A44342:618
The application of redemption by the effectual work of the word, and spirit of Christ, for the bringing home of lost sinners to God ... by that faithful and known servant of Christ, Mr. Thomas Hooker ...
London: printed by Peter Cole, 1656
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Plainness of Preaching, appears also in the matter §2that is spoken: when sin and sinners are set out in their native and natural colours, and carry their proper names, whereby they may be owned suitable to the loathsomeness that is in them, and the danger of those evils which are their undoubted reward: A Spade is a Spade, and a Drunkard is a Drunkard, &c. and if he will have his Sins, he must and shall have […] with them. Its Satan's Policy (who painter or tyre-maker like, cozens all the world with colours) to […] and […] the […] ways of […], and the glorious Graces of the Spirit, with the ⟨p. 211⟩soot and dirt of reproaches, and base nick-names: Sincerity, he terms Singularity; […], Puritanism and Hypocrisy; and so ignorant men (who judge the person by the picture) are brought out of love and liking with […] blessed ways of […] and holiness. Contrariwise, when he would cast a veil over the ugly and deformed face of Vice, and […] courses he is […] to lay […] false colours of indifferency, […], and pleasure; Drunkenness is good fellowship, and neighbourhood. Covetousness comes masked under the visor of […] and moderation: Cowardliness is trimmed and […] up in the […] of discretion, and wariness. If Ministers will not be the Devils Brokers, and followers; their manner of proceeding must be expressly contrary: When they come to Preach, they must make sin appear truly odious, and […] to the open […] of all, that all may […] afraid and endeavour to avoid it. Those […] wipes, and […] jerks, and […] at sin, at which the […] profane […] pleased, but not reformed; are utterly […] and […] the Place, the Person, the Office, of the Messenger of the Lord of Hosts. What A Minister a Jester! O fearful! to make the Pulpit a Stage, to play with […]; when he should terrify the Conscience for it? The Lord abominates the practice, he that knows and fears the Lord should abhor it with detestation. Thus plainly dealt Elijah with Ahab, 1 Kings 18. 18. Its thou and thy Fathers house that have troubled Israel, because ye have forsaken the Commandments of the Lord, and followed Baalim. So also with […], 1 King. 18. 21. How long will you halt between two […]? If the Lord be God, follow him; but if Baal, then […] him. As if he should have said, Away with this patching in […], either a Saint or a Devil, ⟨p. 212⟩make something of it, this is down right dealing.
Plainness of Preaching, appears also in the matter §2that is spoken: when sin and sinners are set out in their native and natural colours, and carry their proper names, whereby they may be owned suitable to the loathsomness that is in them, and the danger of those evils which are their undoubted reward: A Spade is a Spade, and a Drunkard is a Drunkard, &c. and if he will have his Sins, he must and shall have 〈…〉 with them. Its Satans Policy (who painter or tyre-maker like, cozens all the world with colors) to 〈…〉 and 〈…〉 the 〈…〉 wayes of 〈…〉, and the glorious Graces of the Spirit, with the ⟨p. 211⟩soot and dirt of reproaches, and base nick-names: Sincerity, he terms Singularity; 〈…〉, Puritanism and Hypocrisie; and so ignorant men (who judge the person by the picture) are brought out of love and liking with 〈…〉 blessed wayes of 〈…〉 and holiness. Contrariwise, when he would cast a vaile over the ugly and deformed face of Vice, and 〈…〉 courses he is 〈…〉 to lay 〈…〉 false colors of indifferency, 〈…〉, and pleasure; Drunkenness is good fellowship, and neighborhood. Covetousness comes masked under the vizard of 〈…〉 and moderation: Cowardliness is trimmed and 〈…〉 up in the 〈…〉 of discretion, and wariness. If Ministers will not be the Divels Brokers, and followers; their manner of proceeding must be expresly contrary: When they come to Preach, they must make sin appear truly odious, and 〈…〉 to the open 〈…〉 of all, that all may 〈…〉 afraid and endeavor to avoid it. Those 〈…〉 wipes, and 〈…〉 jerks, and 〈…〉 at sin, at which the 〈…〉 prophane 〈…〉 pleased, but not reformed; are utterly and the Place, the Person, the Office, of the Messenger of the Lord of Hosts. What A Minister a Jester! O searful! to make the Pulpit a Stage, to play with ; when he should terrifie the Conscience for it? The Lord abominates the practice, he that knows and fears the Lord should abhor it with detestation. Thus plainly dealt Elias with Ahab,
