The application of redemption

Hence we may see the Reason why sharp and¹ soul-saving Preaching, seems so grievous and tedious to the carnal hearts of wicked and natural men; they hardly vouchsafe audience, but not acceptance: Whats the cause? It would awaken them out of their sleepy security in which they lye: To bring a Candle to a sleepy man is unpleasing but to pluck off the Clothes, he will hardly bear it, but will let fly at you: Why will you not suffer a man to be quiet in his bed? &c. All men are naturally in a dead sleep of sin, therefore to bring the Candle of the Law to them, to show them their condition, to pluck away all their coverings and hidings that they may see their sins and themselves as they are, it is death to a man in this case: Plain dealing and rough dealing evermore finds harsh entertainment here: still Music is pleasing and rocks men asleep; but sound blows will awaken men, and not suffer them to sleep in their sins, and therefore they cannot bear them; they have itching ears (saith the Apostle) heaping up Teachers to themselves after their own lusts, and therefore they cannot endure sound doctrine, 2 Tim. 4. 3. Such Ministers, and such Preaching as answer their desires and please their palates, that they and their sins and all may go to Heaven together, this they like very well of: Itching ears must be scratched, not buffeted. You know what he said to Elijah, Art thou he that troubles Israel? And hast thou ⟨p. 296⟩found me O my Enemy? 1 King. 18. 17. […] had 400 false Prophets, he could endure them well enough, because they never disquieted him in his sins; but Elijah was a troubler of Israel, because he troubled his sin; therefore he was not able to bear with him.

Hence we may see the Reason why sharp and¹ soul-saving Preaching, seems so greivous and tedious to the carnal hearts of wicked and natural men; they hardly vouchsafe audience, but not acceptance: Whats the cause? It would awaken them out of their sleepy security in which they lye: To bring a Candle to a sleepy man is unpleasing but to pluck off the Clothes, he will hardly bear it, but will let flie at you: Why will you not suffer a man to be quiet in his bed? &c. All men are naturally in a dead sleep of sin, therefore to bring the Candle of the Law to them, to shew them their condition, to pluck away all their coverings and hidings that they may see their sins and themselves as they are, it is death to a man in this case: Plain dealing and rough dealing evermore finds harsh entertainment here: still Musick is pliasing and rocks men asleep; but sound blows will awaken men, and not suffer them to sleep in their sins, and therefore they cannot bear them; they have itching ears (saith the Apostle) heaping up Teachers to themselves after their own lusts, and therefore they cannot endure sound doctrine,