Gospel reconciliation, or, Christ's trumpet of peace to the world

that ⟨p. 295⟩have some fine quaint words, that there sentences shall be very smooth, and (as they say) come off bravely, and this is a dainty preacher, and he shall have many fine latin sentences, and witty speeches, and come into a pulpit and acts as if he were to act a part upon the stage: these are the fine quaint preachers, the Court preachers (as they call them) But this is not to preach as in Christs stead. It is very like that this was the preaching of the Scribes and Pharisees. But when Christ: came to speak, he spake as one that God had authority, and not as the Scribes: There was a great deal of difference between his preaching, and that of the Scribes, he came with the authority of God, he came to preach to the consciences of men, and not to the fancies of men; and the difference, as there was in him, so there is in some measure and degree now; There are some that preach (to this very day) just as the scribes; but there are others that preach as Christ did; that preached to the conscience, and to the hearts of people, and their words do stick in the consciences of men, though they fret, and vex, and go away in a rage; yet there is somewhat that sticks to their consciences: so that they are either forced to yield to it, or fly from it. And here is the reason that many a man will cry out and say, I will never hear such a minister, Why? What is the reason? his corrupt heart cannot bear that ministers preaching; the word comes with power to his heart, and his guilty conscience cannot bear it, now watch but whether there be not some vile guiltiness in their spirits, that say of such men, they will never hear them any more: because their corrupt hearts cannot bear the authority of the word, that preaching that is as if God and Christ speak it, is with authority, and not with fine quaint words: To this purpose you have an expression in 1 Cor. 1.17. [for Christ sent me] he was to go in the name of Christ, [not with wisdom of men] Christ did never send me to preach with the wisdom of men. What a text is here? How will many men be able to answer this ⟨p. 296⟩one text? that make it their great study to get Wisdom of words? But mark the danger of this! [Least the Cross] of Christ be made of no effect. There is a most hideous wickedness in this;

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