And thus plainly John the Baptist who had the same Spirit dealt with Herod. He doth not beat the Bush, and go behind the door to tell him his faults, and mince the matter with some intimations, but he speaks out, Matth. 14. 4. It is not lawful for thee to have thy Brother Philips Wife: either thou must not have that incestuous Harlot, or thou must not have Grace and Glory. Thus again he dealt with the Sadducees and Pharisees when he saw them come to his Baptisms. He says to them, Matth. 3. 7. Oh ye Generation of Vipers, who hath fore-warned you to flee from the wrath to come. As if he should have said, Eggs and Birds, Parents and Posterity, you are a race of venomous, and poysonful wretches: What? A proud Pharisee to listen to the simplicity of the Doctrine of Grace, is it possible? If in sincerity and good earnest, you purpose to embrace the Doctrine of truth, bring forth then fruits worthy of amendment of life, vers. 8.
And thus plainly John the Baptist who had the same Spirit dealt with Herod. He doth not beat the Bush, and go behind the door to tell him his faults, and mince the matter with some intimations, but he speaks out, Matth. 14. 4. It is not lawful for thee to have thy Brother Philips Wife: either thou mnst not have that incestuous Harlot, or thou must not have Grace and Glory. Thus again he dealt with the Sadduces and Pharisees when he saw them come to his Baptisms. He saies to them, Matth. 3. 7. Oh ye Generation of Vipers, who hath fore-warned you to flee from the wrath to come. As if he should have said, Egs and Birds, Parents and Posterity, you are a race of venomous, and poysonful wretches: What? A proud Pharisee to listen to the simplicity of the Doctrine of Grace, is it possible? If in sincerity and good earnest, you purpose to embrace the Doctrine of truth, bring forth then fruits worthy of amendment of life, vers. 8.
We have done with the Plainness of the Ministry,§2 we are now to enquire wherein the Power of a Ministry Consists: And that appears in Two Things.
We have done with the Plainness of the Ministery,§2 we are now to enquire wherein the Power of a Ministery Consists: And that appears in Two Things.
There must be soundness of Argument, and undeniable §1Evidence of Reason out of the Word, which is able to command the Conscience; such strength […] truth, which like a mighty stream, may carry an understanding Hearer. When the Apostle was to come amongst the flaunting Orators and silken Doctors of Corinth, which so excelled in Eloquence, he brings the trial of their Ministry unto this touch, 1 Cor. 4. 19, 20. I will know not the speech of them that are […] up, but the power, for the Kingdom of God stands not in word, but in Power. Its not the […] of words, not the sound and tinkling ⟨p. 213⟩of a company of fine Sentences, like apish toys and rattles, that will commend our Ministry in the account of God, there is no Kingdom, no Power of the work of the Spirit, the heavenly Majesty of an Ordinance is not seen in such empty shells and shadows: A building with painted walls, and no pillars, would be of little use, and less continuance: A body framed out of Colours, may be a picture of a Bird or Beast, but a living Creature it cannot be, because it wants the soul and substance which should give life and virtue thereunto. So it is when a multitude of gay Sentences are packed together without the sinews and substance of convicting Arguments: there may be the picture of a Sermon, but the life and power of Preaching there will not be in any such expressions.
