The application of redemption

The Nature of the Word calls for this manner of dispensation ¹as that which suits and serves best for the end and work of it. It makes it hit sooner, and pierce more deeply and prevailingly into the heart: The speech of the Minister and his words are like darts and arrows, the right and particular applying them is the level carriage of them to the heart, and so they hit unavoidably, and fasten strongly thereupon. General discourses are like arrows shot a cock-height at all adventures without aim, and so without success or special profit, or powerful work upon the hearer; men come and go away not touched, not troubled, not affected with any thing. The word is compared to a Sword, the Explication is like the drawing of it. So the Truth in the naked Nature and virtue of it comes to be […]; but the flourishing of the Sword will never do the deed. But he that handles it suitable to the end and work of it, he must follow the blow if he purpose to force his Enemy either to […] or yield. So it is with the Truth: down-right ⟨p. 198⟩blows puts sometimes the most cunning Fencer past his Sense; so […] cunning Hypocrites beyond all their Shifts. See how the Woman of Samaria, John, 4. 18, 19. Put off our Saviour with fond Cavils, saucy and contemptuous Speeches, until our Saviour met with her in particular, Go call […] Husband, she answers, I have no Husband; our Saviour comes within her, Thou hast had five Husbands, and he whom now thou hast is not thine Husband, in that thou sayest right, thou poor sinful Adulteress; then she fell before our Saviour. It is in a mans Spiritual as it is with a mans outward estate. The Bond lies forfeited, and the careless Debtor or Bankrupt he looks not out to pay. He hears the news of a Writ out for him, but sees none to arrest, and therefore he grows fearless. But when the Sergeant arrests him, and drags him to prison, you will not provide for your debt to pay, provide then to go to prison, that makes him begin to send to friends, to gather up his […], sell his Commodities, crave Bail and Surety. So it is with careless prodigal sinners which suffer their souls and salvations to lie forfeit, and yet look not out, until some particular word meet and make an arrest upon the soul, and the Minister by his Commission like the Sergeant seizeth upon him, you will not forsake your sins, you must therefore perish in your sins.