Englands duty under the present gospel liberty from Revel. III, vers. 20

II. Character.

The internal spiritual voice of Christ is a personal and particular voice, speaking distinctly, ⟨p. 285⟩and particularly to the case and state of the Soul, as if it were by name. Ministers do and must speak in general; they draw the Bow of the Gospel at an adventure, not knowing to whom God will direct the Arrow; but the Spirit guides it to the Mark. He applies general Truths unto particular persons, so as the Soul to whom he directs it, is fully convinced and satisfied the Lord intends and means it, in such a convictive and threatening Expression. O, saith the Soul, hath the Lord singled me out in special? this is my very state and case. You read John 10. 5. that Christ calleth his sheep by name. How doth he call them by name? but by speaking directly and particularly to their Condition and Case, as if he called them by their particular Names. He doth not now in an extraordinary way, as of old, call Samuel, Samuel; or Saul, Saul; but he sends a Beam of convincing light into the Conscience, plainly discovering this or that to be our sin, danger, or duty; and so as to the effect, it is all one as if God named him: And truly, till it comes to this, the Word hath no saving operation upon the Soul. A man may hear ten thousand general Truths, assent to them, and never be the better for them. How still and quiet was David's Conscience, till Nathan struck the nail upon the head, by an home personal application, and then his Conscience startled? Thus God singles out one man or woman from among a thousand in the Congregation, speaks to the heart, rips up the secure Conscience; the rest hear the same words, but feel not the same efficacy. And truly, 'tis a choice mercy when God shall please thus to single out one person from among many after this manner ⟨p. 286⟩