There must be soundness of Argument, and undeniable §1Evidence of Reason out of the Word, which is able to command the Conscience; such strength 〈…〉 truth, which like a mighty stream, may carry an understanding Hearer. When the Apostle was to come amongst the flanting Orators and silken Doctors of Corinth, which so excelled in Eloquence, he brings the tryal of their Ministery unto this touch,
That a Minister may be Powerful, an inward […] §2heat […] […], and holy affection is required, answerable and suitable to the matter, which is to be communicated; and those add great life and […] to the delivery of the truth. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks, and a good man out of the good treasure of his heart, brings forth good things, Mat. 12. 35. Where then there is a heart awanting, the chiefest part of Speech, the pith and heart of it is gone; for the several affections out of which the words arise, make an impression, and work alike temper of Spirit in him to whom we utter and express our selves: Thus we speak from heart to heart, and that is the best way to be in the […] of the Hearer, and the only way to make our words take place and prevail: He that mourns in speaking of sin, makes another […] for sin committed. An Exhortation that proceeds from the heart, carries a kind of Authority and Commission with it, to make way for it self not to return before ⟨p. 214⟩it confer with the heart of him that will give attendance to it. […] Discourses talk only with the […], they go no further, because they […] no deeper then from the understanding of him […] speaks. The Doctrine of the Gospel is like the […] upon the herbs, and the dew upon the grass, […]. 32. 2. The strength and stirring of holly affections is like a […] wind or tempest, makes the truth delivered to press in with more power and speed, and to soak more deeply, even to the heart root of him […] with […] will receive it.
That a Minister may be Powerful, an inward 〈…〉 §2heat 〈…〉 〈…〉, and holy affection is required, answerable and suitable to the matter, which is to be communicated; and those adde great life and 〈…〉 to the delivery of the truth. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks, and a good man out of the good treasure of his heart, brings forth good things, Mat. 12. 35. Where then there is a heart awanting, the chiefest part of Speech, the pith and heart of it is gone; for the several affections out of which the words arise, make an impression, and work alike temper of Spirit in him to whom we utter and express our selves: Thus we speak from heart to heart, and that is the best way to be in the of the Hearer, and the only way to make our words take place and prevail: He that mourns in speaking of sin, makes another for sin committed. An Exhortation that proceeds from the heart, carries a kind of Authority and Commission with it, to make way for it self not to return before
It may be here enquired for Explication of the §2Point: How a Ministry thus […] and Powerful […] work? Answ. To speak only so much here as concerns the Place, leaving Particulars until we […] of the several Parts of Preparation, know we must, the preparing work of a plain and powerful Ministry stands in Two Things.
It may be here enquired for Explication of the §2Point: How a Ministery thus 〈…〉 and Powerful 〈…〉 work? Answ. To speak only so much here as concerns the Place, leaving Particulars until we 〈…〉 of the several Parts of Preparation, know we must, the preparing work of a plain and powerful Ministery stands in Two Things.
It discovers the secrets of Sin, makes known the §1close passages of the Soul to it self, and that in the ugliness thereof: Heb. 4. 11. The Word of God is […] in Operation, sharper than any two edged sword, […] betwixt the Soul and the Spirit, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of […] […]. This was the work that Paul aimed at in the […] of the Gospel, 2 Cor. 4. 4. Pandling the Word of God, not deceitfully, but plainly, by […] of the truth, he commended himself to […] mans Conscience in the sight of God. As though he had said, Speak Oh ye blessed Saints of […], was not Paul in your […]? Did he […] every corner of your Consciences? […] you cannot but acknowledge it, your hearts […] […] but […] as much.
It discovers the secrets of Sin, makes known the §1close passages of the Soul to it self, and that in the ugliness thereof: Heb. 4. 11. The Word of God is 〈…〉 in Operation, sharper than any two edged sword, 〈…〉 betwixt the Soul and the Spirit, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of 〈…〉 〈…〉. This was the work that Paul aimed at in the 〈…〉 of the Gospel, 2 Cor. 4. 4. Pandling the Word of God, not deceitsully, but plainly, by 〈…〉 of the truth, he commended himself to 〈…〉 mans Conscience in the sight of God. As though he had said, Speak Oh ye blessed Saints of 〈…〉, was not Paul in your 〈…〉? Did he 〈…〉 every corner of your Consciences? 〈…〉 you cannot but acknowledge it, your hearts 〈…〉 but as much.
