Yea, not only the Law, but the Gospel and all preaching is but the ministration of death, and condemnation, when without Gods Spirit and power. As Elijah servant, though he had his Masters staff, yet