The application of redemption

If yet the Lord bring home wholesome Counsels §2and Directions even to their doors sends out the light of his Truth by the Ministry of his faithful Servants, to shine in their faces, and the sound thereof ⟨p. 308⟩to beat in his Ears, they are loth to hear of the Ear, Joth to show their unfeigned acceptance, and readiness of Spirit to take acquaintance of the Truth: As you may have seen sometimes a Churl, when he hath seen some body coming that might happily have deserved entertainment, and the Law of Honesty and common Humanity might have caused him to lodge them, he presently slips aside and turns away, that he may not meet them, and see them, and salute them, lest he be forced to receive them: So these men when they perceive the evidence of some troublesome Truths are like to meet with them in the mouth (as we say) they are-not able to avoid the power of them, and yet not able to take up the practice of them, like troublesome guests put them to charges, and lie heavy upon them, they are desirous to make an escape from the power of such Arguments, play least in sight, and loth they are to meet a Truth that comes attended with constraining Reasons, Job, 22. 14. They say to the Almighty depart from us, we desire not the knowledge of thy […]: yea, Isa. 30. 10, 11. They say to the Seers, see not, and to the Prophets, […] not, cause the holy One of Israel to cease from us: the presence of the Truth is marvellous grievous, they look at it as an overpassing burden, as he of Elijah, Hast thou found me O […] Enemy? Were it not for shame they could be willingly content to give a Discharge, and Pass, for its departure; as he to Amos, chap. 7. ver. 12. […] away to thy own Country and prophesy there.

If yet the Lord bring home wholsom Counsels §2and Directions even to their doors sends out the light of his Truth by the Ministry of his faithful Servants, to shine in their faces, and the sound thereof ⟨p. 308⟩