A […] […] […] […] the Corruption,§2 […] […] […] […] the […] of luch to whom the ⟨p. 215⟩Word is spoken and blessed. The […] Soldiers, the refuse Publicans, all […] and stand […] at the […] of […], Luke 3. 11, 12. they all said, Master, what shall we do? […] a […] at the Bar, […] […] (the Judge upon the […]) […] […]. Hence it is, the time of the […] of the […] is called The […] and […] day of the Lord, Mal. 4. 5. […] that of […] […], 2 Cor. 10. 5. The weapons […] […] […] (that is, the […] Ministry […] […] Word […] […] through […], to […] down strong […], […] cast down […], […] […] […] […] thought to the Obedience of […].
A 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 the Corruption,§2 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 the 〈…〉 of luch to whom the ⟨p. 215⟩Word is spoken and blessed. The 〈…〉 Souldiers, the refuse Publicans, all 〈…〉 and stand 〈…〉 at the 〈…〉 of 〈…〉, Luke 3. 11, 12. they all said, Master, what shall we do? 〈…〉 a 〈…〉 at the Bar, (the Judge upon the ) . Hence it is, the time of the of the is called The and day of the Lord,
[…] our Saviour, the Chief Master of the Assemblies, is said to […] […] […], […] […] the Scribes, Matt. 7. last. Not to tell a man a […] tale, a toothless, sapless […], so that the hearers […] […] are gone, are never stirred, never troubled for their sins, nor quickened onward in Obedience: But when the power of the […], the presence and Majesty […] the Lord […], appears in his Ordinances, they then carry […] with them and bear down all before them: […] […] […] lightning, forsakes his hold, and the […] […] is forced to give way to the Government of the King of Saints. Strong Physic either Cures or Kills, either takes away the […], or life of the […]; so it is with a spiritual and powerful Ministry, it will work one way or other, either it […] […] hardens, converts or condemns those that live […] the stroke thereof. For observe we must, […] […] Word is but an Instrument in the hand of […], who dispenseth the same […] to his good […], and the counsel of his own Will, working when, and upon whom he will, and what he will by […]. The Sword in the hand of him that wields it may as easily ⟨p. 216⟩kill as defend another, answerable to the affection of him that strikes therewith: It is so with the Word which is the Sword of the Spirit, It is the savour of life unto life, but then and to those only to whom the Lord will bless the same; and the savour of death unto death, then and unto those when such a […] is denied.
〈…〉 our Savior, the Chief Master of the Assemblies, is said to 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉, 〈…〉 〈…〉 the Scribes, Matt. 7. last. Not to tell a man a 〈…〉 tale, a toothless, sapless 〈…〉, so that the hearers 〈…〉 〈…〉 are gone, are never stirred, never troubled for their sins, nor quickened onward in Obedience: But when the power of the 〈…〉, the presence and Majesty the Lord , appears in his Ordinances, they then carry with them and bear down all before them: lightning, forsakes his hold, and the is forced to give way to the Government of the King of Saints. Strong Physick either Cures or Kills, either takes away the , or life of the ; so it is with a spiritual and powerful Ministery, it will work one way or other, either it hardens, converts or condemns those that live the stroak thereof. For observe we must, Word is but an Instrument in the hand of , who dispenseth the same to his good , and the counsel of his own Will, working when, and upon whom he will, and what he will by . The Sword in the hand of him that wields it may as easily
Such as be Ministers may hence see the Reason, of1 that little success we find, that little good we do, in the Vineyard of the Lord: Our Pains […] not, our […] […] not, with the hearts of men, not one […] levelled, not a crooked piece […], not one poor Soul prepared for a Christ, after […] […], quarters, years travelling in the work of the […].
Such as be Ministers may hence see the Reason, of1 that little success we find, that little good we do, in the Vineyard of the Lord: Our Pains 〈…〉 not, our 〈…〉 〈…〉 not, with the hearts of men, not one 〈…〉 levelled, not a crooked piece 〈…〉, not one poor Soul prepared for a Christ, after 〈…〉 〈…〉, quarters, years travelling in the work of the 〈…〉.
