An humble apology for non-conformists with modest and serious reflections on the Friendly debate…

Answ. I have heard that it was the Saying of a Learned Man, no Nonconformist, That the way to be a good Preacher, was to get a good Heart. Doubtless that which comes from the Heart, is most likely to go to the Heart. He that hath tasted the sweetness of Honey and Sugar, can better speak of it, knows better by his experience the sweetness of Honey and Sugar, than he that hath only heard and read of it in a Book. Holy David, a King and a Prophet, called to others to hearken, and he would tell them what God had do•• for his Soul. He that hath been persuaded and ⟨p. 71⟩converted himself, is likeliest to persuade and convert others.

Answ. I have heard that it was the Saying of a Learned Man, no Nonconformist, That the way to be a good Preacher, was to get a good Heart. Doubtless that which comes from the Heart, is most likely to go to the Heart. He that hath tasted the sweetness of Honey and Sugar, can better speak of it, knows better by his experience the sweetness of Honey and Sugar, than he that hath onely heard and read of it in a Book. Holy David, a King and a Prophet, called to others to hearken, and he would tell them what God had do•• for his Soul. He that hath been perswaded and ⟨p. 71⟩converted himself, is likeliest to perswade and convert others.

'Tis storied of Junius, That before his Conversion, meeting once with a Country-man as he was in a Journey, and falling into discourse with him about divers points of Religion, he observed the plain fellow to talk so experimentally, with so much heartiness and affection, as made him first begin to think sure there was something more in those Truths, than his notional humane Learning had yet discovered; which occasioned his more serious enquiry into them, and afterwards his Conversion.