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

Thirdly, Therefore God only giveth the increase, because of the deep pollution that is in every man, who is not only blind and deaf, but dead. Now to what purpose is an eloquent Pathetical Oration to a dead man? David that did with so much affection, weep over dead Absalom, yet could not bring him to life. So that the Preachers of the Word, differ from all the humane Orators, Greek and Latin. They might by their eloquence and affections, persuade their Hearers; for it was about Civil and Moral matters, about which men had understandings naturally able to perceive, and wills, naturally able to choose the things persuaded: But Preaching is about those things, to which man hath no understanding to believe, nor no heart to receive. But God must give the hearing ear, and the seeing eye, else we miscarry. So you are not to come to Sermons, as to humane Orations: Your own understanding, your own natural Parts, are enemies, and Adversaries to good and holy things of God. There are two Parts of wisdom (said Lactantius) The former, to understand what things are false. 2. The second, to know what things are true. We are to be untaught, undeceived, before we come to know heavenly things. So that all is of God, both the Word to be heard, and the Ear to hear. Both the Word to be believed, and the heart to believe. In the next place,

Thirdly, Therefore God only giveth the increase, because of the deep pollution that is in every man, who is not only blind and deaf, but dead. Now to what purpose is an eloquent Pathetical Oration to a dead man? David that did with so much affection, weep over dead Absalom, yet could not bring him to life. So that the Preachers of the Word, differ from all the humane Oratours, Greek and Latin. They might by their eloquence and affections, perswade their Hearers; for it was about Civil and Moral matters, about which men had understandings naturally able to perceive, and wils, naturally able to choose the things perswaded: But Preaching is about those things, to which man hath no understanding to believe, nor no heart to receive. But God must give the hearing ear, and the seeing eye, else we miscarry. So you are not to come to Sermons, as to humane Orations: Your own understanding, your own natural Parts, are enemies, and Adversaries to good and holy things of God. There are two Parts of wisdome (said Lactantius) The former, to understand what things are false. 2. The second, to know what things are true. We are to be untaught, undeceived, before we come to know heavenly things. So that all is of God, both the Word to be heard, and the Ear to hear. Both the Word to be believed, and the heart to believe. In the next place,