The time was Satan fell like lightning, suddenly, speedily, when the Disciples of Christ as Sons of […], delivered the Gospel in the power and demonstration of the Spirit: But now Satan stands up […] full strength, takes up his stand, maintains his […] in the hearts of men, notwithstanding all that […] see done by the most. What is the […]? God is as Merciful as ever, his Word and […] as […] as ever they were: I need […] […] as he, Where is the Lord God of Elijah? […], […], I must rather ask, Where is the Spirit […] Tower of Elijah? We want Power, and Spirit, and then no wonder we do not, nay, upon these […] in reason we shall never prepare a people for the Lord. The Word of God which is the Sword of the Spirit, is as sharp as ever it was, but our hands […] weak, our hearts are feeble, we have no courage, […] power […] follow the blow, against the sturdy […] […] […] of men: We keep these […] […] much about us, (condemned by the1 […], 2 […]. 4. 2.) in the course of our Ministry, ⟨p. 217⟩[…] we are to offend our friends, to displease great ones, to provoke the wicked, and malicious, fear we do, lest their love should be lost, their bounty and kindness taken away, and removed, or else hazard our own earthly comforts, and contents: Its pity but the tongue of that Minister should cleave to the roof of his mouth, who speaks any thing less than God requires of him; for these base and by respects sometimes Ministers are afraid to speak to the hearts of men, and ashamed to reprove them for those sins which they are not afraid or ashamed to do in the face of the world. Neither do Ministers many times Convince so soundly as they ought, nor gather in those Arguments which may make those […] undeniable, and mens Consciences at a stand. Again, they want that holy spiritual affection, which they should deliver Gods Word withal unto his people: And this is the Sum of all, Ministers do not deliver the Word with a heavenly, hearty, violent affection, they do not speak out of the abundance of their hearts. If they would speak against sin with a holy indignation, it would make men stand in awe of sin; they talk of it hourly, and say, It is not good to profane Gods Name, and his Sabbaths, and to live an ungodly life, but they do not speak from […] hearts in this kind.
The time was Satan fell like lightning, suddenly, speedily, when the Disciples of Christ as Sons of 〈…〉, delivered the Gospel in the power and demonstration of the Spirit: But now Satan stands up full strength, takes up his stand, maintains his in the hearts of men, notwithstanding all that see done by the most. What is the ? God is as Merciful as ever, his VVord and as as ever they were: I need as he, Where is the Lord God of Elias? , , I must rather ask, Where is the Spirit Tower of Elias? We want Power, and Spirit, and then no wonder we do not, nay, upon these in reason we shall never prepare a people for the Lord. The Word of God which is the Sword of the Spirit, is as sharp as ever it was, but our hands weak, our hearts are feeble, we have no courage, power follow the blow, against the sturdy of men: We keep these much about us, (condemned by the
A sturdy Messenger if he come to a mans house to speak with him, he will not be put off, he will take no denial, but he will speak with him, if it be possible before he goes away: But send a Child of a Message to a man, if a Servant do but tell him, His Master is not at leisure, or that he may speak with him another time, he will […] be put off, and go away before he […] delivered his Message. So it is with a Minister that […] his Office with a hearty affection. For when a man speaks from his heart in this Case, he will have no ⟨p. 218⟩answer, he will not be […] withal, he will take no denial but will have that he came […]: If a man should say he is not at leisure to […] with him, or to hear him now, he will speak with him another time, he will not go away with […] […], […] he will tell him, I came to speak with your […], and I will speak with your hearts: He will […] […] the people, Tell your hearts ye that love the world […] the […] and pleasures […], (and my heart […] you) did you know the good things that are in Christ […], did you but know what a happy thing it is to have assurance of Gods love, you would never love […] nor delight in wick dness, as you have done before: […] no more […] […] things of the world, but for your […]. The day is coming when the Heavens shall […] with […], and you shall […] the voice o the […], saying, A ice ye dead and come to judgement: Where you shall hear that dreadful Sentence, […] […] […] all ye workers of […], I know […] not, Matt. 7. 23. Oh this may be your case one day. And we that are Ministers of God do mourn for you, and tell your souls, We must have Sorrow […] you, we came for Hearts, and must have Hearts before we go. And this is the First Use, showing the Reason why the Ministers or God do so […] good, It is […] […] plain and powerful Preaching […] […] […].
