Hence observe That the Word of God h• a far different effect, even upon those, up• whom it hath no saving effect; one raves a• rageth against it, is seared and stupisie by it; another is convinced and terrisi• by it. Festus he scoffs and mocks, go• away laughing at the Doctrine, and […] viling the Preacher: But Agrippa is co• vinced, ⟨p. 3⟩and half persuaded, to believe and practise that very Doctrine, and highly to esteem the Preacher of it. And is it not so even among us? Are there not many who may come to the Ordinances in a natural and sinful Estate and Condition, the same Word of God is cast among them all; yea, but what is the Success? The Sword of the Spirit when it is brandished amongst a great Crowd of Consciences, it is not likely that it should miss all, and strike none of them; one perhaps goes away slighting and contemning; another goes away scoffing and railing against it; and another half-persuaded by it to become a Christian, to be almost a Christian. If every Man's Breast had a Casement in it by which we might see the inward Estuations and Boilings of their Hearts, how they work after a powerful and terrifying Sermon; should we not behold and see some shifting, and shuffling their Sins out of the way; some holding up the Bucklers of prejudicate Opinions, to ward and fence off the stroke of the Spirit; some fretting and storming at the lancing of their Consciences; some scorning and scoffing with Festus, that it is no better than Folly and Madness; some ⟨p. 4⟩trembling with Felix; some convinced and wrought upon as Agrippa to faint resolutions, and half purposes; and yet all these remain under the Power of Unbelief and Unregeneracy. It is indeed a wonder among such diversity of Operations that the Word hath upon the Souls and Consciences of Men, it could be possible that such a multitude should go away without any saving Operation by it; some blinded and hardened, some terrified, some stupefied; •e exasperated and enraged; some convinced and half-persuaded, and such are those that we now speak of: Such as are, as it were, half of one Complexion, and half of another, that stick in the New Birth, whose Hearts have been warmed with good Motions; who have entertained approving and admiring Thoughts concerning the ways of Holiness, who have taken up some resolutions of doing better, and of being better;
Hence observe That the Word of God h• a far different effect, even upon those, up• whom it hath no saving effect; one raves a• rageth against it, is seared and stupisie by it; another is convinced and terrisi• by it. Festus he scoffs and mocks, go• away laughing at the Doctrine, and 〈…〉 viling the Preacher: But Agrippa is co• vinced, ⟨p. 3⟩and half persuaded, to believe and practise that very Doctrine, and highly to esteem the Preacher of it. And is it not so even among us? Are there not many who may come to the Ordinances in a natural and sinful Estate and Condition, the same Word of God is cast among them all; yea, but what is the Success? The Sword of the Spirit when it is brandished amongst a great Croud of Consciences, it is not likely that it should miss all, and strike none of them; one perhaps goes away slighting and contemning; another goes away scoffing and railing against it; and another half-persuaded by it to become a Christian, to be almost a Christian. If every Man's Breast had a Casement in it by which we might see the inward Estuations and Boilings of their Hearts, how they work after a powerful and terrifying Sermon; should we not behold and see some shifting, and shuffling their Sins out of the way; some holding up the Bucklers of prejudicate Opinions, to ward and fence off the stroke of the Spirit; some fretting and storming at the lancing of their Consciences; some scorning and scoffing with Festus, that it is no better than Folly and Madness; some ⟨p. 4⟩trembling with Felix; some convinced and wrought upon as Agrippa to faint resolutions, and half purposes; and yet all these remain under the Power of Unbelief and Unregeneracy. It is indeed a wonder among such diversity of Operations that the Word hath upon the Souls and Consciences of Men, it could be possible that such a multitude should go away without any saving Operation by it; some blinded and hardened, some terrified, some stupified; •e exasperated and inraged; some convinced and half-persuaded, and such are those that we now speak of: Such as are, as it were, half of one Complexion, and half of another, that stick in the New Birth, whose Hearts have been warmed with good Motions; who have entertained approving and admiring Thoughts concerning the ways of Holiness, who have taken up some resolutions of doing better, and of being better;
