A practical commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and uses upon the first…A practicall commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and vses upon the first…

Use 1. May show us the reason, why so many good books, written by learned godly men, have so little prevailed to bring on any of the Papists, few or none converted by any of our writings; and no wonder, for the writings of the Apostles themselves were not sanctified to this end; it's true, writings have ever been useful to the convincing of some, to the establishment of others, to the satisfaction of others, but none have prevailed to the conversion of any,

Ʋse 1. May shew us the reason, why so many good books, written by learned godly men, have so little prevailed to bring on any of the Papists, few or none converted by any of our writings; and no wonder, for the writings of the Apostles themselves were not sanctified to this end; it's true, writings have ever been useful to the convincing of some, to the establishment of others, to the satisfaction of others, but none have prevailed to the conversion of any,

Use 2. The like may be said of our reading Ministers, look at all the good that hath been done in such Congregations, where they have only readings, you shall find them as ignorant of Christ, and empty of grace, as if they had never heard of such things. You will say, this is an uncharitable saying: But I would know whether is more uncharitableness, to flatter you in your woeful condition to your destruction, or to tell you of your danger? 2 Chron. 15.2, 3. Now for a long time Israel had been without the true God, and without a teaching Priest, it cannot be conceived, but that they had the law read in their Synagogues, for the very Judicial law of Moses, was the form of the Government, which they could not be ignorant in, but yet they are said to be without God, because they had not a Priest to teach.

Ʋse 2. The like may be said of our reading Ministers, look at all the good that hath been done in such Congregations, where they have only readings, you shall find them as ignorant of Christ, and empty of grace, as if they had never heard of such things. You will say, this is an uncharitable saying: But I would know whether is more uncharitablenesse, to flatter you in your woeful condition to your destruction, or to tell you of your danger?