A sturdy Messenger if he come to a mans house to speak with him, he will not be put off, he will take no denial, but he will speak with him, if it be possible before he goes away: But send a Child of a Message to a man, if a Servant do but tell him, His Master is not at leisure, or that he may speak with him another time, he will 〈…〉 be put off, and go away before he 〈…〉 delivered his Message. So it is with a Minister that 〈…〉 his Office with a hearty affection. For when a man speaks from his heart in this Case, he will have no
The […] Use […] […] us the fearful1 estate and miserable Condition […] […] that lived a long time under a plain and powerful Ministry, and yet their hearts have not been […] and prepared for the Lord […]: It is a […] […] that the Lord will never bestow any […] Good upon that Soul. He that hath lived under, a powerful Ministry many years, and yet is not wrought upon thereby, it cannot certainly be concluded, but it is ⟨p. 219⟩greatly to be suspected, That the means of Grace will never profit that man. Look as it is with the Master Carpenter, when he hath turned every piece of Timber, and taken what he will for his turn, he tells them that be under him, Let this be hewed, and that […] framed and made fit for the building: Afterward […] finds one piece broken, and another cracked, and another knotty: Why, what says he? There is no squaring of these, they are sit for nothing but for burning, they are not fit for any place in the building. Oh! take heed, when Gods Ministers have been cutting, and hewing, now exhorting, now persuading, now cutting the heart with Reproof, and yet finds here a cracked Heart, and there a stubborn Soul, that will not be squared by the Word, […] than the Lord should say, These will never be fitted and prepared for me, they are fit for […] but the fire. Oh! take heed of it, for he that will not be fitted for Grace, shall be made a […] in Hell for ever. Therefore all you that have lived under a powerful Ministry, and yet are not prepared, go home and reason with your souls, and plead with your own hearts, and say, Lord, Why […] not I yet humbled and prepared? Shall I thus be always under the hacking and hewing of the Word, and never be framed? Such a man, and such a man was stubborn, and wicked, and profane, and yet the Lord hath brought him home, and he is become a broken hearted Christian, What shall I think that am not […] and prepared for Christ by all the means that I have had? Alas! thou mayest justly suspect God never intends good to thy soul: It is no absolute conclusion, but it is a great suspicion that those that have lived under a plain and powerful Ministry half a dozen years or longer, and have got no good, nor profited under the same; I say, It's a shrewd ⟨p. 220⟩suspicion, that God will send […] down to Hell: Therefore suspect thy own soul and say, Lord, will Exhortations never prevail? Will Instructions never do me good?
Will […], and Reproofs […] strike my heart? Why, I have heard Sermons that would have […] the very stones I […] on, that would have moved the eat I sate upon; the very fire of Hell hath flashed in my face, I have seen even the very plagues […] hell, I have had many Exhortations, Instructions, Admonitions, and Reproofs, and as powerful means as may be, which […] never did me any good. The Lord be merciful to such a poor soul, and turn his heart that he may lay hold of Mercy in due time.1
Will 〈…〉, and Reproofs 〈…〉 strik my heart? Why, I have heard Sermons that would have 〈…〉 the very stones I 〈…〉 on, that would have moved the eat I sate upon; the very fire of Hell hath flashed in my face, I have seen even the very plagues 〈…〉 hell, I have had many Exhortations, Instructions, Admonitions, and Reproofs, and as powerful means as may be, which 〈…〉 never did me any good. The Lord be merciful to such a poor soul, and turn his heart that he may lay hold of Mercy in due time.1
Exhortation. Is it so, That a plain and powerful Ministry is the means of Preparing the soul of a poor […] for the Lord Jesus? Why then, when you hear the Word plainly and powerfully preached to you, labour that the Word may be so unto you as it is in it self: It is a preparing Word, labour you that it may prepare your hearts to receive Christ: And you that be Hearers, every one labour to save the Soul of another; let the Father speak concerning his Children, and the Husband concerning his Wife and his Family, and the Wife concerning her Husband, Oh when will it once be, when will the time come that my Child may be fitted for the Lord, when will it be that my poor Family, my poor Wife, my poor Husband shall be prepared for the Lord, the Lord grant, that it may be, if not this Sabbath, yet on another; if not this Sermon, then at the next: Labour therefore to give way unto the Word of God, and suffer your Souls to be wrought upon by it, for the word is powerful to prepare your hearts, but the Minister must hew and square your hearts before they can be prepared for the Lord Jesus, and ⟨p. 221⟩you must suffer the words of Exhortation, (as the Apostle says) Heb. 13. 22. So likewise suffer the words of Conviction, of Reproof, of Admonition, and hold and keep your hearts under the Word, that you may be wrought upon thereby. And as when men have set Carpenters a work to build an House, then they come every day, and ask them, How doth the work go on? How doth the building go forward? When you are gone home, do you so reason with your selves, and ask your own hearts how the work of the Lord goes forward in you? Is my heart yet humbled? Am I yet fitted and prepared for Christ? I thank God I find some work and power of the Word, and therefore I hope the Building will go forward.
Exhortation. Is it so, That a plain and powerful Ministery is the means of Preparing the soul of a poor 〈…〉 for the Lord Jesus? Why then, when you hear the Word plainly and powerfully preached to you, labor that the Word may be so unto you as it is in it self: It is a preparing Word, labor you that it may prepare your hearts to receive Christ: And you that be Hearers, every one labor to save the Soul of another; let the Father speak concerning his Children, and the Husband concerning his Wife and his Family, and the Wife concerning her Husband, Oh when will it once be, when will the time come that my Child may be fitted for the Lord, when will it be that my poor Family, my poor Wife, my poor Husband shall be prepared for the Lord, the Lord grant, that it may be, if not this Sabbath, yet on another; if not this Sermon, then at the next: Labour therefore to give way unto the VVord of God, and suffer your Souls to be wrought upon by it, for the word is powerful to prepare your hearts, but the Minister must hew and square your hearts before they can be prepared for the Lord Jesus, and
The 〈…〉 Use 〈…〉 〈…〉 us the fearful1 estate and miserable Condition 〈…〉 〈…〉 that lived a long time under a plain and powerful Ministery, and yet their hearts have not been 〈…〉 and prepared for the Lord 〈…〉: It is a 〈…〉 〈…〉 that the Lord will never bestow any 〈…〉 Good upon that Soul. He that hath lived under, a powerful Ministery many yeers, and yet is not wrought upon thereby, it cannot certainly be concluded, but it is ⟨p. 219⟩greatly to be suspected, That the means of Gracewil never profit that man. Look as it is with the Master Carpenter, when he hath turned every piece of Timber, and taken what he will for his turn, he tels them that be under him, Let this be hewed, and that 〈…〉 framed and made fit for the building: Afterward 〈…〉 finds one piece broken, and another crackt, and another knotty: Why, what saies he? There is no squaring of these, they are sit for nothing but for burning, they are not fit for any place in the building. Oh! take heed, when Gods Ministers have been cutting, and hewing, now exhorting, now perswading, now cutting the heart with Reproof, and yet finds here a crackt Heart, and there a stubborn Soul, that will not be squared by the Word, 〈…〉 than the Lord should say, These will never be fitted and prepared for me, they are fit for 〈…〉 but the fire. Oh! take heed of it, for he that will not be fitted for Grace, shall be made a 〈…〉 in Hell for ever. Therefore all you that have lived under a powerful Ministery, and yet are not prepared, go home and reason with your souls, and plead with your own hearts, and say, Lord, Why 〈…〉 not I yet humbled and prepared? Shall I thus be alwayes under the hacking and hewing of the Word, and never be framed? Such a man, and such a man was stubborn, and wicked, and prophane, and yet the Lord hath brought him home, and he is become a broken hearted Christian, What shall I think that am not 〈…〉 and prepared for Christ by all the means that I have had? Alas! thou maiest justly suspect God never intends good to thy soul: It is no absolute conclusion, but it is a great suspition that those that have lived under a plain and powerful Ministery half a dozen yeers or longer, and have got no good, nor profited under the same; I say, It's a shrewd ⟨p. 220⟩suspicion, that God will send 〈…〉 down to Hell: Therefore suspect thy own soul and say, Lord, will Exhortations never prevail? Will Instructions never do me good?
